The heavy stuff

Good Morning and, the temperature doesn't matter, it's nice to see the sun.

Way back in the day, I can remember my Dad telling me to take the shovel and help an older neighbor clear the driveway. Being young and stupid, I balked. I still did it, but grumbled all the way through it.
When it was done, I felt very good. When I saw how much he appreciated the help, I knew the complaining was wrong. Sometimes, you just have to do.
Well, anybody who was out there last Thursday and Friday knows that was some heavy snow Mother Nature dumped on us.
I barely got through it Thursday, wondering why I didn't get the snow blower at that yard sale last year.
After clearing off the driveway and sidewalk, I was ready for a nap. Two hours later, I was ready to drive to Arizona.
After shoveling again Friday, clearing my drive and helping the neighbors on either side, I was ready for another nap (maybe a hibernation?). I looked across the street and saw an older man and his wife getting ready to shovel.
So, I grabbed the boys off the computers and told them to go help.
Of course, they balked. We argued. They went over.
An hour later, after helping clear two cars and a that stuff the plow left blocking the street, they came back in dog tired.
"Thanks Dad," one said, "that felt great."

That drive and those drivers

Good Morning and let's start dreaming about spring!

So, I know my vehicle (Mazda MPV) is not real good in the snow. I slide around a bit and have trouble getting up snow-covered hills.
Still, I stayed at work until about noon yesterday, thinking the roads wouldn't be so bad.
Of course, I was wrong. Anybody who drove anywhere yesterday knows it was tough going. The weather hit quick and lasted forever.
I had to get home, though. I once stayed all night at the office and, well, it wasn't much fun.
So, I reached Garrett Road pretty easy (there was some sliding heading up the hill at Springfield Road, but I was able to keep it moving.
It was OK until it was time to get back up the hill on Garrett Road. The tires were spinning, but the van was barely moving.
I knew from past practice I'd make it up the hill, but it might take a little bit.
Of course, the drivers behind were not patient. A couple went around me on the shoulder. One (OK, I'll be nice) driver, decided to stop next to me on the hill, open his window and start cursing about my slow pursuit of the hill.
My question is: What was I supposed to do?
Leave the vehicle on the road? Slide backward? Jump out and push?
Look, it is frustrating when the van didn't move. Believe me, it was more frustrating inside than out.
How about we all calm down a bit.

Great, now get out of the aisle

Good Morning and how about that winter!

So, I don't mind doing my food shopping. Sometimes, it's fun to walk down the aisles and check things out.
It's just that I don't understand people.
Case in point: Last Thursday evening, I was in the Giant in Havertown. I had my cart and my list.
Now, the store wasn't packed with people, but there were enough around.
In aisle 4, somebody left their cart in the middle while they checked out the chips. I enjoy looking for new things as much as the next person, but, come on, you have to leave the cart in the middle of the aisle? You couldn't move it off to the side? It was too much work?
Two aisles later, a couple of customers who hadn't seen each other in a day or so (my guess) decided it was a good time to chat while they blocked the way with their carts. It's not like they couldn't move to the end where there was enough room. It's not like they couldn't have put both their carts on one side while they chatted about cats.
No, they had to stand side-by-side.
I said, "Excuse me, I'm trying to get through."
As I squeezed past, I heard one shopper say to another: "Gee, some people are always in a hurry."
I think I'm going to start shopping at 2 in the morning.

Ugh and double Ugh

Good Morning and, OK, let's just call it winter.

I had a great idea to write about today. I had it all planned out. I had searched up some cool videos to back up my point. I was going to end with some good music.
Then I got the alert: "SCHOOLS CLOSED TODAY!!!!!"
(OK, I might have added a little punctuation.)
I'm not so old enough that I don't remember snow days.
Looking out the window and seeing unpassable roads was like my little slice of heaven.
I remember spending the whole day out in the snow sledding and building snowmen.
Of course, that was before I had to work full time or drive or make sure there was enough toilet paper in the house.
Oh well, time to make the best of it. Pass the hot chocolate.

