Big Winter Storm

This winter's big snow storm was forewarned the end of January. The meteorologists started telling us about Friday, January 28, that a large storm was forming. Indeed, as it turned out, it impacted about a third of the United States. East central Illinois did not receive the possible 14-inch snow fall. It was more like 6-8 inches. But it was preceeded by freezing rain so conditions were treacherous.

Cold rain and snow began Monday afternoon, January 31. Most schools announced closings that evening, and I was thrilled to hear that the College was one of them. I heard the announcement on the radio as I was trying to fall to sleep. Not trusting that I heard correctly, I got up and watched the scrolling list of closings on the local television station. After seeing the College's name pass by a couple times, I figured it was safe to turn the alarm clock off.

Tuesday morning, February 1, was leisurely. No big snow overnight and traffic on the streets seemed to be traveling at a "normal" pace. But the weather forecasters were still preaching heavy snow and strong winds. Once again schools announced closings for the next day and, again, the College was one of them!

Wednesday proved to be a nasty day. The roads were definitely not to be traveled. Snow plows were making the rounds, but it took several passes before the main streets were plowed curb-to-curb and corners of intersections were cleared so that you didn't have to make what felt like a 90-degree turn.

John and I tackled clearing our driveway after lunch. It was not a simple task. The snow was "crunchy" with a layer of ice beneath. I was assigned with breaking through the snow, and John scooped and moved it away. As we cleared and approached the street, it was daunting to think of having to break through and remove the compacted snow that the plows had left at the end of the driveway.

After an exhausting 3 hours the driveway was cleared. I figure John did about 75% of the work, but that doesn't mean that I didn't have stiff and sore muscles for the next couple days.

Notice the chunks of snow. Click on the picture for a larger image.



Three days later, Saturday morning, February 5, we woke to a steady snowfall. It was quite pretty with a Christmas card-look. You can see in the photo below that our big efforts on Wednesday to clear our driveway were now covered.


The snow stopped after about 4 inches, and after lunch, John and I again shoveled snow. This was an easier snow to clear.

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Two weeks later, February 18. What a difference a couple weeks make. With yesterday's temperatures in the mid 60s (after being in the single digits just last week), this is the view in our front yard:



P.S. How many people have a periscope coming out the top of their house??? ;-)

Through the Window

A couple weeks ago . . . . .

It was exciting on our street one Saturday morning. Shortly before 8 a.m. equipment on a power pole across the street exploded with a boom and a flash of light. The thing caught fire and there were flames. The electricity in our house went out for a short time. Several minutes later it exploded again, the electricity went out again but the flames on the pole died. About that time we heard sirens and 3 firetrucks plus a utility vehicle pulled up. They investigated for a short time then left. It didn't occur to me to take pictures until after the flames subsided, but here is one of the commotion on the street in front of our house.

Statue of Liberty

I was getting ready for work this morning and applying deodorant. I happened to glance in the mirror, and with one arm reaching above my head, I thought, "Hmmm. I look like the Statue of Liberty."

Power Outage

I was completing my getting-ready-for-work morning routine when I heard on the radio that there was a major power outage at the College, the Internet was down and students could not register and the day care center was closed. It was unclear to me what employees should do. I phoned Public Safety (5:30 a.m.) and was advised that portions of the College were without power. I asked if I came into work would I be sitting in the dark. The answer to that was "yes." So I decided to wait.

I turned on the two local TV stations. I eventually caught portions of reports that the College was without power, but it was still unclear what the status really was. One station did actually say the College was closed. I heard differing reports among the two TV stations and the radio station.

I again called Public Safety and inquired (7 a.m.). I told them the media had said the College was closed. They said this was not true, but portions of the College still did not have electricity. I decided it might be best if I reported in and determine for myself if the Library was one of the areas that was impacted.

I arrived around 7:15 a.m. and it was clear that the southwest side of the campus was dark. This is where I always enter. I went to Public Safety and again asked what the status of the Library was. They said the last they heard, about 45 minutes before, it was expected that power would be restored in an hour. That meant it would be another 15 minutes.

I went to the Library, left my stuff in my office, then got my lunchtime reading book and went to a table near a window near the circ desk. I had read only a little bit when Frank arrived for work (7:30 a.m.). We sat and talked. Closer to 8:00 a couple more co-workers arrived. Then one of the Public Safety officers came in with a message: "Nancy could go home." I asked who had made that decision. He said he'd gotten it about 3rd-hand but he thought it came from the college electrician. We all joked that I could leave and they were witnesses that I'd been given the go-ahead.

One of the co-workers phoned the library director who said "Go home," but listen to see if the Library opens later in the day. Frank and I made signs and posted on the Library doors: "Due to power outage Library is closed." Then I left.

When I arrived home around 8:30 I listened to a phone message from a librarian telling me that the Library was temporarily closed and I'd be called if/when the Library opened. That is a phone call which I'll conveniently miss.

Meanwhile, since the College's Internet is not working I am without email service even through "webaccess." We're also going to miss the catered lunch from Panera which was scheduled before today's beginning-of-school staff meeting. Bummer.

Gas Prices - Bummer

While running errands this morning, I was pleased to see that the price of gas at "my" usual gas station was a cent or two lower than prices at the other stations that I drove passed. My last stop of the morning was to fill up.

When I finished I saw that the price on the pump was down a cent ..... from $2.66 to $2.65. I looked at the gas sign and it had come down a penny, too. Woo-woo, I thought. Then I took my receipt and saw that I was charged the higher amount. Bummer. I could have save 14-cents on my gas fill-up if I'd started a minute later.

Really, Truly Leftovers

I was preparing supper last night and opened the door of the microwave and discovered . . . . . . . Vegetables from the previous night's supper.

Yep, I nuked some frozen vegetables and forgot to get them out for supper, and they sat there for 24 hours. No wonder I felt like that supper was missing something! I was really disappointed in having to pitch these veggies.

In a hidey-hole

I woke last night around 12:30 a.m. from a dream where I was in a shallow hole in the ground with a tarp over it. I was hiding, and there were army vehicles like jeeps or tanks driving over my hidey-hole. The covers on the bed felt heavy; I was feeling claustrophobic and a little panicky and couldn’t get back to sleep. So I went to the family room and lay on the couch covered with an afghan. I turned on the TV and dozed. It was chilly, and finally around 2 a.m. I decided to try to go back to bed and hope that the engulfing too-heavy feelings would be gone. I didn’t sleep well, but at least the bed covers didn’t feel like they were crushing me down.