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Snowicanes, Snownadoes, Snowverkill
Feb. 10th, 2010 03:41 pmDear Weather:
Okay.
Enough.
Please stop.
Please.
On behalf of all the Mid-Atlantic states, I am begging.
Stop. Stop. Stop.
I don't care if some Northeastern and Midwestern states see five feet of snow and roll their eyes while laughing. I don't care if this is "Not as bad as X city in the North, which gets this twice a month!" Shut up, I don't want to hear from you. Our cities are not equipped to handle this. This is one of the greatest snow storms in history for the DC Metro area and nobody is used to this and everyone is struggling.
I don't care if I was born and bred in New York state and have lived through five-feet blizzards in my childhood.
I want it to stop. I want it to end. I am scared. I am really truly scared of this. There are people without any power, people who are too weak to shovel their walkways, people who are running out of food and supplies. There are animal shelters running out of dog food and cat food. There are people who are evacuating homes due to collapsing roofs. This is a mess and I don't know how it will be fixed beyond the sun coming out and temperatures slowly rising.
This will stop soon. THIS WILL STOP.
Okay.
Enough.
Please stop.
Please.
On behalf of all the Mid-Atlantic states, I am begging.
Stop. Stop. Stop.
I don't care if some Northeastern and Midwestern states see five feet of snow and roll their eyes while laughing. I don't care if this is "Not as bad as X city in the North, which gets this twice a month!" Shut up, I don't want to hear from you. Our cities are not equipped to handle this. This is one of the greatest snow storms in history for the DC Metro area and nobody is used to this and everyone is struggling.
I don't care if I was born and bred in New York state and have lived through five-feet blizzards in my childhood.
I want it to stop. I want it to end. I am scared. I am really truly scared of this. There are people without any power, people who are too weak to shovel their walkways, people who are running out of food and supplies. There are animal shelters running out of dog food and cat food. There are people who are evacuating homes due to collapsing roofs. This is a mess and I don't know how it will be fixed beyond the sun coming out and temperatures slowly rising.
This will stop soon. THIS WILL STOP.
This is...
Feb. 8th, 2010 09:57 pmVery good things:
A friend with a good four-wheel drive car picked me up, got me to Safeway and back, and helped me carry groceries to my house. I have eggs and bread and milk and crackers and English muffins, butter and cream cheese and waffles and cereal.
According to county news, our local department of transportation will now focus on residential areas and neighborhood streets that have not been plowed. My street is on that list for tomorrow. It will actually make a difference, even though the forecast calls for another ten to twenty inches of snow between Tuesday and Wednesday. The plowing will help keep that snow from accumulating too massively, so cars can actually get in and out. Parking lots and sidewalks are up to homeowners associations and residents, but that's okay. We can manage. We can do it. We will be all right.
Not very good things:
My anxiety levels are still high, and I am subconsciously letting my pain and fatigue rise even higher. My head is pounding. The muscles in my legs are tight and spastic. I feel nauseated and upset and scared. I don't know why but I am fixating on going back out there, going to the local Giant or pet food store, buying more dry cat food even though we have plenty; we have enough to last weeks. I hate it when I fixate on unnecessary worries. A long time ago, a psychologist told me that it was a combination of generalized anxiety, ADD and mild OCD. My mother hadn't confirmed all that, but the therapist had. Mom had known that her baby girl worried too much in a severe way and didn't want to make things worse. Good move.
Snow. That's all I can say. Just... oh gods snow, make it stop. Enough, enough, enough. Did you know that they are also predicting snow for next Monday? It's insane.
A friend with a good four-wheel drive car picked me up, got me to Safeway and back, and helped me carry groceries to my house. I have eggs and bread and milk and crackers and English muffins, butter and cream cheese and waffles and cereal.
