First Time in Ages

I just did something that I don’t think I have done since before Covid came along and mussed everything up.

As previously mentioned, it’s snowing today. Not a lot. We have about an inch on the ground. We might get another inch on top of that, but by no means is today’s storm anything to be worried or upset about, other than the fact that snow is always a pain in the ass. We are New Englanders. This is nuttin’.

However, I needed to go out and do the grocery shopping. My wife has been eating super healthy lately and she was out of all of the healthy things she needed for lunch. I had to go out and restock so that she could have a good lunch. That means I had to go out to the store before the snow stopped. Not only that, I had to go out before the snow removal crews started working. In other words, I had to drive in the fresh, untreated snow.

As previously stated, that was not a big deal. There was enough snow to make the roads a little slippery, but not enough to cause any real troubles for an experienced snow-driver. It made me think though… when was the last time I went out before the plowing started? I can’t remember. It’s been a long, long time. The last time had to have been pre-Covid lockdown. There hasn’t been a time since then that I had to be somewhere bad enough that I couldn’t wait for at least the plows getting one whack in. The only thing I could think of that would have made me go out right away was if one of my parents were in the hospital. If that happened I must have blocked it out of my memory. There was the drive home from Vermont a few weeks ago… does that count? I think the side roads might not have been hit yet, but the main roads had. I don’t know.

So I guess all I did today was spiritually renew my New England Winter Driver ID card. Yeah. I can still drive in the snow. Yippee for me, babie.

Another Rainy Drive

It is pouring rain out this morning so I must have needed to drive to the office. Yesterday I drove to my in-laws and back in the thickest fog ever. I could barely see the road. Today I drove to the office in a huge downpour and could barely see the road.

Coincidence?

Yes, of course it is.

121/365

Not Today

I woke up early having every intention of driving in to the office today. I’m supposed to work in the office twice a week (on average) and I’ve only been in once this week. I can’t go tomorrow because I am only working half a day tomorrow and they only want us coming in on full days. So today is my last chance, mathematically speaking.

I got up early, like I said, and looked out the window.

Snow.

A lot of it.

Not like mountains, but enough to convince me to not want to drive 44 miles to the office. I guess I will work three days in the office next week.

Ugh, crud.

Still a New Englander

We’re getting a minor snow storm today. Forecast is 1-4 inches of heavy, wet snow and as of now the forecast looks correct.

In the year of Covid, it has been a long time since I had to prove my New England Metal by driving in a snow storm. There haven’t been many this season, but with full time telecommuting I haven’t had to drive in any of them. A small part of me has been worried that I might lose my New England membership if I didn’t get out in at least one snow storm and prove I still have what it takes to drive like a maniac* in the worst possible conditions.

Proof has been provided. I drove in the snow today. In the immortal words of Bilbo Baggins, there and back again. Like a New Englander in Wintertime Boss.

*I did not drive like a maniac. Other people did, but not me. I drove like a smart person. Just so ya know.

Driver

My wife just took my 15 year old step daughter out for a drive. In New Hampshire (where the kids go to school and live on dad days) you don’t need a learner’s permit like you do in Massachusetts (where the kids live on mom days), all you need is to be 15.5 years old and have a licensed driver in the passenger seat.

Last weekend (a dad weekend) my 15.5 year old step daughter drove around a parking lot for the first time. Today, my wife is taking her over the state line for some more driving time. She seemed a little nervous so I reminded her that the dumbest person in America can drive a car. She felt better after that.

I’ve no doubt that she’s crushing it. Not literally, of course, but figuratively.

Another Day of Snow Sucking Up the Place

I took the kids to their Dad’s house this morning so that they could catch their rides to school.  I was a little surprised by the state of some of the roads.  The snow ended yesterday morning, but it still was a little sloppy here and there.  Route 93 North seemed to be much icier than I had expected.

I’m working from home today, so I didn’t have to deal with my long commute.  My wife, however, has to go to a training in Boston today.  She left the house at 6:30am.  She called me at 8:00 and she’d only made it about half way, if that.  As of 8:15 she still wasn’t even remotely close.

Why?

Is this a case of the state dropping the ball on cleaning up the highways, or is it just an example of a phenomenon that occurs each year where most drivers react to the first snowfall of the year by completely forgetting how to drive in the snow.  I would guess that it’s a combination, but frankly the snow fell yesterday and both things should have been cleared up by today.

Hang in there, my love.  Be safe.  I love you!

Stop Motion Vacation

During the times when I wasn’t driving during our long drives to and from Virginia I did some goofing around with the stop motion cafe app on my phone. If I had a way to stand the phone up on the dashboard I would have filmed one of these covering the whole trip. As it is, it took one picture every five seconds, and then the play back is 12 pictures per second.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X672oXxLWQE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NarCj0pvIzM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nvkkycT6o4