Great, Big Thank You

Good Morning and, sure the snow looks nice, but come on?

There are many reasons I do not like winter weather.
The major reason is it seems to be my luck it always hits when I am at work.
Now, on the surface, that might not seem so bad. What's the difference if you are safe at work or safe at home? Yeah, OK, that's one thing.
It cuts even deeper than having to slog through our parking lot.
I always get nervous about shoveling. The last thing I (or anybody I think) want to do is work all day, then get home to shovel. Especially when I'm working on a Sunday and I just know the rest of neighborhood was out hours earlier clearing the sidewalks.
So, that was on the top of my head while I sat in the office and watched the snow fall yesterday. I figured I was here until late into the night, because it was a better option than driving in the mess (not to mention the mess of Delco drivers).
As I pulled onto Providence road at about 10 p.m. (took a good 30 minutes to clear the car after sitting all day), I figured I'd have to get home and pull on the boots.
By then the roads were certainly passable, so it didn't take that long to get home. As I pulled in front of the house, I couldn't help but smile.
My great neighbors had cleaned off the sidewalk.
I thought I lived in a great neighborhood, now I know for sure.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
The next one's on me.
Of course, I'll probably be at work when it hits...

Rise and Shine --- Ice, Ice, Baby

Good Morning and it's almost here!

You know, I'm not a big fan of the snow. I really don't like being cold. Yeah, I have a pretty good winter coat that keeps me warm, but I don't usually get into running around during the winter.
Give me the spring and a baseball. Give me the summer with a Frisbee. Give me the fall with a football.
Like a bear, I'd rather just sleep through the whole winter. Wake me up when the flowers start to bloom.
A few weeks ago, I won passes to Sno Mountain in the Poconos. I asked the group if they wanted to do some snow tubing. The answer was the typical: "I don't know."
So, to me, that was a challenge. We were going to do it. We pulled out the boots, hats and gloves then made the long trip to the Poconos this past weekend (yeah, we cut it kind of close).
Luckily, the spring-like weather kept a lot of people off the mountain, so we didn't have to wait very long to get to the top and then to the top of the line.
Tell you what, it was liberating. After a winter of uncertainties, it was nice to just let loose.
Sure, it only took a couple of seconds to get down the slope, but it was awesome. Just let go, feel the air and speed.
OK, maybe it's a short thing, but I think we'll be heading back next winter.

Rise and Shine --- Give snow a break

For the last two days, we've been hearing about this 'WINTER STORM' that is supposed to be around the area today.
"Watch out," we were warned from the talking heads, "this is going to get nasty. Winds. Rain. SNOW."
This morning, I woke up and looked out the window. Nothing on the streets. Nothing on the car. Nothing on the lawn.
OK, I thought, maybe it's just a little late.
Got into the office and turned on the morning news programs.
I was hit over the head with "Team Coverage" of the winter storm. One guy was standing on the street talking about how it was so dry out there.
Now, I don't blame these people. They are just doing the bidding of some higher power.
It's to the higher power I am pleading.
Please stop this dumb storm coverage stuff. To say you have "Team Coverage" on something that might just leave a coating on the ground makes your whole staff look stupid.
It's not like we don't overblow some things, but, come on, to have your reporter ask an official if they expect any delays when it's no more than a little mist, well, one can only laugh.
Or cry.

Rise and Shine --- 'Smart' people

Good Morning and have we had enough award shows already or what?

You know, it's really amazing how, well you never want to call anybody stupid, but if the shoe fits: Man checks into jail with joints sewn in underwear
Who out there thinks this is a good idea and how exactly do you sew joints in your underwear? I mean, won't they break apart when you sit down? This guy's probably been in trouble before, so he must know there's going to be a pat down heading into prison.
Then again, we see this kind of thing all the time.
For instance, have you been driving during one of these snow storms only to have some 'smart' driver pull right up to your bumper.
Happened to me last week while the snow was coming down. While making the normal afternoon school run, we were sliding down an unplowed side street. All of a sudden, this other car comes flying up behind. Slams on the breaks, then starts honking the horn and yelling to hurry up.
Sure, buddy, now get off the road before you need new underwear.

