January 21

The sun came out today and the temperatures rose into double digits, so the roads cleared.  We'll be in the 30s tomorrow, and we are closing in on the end of January.  In fact, it's less than nine weeks to the first day of spring.

Going down to the mail room at work, I pass vending machines that are next to the elevators.  The graphics on the soda machines are phenomenal.  In a previous existence, Rick and I had a small graphics business.  We made large display banners for non-profits, college alumni groups, fraternal organizations, corporations, etc.  In those days there were still a few old time sign painters working.  The hand lettering and graphics they did were amazing, but the clarity and detail of modern graphic printing is truly impressive.  These soda machines have seven foot high graphics of soda cans and bottles that look three dimensional.  The condensation droplets practically run down the surface.  Day after day it still takes me aback to see these images....  Mary