The weatherman told us that Winter is flexing its muscles. That’s an interesting way to describe the onslaught of snow we’ve received this first week of February.
Old Man Winter is not the only one flexing its muscles. I fear I’m already looking like Popeye the Sailor Man, that cartoon character from my youth who was always touting his big biceps. As to me, it’s been three mornings in a row shoveling show, plus tomorrow and Friday, it appears shoveling snow will be my morning agenda as well.
I guess if you have to endure tonight’s 2-3 inch snowfall, you might as well get a giggle over it, as you see in this chart from Click On Detroit’s meteorologist Paul Gross:
For the past three years, I’ve had this “deal” going with my next-door neighbor … I shovel the snow for both our houses all Winter long, and he cuts the lawn for both properties in the growing season. I’m no math whiz, but I know that you cut the lawn more times than you shovel the snow … um, most years anyway. The last two Winters have been mild with not too much snow, but this year we’ve been slammed. My property (and especially the driveway) is half the size of his. So, you now know why I said grrr to the Groundhog’s prognostication – it wasn’t just about putting a halt to my walking regimen.
The hardest working muscle in your body is the heart. Good thing my ticker is in good shape, so I can continue to shovel my way through February, a/k/a National Heart Month.
Heart disease runs in my family though, and my grandmother and eight of her nine siblings, succumbed to heart disease. My mom had a heart arrhythmia. I hope that giving up red meat three years ago and walking 1,050 miles in 2017 thus makes me heart smart and healthy for a long time.
As to this perpetual snow, I was perplexed that our City’s schools were all closed yesterday. We ended up getting 5 inches of snow on Sunday, so most of the schools in Michigan closed Monday. I don’t think we ever got a snow day at junior high or high school – ever! It was a 2.2 mile round trip daily trudge from my house to those two schools, which were side by side. I really don’t want to be one of those people that says “when I was your age …” BUT, we didn’t get any breaks when it snowed back in the day. While my parents never gave me the lecture about walking five miles uphill to a one-room schoolhouse, they insisted that walking to school in the snow would build character, keep me from getting chubby and put roses in my cheeks. I accepted their logic and now, all these years later, I realize they were spot-on.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Miss Linda………………………..yes I’ve been thinking of you shoveling all of your house and your neighbor’s house driveways and walkways…………………………you should get a gold medal……………………this morning since I shoveled (way not as much as you) and swept off a few cars of snow……………………..that I should cut less minutes from exercising at the gym room , which I did,………………………..so lets see what we’ll get on Wednesday morning………………at least we’re not bored…………………….
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Ann Marie – despite these little “breathers” that we have gotten this Winter season to allow a few days’ respite from the cold, ice and snow, and not to mention the shoveling, it seems this Winter has just been too long. The last two years I seemed to breeze through the snow shoveling, but this year not as much. At least the past few days have been powdery snow, likely that way this morning as well. I’m worried about the ice storm we’re having Saturday/Sunday morning … you sure are getting your exercise at the apartment – your neighbors are grateful for your help I’m sure. I don’t blame you for cutting a few minutes off your exercise regimen at the exercise room after all that work. You and Steven are counting the days til that first day you go fishing – seems like it is months away when you look outside.
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Oh gosh, Linda, you ARE doing a ton of shoveling this winter! I hear we’re in for another snowy weekend. I would love to see a photo of you shoveling and the size of the two driveways! Maybe your neighbor can snap a photo for you to post.
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Hi Jill – The houses in this neighborhood are not extraordinarily large, but my neighbor’s house and property is twice as large as mine – this year I feel I may have bit off more than I can chew in regards to this non-stop snow and taking care of it. I will send you a picture of the two houses and me shoveling as well. This Friday looks to be a whopper of a snowstorm and you likely will be facing a larger amount of snow than me, and this time, unlike recently, that snow is not going anywhere for a long time.
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You know what you’re doing, and you know how to do it.
Sounds like you’re taking good care of yourself, Linda. 🙂
That’s the kind of thing I like to hear from my dear friends.
Be safe, take care, and stay cool (and warm), Linda.
Write on! UT
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Thank you for saying that Uncle Tree …
I do worry a little though because we are getting 4-8 inches of new snow Thursday into Friday. That will be a lot to shovel. There was about 3 1/2 inches out there this morning and it was snowing when I came inside … soaking wet again.
I just found out my neighbor has pneumonia. He texted me to my computer to tell me that today and say thank you after he saw me shoveling at his house (my friend Marge’s house – this is her son) for about an hour. I saw the car home in the mornings the last three weeks and thought he was working afternoons.
I hope you have better weather than we do!
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God bless your neighbor.
You are kind, generous, and industrious.
Kudos to your love of “getting physical”, as Olivia would say. 😉
There’s my quote for the day. Cheerz!
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Thank you – I try. I am not as industrious as my friend Ann Marie – she is 75 and moved to an apartment a few years ago and feels badly for the people who are not in good physical condition and easily able to get to their cars with all the snow we’ve been getting, so she sweeps their cars off and shovels around everyone’s cars so they can gain access. I’ve only been down on the exercise bike once or twice this Winter – either too cold to go downstairs, I have to shovel or I’m able to walk. It sits downstairs waiting for me – gathering dust.
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