Snow was predicted to move in some time after midnight. And when I woke to pee around 3am I glanced out the window and witnessed our first significant snow fall of the winter season. I couldn’t tell for certain, being bleary eyed and all, but it looked like a couple of inches with more steadily coming down. I leaped back into bed.
I got up just after 5:30am not in any hurry to get up and moving. There wasn’t a need to hurry this AM because I was slated to work from home until 10am. Jacob’s school was having a “late arrival” – a 2 hour delay to the day’s start time. I went about my morning like any other work day completing my exercises and then walking Ykraps. I bundled up well given the wintry conditions. I didn’t think to fetch my snow boots, however, which I regretted immediately out the door. The snow was above shoe level and piling up fast. I knew I’d have to shovel as soon as I got back from our walk so that Mindy wouldn’t slide out of the garage & into the Trooper. Meanwhile, Ykraps struggled in the snow, as he relies almost exclusively on scent to trigger his bows. I worried about that.
Back at home I went inside to retrieve my snow boots from the basement before shoveling. There was about 2.5 inches of accumulation - best guess. By the time I had cleared the entire drive I had to do a repeat passing over Mindy’s side. That’s how hard it was coming down. Back inside it was now 6:20am. I delivered Mindy’s coffee and then turned my focus towards my run. I was looking forward to my first snow run of the season. Plus, the amount & texture of the lying snow was almost perfect for running. It provides a much appreciated cushion. I didn’t bother with eye cover because of the darkness. That was the only draw back of running in the moderately heavy snow fall. Everything else was great! I enjoyed my run immensely. By the time I was back, I needed to shovel the drive once again. There must’ve been another inch or two piled up. Just then Mindy came out asking if I would mind running Bella to her mother’s. I declined reminding her that I was expected to be working from home. There’s certainly no harm in asking, but honestly, I felt a little unappreciated. I reshoveled the drive clearing her path for departure. It wasn’t long before Mindy & Bella were on their way.
I already had my PC fired up and logged on fully before sitting down to eat my already prepared breakfast. Jacob didn’t get up until about 7:45am. He was slow to warm up to the day but eventually did. He was eager to get out in the snow, too. What seven year old wouldn’t? He asked if I would play hockey. I reminded him that I had to work. He understood and instead played with his Gameboy.
I prepped turkey & dumplings in the crock pot and set it to high. Come about 9:25am I headed up for a shower and to ready for work. I decided to warm the Trooper but walk Jacob to the bus stop, still needing to take care of some unfinished business at the house. Meanwhile, the snow was still coming down. The bus arrived around 10:10am. After Jacob was off to school I returned to the house to make last minute preparations for departure. The last thing I did was move the crock pot to low and then left for work.
The drive went fairly well considering the treacherous road conditions and the numerous accident reports. I couldn’t help but wonder why the even held school today. Many folks were complaining of that very thing on the radio. I arrived at work at 1030am. It wasn’t but a blink of an eye later that our staff meeting was slated to begin. Our meeting went until 12:30pm or so. By then pizzas had been delivered into our center like they often are under such hazardous conditions. I couldn’t resist. I decided to enjoy some pizza and save my packed lunch for tomorrow.
The snow finally let up around 1pm. Meanwhile, workwise, we were busier than ever. I stayed focused on the task at hand until 5:20pm when I finally called it a day. For the first time all season, I felt as if I were thrust into the middle of winter as I descended on my car. It was brutally cold, windy, and snow covered. I warmed the Trooper all the while assisting a female engineer with her ended up with broken wipers. Another buddy, Bill G., volunteered to follow her to Wal-Mart to help her get new ones. I headed on home.
Earlier, I had asked Mindy to avoid pulling into the garage until I had a chance shovel the drive once more. She did one better. She shoveled the drive and walks. I was pleased to learn that when I arrived home. In addition, she had walked Ykraps too. I later learned that neighbor Kenny brought his snow blower by to help out. He’s a wonderful neighbor.
