Oh hail...

Well, once again, the "Alaskan storm" that is hugging the California coast sent some odd snowy, icy stuff down from the heavens. This time, it hailed just long enough to dust our cars, make the sidewalks and roads slick, and accent our potted plants. Of course, it melted by the time that we left to go to dinner, but it still made for some unusual San Francisco photos.

The hail or sleet or icy snow was accompanied by a spectacular lightning display. Rolling thunder just isn't commonplace here, so the storm really took us back to warm summer nights in Virginia and Michigan.

Not that it is remotely warm here. Its frickin' COLD, Mr. Bigglesworth.

Speaking of cold...Elena wrote from Russia. She is diligent. Here is an excerpt.

"Today our organization suits a holiday for all women. Invited singers and actors. Now while actors act I have a free timeand decided to go to the Internet-cafe to write to you the letter. Then we shall congratulate all women of our company. We yesterday bought many flowers and cards."

[An addendum. The papers and news outlets have thrown around lots of words to describe our wintery precipitation. The latest I saw was "snow pellets", which seems like a made up catch-all meaning "white frozen sh**"! I'm sticking with hail, because its the only one you can use in cringe-worthy puns like "When the hail is this blog going to end..."]