Hello, Winter.

Man, I'm beat. Didn't even run, bike or swim today, either.

Woke up, took the kids to the bus stop. Re-started the fire. Showered. Ran into Brattleboro to pick up a prescription. Stopped by this salvage place to see if there were any bargains on farm/garden tools. It's really cool, but had little time to really do it justice.

Grabbed some groceries. Ran home and did the day job thing. Fairly busy (and frustrating) day. Took a break to see what was local news, and happened upon an advertisement for a free Bucks fireplace insert.

For those of you who have no idea of what a fireplace insert is, or what it does, here's a quick take. Light a fire in your fireplace. The heat goes ... up the chimney. Light a fire in a wood stove. The heat goes ... into the house. An insert basically turns your fireplace into a big, honking wood stove.

Guess which is better when you're living in Vermont?

I called the woman who was offering it and arranged to run down there to look at it and make sure it'd fit in the fireplace. Then I called a semi-local firewood guy and ordered a truckload. Ouch. It's $190 for a cord. Cheaper than gas, but still steep. He couldn't deliver until tomorrow, so I scooted down to the general store and picked up some camp wood. (My chainsaw ain't great, and my shoulder is worse.)

As long as I was out and about, scooted over the take a look at the insert. It looked great, but (a) wouldn't fit in the Subaru, and (b) didn't stand a chance in hell of moving it anywhere by myself. Damn thing must weigh nearly a ton. Sue, the lady who had it, said she'd hold on to it for a week or so while I figured out a way to get it home and in the fireplace. Sue runs a community group that helps out senior citizens with heating needs; she was giving the insert away because no one wanted it.

"I'm worried for the old folks," she said. "This winter is going to be hard."

Got home and restarted the fire before the snow started to fly; we're supposed to get a foot or more between now and Tuesday. The firewood guy hadn't shown up, so I called to see when he'd make it. Said he couldn't be here until tomorrow morning. Asked if his dump truck might be available for an insert pickup run. Offered to pay.

"Oh, hell, no," he said. "Folks in Vermont are friendly."

In tomorrow's episode, we'll see how friendly Vermont folks are when putting a half-ton piece of cast iron into a fireplace.