beautiful...

Snow.

Precious, beautiful snow!  My Pennsylvania heart is over flowing.  It might be in my blood to love HUGE amounts of snow.  Especially as I have hardly ever lived in Pennsylvania (I will always claim it as my own though).

Oddly, by Pennsylvania standards, this is probably just a dusting.  By Missouri standards, well... The shops didn't need to worry about food spoiling when they closed yesterday.  It was all wiped clean, a complete run on the market so to speak.  I asked Hubs to grab some eggs and dog treats yesterday.  Because I'd used the last and finally had a day to rest, I might make eggs for breakfast. 

I didn't think that was going to be a major undertaking, I mean, 10 minutes tops... right?  WRONG!  He sent me pictures from the store.  Black Friday had nothing on folks that faced the potential to be home bound for 24 - 48 hours.  Suffice it to say we might not eat at home enough as a population if that was any indication.  My response to the pictures was ah heck no, we don't need eggs that bad, I can make something else for breakfast, go home.  His response?  No way!  I have been standing in this line for 45 minutes!!

What?

That alone perplexed me.  I hadn't attempted to leave work yet.  We closed early, but myself and two of my team couldn't leave right away.  We had friends that didn't feel our safety on the road was important.  Let's leave it at youth today are not being brought up right, and there are some parents that need to start being a bit more involved with them.

Going home was Stress 101. I am sure that I might have earned a degree in that one last night. By the time I was able to leave almost all the highways were closed due to accidents and the side roads were very greasy.  It wasn't a huge amount of snow maybe 3 or 4 inches tops, but the city as a whole might have been caught with their pants down.  The front was moving in faster than anticipated and accumulating far faster than anyone expected.  MODOT was doing their best, but let's be serious here folks. It's hard to plow and salt when everyone waits until the last minute to close and thousands of people are trying to follow the rules and get home and off the roads.

Don't forget to add in the fact that most of the younger drivers around here haven't really had a snow event in their driving lifetimes.  Probably 90% of those that were off the road, spun out, in accidents etc last night that I saw had in all likelihood not driven on snow in those amounts in their lives. Or were just plain silly.  And by silly I mean it was probably not a good night to take your corvette for a spin and pick up trucks do not like snow, unless they are carrying a full load in the bed - even 4 wheel drives.  At least not in my experience and last night definitely drove it home.  It's also a good time to not be texting and driving.  Particularly on icy, slipper hills.

The number of cars abandoned, people literally leaving them in the middle of the road and leaving was mind boggling. It wasn't a blizzard.  And if folks had simply been patient and driven slowly and persistently, paying attention... I personally feel there wouldn't have been people still stuck on highways this morning.  And there are.  Truck drivers that have stalled and broken down on the highways have opted to climb into the beds and sleep.  Fair enough, except for the folks that are stranded because of your truck blocking the way and when your "rescue" comes they can't wake you up to move your truck.  Tad self-centered in my opinion. 

My 12 mile drive last night took 3 hours.  I went through parts of this city that I absolutely didn't know existed.  Between my GPS and my Dad's spirit, more than once I felt like I heard a voice say go that way, I managed to find roads that were plowed and uncrowded. My sweet little beetle was able to move around the stranded cars and went right up those steeper hills without fail.  And I only got 3 major scares of being hit, but managed to avoid all of it.  Note to friends driving in the snow for possibly the first time... don't floor it!  You will end up spinning and sliding.

By the time I turned down our cul de sac, which is not on the snow route, I was a bit concerned as the snow was all the way to the bottom of my beetle, she didn't let me down.  Just over 3 hours after walking out the door and starting the journey home I was safe in my garage. Thankful to finally be home. 

I found out later a few of my friends had been trying to get home for over 6 hours.  If I had known earlier I would have reached out and told them to head to my house - it was closer to where they were.  We could have shared a fire and dinner.

That is what I walked into the door to.  Hubs had made me a fire, there was a pot of bubbling beef soup and a jack and coke.  I definitely felt loved when I finally made it in the door.

Upon climbing out of bed early this morning I saw the snow had stopped, at least for a bit, it's falling again.  I was a bit annoyed to see the selfish neighbors hadn't headed the request to move all vehicles into driveways for the night (they have a very LONG driveway) so the snowplow's could clear the road.  Hubs and I will definitely have our work cut out for us if anyone is leaving our driveway today.  As will our neighbors, as the plow wasn't able to plow correctly and we have a small hill to move.

I had the pleasure of being yelled at in person, on-line and over the phone yesterday because our association made a decision to close early. Seems a lot of folks got released from work early for their safety and to let them get home and off the roads, which translates into, time to go play.  When I explained that I needed to send my staff team home to safety I was told we were selfish, they were demanding money back for the missed opportunity and basically being jerks. 

I'm confused by people anymore.  The lack of concern and compassion for our fellow humans is unconscionable. The rudeness, the entitled behaviors, the willingness to slip into ignorance and profanity, when did we start sliding down this road?

Shortly I will participate in a call to determine opening times today.  I know my personal thought, but I am a small cog in a big wheel.  We will do what is decided.  I am thankful that I do not need to travel today.  I have a team that is closer to our branch ready to go. 

I agree with MODOT, stay off the roads.  Let us do our jobs.  Truthfully, unless it is a true medical emergency, all of us could stay home for a day.  We could shovel our drives.  Have hot cocoa with the neighbors, build a snowman, sled a hill in our neighborhood, and take long leisurely walks in the beauty of the snow.  Make dinner and simply rest.  I know that not everyone has a fireplace, but if you do, put a log on.  Enjoy the nothingness that a snow blanketed world offers you.  In today's world those days are far too few and far too rare.  Lock out the chaos and enjoy this nature induced micro vacation.

While Hubs watches a movie, cable is out, I am going to sit here drink my coffee, enjoy my fire and candles, watch the huge snowflakes fall on my beautiful patch of woods and do a bit of work.  The peace and quiet will finally allow me to think. And who knows I might finally take down the inside decorations, work last week put me a bit behind.

Unless you have to, stay home, rest and be safe.