The Perfect Storm

Last night we got a couple inches more of snow.  The temperatures were below freezing, and at about 11 PM (when I had to go pick up The Girl from a Christmas party) the roads were icy and slick.  This morning the snow was turning to rain so the roads are wet but slushy and much easier to drive in.

Most storms begin as rain and turn to snow.  The way this one is going, the mountains will still get pounded with snow--they estimate measuring new snow in feet this weekend, not inches up there--while the valleys will be washed out and the air will be cleaned out too.  This is my favorite kind of storm.

I do love seeing the snow in the mountains, but can do without it on my day to day travels, and especially when the freezing temperatures come and the ice can temporarily build up.  Looks like this weekend the storm is behaving perfectly, at least for my money.

Be warm and safe out there, friends.

Hunkering Down

Maybe you have heard:  We have a BIG snow storm headed right for us.  All day long we have been hearing this warning.  Well, we are just outside the storm's path currently.  And people are freaking out!!

Really, people.  We've been warned for years to "be prepared".  What about all you former boy scouts?!  Isn't that the motto you followed?!  Come on! 

Even a couple of days with out power--should that happen--won't kill you.  It might make you really really uncomfortable, but with a little ingenuity and canned soup over your camp stove or outdoor grill you can stay alive.

I ran out earlier tonight to go pick up a pizza--because it sounded fun--and the grocery store parking lot os packed....apparently everyone was trying to get their Thanksgiving stuff all purchased before the storm got here.  But I am sure some panicky folks were also hanging out at Macey's.  One of the news channels was there stirring up that sense of panic, so it MUST be a deadly storm?!  Right!!

It isn't like this is a Hurricane Katrina situation.  It is a snow storm.  We live in the mountains, so this happens every winter.  This storm, however, just has some fantastic media attention, and it is making people crazy!

I'll let you know if we "survive"...so stay tuned for the next few days, just in case it goes bad.  Good crud, crazy people.

It's HeeeeEEEErrrreeee!

"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others."  --Marcus Tullius Cicero

Well, I believe winter is upon our doorstep.  The snow is creeping down to our valley floor, heralded by the colder rain, dreary clouded sky.  Sounds like a good day to stay home, do laundry and clean house.  Good thing that I have all three of those, plus others on my "to-do" list today.

BLAST!

I woke up to a winter wonderland, again. Six inches, they say we got through the night and most of the morning. If I get my hands on that wretched little groundhog, I am going to give him more than a piece of my mind--it'll be a boot to the head!

When is the official first day of spring?! Whenever it is, it isn't soon enough.

Winter

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.


Either way...I'm ready for some spring fever.

Mid-Winter Blahs

Well, it is Monday again. How does THAT happen so quickly?! And we got more snow last night. But at least the air will be clean. We have been in an inversion for over a week now and I think I hate that more than the cold and snow.

The inversion keeps the cold air at the valley floor. The air becomes increasingly dirty and unhealthy, and the cold just gets colder. The mountains and resorts are not affected, as they are at high enough elevations that the inversion doesn't reach them. So it could be 19 degrees on the valley floor and almost 40 at a ski resort. Just doesn't seem right, does it?

I think it is interesting that the inversions happen about the same time as the mid-winter blahs settle in for me. Actually, the inversion probably escalates the blahs, but the idea is the same.

A couple of years ago, our PTA did a Teacher's Drawing on Friday for several weeks (we even called it the "Inversion Diversion"!) during the winter time to give the teachers in our school a little "pick-me-up". They get the blahs too, but then they have to deal with our kids every day! I know the teachers really liked that recognition, even if it was as simple as bright colored post-it notes, or new colored pens for grading papers, or good smelling hand soap for their classrooms.

I know it won't be long into February before I will be aching for Spring to show up. When I get that way, I'll do my best not to whine at you about it. We are in this together, right? Like it or not.....For the duration......How soon is Spring?!

It's Baaaack...

Winter, that is. Today I had to pull the old winter coat out from the closet and wear it. Yuck. I know that winter is part of the circle of life and all that, but come on. I grew up where it would rain and then clear up. There was water enough with that, usually. Today I looked out the little window from the shower and saw bits of snow coming down. It was enough to send me back into the shower's heat, or back to bed, if I didn't already have the bed made and I was standing in the shower fully soaked by then.

Oh well. I noticed The Boy already had his snowboard and boots out to "check their size on me now, Mom". He is still looking for the snowboard helmet though, so it will be a while before he is really ready. Plus the first storm of the season is only a tease. All the skiers and snowboarders get excited, while the sun lovers among us grumble under our breath. We might get a mini-respite before the snow dumping begins but I know when that happens it is only a brief one. I just have to snuggle in for the long winter's offense and look forward to the spring's promise of sunshine.

I guess I can look forward to homemade rolls and steaming soup. You can't serve that in the 90 degree days of July. And I feel pretty confident that I have plenty of clothes that cover my body in the winter, when I wish I had less body to cover in the summer. "To everything there is a season." I suppose that is true. Its just too bad I like the warmer seasons better and they are now over. But I guess that gives me something to look forward to, right? Here's to snow that stays on the grass and off the streets, and road construction that finishes before the snow flies for good. And to a good coat that surprises you with $5 in the pocket when it comes out of the closet for winter.