We bring you this report, live from Southeast Portland. We’re here to confirm that Old Man Winter’s last hurrah is still going strong, with bitingly cold temperatures and a nasty wind that only recently has begun dying down a smidgen.

So, what have the kids and I been up to? We’ve killed time playing games and watching movies, eating various concoctions (most of which involve cheese, ’cause we’re cheesy that way), and generally behaving ourselves. Oh, and trying to keep warm. This place can get awfully drafty. Brr. I did run the kids through their required gamut of chores, but that didn’t take very long. My daughter’s week-long grounding from All Things Electronic ended today, and she’s taken full advantage of that.

Since my favorite electronic addiction is playable here (though 256k DSL is no competition for the cable hookup at home), I managed to ding a few characters up to key levels, such as getting my Ninja Mastermind up to level 14, the benchmark for all “lowbie” heroes and villains as that’s when the travel power becomes available. She can fly now. Yay! What’s more, I may have rekindled the spark of enjoyment in my kids for the game. One can hope, considering how much a year I spend so they can share an account. Not that I mind, but if they decide not to play the game anymore I can certainly use that money elsewhere, you know?

Anyway, I go home tomorrow, to my own bed, one that isn’t right overhead of annoying neighbors with delusions of musical talent who like to “practice” until 3:00am. (I wish I was joking, here. Argh.) And since I don’t have to work Monday, I get to sleep all kinds of in, tomorrow night. Hot dog.

I hope your weekend is at least as enjoyable as mine, friends.