The engine light could be as simple as a stupid rocker switch which has malfunctioned, thus leaving a sensor open.  That’s my problem with my printer.  Problem is, the sensor is under the scanner glass and not easily accessible with only two hands, so I’m about to resort to knocking on neighbors’ doors.

Oh, and maybe an industrial-strength hair dryer would work on frozen woodpiles.

From your lips to God’s ears. I want my car back SOON and I want it to be a simple and inexpensive repair!!

Re: woodpile. I discovered that taking a log and smashing it repeatedly against the woodpile, using all of my pent up frustration, worked really well. At least the wood came unstuck easily. Drying them out is a tedious process that can’t be rushed. Unfortunately.

When the lad gets home (he was in O’Hare around 7:30ish), I’ll have him drag yet more wood inside to get a head start on drying. If I have a two week supply in here, I should have some good dry wood by the end of the first week and I’ll have to stay on top of it henceforth. I’ll limp along in the meantime with the dry logs from the middle of the woodpile. Don’t want to use them all up. I’m sure I’ll need them later in the winter, too.

What I need, obviously, is a wood shed.

How awful!  And you are going to need all the wood you can get by Friday as the forecast is for the day to start with temps around 2°--however, by a week from today, they are supposed to be averaging 58°--good old NE weather.

You should check out Bldg 19 to see what, if anything they might have in sheds for cheap you could use for your wood.  Or something that could go over it and protect better than a tarp.  That has to be so frustrating for you.

On a happier note, I think you might be done with snow.  We are supposed to be down here and only ended up with 2-3” for the entire day of snow.  So not so bad, I was just outside and it felt wonderful........course I did not stay out long!

Good luck with the wood.  Wish I could come up with an easier solution for you…

The lad was going to build me a wood shed last summer, but he had to depart a month earlier than anticipated, so we never got around to it. This summer, that will be first on the list. Doesn’t need to be elegant, just protected. And behind the house. I’m tired of stacking wood where it is visible from the street, too.

I’m desperately trying to dry enough wood to get us through this next cold snap. It’s going to be bitter cold. Fortunately, it’s not that cold today, so I don’t need a roaring fire. Just enough to keep the stove warm so it can dry wood. Doesn’t really take much heat to do it. Wood stove heat is very dry and, of course, my hair is crackling today, it’s so dry in here. I’ll use the January thaw to dry it out at a slightly more leisurely pace. Another day like this and I’ll be ready for the padded rubber room.

I noticed the radar maps show the storm moving north and out to sea. I went out for a while to stock up on a few things and found a couple of stars in the sky and the roads quite driveable. Just wet, mostly. Looks like I won’t have to contend with snow on the drive down tonight to pick the lad up. His flight should be getting in around 10:30.

Kind of an off-hand observation, but every time the lad shows up on my doorstep the snow stops. When he leaves, it snows. What’s up with that?

Re the lad’s arrival/departure and snowfall: I’m sure it’s a sign coincidental.

Check engine lights, more often than not, show some sort of problem with the emission system, but it could be something as simple as a loose gas cap. I’ve had that happen before on my Toyota and when I tightened the cap the check engine light reset itself in a couple of days. Now I always make sure the cap is tight when I get gas.

If you’re lucky it will only be an oxygen sensor or something like that!

I hope you have a trustworthy mechanic! My Toyota dealer is lousy and is always trying to push things I don’t need on me at exorbitant rates.

Linkmeister, you know what I think? I think the snow gods find it far more entertaining when I shovel snow than when the lad does. They’re not nice people.

Fred, yes, I do trust my mechanic. I don’t take my car to the Toyota place if I can possibly help it because they do try to replace everything. My mechanic has always been square with me and explains everything and even chides me for waiting until the last minute to do some jobs because I’d have saved myself money if I’d had it done before a small job became a larger job. He also knows that I know just enough about cars that he’s not going to get away with much. I don’t know that he’d try, though. He depends on repeat business. He’s a good guy. My car is reaching middle age where some things are going to start needing replacement. I’m keeping my fingers tightly crossed today.

reaching middle age where some things are going to start needing replacement

Hey!