Ice storm came at just the right time for my family

Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius.

- Pietro Aretino

Say what you will about this weekend's ice and freezing rain; for me and my family, it was the perfect storm.

I realize others were not so fortunate, but for us, the timing was flawless.

First, we missed out on Friday afternoon's grocery store rush. We were working, and when we got home, we were tired. My wife said she has no recipes based on bread and milk, anyway.

I got up as usual Saturday morning and found the roads mildly wet, but clearly passable. I drove to the grocery, where the aisles were deserted.

"Where is everyone?" I asked the cashier.

"They were here last night," she said.

I did my shopping in record time, then went home, built up the fire and waited for freezing rain.

It was one of those rare weekends - we had nothing planned, nothing scheduled, nothing that had to be done. We stayed inside and watched the growing glaze on the trees outside. My son even did some homework - a Saturday first.

It was just a really nice, relaxing family day.

And everything was back to normal Sunday morning, so driving to church was easy.

Didn't have trouble finding a parking place, either.

MAIL: Chris Biggers, of Louisville, writes: " I loved the story about your terrier. We have a Jack Russell Terrier that was very similar, but not as aggressive a chewer as yours. Most terriers are VERY SMART dogs, so don't try to trick it. ... Buy plenty of chew toys, and your buddy will eventually grow out if it. "

(Chris, I sure hope so. But you're right about him being difficult to deceive. He is very, very bright, and you can't fool him the same way twice.)

TODAY'S JOKE: A nursing assistant, floor nurse and charge nurse from a small nursing home were taking a lunch break, when in walked a lady dressed in silk scarfs and wearing large, polished-stone jewelry.

"I am 'Gina the Great," the mysterious woman said, "I am so pleased with the way you have taken care of my aunt that I will now grant the next three wishes!"

Speaking up, the nursing assistant wished first. "I wish I were on a tropical island beach, with single, handsome men feeding me fruit."

With a puff of smoke, the nursing assistant was gone.

The floor nurse went next and said, "I wish I were rich and retired and spending my days in my own warm cabin at a ski resort with handsome ski instructors providing private lessons."

With a puff of smoke, she, too, was gone.

"Now, what is the last wish?" the mysterious lady asked the head nurse.

"Simple," she said. "I want those two back on the floor at the end of the lunch break."