For All Those Dreaming of a White Christmas
Tonight is are Christmas program at school. Tomorrow is the last day before Christmas Break (with all the elementary parties, and festivities in all parts of the building).One of my duties as administrator is rising early
when we're in a storm warning (and we're in a doozy of a storm warning that begins tonight) to determine whether or not we'll have school.So far this year, we have not cancelled school once. Of all the days to have a snow day--I'm sure there will be kids begging that we
not close school because of all those parties, etc. The teachers and staff also have a nice lunchean planned, but you remember what Robert Burns said about "the best laid plans of mice and men..." I wonder what tomorrow holds. Hmm...If you live in the band shown above, stock up on "stuff" and drive safely if you have to go out. We live just above the "I" in "Ice" in the second picture, and my daughter has to travel home from Chicago (the "&" between "snow & Ice" in 2nd picture) Friday morning right in the middle of the blizzard. I'm going to try to get her home tonight somehow. [Didn't happen...but she's safe as she and a carload of friends wait for the "right time" to make that hairpin treck down and back up around the southern tip of Lake Michigan.]
UPDATE EARLY FRIDAY MORNING: I just got up and canceled school today. It was a no brainer (with lots of company from the other districts to make it even easier). This last image is not a forecast but the actual event. Early this morning at 1:00 the snow had not started, but by 5:00 the forecasts were proven on track.Update Friday Night: Kim's home from Chicago--safe and sound. Now we can enjoy the snow.
One thing's certain: Looks like we'll have a White Christmas .
.
See Chapter 10B in post below; Chapter 11 coming...
posted by .Tom Kapanka | 7:34 AM
10 Comments:
In looking at your pictures of the "fronts" going through...you are nearly straight across the lake from me..and maybe a tad bit north. We used to say we lived in the "banana belt" of the mid-west as alot of the really bad stuff seemed to miss us by being to the north OR to the south of us and we'd get either nothing of the "ick" or a much milder hit. Not so much anymore. Last winter seemed to change that and now we do seem to be following what the Farmer's Almanac was saying all along...that we'd match last winter's snow/cold. We had a record amount of snow of over 100"!!! My DH and I are nearing retirement and depending on our personaly economy and alot of things...we're thinking of actually moving to Florida. I'd never have thought it!!!! But it could be true...but not for another year or two or three. We'll see. I guess I should begin a blog and record the events as they unfold.
Hope your best-laid plans don't fold Tom and that "daughter" arrives safely and the kids/teachers have their parties!!
Merry Christmas!
WSL
Hi WSL,
I remember last year you tended to get the same stuff a few hours before us.
Well, it hit. I got up at five when our snow plow guy called to say the parking lot that he was trying to plow kept closing shut behind him and he thought it best to shut down his plowing efforts until the snow stopped. That was a helpful sign in making a decision. So I started calling the local networks to cancel. I don't think anyone will be open today by the time kids wake up.
We did not succeed at getting our daughter out of Chicago, but we did arrange a plan "B" for housing through Saturday if the roads oar not safe by Friday afternoon. I'd rather have her here now, but she is in good company with a half-dozen freinds from her college downtown there, and we're in constant touch via cell phone--it'll be an adventure. She's like that. (This is Kim who wrote the book about the pollywog and tadpole.)
I'm sure you're getting piled under drifts, too. Enjoy your white Christmas!
Well we won't be needing to dream about having a white Christmas!!! The stuff didn't get here until around mid-night, maybe a bit earlier...as I was up at 12:15-ish and it was coming down pretty good and there was already an accumulation. Everything is pretty much closed here...though they say that the ending is in site from S.W. Wisconsin AND that places like the malls will open later. We probably got our 10" that was forcasted!!
I'm so sorry your daughter didn't get out of Chi-town! The news said they had freezing rain there along with the snow so Plan B was probably a good one! Safety first!!!
My DH has already blown the drive and walks BUT isn't going to woke...he drives 30 minutes east of here over country roads AND I'm sure it's not good driving conditions! He went for a paper and said hardly any cars were out (we live in town) and we notice our neighborhood is very, very quiet. Noone has been out blowing snow and very little traffic on the streets.
