WINTER

It's technically not Winter here as yet but we've been having Winter weather nonetheless. 

*  Snow traps air in between the flakes when they land.  This creates a sound barrier that traps noise making the landscape extra quiet.  Once the snow begins to melt or otherwise become compacted, it loses the ability to absorb sound.

*  Most new autos are driven by an engine in front of the passengers.  They also use the front wheels to do the driving with the heavy engine sitting upon them.  It took a lot of engineering to figure out how to place the engine above the front axle and drive it.  Things began changing in the 1980s.

When I first began to drive, most cars had the engine in the front but drove the car with the back wheels.  It was murder trying to drive on snow-covered or icy streets. Without weight on the drive wheels, you couldn't get much traction.  Tire chains, sand and shovels were a necessity in some locales. 

*  A yearly Winter chore in our house was updating the Christmas Card list.  We received and sent dozens every year.  We also kept them from year to year to make sure we sent one to everyone who had sent us one.  Seems silly, now. 

*  I really can't remember any great presents I received when I lived at home as a child.  I do remember two that I wanted and didn't get - both were musical instruments.   



8 days 'til Christmas

3 months 'til St. Patrick's Day