cold

Sorry About the Weather, It’s My Fault

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An Adirondack chair under a grape arbor in the snow

Ice, snow and freezing temperatures are all part of my birthday tradition.

The weather is really awful for most of the U.S. today, and I take full responsibility for it. If you go back through history you’ll see a long line of snow and ice storms and mind numbing cold temperatures on January 28th (plus or minus about 5 days). I can confirm this phenomenon has gone on since the 1970’s. How do I know? It’s my birthday.

I was born during a deep freeze, just after a snow storm. As a kid nearly every one of my birthday parties was rescheduled at least once because of the weather. One party wasn’t held until March because a pipe burst at the restaurant and there was major damage.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, “But it’s the end of January ~ of course the weather’s going to be bad!” You have a point. But, if we were to schedule a birthday get-together two weeks after my actual birthday, the weather will be bad that day too. I have years of facts to back me up on this.

So I apologize for any inconvenience I’ve caused. Trust me, I would put an end to this craziness if I could. The best I can do is hope you all stay safe and warm.

On a slightly related note, one year ago today I said I was looking at making some changes. Then things changed a hell of a lot more than I planned. They aren’t done yet, but I think I’ve got a little better idea where they’re going. Thanks to all of those who’ve hung around over the last year. Stick around to see what happens next.

It’s Electrifying

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On Wednesday night the power at might house went out. Now I’ve been through more power outages than I are to remember, but this one seemed to be the worst I can remember. It was cold folks. Really cold.

Add to it that early in the Fridge Fest, just when it go to really freaking dark, trees in the neighborhood started to come down. Here’s an aftermath picture of my next door neighbor’s car.

Tree Branches & Cars Cannot Be Friends

Large branch laying across a car

My husband and I went out when it happened, just after 9 PM, to do what we could to help. Originally the very large tree branch laid  across the road too! Another neighbor had a small chainsaw so we were able to cut up the tree enough to clear the street so that vehicles could get through. It was really eerie standing in the quite darkness of the neighborhood hearing the cracking sounds of wood splitting as trees and branches feel in the wooded area behind the row of houses, and in yards we couldn’t see in the darkness.

It was just under 24 hours until the power returned. And it was a long 23.5 hours at that. We managed to get dug out, gawked at some of the houses in the neighborhood where trees were now in places that trees do just not belong, and found heat in a local mall.

When we got home the house was cold. 51 degrees as a matter of fact. It could have been worse, and there are other neighborhoods not far from ours that are still without power – boy do I feel for them. It’s a really damp cold. Snow feel for a long time, and fell again this morning. It’s the kind of cold that get’s inside you and takes you a long time to warm up from.

It makes you appreciate just how spoiled we are. Most of can walk into a room, flick the light switch, and have light. If we get cold we can turn the heat up. I will gladly admit that like to be spoiled. Very, very spoiled.