closing time

Ohhhh, to relax. Yes, take it in - deep breath - ahhhhh.
How often does that happen?


Snow day number 2, today. For only the second time in 10 years has the daycare closed for an entire day of work. But, for two days in a row? Apparently insane weather must be happening, and we're receiving the benefit of this stormy week by staying home for some snow days! I know, it sounds so enticing and glorious and all things magical that hot chocolate and sledding bring about. But, let me remind you - I'm not in school, I just work there! And so, responsibilities you never had to worry about when meeting your neighbor in the middle of the street to play some winter capture-the-flag, or have a snowball fight, those responsibilities you vaguely remember seeing your mom orchestrate, have come back to haunt you.


Let my lack of going to the gym lately, for instance, not fool you. I have worked out plenty, just not under the roof of an organized facility with weights, treadmills, and meatheads. Aside from walking running and tuckering out with Windsor and all her puppy-antics, Philadelphia has been hit, and hit hard with snow. Just last weekend we got around 20 inches, and then three days later, this Wednesday into Thursday we got another 20 or so. Shoveling 6 cars in less than a week (4 in the past two days), has proven to be very, very tiresome. Back aches are not overrated. But shoveling with guts and glory to get the job done can make the bach ache overlooked. So I am thankful that the past shoveling escapades have not been lonely, either. Whether we were digging out the cars to go to work, or just to break up the day, there have been plenty of neighborhood friends out and about with their (real) shovels doing the same. And fortunately, their efforts keep them motivated enough to come by and assist us, and trust me, I am so grateful! I am proud of the way I can dig out a car, but to do it in half the time, means a lot!


It's eerie to see how stranded we get when a snow like this does occur. Growing up in Maine, I remember most winters with lots of snow. I remember waiting for the school bus one day, standing in about 6 inches, with more snow coming down on us, and our neighbors down the street screaming, "Guess what? School got canceled!" Elated, my sisters and I started our tundra tumble back home which smelled of firewood and chicken soup - only to be cast back to our stop when the boys snickered yelling, "Just kidding!"


Then there was the Ice Storm of '98. Wow, that is a distant memory. We were one of the lucky families on our side of town who only lost power for four days. Others in Maine were without for over two weeks. Sheets of ice just covered every inch around us, and packed down the snow so much that my sisters and I were literally riding bicycles out ON the fields behind our house. Seriously, we have pictures to prove it.


But here in PA, though still a part of the Northeast, the city of Philadelphia and neighboring suburbs are so frequently sans-snow even in the midst of winter, that a New England dusting (1-3 inches) will cause schools to cancel classes and extracirricular activities even the night before the snow accumulates! At first I laughed seeing schools close over such a small amount. I mean it's like your parents tell you how they, "walked uphill both ways in the snow." That's how I feel! And part of this is Maine, or choosing to attend Syracuse where snowfall was not only a season, but a second mascot to Otto the Orange. I mean snow happens, but you deal with it.


So, this morning when I got another phone call about not going into work because of snow, I smiled for two reasons. One, c'mon, Philly we can do this. Second, hey a day off, despite the shoveling, is still a day off. And when you're working full-time no matter what you do, any day to kick up your feet is appreciated. Now we just need to get people around here used to the fact that the groundhog did see his shadow, so we've got about 5 more weeks of this stormy weather! Time to go out and buy that pair of boots and ice scraper you never thought you would need. Until then, time to take Windsor out for a romp in the snow! Love that it is taller than she is, and she couldn't care less. That's what snow days should feel like.