I got through to my brother at his phone number. He and his wife are cheerful and able. They 've only lost power for an hour or two. The kids are fine, as far as they know. Ryan hasn't checked in for an hour or two, but he's their adventurer. The house, which is on a slope in the Columbia Gorge, is stable. My sister-in-law says it's clearing. My brother says that of the three bad bouts of winter they've had in 30 years this is the worst. He knows of no one dead yet.

They aren't used to the Siberian train either. It's a predictable climate out there. Rainy and depressing.