We went to Concord to watch our granddaughter, Jo-Ann, play basketball. Actually, we went to Waterford first because on their web site the game was posted as a "home" game. (We later found out there was a glitch in posting a last-minute change in the schedule.) Our first clue something was amiss was that the parking lot at the gym was empty except for two or three cars - but a quick check with an accommodating fellow, probably a janitor, who came to the door to meet Fred got us off again in the right direction, heading east on Rt. 2 to Concord. We were only a few minutes late but the score was already 0 to 6 in Waterford's favor. By the end of the game, those roughneck little 5th and 6th grade girls had racked up a good score. That's Jo-Ann in the center of the top picture - she's number 31.

We didn't have the camera on the correct setting so all the action shots are fuzzy, so I won't bother to post them. Those girls were really moving. The gym at Concord is quite a bit larger than the Waterford gym - really quite nice. We did have a little problem finding it, though. I knew the general direction, but neither of us had actually been there before. I guess by the time basketball season is over, we'll know where a lot of local gyms are.

Most of the Waterford team had been skiing this afternoon, so it's a wonder they had any energy left at all to play; and tomorrow they play St. Johnsbury. It's amazing how much energy kids that age have. We can see an improvement in how they are playing, so I think they must have some really good coaches.

I've been sorting through some of the newspaper clippings I scanned a year or so ago, looking for information to respond to a couple of recent requests I've had, but no luck so far. Since there are literally hundreds stored on my computer and none indexed, it's a nearly impossible job. They are in some of the albums that are at the Main Street historical building, but since we don't go in there once the cold weather comes and the door begins to operate poorly, they may have to wait until spring for answers.

The snow we were expecting hasn't materialized - in fact, there was clear sky in the St. Johnsbury area. Not quite as clear up here, though. Sometimes we are a lot like the character in the Li'l Abner comic strip - remember Joe Btfspik? I found this picture on the web site - www.lil-abner.com I can't pronounce his name, it's kind of like spitting over your chin, but I often think of him when we are approaching Joe's Pond, especially from St. Johnsbury and we look ahead and we can see weather - clouds, snow, fog, rain waiting, lurking over West Danville and the pond. Like tonight. When we left here there was a thin slice of moon showing fuzzy through a haze of clouds or maybe ice crystals or snow - who knows. Ten miles down the road we saw a sparkling clear moon and there were even stars twinkling!

I just looked out now to see what the weather looks like and while the moon is probably too low on the horizon for me to see from here, I can see the sky is now clear as a bell and the stars are twinkling, just like they were in St. Johnsbury only a little brighter. So much for Joe Btfspik!

It's 10 degrees and dropping - not typically snow weather, but by morning it could change. A lot.