And the winner is . . .

(Conversation on Facebook just now):

Cathy: How can the groundhog see his shadow when the sun isn’t out??? We need our own groundhog here in St. Louis. Really.

Rob: Actually, we do have one at the Zoo, and he didn’t see his shadow this morning.

Cathy: Nice. So we don’t have six more weeks of winter? Who is the deciding groundhog??

Me: I hope it’s the one at the Zoo.

Rob: Well, I would have to say God, but that’s just me.

* * * * * *

Dear winter,

If you’re going to be sticking around for another 6 weeks, you’d better be on your best behavior!

P.S. Don’t forget; I have pepper spray.

Me.

Snow, snow, go away

Dear Mother Nature,

I’m sorry to say it but Mr. Winter has worn out his welcome. It’s no secret that the ol’ man is a nuisance with the air of  harsh temperatures that surrounds him. I mean, between you and me, breaking records with below-freezing-my-ass-off-temperatures is not exactly awesome.

Now granted, the snow he gifted us with,  was so pretty on it’s arrival, with all it’s huge glistening flakes falling into a beautiful blanket across the land. Yea, that was lovely. For a minute. But have you seen it lately? People have walked through it, layed on it, and sleigh ridden through it. Dogs have peed on it. Cars have driven on it. It’s all polluted and gray (and yellow) and slushy and ohso ugly.

Also ugly are my cracked hands and chapped lips, the grey sky, the leafless trees, the dirty cars. Ms. Nature, Winter has turned ugly.

To keep it sorta positive, yea, I had my snow ice-cream. And yea, I had my snowball fight (a gigantic one at that). But I can’t build a snowman out of powder-ish stuff, and I can’t go sledding with wind chills that make my tears freeze! And I want no more of this crap this year!!

I won’t complain about the well-known “cabin fever” that is plaguing many of my friends, because my job forces me to get out. But quite frankly I’m tired of my daily attire being layers upon layers of clothing plus a snowsuit. Seriously. Do you know how much laundry I have these days?

Look, all I’m asking of you is this;  a) you come and pick Mr. Winter up and take him away, and/or b) you hide yourself somewhere to make damn sure that groundhog finds his way out of that burrow.

You know, it sure would be nice to see Miss Sunshine break some records this year. Between snow, rain, sleet, and hail, I think it’s well past due time for it to be her turn.

I know I’ll be here to cheer her on.

Oh yea, and one more thing….it’s not nice to fool a girl with pepper spray. bwahahahaha.

(why are you still here? don’t you have a groundhog to catch?)

Snow Ice Cream at 4am

Bowl of Snow

+

Sugar, milk, vanilla

=

a big ol bowl of snow ice cream I forgot to take a picture of before I ate!!

P.S. Batch 2 tomorrow in the other bowl. Different recipe. I’ll do my best not to get so excited to eat it before I take pics of the completed project.

AND, for the record, I actually ate the snow ice cream at midnight, but I’m back up at 3:53am typing this because THE LEAF BLOWER DUDE IS ON THE SECOND FLOOR, OUTSIDE MY BEDROOM WINDOW…..WHERE THERE IS NO SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will soon post photos of Apartment 8′s outdoor setup to show my dear readers what I’m talking about. There is a ROOF over the second floor. Not to mention there was gallons of rock salt poured onto the sidewalks before it snowed, so the walkways are already clear.

It’s FOUR A-M!!!

This guy has gone and lost his freakin mind!

Bowl Half FULL

3 1/2 hours after the start of the snow, we are half way there. For ice cream, I mean. Weathermen say it won’t stop until we have approximately 8″.

~ Let it Snow ~ Let it Snow ~ Let it Snow ~

Tonight We’re Gonna Party Like It’s 1985

So the Weather Channel says….

We are about to see the worst weather conditions since 1985.

The Mighty River

has frozen!!!

During the winter of 1985, I was a Junior in high school, and I vaguely remember the weather being worse than it was in 1989 when I was very pregnant and trying to move across thick layers of solid ice; which was every-where, covering every-thing, including inches of snow.

Maybe 1985 was the year that my good ol high school buddies taught me how to do donuts on the icy school parking lot…in my mom’s car. (Sorry mom, but it’s true, I did that).

So, in my best attempt to remain positive about the forthcoming gazillion (okay, maybe 8 or so) inches of snow and record breaking cold-ness that is expected to arrive in the next couple of hours, I can honestly say that I am thankful that I now live just 4 miles from work. Last year I volunteered to work over on many nights just so I didn’t have to drive 74 miles home through the wintry mess. However, I do recall one night it took me over 2 1/2 hours to get home, only to find myself stuck in my (very long) driveway, which then took me another hour to get into. (Thank you very much Mr. Cupcake for driving right on past me on that very cold and tired morning when my shovel broke and I had to use a BROOM to move snow. Jerk.).

It just occurred to me that I don’t have a shovel. Dare I say I’m also thankful for apartment living at this point? Ouch. That’s pushing it. Maybe, just maybe, I will even be thankful for he-who-uses-a-leaf-blower-at-8:30am-on-the-SECOND-floor-where-there-are-NO-leaves. Maybe he shovels snow, too. I can only hope.

And yea, I really am planning my snow party!! Not a pity party this time, but quite the similar environment; cozy jammies, soft music playing loudly, a good book, hot cocoa, and comfort food…SNOW ICE CREAM!

Everything is set and ready, now to await the arrival of our guest.