PNewL PNewS Vol 18 #5

Winter again? So soon? Didn’t we just do this?

Exactly a year ago, I posted “Commentary on Winter.” I feel like I was just about to repeat it. As Bear and I were coming ‘round on our second or perhaps third walk yesterday, I thought, I don’t remember choosing to live in a climate like this. Obviously I chose to live here but the winters were described differently. We have been hammered three times or so thus far this season but who can keep track. I have called in “unable to get out of my driveway” at the Library and Riverlink more often than I have appeared in the last couple months. I feel like such a wimp, but pictures of cars in ditches lead me to ponder, Why bother? THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST THURSDAY.

So I guess this is the way it is and at some point, encouraged by veterans of long hard winters, I may look at getting a generator. When my current car needs replacing, I will have to think long and hard about… well, Chris thinks we need a giant truck with four wheel drive and a snow plow…but I will have to put these “snow events” into the equation. As Heathrow Airport considers more snow plows, I will have to consider a few things myself.

Again, however, the cool part is: I have the world’s best neighbors. Yesterday there were five humans and about as many dogs hanging out in the snow out by the mailboxes, chatting laughing, chasing each other around (that was the dog participation). The night before, Phil and Robin opened their home with pots of soup and loaves of bread. The following night it was a variation on that theme at Jeff and Susan’s. Wonderful company, warm homes and hearts. I mean, this is really special. And without the snow, would it all come together like this. Doubtful.

In the days since the worst of this took place, I have been trying to put things in perspective. Yes, there are cars in ditches—still—on my road, and there was even one teetering over the creek with one tire in the air!, but we are a mere 1.5 miles from a secondary road so if worse came to worse, I could creep that far with flashers on and white knuckles gripping the wheel. It’s do-able. I am not truly in the middle of nowhere.

Meanwhile, I am thanking my lucky stars, tweaking my list of resolutions, packing for the next adventure (Sanibel! Morocco! Spain!) and wondering how late the Y is open and if I can get there. And with an eye to the weather map, I am plotting my departure between storms.
Here’s to the power staying on, clear roads and smooth sailing. Happy New Year!

Things I am Learning
& Miscellaneous Observations
* If I ever knew I had forgotten (surprise)—do you remember that CHAD is card hole aggregate debris? Those are the kinds of things I learn through all the reading I do.
* And speaking of which, back to my favorite “The Cheapskate Next Door”: he quoted a story on NPR (so it has to be true!) that the average American eats THREE hamburgers and FOUR orders of french fries EVERY WEEK. I am way below average and so are most of the people I have mentioned this to…so who is eating our shares?
* As I waddle down the road dressed for the lovely winter weather, I keep thinking of my silhouette. One continuous line of winter padding. Not much shape there.
* Sometimes I put something in the PNewS just so I can throw a piece of paper away. Last issue I quoted the article in which the alligator’s brain activity was likened to a dial tone and for some reason I just can’t throw that article away. It’s too precious. Precious? Yeah.
* My nephew Sam came to town in December (seems like 100 years ago). I hadn’t spent much time with him since he’s grown up and I enjoyed his company (the sleeping til noon part was challenging but it was a quick visit). He was driving an aged Airstream RV (not a trailer—a silver bus) which had had some mechanical difficulties and so the late morning sleep was needed to recover from the stress of two major breakdowns in the same number of days. I showed him around Asheville and fed him and we chatted. Not having had children, it was fascinating insight into where one is at as a twenty-something. I envy the adventure he is on—driving and painting around the country. And I am so glad I am not twenty-something any more!
* In the midst of all this weather hullabaloo, I ordered a new cell phone. The nice man at Verizon said I would be able to use it in Morocco and Spain and it wouldn’t cost me much–except for a new contract with Verizon. I took the bait. It was being sent next day Fedex. Five days later, I am wondering when I will ever see it. While Fedex is wonderful at keeping me up to date on its inability to get here, it gives me little opportunity to talk to anyone about it. Jeff said I could redirect it to his store which Fedex could easily get to, but I don’t know how to tell them that! It’s funny how websites bury their access information. Ok. I have to amend some of this. Afraid that I was dissing Fedx when they didn’t deserve it, I thought I would attempt to dig deeper. First, I did find some customer service FAQ and phone number. While the website says I can re-direct the package, the nice woman on the help line says I can’t. She did take my number and said she would make an attempt to contact the driver who could call me from somewhere where I could meet him/her. And he called me! And he delivered it to Jeff’s store! And maybe I can get out tomorrow to get it! All good! I like Fedex again but am waiting for a delivery from UPS since…well, that’s another story. And don’t get my started about Amazon marketplace expedited shipping.
* I saw an interesting article about the tax cuts given to the rich and a website that helps those folks figure out what they would have been paying in taxes without the cuts. The website, created by three professors at Yale and Cornell, encourages folks to donate that money to charity. Good idea. Go to www.giveitbackforjobs.org.
* I tasted my first moonshine the other day. It was in a wide-mouthed jar and everything. I was told you have to drink it straight from the jar—that’s part of the deal. It reminded me of some other things I have ingested in my life where I felt that brain cells were dying as I swallowed. Interesting but not good long term.
* Y’all have your 2011 calendars by now, so put Angel Island in there on June 25th. I will be there. You come too.

New Year--New Resolutions?
I went back to look at my resolutions from last year to see whether I should even bother. I didn’t do too badly but I would like to do better.
• My first resolution last year is my first this year as well. Focus. I was going to put a finer point on it, but why?
• I did make my Bucket List which should be revisited because I did a Travel Bucket List and maybe there are some non-travel goals I could add that would remind me to prioritize them.
• I explored some locally but there is so much more to see. My neighbor, who is almost 80 and who has lived here most of his life, has started exploring with his lady friend. They have a standing date to go somewhere within 100 miles of here. A good plan.
• I read some of the books on my bedside table but more have crept in and now need to be dealt with. Why do library books seem more pressing and more interesting than the ones I actually paid for?
• I finished some unfinished projects but see above (more have crept in and need addressing).
• I believe I am “doing what I can” more than I was last year, but I am also a slacker in many ways. On the other hand, perhaps I should go with the last year’s last resolution: Be realistic, and cut my self some…slack. What a concept!
• New resolutions for this year are
* Make new friends (keep up the pace).
* Investigate solar.
That seems like a pretty full plate. I will stop there.

“Whoever is shaking the snow globe, PLEASE STOP.”
The Ox Creek Community sign down the road a piece.