Already a week since our return.  The drive went well despite the painful increase in the price of gasoline.  I had sympathy for Mohamed Bouazizi, but the cascading events have been painful to all of us.  Sadly we didn't take out Gaddafi before he recouped to carefully exterminate the opposition.  Now, until he accomplishes that, the price of oil will flutter.

We stopped at Jacksonville for a wonderful visit to Anne's cousin there.  Already the weather was cooler than in Ft. Myers.  The next day took us to Roanoke, VA (I-77 to I-81) where we stopped alongside the Appalachian Trail to check out accoodations for our planned hike there next month.  We found the Howard Johnson's just fine.  I spotted a white blaze from the lobby!   Winter continued in the Virginia mountains and made us dress thickly again.  We had passed out of spring quickly spying redbud and dogwoods in bloom in the coastal plain of north Florida and Georgia. 

At home winter was still hard.  Our house remained gracefully within the woods.  The sun had melted the snow from our drive, but the woods were full of it.  That was too bad this week when a double storm brought 2.2" of rain upon the still frozen ground.  My drainage failed and almost two inches of water coated the basement floor.  Lots of work to drain it.  Then, yesterday, while still putting items out to dry, a snow shower swirled and deposited a half inch of new snow.  The items came back in quickly.  The trees were lovely this morning, and the sun melted the snow.  The basement is almost dry. 

I don't complain of minor crises.  Consider Japan. 

Today was day two of taxes.  The year may come when I choose suicide over dealing with the paperwork.  1099-what?  Cost basis?  Pension taxable by feds but not by PA.  Did I not contribute to Health IRA?  Yes, found payment made from moneymarket account.  Whew!  No 1099-G from North Carolina.  Probably because we had a different address in 2009.  I know the amount and will just use it from my records.  Foreign tax paid?  Forget it, I pay a few extra bucks.  Insurance company sent an annual activity statement saying that no payment was made for 2010.  I called.  "That is because payment was in December of 2009."  I said, oh, and I paid for this year also in December of 2010, so I guess I'll get another such statement?"  She looked.  "No we credited your account January 4."  "Fine, I said.  I'll take care of it."  The forms are useless.  Next year I'll pay again in December and take credit for it in taxes, but form will show payment that I took credit for in Tax Year 2010.  If the IRS should ask, I'll show them the checks. 

Our neighbor's mother died today.  She and her husband arrived here from Florida a few days ago in response to her sudden decline.  We didn't expect to see them again until summer.  Sad, but it was time and the death was peaceful.  We give our prayers. 

Dad Woods called today about a mail item that missed us.  It was grand to hear his and Mom's voice.  We miss them already.  We miss Florida's weather a bit, but the sunshine here is already strong and the Pennsylvania March coolness is refreshing.  The cold makes the jogging seem easier. 

Anne worked in Gettysburg Thursday and Friday.  That went well but work is always an adventure.  That left me to haul most of the water.  I was very sore yesterday.  Blisters on my feet and hands and sore muscles all over.  Oh, the joys of home ownership!  We made a quick food shop coming in and are making do with a very slim cupboard.  We go to York on Monday.  We will probably make four our five shopping stops there before visiting my (Chuck's) parents.  Anne will join the recorder group in the evening and I will probably finish up the shopping while she makes music.  Unless plans change we'll return home that night to fill our pantry. 

The flood interferred with other chores.  The exterior of the house needs cleaning and sealing.  That work will start when the drainage problem is corrected.  I will form a drain box around the pipe.  Once the taxes are knocked out next week I will complete planning and reservations for our Virginia A.T. hike next month and our North Carolina work and play expedition in May.  Whew!  Just a month ago we weren't sure what we would do all year.  Now, I have to keep cracking so we can fulfill our plans. 

Next Saturday we will attend the live broadcast of Lucia di Lammermoor at the Gettysburg Majestic Theater.  I hope others will enjoy this great show of Mr. Donizetti, a gripping Italian musical with a sad ending.  We made reservations to see the broadcast of Wagner's Die Walkure in Asheville NC in May.  After seeing the broadcast of Das Rheingold last fall, we must find out what more trouble the bien pensant gods can get into.  Oh, what a blessing these broadcasts are to we plebeian opera fans!