The Squarespace nightmare got extreme and I could not blog at all for awhile

Note: The Squarespace nightmare can shapeshift into a new and even more hideous form at any moment. This afternoon, about 3:30, I went to open this blog in preparation to make the next post but instead found what you see above on the screen. Following is what I wrote about it shortly afterward, when I made an Instagram of the above screenshot:

Those of you who have been following my school bus series from the beginning know that it is a protest about the poor service I have been getting from my blog host Squarespace, whose iPhone app has been malfunctioning for at least 48 days now. The Squarespace nightmare has just reached a new level of horror. A little over half-an-hour-ago, I visited my own site but instead of my blog got this. My domain payment comes due at the first of the year and is up to date. My domain has definitely been claimed at Squarespace - as anyone who has been following my blog these past years surely knows. It is too early for me to jump to any kind of conclusion, but given the fact that I have been running my Daily School Bus/Squarespace nightmare series for so long now, I can't help but wonder. 

Text added at 8:30 PM. The Squarespace nightmare continues - day 48 and counting.

A man and two dogs who I had not seen for a while

When Willow, the Iditarod reject Husky from Kaktovik was alive, she would accompany me on all my daily walks. Two or three times a week, we would see Tony coming from the opposite direction, walking his big amiable beagle, Barney.

Before I venture any further, I should note that it was not for a lack of enthusiasm or pulling power that Willow got dropped from her Iditarod team. She was strong. She could pull hard. She loved to run and run and run! She was fast! She was also extremely sensitive. If anyone spoke a cross word to her, she would pout for as much as three days. Sooner or later, an Iditarod dog is always going to get a cross word spoken to it and then if it sits down and pouts for two or three days, the race will be lost.

But that's not my point. My point is we would often see Tony and Barney and then after Willow died Barney died and then Tony got a wife and a couple of new dogs and I would see him and the dogs and sometimes the wife too every now and then but now I haven't seen him for months. Maybe a year. Perhaps even longer. But here he is, In the chilly morning air, walking two dogs. 

Text added at 11:19 AM. The Squarespace nightmare continues - day 48 and counting.

Study of the young writer, number 8423

It once was that images of the talented and beautiful young writer, Shoshana, would grace the pages of my blog in regular studies that often appeared twice, thrice or even more times a week, if I were here and not out traveling. But Shoshana has not been seen in this blog for a while – until today. Two days ago, I pulled up to the drive-through window and, as I had become sadly accustomed to, she was not there. Of course I was happy to see Evalina, who happily announced that I had a free coffee waiting for me – a gift from Shoshana.

She has been working the morning shifts only for a while. I wanted to say thank you in person, so this morning I drove up to the window and there she was, a little chilly in the shaft of 12° air slipping through the window but pleasant and happy.

It was time for another study, hence: Study of the Young Writer, Shoshana, Number 10,089: After An Extended Period of Time.

Text added at 10:27 AM. The Squarespace nightmare continues - day 48 and counting.

How could you doubt?? Do you not think I know my Chicago??

A raven landed on my windowsill today and informed me that it had heard rumors and innuendo that thousands of people did not believe me yesterday when I said "Chicago loves the woodstove when there is fire in it." Okay, doubters! I took this just a couple of minutes ago. Can you still doubt?

Text added at 9:53 PM. The Squarespace nightmare continues - day 47 and counting.

Finally, Little Lake is frozen over

Note: I shot this earlier this afternoon, shortly before the Bacardi study and immediately emailed it to this blog. I just now realized it never showed up. Oh, these nightmares! Anyway, here it is, throwing my order off, and here is what I wrote at the time I made the Instagram:

Finally, Little Lake is frozen over. As I have noted before, this used to pretty much always happen at least by the third week of October and quite often the second and sometimes even the first. But at least it has happened now. We just need a little snow, That's all.

Text added at 5:36 PM. The Squarespace nightmare continues - day 47 and counting.