Over it
So, yeah, it snowed. A lot (we got between 13 and 16 inches). I’m having a hard time getting too excited about it. Can spring just get here already?
And here’s a video of Riley in the snow (proof that I’ve gone over the edge):
weather
Snow Eve
Today was sunny. Cold, but sunny. It was so odd to watch the craziness mount on the internet as the snow crept closer and then look outside to see the most innocuous weather. The blue sky was all, “What? Me? Rain down buckets of ice on Atlanta and dump massive amounts of snow on you? I would never do that.” But as the day went on, the Capital Weather Gang’s forecasts got more and more ominous and the warnings (“Be where you’re planning to stay by 7 or 8pm tonight”) were downright scary. Never mind the clear skies outside – the clear skies are a LIE. I’ve got one coworker who thinks the whole thing is going to disappear, that we might get a dusting at most. One the one hand, that might be okay with me. No wet snow everywhere, no shoveling. On the other hand, NO! I want to work from home all cozy inside with a fire. We shall see (but my money’s on snow).
Public Service Announcement
I don’t recommend Campbell’s Spicy Chicken Quesadilla Soup. I’ve had it for lunch two days in a row now (yes, you heard right – I BROUGHT my lunch two days in a row, go me), and I’m completely over it. It tastes okay, but 1) it’s not thick enough, 2) it’s not chunky enough, and 3) I don’t feel so great after I eat it. I really wanted it to be good, but no. #3 there is very important. It hasn’t turned me off soup, though. I’m making chicken corn chowder tonight, and I’m making DOUBLE the recipe. Lots of really thick, creamy, cheesy soup for us. And I bought hot sauce today so I can spice mine up as much as I want. We’re going to need all that soup if the crazy amounts of snow they’re predicting actually arrive.
Actual recipe for Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder is here.
How I make it (no spicy stuff and way less prep):
Chicken Corn Chowder
Ingredients:
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1 rotisserie chicken
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½ cup chopped onion
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1 clove garlic, minced
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3 tbsp butter
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1 cup chicken broth
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¾ tsp ground cumin
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2 cups half and half
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2 cups shredded cheese (Monterey Jack or Mexican blend)
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2 cans creamed corn (14.75 oz each)
Directions:
- Tear apart the rotisserie chicken so you end up with heaps of shredded chicken.
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In pot, brown onion and garlic in butter. Add chicken.
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Pour chicken broth in pot, season with cumin. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.
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Stir in cream, cheese, and corn. Cook, stirring frequently, until the cheese is melted.
Winter musings
I should love February. It’s got a three-day weekend in it, it’s short (a plus in winter), and oh, yeah – it’s got my birthday in it. If anything would be make like this month, that should do it. But it’s DREARY. Winter is still here and the sky is always gray and it’s still cold and just yuck. Yuck and ew. My birthday only helps for a couple of days. It doesn’t make me stop wishing February would just end already and let spring get here faster. Of course, then I’ll be disappointed by early March. I’ll be all, “Yo, March! What’s up with this cold weather? Don’t you know it’s supposed to get warm as soon as you get here? What’s wrong with you? WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME?”
A solution: move south. Or west. Likelihood? Very very very very UNlikely. Besides, I don’t hate winter. It’s just not my favorite season. I like it in small doses. I like it when I’m warm and dry and cozy inside and looking out on the nasty and wet cold weather. Fires in fireplaces are nice – I wouldn’t get that if I moved somewhere without winter (well, I wouldn’t appreciate them as much). And snow is pretty, until it gets gray and slushy. I can pretend I’m a tracker when I see rabbit footprints in the snow. Snow makes me wonder what a real tracker would make of Riley’s footprints now that he’s missing a foot and has an odd gait. I don’t find myself pretending or wondering those things when there’s only mud or sand outside. Maybe I would in sand, but it would be about birds, not rabbits, and they’re not as cute.
There – I can be positive about winter. Was that convincing? Maybe I need a daily mantra.
Winter’s not so bad. Winter’s not so bad.
No, I need it to be more positive.
The sun’ll come out tomorrow.
Nope. Too positive. Also untrue. Also also, no need to burst into song. That could get awkward, especially at work.
Turn that frown upside down! Turn that frown upside down!
Psychotic.
This might not work for me. I just googled daily positive affirmations, and oy. So not me. Maybe the bursting into song thing is better for me. I could go with Oklahoma (Oh, what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day) or Mr. Rogers (It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood) or Sesame Street (Sunny days, sweeping the clouds away). Or Dean Martin (Good morning, life).
Whoa – as I was typing this, the sun came out. Seriously, I can’t make this stuff up. (Okay, sure I could, but that would be cheap, and I will not stoop so low.) Aaannnd it’s gone. But hey, it was there for a few seconds.