Rise and Shine --- Looks out a window

Good Morning and keep the heater on!

So, for all you Eagles fans out there who were dreaming about going to a Super Bowl this year, uh, your team wasn't nearly as good as the four who played yesterday.
How's this for an early prediction: Expect another parade in Pittsburgh in a couple of weeks.
Speaking of predictions, let's get on these weather yahoos a little bit. Now, we know they like to pump up the possibility of snow. Nothing brings in ratings (or page views) like the prediction of a storm.
"Be Careful," they tell us. "It's going to a be a nasty commute. The morning is going to be a mess. Snow, ice, snow, snow, snow."
People get caught up in the craziness. Last week, we had it twice. There was supposed to be a lot of ice and snow Tuesday morning. OK, there was some, but it didn't cripple the area.
Then it was supposed to come again Thursday. This time, it was nothing more than a coating on the sidewalks.
Then the schools get caught up. Parents (rightly) want to know about closings or delays as early as possible so they can set up the day (either take it off from work or try to find some kind of childcare). So, a dire prediction doesn't give the officials much time to react.
Last week, most schools called for Thursday delays even though it turned out to be much ado about nothing.
There's no way to get away from all the weather, so the best predictor is your own eyes. Unless, of course, Grandma has a trick knee.

Rise and Shine --- Ice, Ice, Baby

Good Morning and welcome to one of those days you wish you could just stay in bed!

I remember the winter of 1992-93, the worst winter in history (well, OK, maybe not, but it was still bad). Instead of snow, we had freezing rain and ice seemingly every day.
The ice was sometimes so thick on the cars it seemed like you would need a hammer and chisel to knock it off.
Even the old trick of starting the car and putting on the defroster only meant you wasted gas for a half hour (of course, gas was like a dollar a gallon, so there).
Every time I hear a weather report calling for ice, I remember back to those days of sliding into work. There was no getting around it.
Hopefully, today's strange, crunchy snow isn't what we are going to be seeing for the rest of the winter.

Rise and Shine --- Take that

Good Morning and welcome to the winter wonderland!

You know, I overheard the best description of snow while waiting outside of school the other day:
"You know what snow is?" asked a second-grader to his preschool sister.
"Snowman poop."

I remember when snow used to be fun, of course that was before I had to worry about driving through icy, slushy roads to get to work.
So, when does that disconnect happen? When you get old enough to drive? When you start working? When you have to worry about schedules for school delays or closings?
I don't think I really started hating winter weather until 1992 when we seemed to have an ice storm every other day.
Last year's snow after snow after snow sealed the deal.
This year, well, we've lucked out. This stuff isn't real heavy and, once the plows go through, the roads are fine.
Still, bring on spring!

Rise and Shine --- Baby, it's cold outside

Good Morning and welcome to a warm cup of tea for your computer screen!

Anybody who's walked outside yet this morning (or yesterday morning or the day before) has noticed the decided chill that has dropped upon us.
I hadn't realized Pennsylvania had been annexed by Canada, but, at least we'll have better beer.
Beyond that, why do we have to have such extremes? During the summer, we practically melted from the heat, then, without much transition, the bitter cold was upon us.
I understand it's the Northeast and we have to get used to the cold, but I for one wouldn't mind if these bitter numbers waited until February.
Anyway, while going through the Internet yesterday, I stumbled upon an article entitled "10 things I love about winter.
While they are all good, sometimes I think things we love about winter become overshadowed by what we hate.
So, as a balance, I give you things to hate about winter:
1. The price of heat. Sure, we need to keep warm, but be it oil or gas, the price keeps climbing and climbing. It might not be as high as three years ago, but we are approaching that point. It's kind of tough to budget in $300 a month just so you can have some hot water.
2. Snow. Snow. Snow. It looks pretty coming down. There seems to be a sense of calmness while snow piles up on the trees and grass. Then comes the part we all hate: getting out that shovel. Not one person out there can claim to like shoveling. It's something we have to do. We do it while everybody else is sledding and making snowpeople. Why is it always heavy?
4. Getting up on a cold morning. OK, so you've spent the money for the heat. You've added extra blankets to the bed. You've settled down for a long winter's nap, when, what do you ears do you hear, but the incessant buzzing of the stupid alarm. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. OK, OK, I'll get up, but it's so warm and comfy under these covers. Every morning is the same. By the way, it's worse when you have to get up before the sun.
5. Warm weather vacations. Face it, the closest most of us will get to a beach this winter is when watching Hawaii-50. We are paying all the bills, getting through the holidays then spending the rest to make sure nobody has to wear their winter coats inside. Vacations? Warm destination? Only when I close my eyes.
Well, there's five. Have to go out and find the shovel now.