According to county news, our local department of transportation will now focus on residential areas and neighborhood streets that have not been plowed. My street is on that list for tomorrow. It will actually make a difference, even though the forecast calls for another ten to twenty inches of snow between Tuesday and Wednesday. The plowing will help keep that snow from accumulating too massively, so cars can actually get in and out. Parking lots and sidewalks are up to homeowners associations and residents, but that's okay. We can manage. We can do it. We will be all right.
Not very good things:
My anxiety levels are still high, and I am subconsciously letting my pain and fatigue rise even higher. My head is pounding. The muscles in my legs are tight and spastic. I feel nauseated and upset and scared. I don't know why but I am fixating on going back out there, going to the local Giant or pet food store, buying more dry cat food even though we have plenty; we have enough to last weeks. I hate it when I fixate on unnecessary worries. A long time ago, a psychologist told me that it was a combination of generalized anxiety, ADD and mild OCD. My mother hadn't confirmed all that, but the therapist had. Mom had known that her baby girl worried too much in a severe way and didn't want to make things worse. Good move.
Snow. That's all I can say. Just... oh gods snow, make it stop. Enough, enough, enough. Did you know that they are also predicting snow for next Monday? It's insane.
Snow Labyrinth
Feb. 7th, 2010 11:11 amAdam left for Pennsylvania an hour ago. His coworker, who has a car with four-wheel drive, came and got him, because nobody could get around our neighborhood without four-wheel drive.
I just came back from the first attempt to find the mailboxes, since there was no way we were getting there yesterday. The parking lot that contains my mailbox is a two-minute walk from my townhouse. It's a labyrinth out there. Can't do it. Not yet. Don't even know if it's worth it; there may just be a couple of thin envelopes in my mailbox.
The snow labyrinth is very pretty, but dangerous, and I am tempted to call myself Sarah for the day.
Walls of snow everywhere. Our tiny community is buried beyond recognition. This is insane. Our homeowners' association is not exactly productive at the best of times. As far as I know, only one plow has come through, and that plow is owned by a member of the HOA. The main street hasn't been plowed at all. People are digging and digging and there is no end in sight. The sun may be shining in full force, but it is well below freezing, and the snow is reflecting all that potential heat back up. No chance of the snow melting today, or tonight, or tomorrow, or I have no idea anymore. This is incomprehensible for Maryland.
I just came back from the first attempt to find the mailboxes, since there was no way we were getting there yesterday. The parking lot that contains my mailbox is a two-minute walk from my townhouse. It's a labyrinth out there. Can't do it. Not yet. Don't even know if it's worth it; there may just be a couple of thin envelopes in my mailbox.
The snow labyrinth is very pretty, but dangerous, and I am tempted to call myself Sarah for the day.
Walls of snow everywhere. Our tiny community is buried beyond recognition. This is insane. Our homeowners' association is not exactly productive at the best of times. As far as I know, only one plow has come through, and that plow is owned by a member of the HOA. The main street hasn't been plowed at all. People are digging and digging and there is no end in sight. The sun may be shining in full force, but it is well below freezing, and the snow is reflecting all that potential heat back up. No chance of the snow melting today, or tonight, or tomorrow, or I have no idea anymore. This is incomprehensible for Maryland.
I think it might be over
Feb. 6th, 2010 04:28 pmUm.
I think the snow just stopped falling.
*cracks knuckles* Well, time to prepare to shovel the walkway again. Good thing I took those analgesic muscle relaxers. *mutter, swear, mutter*
After I finish dancing and whooping.
Oh, look, an unkindness of ravens is perched in our oak tree. Hi, ravens!
I think the snow just stopped falling.
*cracks knuckles* Well, time to prepare to shovel the walkway again. Good thing I took those analgesic muscle relaxers. *mutter, swear, mutter*
After I finish dancing and whooping.
Oh, look, an unkindness of ravens is perched in our oak tree. Hi, ravens!
No. No. Just... snow.
Feb. 6th, 2010 02:18 pm2010: The Year We Made Contact.
MY GOD, IT'S FULL OF SNOW.
