We're very close to officially snowed in

Sitting here, watching snow pour from the sky. Last time I measured, it was up to 7 1/2 inches, and the snow was up past the bottom of my storm door. Once I have to work to push that open, I'd say we're officially snowed in.

Last night, we were caught the weather update on Channel 7, and their weather guy said "Well, 4 of 5 of our forecasting systems says we'll only have 1-3 inches of snow tomorrow. But the most reliable one thinks there's going to be as much as a foto of snow on the cape. I guess we'll have to wait and see."

I think they can throw those other four systems out, don't you?

Friday Five

1. What did you have for breakfast this morning? If you didn't have breakfast, why not?

All Bran and lowfat milk. Yay dieting!

2. What's your favorite cereal?

This is a tough one, I love cereal. I think I'd have to go with Raisin Nut Cunch.

3. How often do you eat out? Do you want that to change?

Less often than I used to. Probably dinner once a week (twice on good weeks). I get coffee most mornings, and Wendy's for lunch once a week.

4. What do you plan on having for dinner tonight? Got a recipe for that?

Dinner ws broiled pork chops sprinkled with thyme and rosemary, steamed white rice and spinach. I doubt you need a recipe.

5. What's your favorite restaurant? Why?

Oh god, I couldn't even begin to answer this one - I could never narrow it down. Hell, I'd have a hard time narrowing it down for each food genre.

Am I really that out of touch?

Last night, I was watching er, and there was a woman who worked as a hooker, who left her 12 year old daughter and 7 year old son at home at night when she went out to work. One of the doctors called CPS on the mother, arguing that leaving the kids alone at night amounted to neglect.

I was dumbfounded - when I was twelve, I was babysitting for other people's kids, including babies. I was more than capable of taking care of myself, and other children. My mom left me alone in the house, or watching my little brothers when I was as young as nine or ten (usually only while she ran out for quick errands).

Now, aside from whether you think a woman working as a prostitute is inherently fit as a mother (which is an entirely different issue), am I really out of line for thinking that the average 12 year old can be responsible for watching a sibling, particularly one who's 7 years old himself? Or for thinking that I'd expect Widget to be safe alone at home once she was about 10 or so?

Miss Jude, would you happen to know if there are actual laws in any states that explicitly define how old a child has to be before you can leave them alone without being accused of neglect?