Rise and Shine --- It's not cold. It's Halloween.

Good Morning and welcome to November!

Yes, it's November. Yes, the year is going too quickly. Yes, it's getting chilly outside.
Last night, it was downright cold. For some reason, though, the cold didn't seem to matter to some. It could have been blowing snow and sleet, but, on Halloween anyway, the cold was just a minor nusience.

So, after opening the door for the first trick-or-treater, it became obvious I had to pull on the jacket and the sweater.
Then, I looked over to the Spider Princess and said, "It's cold outside. You might want to put some long pants on under your dress."
"Daddy," the princess, ruffling her nose, said. "It's not cold. It's Halloween."
Knowing it was a battle I wasn't going to win at that moment, I retreated.
"OK, sweetie. But if you get cold while walking around, remember I told you to put long pants on."
The princess didn't care. So, along with a detective, a Clone Trooper and a techno rocker, the search for candy was on. After the second stop at home to clear the bags, it was time to take a break.
Taking a break on Halloween meant eating some of the candy while trying to get trick-or-treaters to come over.
About an hour later, I figured I would ask the question. "Hey, ready to put on some long pants? The dress is nice, but you must be getting cold."
In a voice only a 5-year old going on 13 can muster came the replay.
"Daddy. I told you. It's not cold, it's Halloween. Can we go walk around again?"

Rise and Shine --- What weather?

Good Morning and once again I wasn't chosen for Dancing with the Stars!?!

Once December hits, there's no doubt (thanks to last winter) every chance of snow will turn into a big deal. There will be warnings. There will be panic. There will be plenty of ratings for TV news.
This week, we are hearing about hurricanes. They are coming up the coast. They are threatening to wash out Labor Day weekend. They are conspiring deep in the ocean like two tea party members deciding how a Glen Beck/Sarah Palin presidential ticket would look.
Really, though, it's tough to understand all this weather talk. It's not like we can do anything about it. Just pull out the rain slicker, snow boots or whatever and deal.
Then again, if there were no weathermen we wouldn't have this classic (worth repeating whenever):

Rise and Shine --- Nah, nothing wrong

Good Morning and here's hoping we don't melt today!

So, here we have a report today saying we just went through the hottest June in history.
Anybody who had to peal themselves off the couch yesterday knows we are probably headed for the hottest July in history. Woo Hoo, can't wait until August.
Now, the heat in itself wouldn't be a big deal if we weren't coming off a winter with so much snow we were calling for the heat.
So, here's where we sit. We are a nation of extremes (we're talking weather here not Tea Party).
Still, looking back, it doesn't seem the winter was all so bad. You go out, shovel, go back in, have a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, then craw under a blanket.
The heat, though, is something completely different.
There is only so much you can do besides sitting in an air-conditioned room (something PECO full-heartedly endorses). So far this summer, we've tried the mall, the movies, grandmom's pool, the basement and the Franklin. It all gives a break for a little bit, but the heat comes flying back.
So, I'll leave you with this as I try to figure out if putting ice in underwear is the next, best step:

Rise and Shine --- Whatever..

Good Morning and welcome to Thursday!

