The forecast is calling for about six inches of snow tonight and tomorrow. I hate snow. I may have mentioned that before. I really hate snow.
There are shovels on the steps under the overhang. The trash has been taken out. The cars have been arranged in the driveway. Bellana has an appointment in the morning and she’s going to borrow a car and we have the car with the best snow safety record on the outside.
Did I mention I hate snow?
There isn’t much I like about winter weather, but last night we got a little taste of one thing I do actually really enjoy.
I checked the forecast at one point yesterday because the weather was looking a little iffy and the kids had a long drive back to school. It said we were going to get 1-2 inches of snow, but it wouldn’t start until long after the kids were off the road. That was good, even though all snow is bad.
I woke up this morning expecting to see some fresh snow on the ground. When I looked out the window I saw that there wasn’t any fresh snow. The forecast was wrong. It didn’t snow, or if it did it didn’t stick.
Ah, now that’s a happy way to start a Monday!
Just six months to go until Spring, kids. Bring it on!
As the clock struck 4:28pm today I happened to glance out the window and just catch the sun setting.
Boo.
I hate this time of year. Sure it’s nice to wake up at 6:00am and not have it be pitch black darkness outside, but come on man… dark by 4:30? Bite me.
It’s the day after Labor Day so today is the official first day of winter in New England. Damn it.
I wanted to cook dinner on the grill tonight even though it’s winter and I’m quarantined and pretty much everything sucks. I suggested the usual, burgers and fries. Jen suggested an alternative turkey burgers with the hamburger buns toasted on the grill.
That wife of mine. Can she pick ’em, or can she pick ’em. That was so good. Grilled turkey burgers on toasted buns. Just… epic.
The universe has screwed us out of summer two years in a row. I think it’s time to move somewhere that has summer year round. What do you think?
At least we can still grill turkey burgers.
I don’t have anything really important to add to the universal discussion today. Just working the day through. I’m on lunch right now, in the last few minutes of my break, and I just wanted to state to the public that I am sick and tired of snow.
It’s March 8th. Spring is less than two weeks away. The entire ground is still covered with snow. I’m tired of it. I want to see grass again, even if it’s dead grass. I’m done with snow. I want it gone. Screw you snow. Screw you winter. It’s our second Covid-19 March and if we have to suffer through more lock down then I want my freakin’ Springtime and I want it right freakin’ now.
Thank you. I patiently await the Universe’s response.
Today is the magical day.
Back story: I’ve been working from home for over 11 months now and there hasn’t been a single instant, not even a nanosecond, when I’ve missed commuting. Not one. I do not miss cramming my fat ass into a metal box for 80 minutes or so, working 8.5 hours, and then getting back into the metal box for another 80 minutes. I don’t miss it even one tiny little bit.
However… When I was commuting there was one day of each year that was sort of magical. It was sort of a light at the end of the tunnel. The tunnel of which I speak is winter. It does not involve a groundhog or anything like that, it only involves the sun.
My shift ends at 5:30 PM. That’s 1730 for you military time folks. During the winter, when I left the building to go home it was dark. During the summer it’s light. You know how the sun works and seasons and all of that, right? You know what I’m talking about.
The one special, magic day each year was the first day when the sun set at the same time my shift ended. 5:30 PM. The sun would, of course, be down by the time I actually go out the door, but that’s not the point. The point is from that day forward, the days were not only getting longer but I could actually perceive them getting longer. Does that make sense? Sunset at 4:30 or 5:00 didn’t affect me at all because I was inside the whole time and I didn’t actually get to experience the extra minute or so of light each day. Once the sun started setting after 5:30, I did get to experience the extra light.
So every year I would check the times of the sunset and quietly celebrate the symbolic moment when the sunset started happening after my work day.
Today is that day. It’s Friday February 25, 2021 and the sunset in Methuen, MA today will happen at 5:30 PM Eastern Standard Time.
Happy 5:30 day, everyone. Enjoy.
It’s 48 degrees outside. Not warm enough to feel like Spring, but warm enough to feel like Spring is on the way.
It can’t get here soon enough.
I took out the trash a few minutes ago and saw this:
Cool, I thought. I’ll take a picture. When I moved closer to get the pic I saw this:
Well now that’s too bad. Ouch.
I hate winter. I’m thankful that we have a power grid that can handle our winters and we’re not saddled with the disaster that folks in Texas are dealing with right now. Hang in there, people. Forecast for Austin calls for sunny with temps in the 40’s tomorrow. Bundle up, don’t run your gas grill in the house and don’t run your car in the garage. The end is hopefully in sight. Wishing everyone the best.
The driveway has been shoveled.
The walkway around the side of the house has been shoveled.
The fire hydrant has been shoveled.
The street has been shoveled.
(pause for dramatic effect)
You read that correctly. This is not a complaint, just a comment. The plows did a very good job on most of my street. Unfortunately there was a five or six foot stretch of unplowed road between the end of my driveway and the snow bank.
Some winters they do an extra good job widening the road. Some winters they don’t. This is one where they don’t. Again, not complaining. Just observing. I am very thankful for the work they do. If I need to drive somewhere today, I will be able to. That’s what matters.
I effing hate winter though. I just freakin’ loathe it.
I now have 61 minutes until I need to punch in to work. I think I’ll shower for about 57 of them. Wish me luck!
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.
Inside the Red Head's Head 