Buried in Snow

Despite the dire circumstances this blizzard has brought about for many people across the DC metro region, the sound of laughter is abundant outside my condo. Kids are using their beach toys to create snow castles and snow men, which will probably last for at least a week. Now, I don't know that they'll go back to school before the snow castles melt, but that's only because it'll probably take a week for schools to be back in session. We truly are buried in snow here!

And... it's still coming down, hence the cloudy look in the pictures. The wind is whirling it around and around, making for quite a breathtaking view, but poor pictures. But that doesn't mean I'm excited to go clean off my car. And to think I was going to spend today shopping for "more winter appropriate clothes, including snow boots." Oh, the irony!

Thanks for all your prayers about my electricity. I only experienced some slight flickering around 5 PM and 11 PM, and if it went out when I was sleeping, it didn't do so long enough to affect my sleep.

This morning I took the opportunity to try my hand at the pancakes again, and they made for a delightful afternoon breakfast. :)





Note the fallen tree. Fortunately, it's a twig of a tree.



The branch is so heavy its sitting on top of the snow, and the branches look more like feather dusters than pine needles.




The heroes of snow days... The snow plows.



Time lapse from picture above to picture below was about.... 3.5 minutes(conservatively). They were yummy! And they sure looked pretty on my plates from great-grandmother's house.


I guess I should start getting bundled up to do round one of car cleaning. So NOT looking forward to it!

Blizzard of 2010: Day 1

Writing as I hear the snow plow outside in the parking lot, and there's a guy outside my building cleaning off the stairs.

Conversation with Michelle (roommie) this week:
Michelle: "I don't know where this snow is coming from. It's never snowed like this since I've been here(about 10 years total)."
Me:"Well, maybe if I go back down south the snow cloud will leave the area."

It's like I'm the snow fairy or something. I mean... it's not gone without snow for more than a week since I got here. It's crazy!

The Weather Channel and Fox 5 have been my go-to channels today and yesterday as we are currently in what they have dubbed "The Blizzard of 2010". Cool timelapse video!

The snow has been coming down since about 11:30, and they say we haven't seen the worst yet. They're expecting this snow to break the 1922 record. We knew it was going to be serious when the NRA closed offices at 1 today for the first time since the early 90s. I'm going to keep all you guys up to date on my conditions. Don't worry, I am stocked up on food, and necessities. My one concern right now is power. Please pray that doesn't happen. Wind is pretty bad, and the trees are laden with heavy, wet snow. I had a quick flicker at about 5:45, but nothing since then.

I decided to take this evening to make some granola for my breakfasts. The recipe made a ton, but it'll keep well, not to mention the fact that it gave me something other than my taxes to do today. Thanks to Brooke for the recipe!

This picture is actually from Tuesday evening's snow. It was actually quite a beautiful morning commute.
The beginning of my delicious granola (minus the wheat germ and wheat bran containers).
Oh, Publix, how I miss you!!!
I told you it made a ton! And it's quite a long process.
Right after I put the granola in the snow looked like this.
Let me out of my snow prison!!!!
Final Product!!
Note the size of batch. Anybody want some?
Snow after granola...


Check back in tomorrow morning for new pictures! Hopefully, I'll have electricity.

Someone was listening...

Apparently, I should've phrased my opening comment as such yesterday: "Snow, snow, go away! Come again on a work day, but only if you're going to snow enough that work gets canceled." It started snowing at approximately 4:00 this afternoon, and it's not expected to stop until 7 AM. That's 15 hours of snow, and it's coming down pretty steadily. Thanks NPR for telling me it would definitely be no more than 1 inch of accumulation.... Too bad, we've already hit that mark and there are like 9 more hours to go. No more trusting you, NPR!

Our workout class was very intimate tonight, compared to the normal group of 18ish. In my head right now, I can count about 9 people that were there. Still so worth going, though! I made sure to park in the garage at the gym to avoid having to clean my car off with only my workout clothes on (talk about a little chilly!). The drive home was a little difficult since the snow was coming down in big, steady flakes, and the road were quasi-covered. Driving in the snow like that gives me a glimpse of what Captain Kirk felt flying through the galaxy with stars zooming past him. That's kind of what snow at night is like. The most difficult part was the inability to see the lines. Most of you know I have difficulty staying in the lines anyways! ;)

See the big flakes on my car?! That's from the car being still only about 2.5 minutes. Notice the other cars have their blades up. Apparently it helps in the cleaning process... a lesson I learned the hard way. I promise one of these days I'll take snow pictures outside of my parking lot. I must take this moment to be thankful I have a constant place to park!

**According to the weather forecast it's supposed to snow ALL day Friday and ALL day Saturday too. Please pray it doesn't.

Snow, snow, go away...

Come again on a work day!!

I never thought I'd say this, but snow... I don't love you. In fact... I strongly dislike you.




It's like every time I have big plans for a fabulous weekend, the snow comes and, well, ruins it. Not so happy Sarah here. However, they say this is the coldest winter DC has seen in a really long time, and if this is it, I can survive this!

To get out our anger on the snow, Jeremy, Nicole, and I headed to the range for some relief. I learned 2 things: handguns are more my style and 1911's have one heck of a kickback. My hands are still a little shaky from tensing up to pre-empt the kickback.




Now, just don't shoot me for taking almost a whole week to get back to blogging!

Week in review:
Wednesday was cooking and laundry day.

Thursday night we had a work happy hour to celebrate Amber and Kara's bdays. It was pretty fun, and it was great to hang out with everyone outside the office. Afterwards, Amber and I grabbed some yummy late-night grub at Five Guys Burgers and Fries and had some "back-porch"/"gee dining hall" conversation. See our yummy grub... :)


Friday Michelle (roommie) and I had movie night take two, with delicious pizza and wings. We watched 500 Days of Summer. It was artsy and fun. I actually highly recommend it.

Saturday - SNOW! Grr! Cancelled get-together in Arlington for Kara's bday.

Sunday I cleaned the snow off the car and shoveled behind in record time: 8 minutes. Impressive, huh? With my snow-free car I headed into the city for church at Ebenezer's with Allison and then grabbed a quick lunch in Union Station.

Monday- oh that's today! All caught up! See, I can be brief when I want! ;)

Question for discussion: Amber and I believe a blog post is not a blog post without a photo of interest, hence why we often wait to post. What do the readers say?