We're Melting!

...and damned glad of it. The temp today was up around 45, which is twenty degrees warmer than its been for a while. The streets are full of rivulets of water from melting snow, and even now, when the temperature is down to about 35, its still melting. About two thirds of our driveway is now usable again. We need at least a week of this kind of weather before the snow will be gone, but as of right now, things are looking pretty good. Well, except for the slop on the outside of the cars, which is good for the car wash mavens, bad for those of us who never think about washing the car until we get into it to go somewhere.

I listened to a fellow from the State Department being interviewed on NPR this evening. I admired his grasp of language, not to mention his apparent awareness of the first rule of being interviewed, which is that you don't have to answer the question they asked -- not a little, not a bit, if you don't want to. He would not suggest that the idea of moving an aircraft carrier into the gulf suggested that we're thinking we might need the firepower some time soon. He did not suggest that in saying we don't want a war, he was not saying we were not preparing for one. He did not suggest that plans were being laid, and he didn't deny it, either.
Of course, seeing that Cheney, that master of modern diplomacy, is off talking to the troops, swearing that we will not leave until ... well, the definition seems to change, but I think it usually boils down to 'when George's need for paternal approval wanes' -- seeing that caused me to have a quick deja vu moment. Though he didn't seem to have a 'Mission Accomplished' banner. Can't imagine why not.

And I see that the British are starting to pull out. Guess that means Tony isn't George's boy-toy any more -- or that, leaving office soon, he just doesn't care.