Have yourself a good weekend AND a blessed Christmas holiday season. Do you check Jody's Facebook?? If so, you'd see me there as one of her "friends"!!! (hint, hint) Tomrrow is her birthday AND I already sent her good wishes!!!
WSL
Well, have a very happy, blessed and safe Christmas.
I just came in from sno-blowing our driveway. I'd say we have a good 12" and it's still coming down. (We may have had some "lake effect snow" added to what came over from your side of the lake.)
Kim and her carload may come home this afternoon--if road conditions are acceptable. Otherwise they're staying until Saturday morning.
But as you know, they've called this a parade of storms and the second "band" is coming from South Dakota even as we speak. Supposed to hit Saturday evening.
If it we're for the travel involved, it would just be a cozy situation. My family loves being together in the snow. So once the together part is accomplished, this will be fine with us. =)
I think I asked you this before is DH "Dear husband" (or "designated hitter--as in baseball"... or "don't hurry" or "darling handyman" or "delusional hypnotist" or... Oh, alright. I'll stop.) Whatever it stands for, I’m glad he got to stay home with you in this blizzard.
LGS,
We must have just crossed paths in the comment section. You have a great Christmas, too, my friend.
Tom
Lucky you... I know you will enjoy the snow a lot more once Kim gets home. You just can't feel settled until all the chicks are back in the nest.
I am envious... I'll repent later! hehe I just love snow.
I'll say extra prayers for safe travels.
It was 72 here yesterday and the high 60's today. I'm pretty sure there will be no white Christmas here. I only remember one and it was mostly ice.
ENJOY!
Pshaw to Nancy re: the nice temps! But I'm just jealous!!! As she says..I too will repent later! What we don't have, we wish we had...the human-ness in us, I'd say!
LOL...POI I chuckled when I saw your puzzled question re: DH! I began to use this from another link I used to be invovled in. I believe it means "dear husband or darling husband"...but what you said, it could be as well I'd say.
At one time he'd be "designated hitter" (he's too old now..LOL). Don't hurry would fit well as well as darling handiman!! He's a keeper despite what it could be!!! :-) I did enjoy having him around today!
It took him 2 hours to blow our snow. We probably got 10 inches...but we don't have the "lake effect" stuff. MORE..much more is in our forcast in the days up through Christmas Eve. I don't mind it now, if we're all here and safe as you say. BUT round about 2/1 I will be quite sick of it if it continues as it has been! Last year's winter was WAY too long!!!
Hope your DD (darling daughter) gets there o.k. and you all can hunker down and enjoy the season!
Ho, ho, ho!!!!
I prefer though that Jesus is THE reason for the Season! :-)
WSL
Nancy,
I do remember some snows in South Carolina. Never too deep but enough to make snowmen on the front campus lawn.
We survived the day and best of all...
Kim got home about 6:00 PM. By then the roads were pretty clear. We had to make a trip to Grand Rapids this afternoon and the roads were aweful. Trucks and cars in the ditch with the drivers still in them helplessly waiting for tow-trucks. I like snow but I don't like driving on roads that suddenly invite you to their white shoulders (isn't there a perfume?--well this is a different kind of white shoulders).
I had to push two people out who were stuck in the snow. Thank heaven for 4-wheel drive.
WSL,
If the forecasts are correct, you'll be getting hit with the second storm Saturday night.
All,
If I get a chance between shoveling and blowing snow, I hope to write another chapter this weekend.
There are "fine" flakes in the air this morning AND it's blowing pretty good out too. The skies are over-cast and yup we're to get blasted again from what we hear.
Read in this morning's paper that to date we've gotten 31" so far, surpassing last years amounts at this time (which were 25+").
Once was traveling (a cruise actually) and over-heard some folks who were from New York or one of the other Eastern states. They were criticising us mid-westerners saying, "ALL they can talk about it the weather!" Guess that's true..in one sense! But I think we have more to offer in conversations that that!! Enough said for now.
Cannot wait to read the next chapter/installment!!! :-)
WSL
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