Adam and I woke up late, had sex, played with the cats, ate oatmeal and split an omelet with Dubliner cheese and garlic butter creamed spinach, and drank Sumatra coffee. Then, we bundled up, grabbed shovels, and went to work.
Three hours later, our walkway is walkable. The car is sort of dug out. We think one of Adam's coworkers may be able to come get him with a giant truck tomorrow morning.
In a few hours, we will go back out and dig again. The snow won't stop. It's three feet and counting. I officially have not seen this much snowfall since I was six years old.
I hate it. I can't even see the fun in it. All I know is that there is snow up to my neck in some places. I am flaring so severely that this dose of Soma is working overtime.
We have electricity. Ours is underground, barely affected. We had a few thirty-second blackouts this morning, but so far we're fine.
This has to stop. Snowpocalypse 2010 has gone from Oh My Gods to Oh Hell No.
MY GOD, IT'S FULL OF SNOW.
Adam and I woke up late, had sex, played with the cats, ate oatmeal and split an omelet with Dubliner cheese and garlic butter creamed spinach, and drank Sumatra coffee. Then, we bundled up, grabbed shovels, and went to work.
Three hours later, our walkway is walkable. The car is sort of dug out. We think one of Adam's coworkers may be able to come get him with a giant truck tomorrow morning.
In a few hours, we will go back out and dig again. The snow won't stop. It's three feet and counting. I officially have not seen this much snowfall since I was six years old.
I hate it. I can't even see the fun in it. All I know is that there is snow up to my neck in some places. I am flaring so severely that this dose of Soma is working overtime.
We have electricity. Ours is underground, barely affected. We had a few thirty-second blackouts this morning, but so far we're fine.
This has to stop. Snowpocalypse 2010 has gone from Oh My Gods to Oh Hell No.
Oh, snow. Snow everywhere.
Feb. 5th, 2010 06:42 pmHusband has made it home. Cats are being snuggly. I have finished my Rich Chocolate Ovaltine Maple Honey Mocha. The snow is sticking. Shoveling is imminent. I can only hope that my little neighborhood's streets get plowed decently tomorrow, unlike last time.
Anxieties have flared up for no real reason. They really need to stop.
Oh, snow. Snow everywhere.
This is still not as bad as the snow storms my childhood in New York (Brooklyn/Manhattan and The Hamptons). Maryland newscasters are calling this one of the top storms of all time. I am flashing back to the Long Island NY snowstorms of 1985, 1989, 1996, and 2001. Augh.
I remember when I was six during the 1985 storm, playing in the backyard of the apartment complex in Brooklyn, sunk so deep into snow that my father had to lift and carry me several times. Our Siberian husky, Nico, left the most beautiful paw prints as she bounded across all that snow.
I don't miss that snow. I don't want the snow now. I don't like snow. But it is here, and I will go and shovel it.
Anxieties have flared up for no real reason. They really need to stop.
Oh, snow. Snow everywhere.
This is still not as bad as the snow storms my childhood in New York (Brooklyn/Manhattan and The Hamptons). Maryland newscasters are calling this one of the top storms of all time. I am flashing back to the Long Island NY snowstorms of 1985, 1989, 1996, and 2001. Augh.
I remember when I was six during the 1985 storm, playing in the backyard of the apartment complex in Brooklyn, sunk so deep into snow that my father had to lift and carry me several times. Our Siberian husky, Nico, left the most beautiful paw prints as she bounded across all that snow.
I don't miss that snow. I don't want the snow now. I don't like snow. But it is here, and I will go and shovel it.
Snowpocalypse 2010 is Oh My Gods
Feb. 5th, 2010 01:50 pmWhy is it that whenever there is a threat of snowpocalypse in Maryland, most residents lose their minds? Grocery stores running out of milk and bread within hours, cars crawling by at five miles per hour when the roads are still quite visible.
I think this is a rhetorical question.