Inside our turkey & dumplings were done and simmering in the crock pot. In the end, I probably should’ve moved the temperature setting to warm before I left as the consistency was much thicker than desired. When I left the house earlier it was perfect. Oh well! Mindy whipped up some instant potatoes, too. Together with the turkey and dumplings, they made for a great meal. We both had two helpings. Jacob, I forgot to mention, was with his dad. Bella, not feeling especially well, decided to forego “daddy night”. She’s exhibited some of the same cold symptoms as me. Neither one of us gets sick that often.
This was a choir night. Soon Mindy was off to choir practice leaving Bella and I alone until Jacob returned. During that time, we looked at pictures and lounged around. She told me that I could take a nap. But just the thought of Bella roaming the house unattended was more than enough stimulation to keep me awake! Jacob returned home just after 7:30pm. Jim’s drop was brief as he cited the need to hurry off to a hair appointment.
I coaxed the children upstairs for PJ time with the reward being extra playtime. For Jacob that meant hockey time! Hey, whatever works! They were in their PJ’s and had their teeth brushed quickly. It wasn’t long before we were in the basement playing hockey. I won all three games, but Jacob is getting much better. The game and competition is fun!
Mindy returned home around 8:30pm. By then the kids and I were back upstairs addressing some laundry chores. Bella folded the two white loads. I moved my running clothes to the dryer. I had to refold most of the whites but I was impressed that she even attempted to help. Must be in her genes!
By the time the kids got to bed it was 9pm, and even then they didn’t go directly to sleep. This is a growing trend. Ready to relax, I pulled an ice-cold pumpkin ale from the fridge and sat down on the family room floor. I was gonna build a fire but didn’t. Instead, I turned on the TV and flipped through the guide looking for some comedy. I saw that back to back episodes of South Park were slated to begin come 9:30pm. I decided to DVR them both, and then tuned to Larry the Cable Guy’s Xmas special. It was only marginally funny. While I sat numb watching TV, Mindy was off playing on the PC, or so I assumed. I didn’t see her until she came in to say good night. I stayed up only a while longer. I was in bed by 1030pm.
I got up just after 5:30am not in any hurry to get up and moving. There wasn’t a need to hurry this AM because I was slated to work from home until 10am. Jacob’s school was having a “late arrival” – a 2 hour delay to the day’s start time. I went about my morning like any other work day completing my exercises and then walking Ykraps. I bundled up well given the wintry conditions. I didn’t think to fetch my snow boots, however, which I regretted immediately out the door. The snow was above shoe level and piling up fast. I knew I’d have to shovel as soon as I got back from our walk so that Mindy wouldn’t slide out of the garage & into the Trooper. Meanwhile, Ykraps struggled in the snow, as he relies almost exclusively on scent to trigger his bows. I worried about that.
Back at home I went inside to retrieve my snow boots from the basement before shoveling. There was about 2.5 inches of accumulation - best guess. By the time I had cleared the entire drive I had to do a repeat passing over Mindy’s side. That’s how hard it was coming down. Back inside it was now 6:20am. I delivered Mindy’s coffee and then turned my focus towards my run. I was looking forward to my first snow run of the season. Plus, the amount & texture of the lying snow was almost perfect for running. It provides a much appreciated cushion. I didn’t bother with eye cover because of the darkness. That was the only draw back of running in the moderately heavy snow fall. Everything else was great! I enjoyed my run immensely. By the time I was back, I needed to shovel the drive once again. There must’ve been another inch or two piled up. Just then Mindy came out asking if I would mind running Bella to her mother’s. I declined reminding her that I was expected to be working from home. There’s certainly no harm in asking, but honestly, I felt a little unappreciated. I reshoveled the drive clearing her path for departure. It wasn’t long before Mindy & Bella were on their way.
