Snowbound

It seems like just a week ago I was telling you that I was getting snowed in. In fact it was exactly a week ago. I guess I taunted Mother Nature, that vindictive hussy, and she decided to pay us all back with another snow storm.

The local news outlets have been wetting themselves for the last few days in anticipation of the approaching "severe Winter storm". Breathless anchors and jovial meteorologists have been doing their best Paul Revere impressions, warning us the the invading snow was coming both by land and by sea (well, the lake actually, but water is water.) People have been filling their cars with gas, resulting in a curious price jump of sixteen cents overnight. I don't mean to go all Oliver Stone on you, but I dare say I smell conspiracy. The grocery stores were full yesterday with people hording mass quantities of yogurt and frozen pizzas for the inevitable frozen Armageddon.

Usually I discount any forecast of "sever weather". Most times, the storm is "bearing down on us" and will "wreak untold havoc within the hour", then miraculously we are spared. Today is different. The storm has arrived. The wind is howling like a coyote in a trap and snow is both blowing and drifting. The weather service is calling for "blizzard conditions" which I don't think means I'll be enjoying a frozen Dairy Queen treat. The expected snow total for my area is eight to twelve inches. While that is usually a good forecast for the ladies, when it comes to snow, I'm not happy. Remind me again why I left California. I would usually try to stay home on a day like this, since I have been warned repeatedly not to venture onto the roads unless it is an emergency because God only knows what will happen to me. Tomorrow being Valentine's Day however, I have to go to target and get valentines for "Daughter" to take to school. You'd think that this would have been taken care of before, since Valentine's Day happens this time every year, but I guess no one was talking about it this year and it slipped everyone's mind.

I hope I'm not becoming one of those frightened people who don't want to drive in the snow. I used to love it, but I think the years in California made me soft. I confess to buying extra groceries yesterday. It wasn't really that I was afraid to go out, I just don't want to. I'm nice and cozy as I write this, and it really looks nasty out my window. Add to that the fact that most people driving today will have lost their minds. Why is it that snow makes folks forget that there are separate lanes on the road?

Oh well, "Daughter" is home because of a "snow day" and I need to make her lunch. Then I'm going to "sack up" and head out for the Valentine's. I think I'll load the car with food, blankets and a candle. I have to go a whole two miles. Later...Brian