We're still buried in about 25 feet of snow.
Maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but it may as well BE 25 feet, ain't nothin' goin' on out there. Schools are closed, businesses are closed, state offices are closed, freeways which are open should probably BE closed... it's a mess.
I understand why it's so bad and I don't fault people for abandoning their cars on the freeways. The city doesn't plow adequately, they're never prepared for something that happens in some form every single winter, and every time it happens, no one can figure out how to keep it from happening the next time. And when the guy in front of you slides across four lanes of traffic, spins out and hits the median and all the other cars are trying to get out of the way and the only way you can avoid being in the middle is to let your OWN car slide off the road and then you're stuck and what the hell are you going to do you end up in the pile of snow and can't do a damn thing to get out.
It's one of the reasons I'm so paranoid about making sure my car has a full tank of gas when I have to get on the freeway during the winter. And I make sure there's a blanket in the trunk, some water, a couple granola bars, any medications I am taking. Phone charged up.
It's the anxiety, though. I have less anxiety when I plan ahead. When I expect the worst to happen and plan for it, even though the worst rarely does happen. It's the same reason I made a hundred lists when I was planning events for Girl Scouts or for birthday parties or starting the new school year at my job. I have to write things down because if I don't, I wake up all night long and obsess. I get six things in my brain and every time I turn over, I feel like I need to repeat them or I might forget. And when I have a super event planned, it's worse. So it's a defense mechanism, all that planning. I've had people admire how well I plan.
Don't. It's not something to admire. It's me, being a nutjob.
This morning, Eric took Lyssa to work. She doesn't like to wear a heavy coat, it bothers her on several levels. And that's fine, she's smart enough to know if she's cold. But if THE WORST happened and the car went off the road and she and Eric had to walk, he would insist on giving her HIS coat. A fatherly thing to do. But not good. So I asked her to toss her coat into the car. Just in case.
My wish to control things doesn't just stop at controlling ME, you see.
So we're not in school again today. We missed four days this week. Monday is a holiday, so there won't be school on Monday, either. I suppose half a paycheck is better than no paycheck.
I'm going to be angsting over more money being taken out of our savings account. But we'll pay the bills and soldier on.
It's 21 degrees outside. There's a foot of snow on the ground. There's an inch of ice over the top of the snow since it started to thaw yesterday and then froze again overnight.
I'm glad I am not expected to make it to work when it's like this.
Blech.
Being from the snow belt fantasy land of western NY state, I find it both amusing and horrifying when areas not used to a metric shit-ton of snow falling every month get walloped. People ask how we manage to keep things running after 8 - 12 inches of snowfall overnight. Our response - have you seen our taxes? Snow removal is a BIG line item in every towns budget. But we get 100+ inches of snow nearly every year, so we'd all be hermits without the million dollar plowing & salting budgets. But other people think it makes us look all tough & rugged, so why change their minds? Or do we look just plain foolish for staying here?
ReplyDeleteI think an argument could be made that people who stay there ______ (fill in that blank with almost any location) are _________(fill in that one with some variation of crazy). I don't know. Our taxes here in Oregon are absolutely horrible, but then they spend it on artwork to put in urban blight areas and green paint so people can have a place to wait with their bikes at intersections.
DeleteHaving lived 18 years in Seattle, I understand your snow and ice storms. I clearly remember the negative impact on paychecks.
ReplyDeleteYou make the best of it. During one storm, took my sons out to a huge deserted parking lot where they learned to skid, spin, and control their cars.
My husband did that with our son once. Smart idea, I think. I learned by driving in it. Now, it's something I try to avoid no matter what.
DeleteYeah, the whole paycheck thing... ah well. Always works out. If you know me, you can tell by looking that I am clearly not missing any meals.
When you got covered inn snow, we got a major cold snap. I am so worried that our gas furnace is working overtime because DH hasn't changed the filters id, like, forever - well, two years, I am so worried it will give up the ghost; then I'll be SOL. Talk aabout anxiety. Thank god for electric blankets.
ReplyDeleteI'll keep my fingers crossed for you. It's a bitch to be cold... I have always hated it but the older I get, the more I hate it. I have an electric blanket, too. And if I had to choose one item to take with me in an emergency, I'd have a hard time deciding between my computer and the electric blanket. Right now, the blanket would win.
DeleteWe got 8" of snow last wknd. Hung around 4 days...today it was 70 degrees! That's Tidewater, VA!
ReplyDeletePeople went insane....we went nowhere and had everything we needed, thank goodness. Plenty of blankets, throws, flannel shirts and socks_--been here for years_--but we're read for the cold that rarely comes. Today it was 68 degrees! Happy winter!
I think being ready for the weather is a good thing. I ordered some ice spike things that fit on over my shoes. I may not need them this time around, in fact I probably won't need them this year. But I will have 'em. And yes. Blankets and socks and cold weather gear. I'm always stockpiling things, I worry all the time if I don't. Again, don't admire it, it's the anxiety running my life.
DeleteOn the other hand, I could use some cinnamon rolls and I am not sure I have any yeast.