The snow is going to stop falling by Saturday night. Yes, the forecast calls for at least two feet of snow, but this is workable. Main roads will be cleared. Grocery stores will stay open. Emergency crew will be on hand. I am sure many people have very good reasons for anxiety -- I know I would hate to be out there in this. But, really. A gallon of milk has a remarkably early expiration date. How much can you drink before you will run out? And why is milk more important than, say, fresh vegetables and lean meat? You could make a stir fry for dinner several nights in a row. What is the milk for? I mean, aside from coffee, cereal, and mac n cheese. But really, in the two days that the snowpocalypse is happening, how much milk will really truly be used up to the last drop in every household? I think people should fight over the produce section more often. Vegetables and fruits are healthier.
Again, rhetorical. Also, your mileage may vary.
Adam went to Philadelphia very early this morning. He's on his way home after setting up the job, and he will return on Sunday, staying until next Thursday. I'm wishing him the best of luck. He may be an experienced road warrior, but there are many idiots who will be crawling along the roads around him. I will be watching the clock.
In the meantime, I am writing, and drinking by Rich Chocolate Ovaltine Maple Honey Mocha.
I think this is a rhetorical question.
The snow is going to stop falling by Saturday night. Yes, the forecast calls for at least two feet of snow, but this is workable. Main roads will be cleared. Grocery stores will stay open. Emergency crew will be on hand. I am sure many people have very good reasons for anxiety -- I know I would hate to be out there in this. But, really. A gallon of milk has a remarkably early expiration date. How much can you drink before you will run out? And why is milk more important than, say, fresh vegetables and lean meat? You could make a stir fry for dinner several nights in a row. What is the milk for? I mean, aside from coffee, cereal, and mac n cheese. But really, in the two days that the snowpocalypse is happening, how much milk will really truly be used up to the last drop in every household? I think people should fight over the produce section more often. Vegetables and fruits are healthier.
Again, rhetorical. Also, your mileage may vary.
Adam went to Philadelphia very early this morning. He's on his way home after setting up the job, and he will return on Sunday, staying until next Thursday. I'm wishing him the best of luck. He may be an experienced road warrior, but there are many idiots who will be crawling along the roads around him. I will be watching the clock.
In the meantime, I am writing, and drinking by Rich Chocolate Ovaltine Maple Honey Mocha.
Snow, bright
Feb. 13th, 2007 01:41 pmThe snow fell in earnest last night, tumbling quietly like tiny dancers and blanketing the streets with a bare dust of ivory. It was still falling this morning. There is still barely a few inches. It's funny, how people act and react to environmental changes, depending on where they are and what they are like. My bus was late this morning, due to traffic. The Shady Grove Metro station platform was packed with people, and when the train arrived everyone scrambled on as if their lives depended on it. I calmly walked in, found a "disabled" seat near the doors since my knees were screaming in pain, and leaned against the plexiglass wall, watching the human flow.
I nodded off shortly after the train began to move. This happens often. I get lulled into a nap. My stop, Gallery Place Metro, is a thirty-five minute ride, not counting stalling and stopping and waiting. My brain and body have timed the naps to thirty minutes, so I wake up in time. I awoke at the Metro Center stop. The train was violently overcrowded, and more people were shoving in, with no room to move. When the train moved on and stopped at Gallery Place a minute later, I stood up with several others, and the jostling began. As I stepped off the train, it was like the parting of the Red Sea. I have not seen so many people on the platform that early in the morning. I had already left my boss a message during my delayed bus ride, so he knew I'd be in late. I was half an hour late, coming in at nine.
I came back from my lunch hour at one. My boss, Ray, just left for his. He told me the federal government is closing at two. Our law firm follows the government's snow day policy as far as being closed along with it, or open along with it. On early mornings when it is snowing, we have to check the status at opm.gov; if the government is closed, our office is closed. If the government closes down after nine in the morning, it is anyone's guess at our office. We may or may not go home early. Ray wants to try and send me home early; he wants me to avoid the rush and be safe.
