h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Of course, every "day" has 24 hours. What I'm talking about is the part that has sunlight -- or would have sunlight if it weren't raining, as it is now.

Okay, I *know* things could be worse, as in the rain might be falling as snow, throwing a monkey wrench into people's plans for travel, gift shopping, and just living their lives.

"Merry Christmas" sounds fine to me. "White Christmas" does not.

I don't mind snow in January, February, and even March. In 2012, we had little or no snow, and it didn't seem like a real winter. It's just that we had the equivalent of three winters last time. I'd settle for two mild winters in a row.

As if what I wanted was what I could have.

Traveller in Time looking forward to some exhausting days
"Merry Christmas to you too

In Berlin the streets are white, maybe not snow but blossom petals. "

What you want IS what you can have

All it takes is a bit of

It was warm and sunny today - even if the day was too short.

Happy Turn-of-the-Sun to you.

It will likely be about 65 degrees F on Christmas Day here. You won't hear me complaining about that.

Our Christmas forecast high is 86F



F S

It's far too warm here, too. The magnolia is budding and elsewhere the fruit trees are beginning to flower. I've heard people have seen hedgehogs. So un-Christmassy.

A boyfriend of mine when I was at school had his birthday on 21 December. I thought it must be the most uncommon birthday of all. Until I remembered that babies could also be born at night-time.

I knew a gal once who was born on February 29th. The last I saw her, she seemed to be looking somewhat worn for being only 8 or so ...

I went to see a holiday movie this afternoon a little after 2:00. It was called "Road Chip," and it was one of the many annual sequels to "Alvin and the Chipmunks." Not Shakespeare, but enjoyable in its own way. It's unusual to encounter heavy traffic entering the mall where the theater is, but it was heavy today. That was nothing compared to the traffic tie-ups at 4:30 when I tried to get out. It took about 20 minutes to go from my parking space to the exit, a distance of about a quarter of a mile.

The traffic on the highway was heavy, too, but this was commuter rush hour, so it's probably like that every day .

The lines at the supermarket were long, too, but I've seen worse. The lady in back of me seemed to be talking to voices in her head -- she didn't seem to be talking on a cell phone, so what other explanations can there be?

At least I didbn't have to do this in six inches of falling snow.....

Did you look for a Bluetooth in her ear? I have found myself thinking, 'Ah, a kindred spirit' when it was only someone with the latest technology.

I may be guilty of stereotyping by age, but she did not seem to belong to the demographic that usually goes for the latest technology.

20 minutes to get out of the mall car park?

Think yourself lucky - these people waited up to 6 hours!

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/22/christmas-shoppers-stuck-six-hours-bluewater-car-park-kent

Strangely enough, you have made me feel better. Thanks!

Now, if I could help those poor people feel better, I would.

There is a bridge a few miles north from Bluewater, the QE2 Dartford Crossing and whenever there are strong winds, the bridge will be closed for hours and causing massive traffic jams. There is a near by tunnel but it can only take in so much traffic and both tunnel and bridge are paid by toll. People are fuming because they are using toll fees as a type of congestion charge in the same way as London. Even in normal weather there are frequent traffic jams and the charges have not made it a congestion free area. The costs of both the bridge and tunnel have already been met from the money collected from both the tunnel and bridge and should be free. The people in Scotland use to have to pay to go on the bridge to Skye but once it was paid for they campaigned for the tolls to be lifted and won their case.

Is that where they get the expression "Blue Skye Laws" from?