What’s on the iPod: EZ by Pete Yorn
Did I really say I loved snow? I did. Wow. Good thing, because today I’m staring down a long driveway with a ten-inch deep layer that needs to be moved. Maybe I’ll just stay in. Maybe I’ll hope for an early spring, starting today.
I got enough exercise yesterday shoveling the five or so heavy, wet inches off the same driveway around one in the afternoon. I knew it was going to come back, that white stuff, but the prospect of moving fifteen inches – maybe even the icy layer that came down in between – just didn’t appeal. Not that ten inches is all that much better. So I shoveled so everyone could get back home later.
Husband had to pick up a meditation monk in the middle of it. At the airport. We kept an eye on the flight status. Let me just say this – the airports and airlines could do worlds better in keeping the public informed. He drove down the expressway at 15 mph, taking over an hour to get there (usually a 30-minute ride at best), waited for an hour and a half, only to find that the flight never arrived. The whole time the board in the airport and on both the airport and airline sites was saying “Delayed.” Only when he asked an employee did he find out the flight wasn’t going to arrive.
Adding to the mystery, the monk called to say he was waiting at the airport. He’d borrowed someone’s phone. When I called back, a woman answered. He indeed did land – in Raleigh/Durham. That’s not exactly close to Philadelphia. And he’d slept during the flight, so he’d missed any announcements that the plane was being diverted.
I called the airport and had them page him, which worked. He was surprised to find out he wasn’t in Philly, but he’s resourceful enough to know what to do. He called someone from our meditation group who lives there, and found a place to sleep and a meal. And he let me know this at 11:30 last night, which was about the time my husband made it back home. That’s one monk who will be glad to get back to Haiti.
I’m due outside to lend a hand (or a shovel), so today’s is a brief post. But I wanted you all to enjoy what I’m seeing. And lucky you, you can do so without having to move it or feel the chill.
14 responses to “Knee Deep”
I try not to fly any more unless I'm going overseas. Why should i pay them to screw me?
I don't have anywhere near as much snow to shovel as you do — you have my sympathies! Be careful.
We got plenty here in Maryland, too. Of course, the school systems couldn't decide last night to close or delay; no, they had to wake us up with a robo-call at 5:30am to tell us what they could have told us last night. So schools are closed, including the community college, and I've got all four kids home. Hubby has decided to take the day off too. And I've got a huge project due and a houseful of boisterous people who expect me to make them hot chocolate and find them dry gloves all day long. I'm going to go hide in the basement and pretend I don't hear them banging on the door.
Bar the door, Eileen! Good luck. I have them home, too, and it's already proving interesting.
Devon, I can see why. Trains are much more comfortable. I shoveled, but my car is still garage-bound until we get the entire driveway done. Correction: until I get it done. They're dug out and parked at the street. Guess who will be stranded?
Oh, how I love living in the South. Beautiful pics though 🙂
The photos are lovely–but the shoveling isn't! Take your time, and don't overtax yourself. Perhaps it's time to invest in a snow blower or shoveling service?!
On that note, my neighbors and I in our six-unit condo building finally hired a shoveling service to remove snow in front of our garages for $35 an episode any time there's more than 1" of snow.
We're all marveling at how wonderful it is not to have to worry about getting our cars safely in and out of the driveway!
Be careful out there!
Gabriella, it's a ton of work, but my arms are looking incredible! I don't have to lift weights on days I shovel. I'm doing ten-to-twenty times the weight lifting on those days!
I'm scouring the ads for plowing services. It would take nothing for them to push this out of the way in five minutes. For me, it's an hour or more.
I actually enjoy getting outside and shovelling snow. But today, I don't have time. I'm hoping my big strapping 20 year old son will get inspired and go do it.
Success! I got the driveway AND the front walk done. Amen. Now I can concentrate on work. I think I remember that. 🙂
I don't mind shoveling as long as it's not too cold. I, too, try to shovel mid-way through big storms. I have to admit when I saw the east cost was getting another major snow I felt jealous. We've had lots of piddly little snow systems, but no huge storms.
Your story reminded me of when I was little. We had a foreign exchange student due to arrive in Chicago, from Brazil, on December 23. There was a mega snowstorm, so Mom & Dad packed us all in the car early. We got to O'Hare to discover A) no other host families had arrived; B) no officials from the exchange program had arrived; and C) only one Brazilian student was fluent in English. (Thankfully, he turned out to be our student, Luiz.)
Luiz interpreted the situation for th other students (most were excited about the snow; few had proper coats or boots) and was able to get the other students' family information, and my mom and dad found some pay phones and started calling around. I believe my mom chewed out the exchange program organizers for not allowing for extra driving time because of the storm.
On Christmas Eve Luiz got a big parka, "waffle stomper" boots, and a crash course in snow removal 101. He loved it.
Glad you're lookin' on the bright side, Popeye!
Shoveling is a great way to build some muscles. The problem comes when the snowbanks start to get too high, you start using more back muscles and less arm muscles. My back is still feeling the effects of the last snow we had here.
I feel for you having to shovel. I'm still glad that it's not me this time, though. Yea!
I love the story of the monk who didn't know he wasn't in Philly… tell him namaste from me will you? Bet he wasn't even upset… meditation is wonderful… snow, maybe not so much.
Anne, you're right. He wasn't upset in the least. I will pass along your namaste. 🙂
Wendy, the snow here is really high (and now really heavy to move). But it's outta my way for now! Until tomorrow, anyway…
I'm strong to the finish, Gabriella. LOL
Great story, Paula! We have someone here moving to Brazil, and the snow is no small part of the reason. Do you hear from Luiz? Where in Brazil?
We have an extended Brazilian family now. Way back when Luiz was here, his sisters and a friend came for a visit (a week or two?), and I remained pen pals with the friend, who was studying English. Many years later, Luiz, his wife and parents came to the US for a vacation and spent several days with us. Again, Luiz was the sale translator, but we all managed to communicate with a few common words and lots of hand gestures. The funniest thing? My brother was a bar tender at Chi-chi's back then, and when we pulled up to the parking lot, the Brazilians all burst into laughter and whipped out cameras. (As Luiz politely explained, "In Brazil, that's slang for….what you do on the toilet.")
I stay in touch with both Luiz and the former pen (now e-mail) pal, Luciana. And every so often we'll hear from one (or the other) of his sisters. Luiz is in Salvador. One of his sisters moved way north – I can't recall the name of the area, but the photos are all very beautiful and scenic – no beaches, though. Luciana was from Recife, but moved to Tokyo a long time ago where she still lives. When my sister and brother-in-law were in Japan a couple of years back, they met up with Luciana who helped them navigate the Tokyo subway system. They – a Brazilian ex-pat, an American and a Canadian – even spent New Year's Day at the Emperor's palace where he gave a ceremonial speech.