I am drenching my hands in pure camellia oil, and GreenFireHerbs.com's Healing Bath Oil, in an attempt to stave off severe dryness, flaking, itching, and eczema. My little humidifier is going strong. To protect and soften my dry lips, I am wearing the mocha flavored Hemp Lip Balm from FaerieMadeSoaps.com, and over that is DuWop's Shades Of Venom lipstick in Belladolla, which is a subtle cranberry red with oils of jojoba, squalane, avocado, and sunflower, plus cinnamon, ginger and wintermint. On my face is AnnaBellina.com's PS Silk hydrator, BunnysBath.com's Face Cream, and RaesinImages.com's moisturizing mineral cream foundation (Neutral N1 color). I am so drenched in moisture I should be swimming.
This morning demonstrated to me the passionate intensity a couple can have without making love. I woke up at seven, and reset the alarm for eight, for Adam. As I was getting dressed, pulling on stockings to layer my legs, and thick socks, my sleepy husband reached for me and ran his hands up and down my sides, my hips, my thighs; with just enough pressure to generate flaring heat. He often makes these little, deep, kittenish sighs that let me know he is emotionally aroused as well as physically, needing to touch his wife, needing to show her how much he loves and desires her. After I finished getting dressed, I lay in his arm with my head on his chest and tickled his neck and jaw with kisses, because I had to get him back somehow. When I left the house at seven-thirty, there was a light bounce in my step and a smile on my face.
I nodded off shortly after the train began to move. This happens often. I get lulled into a nap. My stop, Gallery Place Metro, is a thirty-five minute ride, not counting stalling and stopping and waiting. My brain and body have timed the naps to thirty minutes, so I wake up in time. I awoke at the Metro Center stop. The train was violently overcrowded, and more people were shoving in, with no room to move. When the train moved on and stopped at Gallery Place a minute later, I stood up with several others, and the jostling began. As I stepped off the train, it was like the parting of the Red Sea. I have not seen so many people on the platform that early in the morning. I had already left my boss a message during my delayed bus ride, so he knew I'd be in late. I was half an hour late, coming in at nine.
I came back from my lunch hour at one. My boss, Ray, just left for his. He told me the federal government is closing at two. Our law firm follows the government's snow day policy as far as being closed along with it, or open along with it. On early mornings when it is snowing, we have to check the status at opm.gov; if the government is closed, our office is closed. If the government closes down after nine in the morning, it is anyone's guess at our office. We may or may not go home early. Ray wants to try and send me home early; he wants me to avoid the rush and be safe.
I am drenching my hands in pure camellia oil, and GreenFireHerbs.com's Healing Bath Oil, in an attempt to stave off severe dryness, flaking, itching, and eczema. My little humidifier is going strong. To protect and soften my dry lips, I am wearing the mocha flavored Hemp Lip Balm from FaerieMadeSoaps.com, and over that is DuWop's Shades Of Venom lipstick in Belladolla, which is a subtle cranberry red with oils of jojoba, squalane, avocado, and sunflower, plus cinnamon, ginger and wintermint. On my face is AnnaBellina.com's PS Silk hydrator, BunnysBath.com's Face Cream, and RaesinImages.com's moisturizing mineral cream foundation (Neutral N1 color). I am so drenched in moisture I should be swimming.
This morning demonstrated to me the passionate intensity a couple can have without making love. I woke up at seven, and reset the alarm for eight, for Adam. As I was getting dressed, pulling on stockings to layer my legs, and thick socks, my sleepy husband reached for me and ran his hands up and down my sides, my hips, my thighs; with just enough pressure to generate flaring heat. He often makes these little, deep, kittenish sighs that let me know he is emotionally aroused as well as physically, needing to touch his wife, needing to show her how much he loves and desires her. After I finished getting dressed, I lay in his arm with my head on his chest and tickled his neck and jaw with kisses, because I had to get him back somehow. When I left the house at seven-thirty, there was a light bounce in my step and a smile on my face.
snow days (daze?)
