El Nino:2016; Firewood; Propane

      El Nino, the little fellow, has arrived on the West Coast.  Welcome aboard.   We here in California love El Nino- he brings the key to life: water, and lots of it.  We Tahomans see it in the form of snow, lots of it.  In the past week, we've seen several feet fall at the higher elevations, and a few at lake level.  Down the mountain, the half empty reservoirs are starting to look better than they have in 3-4 years, and more rain is in the forecast.   Yes, some locales may experience temporary flooding, but we understand that situation: we deal with it.
      The long, warm river of Equatorial water, El Nino, has been called the strongest in 19 years.  Looking at thermal images of the Pacific ocean surface temperatures, it is easy to appreciate the length and breadth of El Nino.   Recent snow depth surveys indicate that snow fall to date this winter is 5% above normal.  Maybe the skiing will continue to be world class through the next 2-3 months.  What a boost to the Highway 89 economy!  Enjoy.
Propane Prices
      Many folks have kept an eye on propane prices as heating appliances are put to the test.  While prices bumped up before Christmas, they are now much lower at $0.37/gallon at retail.  Maybe providers will be more willing to negotiate when asked for pricing information when about to order a refill.  $2.00/gal?  Why pay that much?

A Cord of Wood
        The Mayor feels obligated to remind buyers of firewood that the accepted standard is a cord of wood.  That is the unit quoted when buying firewood.  What/how much is a cord?
4' X 4' X 8', tightly packed.  That formula yields 128 cubic feet, no more, no less.  Tightly packed= all pieces aligned similarly, not alternately as some would have you believe.   Since many sellers in the basin receive wood from Central Valley wholesalers, it looks the same; but most often, it is not. To achieve the proper dimensions, a piece must be cut to 16" in length.   Rarely will one find a piece cut to 16".  So, most cords are short from the get go.  A sampling of pieces will give a buyer a measure of the accuracy of the dealers' statements.  The other tactic of sellers of delivered "cords" is to pull up to your house and dump the load.  Unless it has been stacked in the truck by hand, good luck on any meaningful assessment of quantity.   MOst dealers want a big fee for stacking.  hence, it's up to you to stack and measure on site.  Do it, and call them on a "short" cord delivery.  If no response, cancel the check immediately.   Don't pay in cash for wood- you have no protection against the common fraud.