The Day After

Anyone in the news business will tell you that the day after a major event is an enormous let down, and usually absolute drudgery to work. It's like having to throw a party the day after New Year's Eve, using just the leftovers that you found on the floor. Not fun. I was expecting today to be like that. I was dreading it. Soundbites peppered with the word "tonight" or "election day." Night time video that would look out of place being shown in the middle of the day. Oh, and absolutely no other news to fill in around it and remind people that the world had kept spinning despite the fact something monumental had occurred. It was not going to be an easy job, and I had to do it. But then, just as I was getting ready to commit television hara-kiri and run a bunch of feature packages, something remarkable happened: it started to snow. And it snowed a lot.

I have written in the past about the snow in Utah, and how, despite the fact that it happens every year, people always freak out about it. Today was no different. About 7am the calls started coming in. How much was it supposed to snow? How bad were the roads? Was this white stuff falling from the sky punishment for the election of a black President? Panties were in a bunge all over the valley. People started driving like idiots, either going to fast or too slow for conditions. Tree limbs started to crack and fall into the street. I really hoped no one would get hurt, but I was also really glad I had something to put in my show other than election leftovers. My weatherman (yes, under his contract, I do own him) assured me the snow would most likely be over by the time we went on air, but it didn't matter. The snow would still be fresher than any other option I had. Little did we know it would keep going.

That is one of my favorite things about weather stories. A lot of the time we have no idea what is going to happen. Yes we have Doppler, and Viper, and Tarot technology, but things can always go awry at the last minute. It sucks on days when everyone is preparing to report on a big storm that never materializes because of a "split jet stream," but when it goes the other way, it rocks. That happened today. No one told the snow it was supposed to stop before noon, so it didn't. It didn't even slow. It just kept picking water up of the lake and dumping it on the city in big fluffy flakes. And with every one of those flakes my show got better, and my mood got lighter.

After the show I came home to find Sally practically climbing the walls ready to go out and play. She loves the snow. We shook off the tree branches, dumping flakes on to our heads (well, I did, she doesn't have thumbs), and kicked and danced around the back yard. I threw snowballs for her to catch until my hands froze through my gloves. Then I took off my gloves and threw snowballs at the cats while Sally laughed.

Tomorrow there could be no news. And I will have to deal with it. But today was so good, I don't mind. A new President is coming, and a soft blanket of snow cushioned the announcement of his arrival, giving me time to enjoy it, rather than wonder what to do with it next.

Read more →

Sledding

I took Luke sledding today. At first I had to go down the hill with him every time. Then he took a run by himself and figured out he could go a lot faster without my 33 year old butt on board. Of course, he did need my butt when he got to the bottom and didn't want to carry the sled back up.... I finally convinced him to pack it in when his face was bright red and he asked me to take the sled up and then come back for him.

Read more →

Snow!

We woke up this morning and it was winter.

Yesterday it was warm enough that I was wearing Crocs and no coat, but overnight someone obviously decided that was not appropriate for December and decided to do something about it. We must have gotten at least eight inches of snow at our house, and we don't live on what is considered the "benches." Those people really got screwed.

Now, as with any snow storm two things instantly happened -- our power went out, and Sally started banging herself against the door wanting to go outside to play and eat as much snow as she could. Since I make it a rule not to get up before 10 on days I don't have to work that job fell to Ryan. He bundled up and took her down to the school, where dozens of dogs were doing their snow dance, and where Sally got thoroughly soaked and frozen. Of course, when she got home the one place she wanted to be was the warmest place in the house, and since the power was out that was the one place human heat was accumulating -- our bed. So, that's how I got up this morning, with a wet dog throwing herself on top of me. It really isn't as fun as it sounds.

Eventually Ryan and I decided we had to brave the storm to go in search of burritos. Now, the burrito place is only four blocks away, so we really could have romped through the snow, singing carols and throwing snowballs, but you have to remember that snow is cold, and I don't really like trying to eat a burrito with fingers that are like ice. Yes, I know gloves exist. I just hate them. So, I convinced Ryan we should drive so I could go run errands afterwards. However, what we did was really more like luging than driving, but without the condom like body suits. The streets had been plowed, but the snow was falling so fast it really didn't make a difference. By the time we made it to the restaurant we could have walked there, decided we didn't like what we were wearing, walked home, ironed something, changed and walked back. We did arrive warm though, which was a plus.

After we had filled our bellies with rice, beans and tortillas Ryan and I decided it really was no day for man or beast to be out and headed home. Yes, I know, we drove there so I could errands, but if you don't know I'm a big liar and quite lazy by now you haven't been reading this blog very long.

So, now here we are, sitting at home, drinking tea, and watching the storm taper off. Once it stops I'm sure we'll start feeling like we should go out and pick up the dry cleaning, or do Christmas shopping, or bundle up and throw snowballs at Sally, but right now it's nice to be in our little cocoon, surrounded by a storm.

Read more →

Snowbound

I am officially sick of snow.

I awoke this morning to find at least another three inches of the white stuff covering my deck and my yard. Sally didn't even want to go outside -- and she usually romps in the snow like a polar bear, only not as deadly. As I pushed her out the door this morning she looked at me with utter disdain. She walked four steps, peed on the deck and came back in. I think it was just to spite me.

Winter Freakin' Wonderland

Now, just like everyone else I was excited to see the first flakes fall at the start of winter. I enjoyed snuggling on the sofa as the storm went on outside. I went sledding, I even made a half-assed attempt at building a snowman, but enough is enough. Its just so white and cold and so wet and drippy. All of my winter clothes have lost their appeal. I have been reduced to wearing a black t-shirt and jeans every day because everything else just smacks of effort that I am not willing to make. My spring clothes hang their and mock me in their cute, colorful funitude (yeah, its a word, got a problem with that?). My sandals sit at the bottom of my closet looking forlorn as morning after morning I once again slip into my plain, brown closed toed shoes.

I am tired of wearing a coat. I am tired of digging my car out of a snow coma every morning. I am so tired of my socks being wet -- even inside shoes. And I am tired of covering the snow in the news. If people don't know how to handle it by now they should move.

Now, if you'll excuse me I am taking my hair dryer outside to clear a patch of grass for Sally.

Read more →

Snowing

It is snowing here in Utah today -- which means several things...

1. Everyone forgets how to drive. No matter how long they have lived here, or how many snowstorms they have been through in the past no one here remembers to just go slow and try not to stop. Instead they go fast, slam on their brakes and spin. Really.

2. People will use the snow as an excuse. Lateness, forgetfulness, impotence -- everything today in Utah will be blamed on the snow. I plan to eat an entire pizza today and blame the snow. After all, I need a thicker layer of blubber in order to help me fight off the cold.

3. News will be all about weather. For some reason people won't believe it snowed today -- until they see it on the news. We will have a huge number of viewers -- and all of them will want to know about one thing -- the strange phenomenon of white flakes falling from the sky.

4. Lots of people will call in "sick" tomorrow. Fresh powder, enough said.

Read more →