Jan. 21st, 2007 08:45 pmThe snow will have stopped falling by tomorrow morning, or so they say. Then the ice will set in. Luckily, my mother had sent me very warm fashionable boots with a low heel. And Adam did get me those YakTrak shoe grippers. I doubt work will be closed tomorrow. We follow the federal government's closing policies, and I really don't think the government will be closing for something like this.
I will just have to be incredibly careful.
The sciatica in my right leg is flaring up so badly that it hurts to stand up straight and walk for more than a few minutes. I have been stretching every which way, dozens of yoga positions, applying heat and cold when appropriate. Note to everyone: Never, ever, ever develop sciatica if you can help it. It never goes away. It just lays low for a few years. Mine started when I was sixteen. Acupuncture and physical therapy kept it gone for ten years before it started again, but so far it has not been as horrible as those first few months where I screamed and screamed every night. I will be fine as long as I stretch as much as I can, and apply acupressure.
When cold weather hits, that is when my body is in the most pain.
I hate Raynaud's Disease. It's not good at all.
I still hate snow. For many reasons, I still despise the heart of winter. No offense to anyone who actually likes it.
In other news:
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SEASON PREMIERE AT TEN!!
I will just have to be incredibly careful.
The sciatica in my right leg is flaring up so badly that it hurts to stand up straight and walk for more than a few minutes. I have been stretching every which way, dozens of yoga positions, applying heat and cold when appropriate. Note to everyone: Never, ever, ever develop sciatica if you can help it. It never goes away. It just lays low for a few years. Mine started when I was sixteen. Acupuncture and physical therapy kept it gone for ten years before it started again, but so far it has not been as horrible as those first few months where I screamed and screamed every night. I will be fine as long as I stretch as much as I can, and apply acupressure.
When cold weather hits, that is when my body is in the most pain.
I hate Raynaud's Disease. It's not good at all.
I still hate snow. For many reasons, I still despise the heart of winter. No offense to anyone who actually likes it.
In other news:
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SEASON PREMIERE AT TEN!!
first snowfall of the season
Jan. 21st, 2007 02:47 pmIt started snowing just before one o'clock. A dusting, barely an inch. It was amusing to watch cars slow down as if they were about to skid and crash.
Danny and I realized we needed a few things, like milk, bread, eggs, cheese, toilet paper, and cat litter. We drove to the grocery store and realized that it was mobbed. We had just gone in because Dan wanted milk, and we decided to get a few other things. Most of the people milling around had panicked expressions as if they were never going to be able to leave the house again. Carts and baskets filled to the brims. In fact, no more carts -- we had to use two baskets and then find a cart afterwards to get the bags to the car. It was insane.
And all because of less than an inch of snow.
Funny thing is, we went for the stereotypical winter grocery store trip (milk, eggs, bread, toilet paper) but we may have been the only people in the store who were NOT doing it because of fear or panic.
Welcome to Maryland.
I am not looking forward to what will happen when there is more than a few inches on the ground. With ice.
As Danny says, paraphrasing Metalocalypse, "People is dildos."
It's just a dusting of snow! Get over it!
Danny and I realized we needed a few things, like milk, bread, eggs, cheese, toilet paper, and cat litter. We drove to the grocery store and realized that it was mobbed. We had just gone in because Dan wanted milk, and we decided to get a few other things. Most of the people milling around had panicked expressions as if they were never going to be able to leave the house again. Carts and baskets filled to the brims. In fact, no more carts -- we had to use two baskets and then find a cart afterwards to get the bags to the car. It was insane.
And all because of less than an inch of snow.
Funny thing is, we went for the stereotypical winter grocery store trip (milk, eggs, bread, toilet paper) but we may have been the only people in the store who were NOT doing it because of fear or panic.
Welcome to Maryland.
I am not looking forward to what will happen when there is more than a few inches on the ground. With ice.
As Danny says, paraphrasing Metalocalypse, "People is dildos."
It's just a dusting of snow! Get over it!
