This is what Henretta, our data specialist, has accomplished so far - all the blue tickets have been typed into a spreadsheet.  The pile of white tickets are printed tickets that are on thin paper, so they take up less room in a pile, but are slower to input because it isn't as easy to grab and turn them - and they vary in size somewhat, all of which takes more time.  Henretta has done a masterful job of getting so many logged in.  Our guess at this time is that the number of tickets sold is going to be slightly less than last year, but we won't know until all are logged in.  Blame "el nino."  What a nutty year.

Just so I don't forget, I'm posting the pictures of the clock and block now.  It's a little early, but I really don't think anything is going to change.  The ice may have softened a little today, but it really hasn't been much above freezing most of the day.  We had sunshine earlier in the day, but around noon it began to fade.


The wind has changed direction, but it isn't as strong today as it has been.  I doubt it will have much effect on the block and flag. 

P. S. - It's 5:45 and I'm looking out my office window into a blizzard.  It had been snowing off and on since I posted the above, but now there are clouds of snow blowing by from the southeast.  The snow is beginning to stick on the ground.  It looks like a very wintery night in store for us.