I have to face the fact that I really haven't done much of anything lately, except care for my animals, cook and eat, watch tv, read,  keep the fire going, take out the garbage, and indulge in the bathing and shampooing.  The cold spell lately apparently was weathered fairly well by my body, but now that the temp is coming back up, I feel swollen and groggy.

Bad news about my brother has me still in a state of mild shock.  Apparently, he won't be able to go on much longer, as his water pipes are frozen and he lacks the money to have them thawed.  He is getting by somewhat by melting snow in a bucket to flush the toilet, and carrying 1/2 gallon jugs home by hand for coffee water, hand washing, etc.  But the real problem is that he can't manage his money any longer; has no idea of where it goes, or when it goes.  It is just gone and he can't explain it.  He is borrowing money to get by, and has no way to repay it.  I called my other brother to talk this over, and he is going to call my brother's daughter and see what she has to say about this.  He is a veteran and there is a vets' home nearby where he lives.  I am thinking it might be time for him to go live there, but everyone in the family thinks he will resist a move like that.  He will want his independence for as long as possible. 

Well, I guess this is what happens if you live long enough...but it's just another hurdle to get past.  I wish I could help him out, but I've already tried to get a mortgage extension to put another bedroom and bath on the lower level here, and was denied.  I certainly would not want to move away any further from my children, who give me the impression that they need me (I really believe that!), and I'm not in good enough shape anyway, to go to him and just help out.  Doing what, exactly? 

My own bathroom pipes froze up last night - I guess that's to be expected after a -25 degree night, but it actually got warmer last night, so???  Of course, I had turned off my little electric heater then; prematurely, I suppose.  So I better just take care of my own survival problems and let his daughter make the decision about his situation.  It snowed again last night, another 4-6 inches of the white stuff, so just getting out of the driveway is enough of a problem for me right now.