How Snow and Ice Bring Out the Birds

As I looked out the window, I saw a good 4" of fresh snow and it was still falling at a pretty good clip. School closed. The forecast said sleet and freezing rain to start around lunch time and continue through the day. Great.

My mind raced between "Do I go into work or do I stay home?" My husband had a commitment already that he could not get out of and who knew how long he would be. I just took a whole day off last week for a snow day. What I really wanted to do was stay home, but I felt torn with the feeling of obligation to go into work. I decided to brave it and go in for half a day.

I hate, and I do mean H-A-T-E to drive in bad weather. I seem to instantly turn 190 years old. I'm sure that is what it felt like this morning to the Conga Line of drivers that trailed behind me as I inched my way down the road. I could almost feel them shaking their fists at me in frustration. I don't care. I will drive 5 mph, white knuckles and all for as long as I have to.

Listen up drivers in bad weather: I will get there when I get there...no need to risk my life or yours. Why are you in such a big hurry, tailgating Mr. Dodge Durango guy? I see you have fallen into the ‘false sense of security’ pool, swimming with the belief that because you drive a SUV, you can travel faster than the posted speed limit in Winter Storm WARNING weather. Boy that just irks me.

Ice is ice, Baby.

No way around it, 4WD or not, nothing gets traction on ice. Yet, owners of the SUV seem to feel invincible of this phenomenon. I've seen time and time again, drivers who get frustrated, peel out from behind a slow moving vehicle and within seconds, begin to fishtail, lose control and find themselves in a ditch, the median or god forbid wrapped around a tree. All because of a lack of patience.

So, after a half day of work, I saw that my trip home would be just as welcomed as the commute was in the morning. As I waited for traffic to pass, I saw yet another SUV coming down the road. I thought I had enough time to pull out, since the car would have to slow down to go around the slight curve in the road- you know, because of the good 3 inches of icy slush on the road. I will point out that there was also pa-l-enty of time to take the foot off the gas Mr. Nissan Pathfinder man. But, instead, decided to slide through the turn and get right on my bumper. My guess was so that I could have a nice clear view of the bird he was flipping me against his windshield. I also saw that he had a Handicapped tag hanging from his rear view mirror. I guess his handicap was NOT with his hand.

Seems it may have been his snowy travel decision making.

Then again, who am I to say how one should drive. I guess I should just send out this warning for all on the road.

Keep your flippin’ snow-birds to yourself, sonny, because I will be taking my sweet old time to get to my destination.

How do you feel about driving in bad weather? Do you drive as slow as molasses too?
 
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Good Day Sunshine

My morning run yesterday was gorgeous. I started just before the orange-pink sun made its way over the horizon. There is something extremely peaceful the dawn after a snowfall. All  is covered in fluffy white, creating a softness to everything and as the sun peaks, it makes the snow shine that special sparkle. The road traveled was icy and made my pace slow and deliberate.

Probably not the best time to take a picture. I just held it in front and snapped, making it a little blurry. Better blurry than falling!

What a great way to start a day!

Long Track Speedskating American Cup II, Roseville, MN

No, this is not Roseville, MN.  This is the FIRST SNOW OF THE SEASON hitting my deck! It always takes that first sight of the fluffy white stuff to get me into the holiday spirit. As the light fades into evening, the twinkling of lights outlining houseframes and bushes will shine through the neighborhood as they have for the last few nights. However, tonight there will be a special "magic" in the air because the snow (which is now about an inch and no longer a dusting as in the photo) will give a special background and feeling that the holiday will soon be here!

The first snow also makes me giddy at the realization that the speedskating oval in Lake Placid will be open soon! I am really looking forward to being outside and skating lap upon lap until I feel the need to step into the warming hut to warm up the skates and legs and such. For those that have skated at this venue, you know it is cold and has a wind that always blows against your face down the backstretch. I'm not talking just a breeze either. The force can be so strong, that at times will slap you like a sucker-punch when you come out of the turn and stand you straight up, no matter how hard to try to fight or "skate through" it. I will go until I have had a good two hour work out trying to master those corners or until I am just tired of the elements beating me up! The next best thing of being in Lake Placid  is going through the quaint little town and getting a coffee or homemade soup with friends.

Some of the good folks I skate with are in Roseville, MN this weekend competing in the American Cup II series long track races. What is great about these races is they are being carried by live feed and you can watch from the comfort of your computer if you are, like me, nowhere near Roseville! Click here! to watch some great skating.

Good luck to everyone in Roseville!

Now it's time for a cozy cup of hot chocolate and to sharpen my long track blades....