What not to do
It snowed last night (a couple of inches), and then the temperature plummeted. We woke up this morning to crazy cold windy weather and snow blowing all over the place. John still wanted to go to boxing, so after checking to make sure the street wasn’t actually icy, we shoveled the driveway and cleared off the cars. John’s car. My car’s windshield was more than I could handle that early, so I made a command decision – no gym for me this morning. I went back inside. (I figured I’d let it all melt off while warming up the car before heading to work, which I didn’t plan to do for at least another hour and a half.) Aaaaannnnd then I curled up on the couch to warm up and took a nap. Except I didn’t really nap until the last seven minutes or so before my alarm was set to go off, so naturally the alarm dragged me up out of a deep fog and I was more tired then than I was when I got out of bed. Not a smart decision. Then I stared blankly into space for a good ten minutes before dragging myself off the couch and into the shower. So, you know, not really the best way to start the morning.
This is how we roll
John and I have found the best way to shop for Christmas presents. With snow beginning (1-2 inches forecast) and sleet coming later in the day, we decided to brave the biggest mall in the metro area less than 3 weeks before Christmas. It was great. I’ve never seen Tysons so empty (maybe not a good sign for retailers, but wonderful for us). No huge crowds of people, no crazed shoppers, no long lines – heavenly. We got there as the mall opened (10am), parked right next to the Barnes & Noble entrance, got some Starbucks, and got it done. I think the weather and the threat of bad roads kept a lot of people away (something that wouldn’t have been a factor closer to Christmas). The roads certainly weren’t great on our way home, but with fewer people out and most of those driving slowly, we got home incident-free, shoveled the driveway, put the flannel sheets on the bed (it is seriously cold out there), and now we’re relaxing and lamenting having to go to work tomorrow (like usual). And we’re done! We have a couple of things to order, but the plan is to do that tonight, so we’ll really be done.
Want to shop like John and Zannah and actually enjoy a trip to mall with the decorations and the Christmas music?
- Go early in the shopping season.
- Go early in the day.
- Bring bad weather. This is the hard part. It can’t be too bad or you’ll get stuck.
You’re welcome.
Fall perfection
I was a little too ridiculously happy this morning. Maybe it’s that extra hour of sleep, except no, that can’t be it. John and I deliberately set an alarm for 7 today. 7 felt like 8, which is when we usually get up (or when we usually aim to get up – sometimes we miss), but wasn’t. Because it was 7. So we used the extra hour this morning to get up and run. And that was fantastic. It was a little chilly to start (mid-40s), but I ran a little over 5 miles, and by the time I got halfway, I had my jacket wrapped around my waist and was running in just a tank top. (And pants. I swear I was wearing pants.) It felt great. And the sky was blue and the sun was shining and all the trees are changing colors and I had a silly grin plastered on my face because it was all just so beautiful. Of course, my legs are a little achy now, but that’s my own fault – I got carried away and ran a bit too fast, considering that I haven’t been running as regularly as I should. I’m paying for that. But still – happy!
Sunshine is a wonderful thing
It has come to my attention (again – this is something I realize anew every so often) that I could never be a vampire. After four days of nonstop rain (it started Wednesday night and didn’t stop until Sunday night) and constant gloominess, the sun came out on Monday, and I couldn’t have been happier. I could never live in a world where I never saw the sun. (Also, I don’t want to drink blood or be dead.) I don’t have to see the sun all day, or even every day, but four days in a row without it – that’s too much. I enjoy the rain, I like listening to it, I like falling asleep to it. I don’t particularly want to be out in it much (I got fairly well soaked running errands on Friday – I had to buy mulch in the rain – and then we did our yardwork on Sunday in a constant drizzle. Felt very British.), but it’s nice to look at, nice to be snuggled up warm and dry while frantically prepping your house for sale. And then came the sun. Monday was a perfect October day, all blue skies and leaves changing colors. Days like that make all that rain worth it.
It rains in France – just thought you should know
We’re back home from a wonderful week in France. We had two days of beautiful weather, then lots of rainy days in a row (COLD rainy days), and then the day we flew out (which I think is still yesterday) was lovely. Tease. Pictures soon. We slept about 10 hours last night. Went to bed around 7:30, lights out at 8. It wasn’t even dark outside yet, but to us, 8pm felt like 2am. Now I’m good. Riley is happy to be home, and so are we. (He was a little confused about why we were all going to bed before the sun, but he went with it.)
New floors, a little insanity, and an epiphany
We spent Saturday wincing at all the hammering and other assorted loud noises coming from upstairs as a team of four put in hardwood floors. Totally worth it, but man, it was loud. And COLD. They had windows open up there and a saw set up on the front porch, so they had to keep going outside, meaning the door was always open. On top of that, it snowed all morning and then my car wouldn’t start, so we just huddled in the dining room with the dogs and lit a fire. And played on the internet. And read. And reshelved books.
