Here in Southeast Michigan, as well as many states in the nation, we’ve hunkered down for the second weekend in a row to escape the brutal cold. If you stepped outside your igloo, er … home, for too long, you’d have frostbite for sure, so why not stay inside where it is cozy and enjoy that down time with a book, or a movie, or both?
As for me, I’ve kind of lost track of time, first, with those two long weekends, then, with my boss being on vacation and out of the country, and not in touch for a solid week. My whole routine has just gone kaput. Every day seemed out of whack somehow, beginning with the absence of my daily walk, an important and huge part of my day. I’m such a creature of habit, but, perhaps with a normal work day resuming on Monday, I can get back to some semblance of order and settle into the old routine again. As to when a full-sized walk will happen, I have no clue.
I stepped outside this morning to brutal temps and onto a sidewalk which resembled an old-fashioned washboard. All the snow had melted during our tropical-feeling Thursday, then Friday’s freezing rain splattered and spackled up all that nice clear pavement. Then came the nuisance snow, which was predicted to be 2-4 inches, but was only about one inch. So, I stood outside, shovel in one hand, broom in the other, trying to decide if I should just leave that light cushion of snow on the slippery City sidewalk and risk getting ticketed by the City, or go ahead and sweep it off. I opted for the latter, thus satisfying the City’s code for snow removal, and also affording someone an opportunity to tromp over the snow that remained around the ragged-looking sweep marks to keep from falling on my property.
Of course I mumbled and grumbled the entire trip outside as the wind chill was minus 5, and, I even uttered a promise to myself that sounded vaguely similar to Scarlett O’Hara’s famous line in “Gone With the Wind” i.e. “as God is my witness, I’ll never complain about the hot weather again!”
Speaking of movies, my boss is now “Out of Africa” and was wheels up as of 2:00 p.m. today – it will take 21 hours to return to Detroit. This morning he sent me a slew of photos taken on the safaris this week, and my favorite was a coy-looking lioness who resembled Elsa from the “Born Free” books and movies series I enjoyed as a youngster.
I’m sure I’m not alone in saying Spring cannot get here quickly enough. I have no doubt that the Groundhog will see his shadow come February 2nd giving us six more weeks of Winter. Ugh.
[Image of igloo from Clker-Free Vector Images]
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Miss Linda…………………..I saw a few more Robins …………………they’re always on and near the ornamental apple trees on the apartment complex……………..of course it’s no sign of spring to come or soon……………………….when I;m dressed with all of my winter stuff…………………………..I’m not that cold………………….as long as I can run from the house to the car to the store etc.
LikeLike
Ann Marie – if it was just cold, and no ice or snow, I am sure you and I would be doing our regular walking regimen … at least the ice was gone on the street today and driveway, so I took the car for a run. I would have walked, but our computer system at work had some problems so I had to come back to troubleshoot with the computer guy to ensure it was okay for tomorrow, Robb’s first day back at work. Unfortunately snow in early a.m. – of course, you have to be somewhere early.
LikeLike
That sounds tough, here in North India we too are experiencing winters but we get Sun during days so things go normal. I can’t imagine what it will be like here with so much of snow and all.
LikeLike
I think it is the lack of sun as well and it is frustrating, because in the last two weeks it cleared up completely, then another big snowfall and freezing rain beneath it – I can deal with the cold, but this snow and ice is worrisome. I work from home so am happy I don’t have to deal with the commute, but as an avid walker, I miss the walking and, though it has been just six weeks since the first snow/ice/bitter cold arrived, it seems like it’s been forever. I don’t know how the people in a cold state like Minnesota, or the snowiest states on the East Coast deal with it. I am going to suit up soon to deal with the three inches of new snow I must shovel.
LikeLike