Fleeting snow
Sat Mar 09 2002

To my childrens joy we had snow last night and this morning.

To their chagrin school was neither late or cancelled.

It is so seldom that we get snow here. When we do see a few flakes falling, the entire region panics. We see the news breaking into whatever show is on, warning everyone of SNOW WATCH 2002. The ones I like are BLIZZARD 2002, for minor snowfall and almost zero accumulation.

Work places close early, schools are cancelled or delayed, people panic and rush to the grocery store to stock up on food and water for when they are trapped in their homes by the 1/4" of snow on the ground.

A small flurry of snow that melts immediately on impact causes traffic back-ups and numerous accidents. Mind you, the roads are not necessarily slick, people just feel the need to drive their cars into trees, guard rails and other cars when it snows. (I believe it is a regional character flaw.)

Surprisingly when the weather does this, and the people complain about the hazardous driving conditions, pizza delivery seems to abound. I saw more Domino's deliveries in the past couple days than I have in weeks! I sure do hope those drivers get frequent flier miles or something.

While the adults are in a state of panic, children and dogs are in a state of joy. The kids in my neighborhood even managed to have a snow ball fight. Well, it was more of a very cold mud ball fight, but they were happy and oblivious to the fact that there was more mud than snow in the balls. One neighbor even built a mud man. complete with carrot nose, scarf and hat. I couldn't tell if it had eyes or not.

My dogs seem to feel that snow is cause for zoomies. If you do not have a dog, and have never experienced zoomies, you don't know what you are missing. Picture this:
Small house
unfenced back yard
12' X 18' dog run

Now in that picture, put one 160 pound Dane who thinks he is still a lap dog sized puppy, and one 115 pound Dane who (under normal circumstances) is very lady like.

Visualize these two dogs zooming around the dog run, and the inside of the house like sugar crazed children, complete with tongue lolling out of the mouth, and eyes wide open with glee. Oh yea, with the smaller dog barking non-stop at the bigger dog as if to tell him to calm down so she has more room to run.

Now put that all together in a place in the immediate vicinity of Hunkka-hunkka Hubby trying to do homework on a project that was due tonight.

Laissez le bon roulement de périodes!

10 Comments
  • From:
    Emptygirl (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Mar 09 2002
    Love your commentary on snow days! Thanks for sharing and conjuring up some beautiful and funny imagery, and happy thoughts for the night. Take care and enjoy!
  • From:
    PixieThin (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Mar 09 2002
    I am from Michigan, and the highest sales night for pizza there is Christmas Eve, when there is usually snow on the ground and snow falling. Selfishness, pure and simple, but oh, that ooey gooey cheese on a cold night!
  • From:
    Paladin (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Mar 09 2002
    I think that my favorite song of his is "Weekend in New England". Have you heard it?
  • From:
    Angelstar25 (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Mar 09 2002
    Dear Alli, Hiaks always enjoy your elaboration towards situation in your surrounding. Guess I'll never have a chance to experience Yuki (snow) for as long as I stayed in this region of Asia. Enjoy ur Mud-snow land. Chao :)
  • From:
    Nettie (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Mar 09 2002
    Man, I *wish* we got "Snow Days", but being from Canada.. well... we're kinda used to it.. :-( We've got TOO much snow! I'm ready for SPRING!!
  • From:
    Salamander (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Mar 09 2002
    Please tell me you got a picture of the smudman! That really needs to be saved for posterity!
  • From:
    Nettie (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Mar 09 2002
    Totally agree with you about the "squabbling children"... it's just very sad...
  • From:
    Salamander (Legacy)
    On:
    Sat Mar 09 2002
    ALLI! "Smud" - man : Snow/Mud man!!!!!!!!!

    I'm gonna tell Hugh what you said! (grin)

    The kids are way cute, by the way. But then, I suspect you already knew that!
  • From:
    Melange (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Mar 10 2002
    160 pound dog? That sure made me smile over my little 1.1 pound baby *smile*. Your entry picture is really cute.
  • From:
    TxSweets (Legacy)
    On:
    Sun Mar 10 2002
    Oooohhh! I always wanted a boy! *sigh* Guess that'll have to wait until NEXT lifetime.... *L*