There have been a lot of cool snow creations this winter. We've seen snowpeople in the shapes of Flyers fans and football players. We've seen sculptures that would rival some in art museums. We've seen children building tunnels. We've seen some light up. We've seen many fall down.
Well, a family in New Jersey decided to create a snow Venus de Milo.
It was pretty well done, although not as good as others around the region.
Of course, since we can't do anything anymore without offending somebody, there was a complaint to the police.
The family was forced to dress the sculpture.
Next snow (hopefully not for another 10 years, but that's another story), we should all build naked snow people. Let's give everybody a run.

Rise and Shine --- Cabin Fever

Good Morning and wasn't it nice to not have to shovel this morning!

So, the biggest offshoot of all this snow is school closings.
You know, it's nice a couple of times a winter (once?), to get that extra snow day. It gives students a chance to regroup and just have some fun in the snow.
When we are stretching into a week off, well, it's way too much.
A Facebook from Lansdale says if there is another snow day tomorrow, she's taking her children and dropping them off on the doorstep of the superintendent.
Now, that might be going too far, but anybody who's been home with school-age children during this epic week, well, you can understand the sentiment.
There are only so many snowmen to be built. There are only so many times you can say 'Read a book' or 'Clean your room!' There are only so many indoor games of tag anybody can take.
It's time to get back to school!
If tonight's snowstorm turns out worse than expected (they are currently calling for about an inch), I forsee a band of parents shoveling a path to school.

Rise and Shine --- Take this snow and shovel it

Good Morning and welcome back to 'The Day After Tomorrow!'

Here are some huge high fives for those who made it to work, home from work and kept the roads plowed during this epic blizzard.
This morning, after digging out the car, the roads proved to be passable. Much more than around 5 p.m. Wednesday, when cars were getting stuck all over the place and life became very scary.

Now, what exactly do we do with all that snow.
The piles were gigantic before that second round hit yesterday. Heck, there was too much out there Tuesday night. Of course, it's all going to go somewhere, like our basements.
You know, even those who profess to 'love snow' have to be hating things right about now. That is, unless you are a student and are getting an extra-long break.
So, I announced last night, I guess we all hate snow right now.
'I love it,' said Liam.
You love it. How can you love this?
'It looks nice,' was the retort.
Sure, it looks great if you get off from school and don't have to shovel. Then, it looks like the seventh level of Armageddon.

Rise and Shine --- Making Winter Bearable

Good Morning and thanks again to the Cold Miser for giving us winter!

The sound started from the kitchen around 6:30 last night. The first snowflakes weren't falling, but, when the music starts playing, we know what's next.
Coming through the sounds of was the crinkle of a bag, then the sound of a measuring cup clipping the side of a metal bowl.
Pretty soon, the singing got louder and the you could hear a spoon mixing flour, baking powder, baking soda and other secret things together.

The 'ding' of the oven when the temperature was just right meant we were only minutes away from the only good thing about winter: Cookies fresh from the oven.
No matter what's going on in the world. No matter how much snow was going to be dumped on us. It didn't even matter that we had to drive to work in the mess the next morning.
No, the baking was starting. The treats were on the way.
The last time, the master baker did her thing, then took half and walked to work so those in the office could feel a bit of the warmth.
Thanks, Kathleen, you make it all better.

Rise and Shine --- Treats

Good Morning and welcome to a flu-riddled Tuesday!

There are plenty of treats this time of year. You have cookies (we luck out with plenty of them in our house), cakes, pies and anything else with sugar.
It gives everybody a chance to indulge their sweet tooth.
There is another kind of treat, though, and it comes from, of all places, the television.
After a long day of shoveling and getting pelted by snowballs Sunday, it figured to be a good time to unwind in front of the 'idiot box' before going to bed.
I figured it would be another night of flipping around cable and stumbling upon nothing before just turning it off and going to bed.
Then, the opening music for 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas' started (not the scary Jim Carrey version, the original cartoon). Now, it might not be the best holiday show of the season, but it was great Sunday because it was unexpected.
Sometimes, it's the little things that make the world better.