I already had my PC fired up and logged on fully before sitting down to eat my already prepared breakfast. Jacob didn’t get up until about 7:45am. He was slow to warm up to the day but eventually did. He was eager to get out in the snow, too. What seven year old wouldn’t? He asked if I would play hockey. I reminded him that I had to work. He understood and instead played with his Gameboy.
I prepped turkey & dumplings in the crock pot and set it to high. Come about 9:25am I headed up for a shower and to ready for work. I decided to warm the Trooper but walk Jacob to the bus stop, still needing to take care of some unfinished business at the house. Meanwhile, the snow was still coming down. The bus arrived around 10:10am. After Jacob was off to school I returned to the house to make last minute preparations for departure. The last thing I did was move the crock pot to low and then left for work.
The drive went fairly well considering the treacherous road conditions and the numerous accident reports. I couldn’t help but wonder why the even held school today. Many folks were complaining of that very thing on the radio. I arrived at work at 1030am. It wasn’t but a blink of an eye later that our staff meeting was slated to begin. Our meeting went until 12:30pm or so. By then pizzas had been delivered into our center like they often are under such hazardous conditions. I couldn’t resist. I decided to enjoy some pizza and save my packed lunch for tomorrow.
The snow finally let up around 1pm. Meanwhile, workwise, we were busier than ever. I stayed focused on the task at hand until 5:20pm when I finally called it a day. For the first time all season, I felt as if I were thrust into the middle of winter as I descended on my car. It was brutally cold, windy, and snow covered. I warmed the Trooper all the while assisting a female engineer with her ended up with broken wipers. Another buddy, Bill G., volunteered to follow her to Wal-Mart to help her get new ones. I headed on home.
Earlier, I had asked Mindy to avoid pulling into the garage until I had a chance shovel the drive once more. She did one better. She shoveled the drive and walks. I was pleased to learn that when I arrived home. In addition, she had walked Ykraps too. I later learned that neighbor Kenny brought his snow blower by to help out. He’s a wonderful neighbor.
Inside our turkey & dumplings were done and simmering in the crock pot. In the end, I probably should’ve moved the temperature setting to warm before I left as the consistency was much thicker than desired. When I left the house earlier it was perfect. Oh well! Mindy whipped up some instant potatoes, too. Together with the turkey and dumplings, they made for a great meal. We both had two helpings. Jacob, I forgot to mention, was with his dad. Bella, not feeling especially well, decided to forego “daddy night”. She’s exhibited some of the same cold symptoms as me. Neither one of us gets sick that often.
This was a choir night. Soon Mindy was off to choir practice leaving Bella and I alone until Jacob returned. During that time, we looked at pictures and lounged around. She told me that I could take a nap. But just the thought of Bella roaming the house unattended was more than enough stimulation to keep me awake! Jacob returned home just after 7:30pm. Jim’s drop was brief as he cited the need to hurry off to a hair appointment.
I coaxed the children upstairs for PJ time with the reward being extra playtime. For Jacob that meant hockey time! Hey, whatever works! They were in their PJ’s and had their teeth brushed quickly. It wasn’t long before we were in the basement playing hockey. I won all three games, but Jacob is getting much better. The game and competition is fun!
Mindy returned home around 8:30pm. By then the kids and I were back upstairs addressing some laundry chores. Bella folded the two white loads. I moved my running clothes to the dryer. I had to refold most of the whites but I was impressed that she even attempted to help. Must be in her genes!
By the time the kids got to bed it was 9pm, and even then they didn’t go directly to sleep. This is a growing trend. Ready to relax, I pulled an ice-cold pumpkin ale from the fridge and sat down on the family room floor. I was gonna build a fire but didn’t. Instead, I turned on the TV and flipped through the guide looking for some comedy. I saw that back to back episodes of South Park were slated to begin come 9:30pm. I decided to DVR them both, and then tuned to Larry the Cable Guy’s Xmas special. It was only marginally funny. While I sat numb watching TV, Mindy was off playing on the PC, or so I assumed. I didn’t see her until she came in to say good night. I stayed up only a while longer. I was in bed by 1030pm.
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