Starting Saturday night, we became crazy people who clean. And clean. And clean. And also crazy people who walk into a mattress store and buy a new bed in less than 20 minutes. And then tie it to the roof of the car and drive home. On the coldest,windiest day of the year. (This was Sunday, I think). And then, because Monday was New Year’s Eve and we were having people over and some of them were spending the night (and this new bed was for the guest room), we became the crazy people who have to run out and buy sheets and then wash them so they can go on the bed. (This new bed that is a double, which is a size we’ve never owned before, so we didn’t have any sheets that would fit.) On the day people are actually coming over. And THEN, because I’m a crazy person who is also an idiot, I went to Wegmans on one of the four worst days of the year to go to Wegmans to get everything we’d need for these people coming over in LESS THAN FOUR HOURS. What are the four worst days of the year to go to Wegmans? The day before Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, the day before Easter, and NEW YEAR’S EVE. It was a madhouse. And they were completely out of the yummy pre-made dips made of cheesy goodness that I usually get. Otherwise, I found everything I was looking for. I just had to fight for some of it.
New Year’s Eve was fun, but as John and I were dragging our tired asses to bed at 2am that night, I came to a realization. The demographics of our little group have changed. (Okay, yes, duh – I know.) Our friends have babies, and babies mean schedules and crying and parents who leave early to put said babies to bed. All of that is perfectly understandable (and we love their babies and love to see their babies), but if half of our guests are going to go home long before midnight, maybe New Year’s Eve isn’t the best night to have our little get-together. (Also, DAMN I’m tired today. 2am is entirely too late for me.) Instead, I declare Derby Day to be our day. It’s always a Saturday (so no one has to work), it doesn’t immediately follow any other holiday (so no one’s exhausted from family and travel), it starts earlier, and there’s no obligation to make it to midnight (although people are more than welcome to stay late). And it’s fun!
(I think we should try to do a summery picnic thing on the Mall (or somewhere in DC when the weather’s nice), too. Easier for everyone to get to and also fun!)
That’s what I learned from New Year’s Eve this year. I’ll show you the screaming sheep I found tomorrow.
I’ll stay up and moan
Home now. Still sick. Thoroughly exhausted. I think I could have been good at writing telegrams. We were right on the edges of that big snowstorm that is heading northeast, so there were multiple accidents on the highway this afternoon, and John and I took an alternate route home. It took us five hours, but the GPS said staying on the highway would have taken almost seven. Eight, really, since we’d been on the road for an hour when we checked. So we’re home, and the car is unloaded, and the Chinese food has been ordered, and John is out getting milk and yogurt. Roxy is resting on her own bed. She was really good this past week. Very quiet, no accidents, no incidents with Mabel – she was the perfect houseguest-dog. My head feels both clearer and runnier than it has for days. I think that’s an improvement, but I’m so over this horrible cold/congestion/sinus infection/HORRIBLE THING I could just scream. But that would make me cough. And THAT would make me dive head first into a fire pit. (Because it might feel better. Also because it was 57 degrees in the house when we walked in, and a fire pit would probably be warmer.)
It got so COLD all of a sudden
The last two or three days have been lovely and almost warm. Now it’s windy and freakin’ cold. I guess it’s time, but I don’t have to like it. I’m catching up (a little) on the internet today, and I just had to share this. The Bloggess posted it the other day, and it’s just about the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.
Still here!
We made it through the big storm unscathed. Well, I haven’t been outside yet, so I guess there could be some damage, but we didn’t hear anything, and John went in to work both days, so he would have seen something. Last night was the only time the winds really picked up. Even the rain is finally letting up. That’s very good news, since Riley is a little stir-crazy. He spent a lot of today gazing longingly out the front window.
I did a bad, bad thing today. I opened the giant bag of mini Snickers. I kept it in the other room, but that didn’t stop me as much as I was hoping it would. I will be doing my best (over John’s objections, I’m sure) to give away every last bit of this candy tomorrow night.
It doesn’t look all that bad right now
I’ve seen the weather maps, and I’ve read the forecasts, and I’ve seen the pictures. I know it’s supposed to get really bad, but I thought that was supposed to have happened by now. It’s been raining steadily since last night, and we’ve had the occasional wind gust, but so far, that’s it. Maybe I should shut up right now and stop tempting fate. The power flickered three times in a row about half an hour ago, but it’s still on, and we still have internet. For now. Yes, I just knocked on wood.
Batten down the hatches
You can’t tell by looking out the window today, but apparently, the world is going to end soon. Probably Tuesday. Judging by the crowd at Wegmans this morning, though, everyone is pessimistic about that and planning for the apocalypse to occur tomorrow. Yes, I was part of that crowd, but not for the same reasons. Not out of panic. I went because we had NO food in the house. You know, the normal reason you go to the grocery store. Something I’ve been avoiding for the past couple of weeks because, I don’t know, going to the grocery store sucks. I went, and we have food, but we’re still going out for dinner tonight because I told one of the neighbors we were (as my excuse not to go to her house for bunko). She lives across the street, so we kinda have to actually leave the house. Damn.
The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain
Oh my god, guys, the high for Sunday is only going to be 51 degrees. It’s 80 today. Is the world insane? (Yes, but for other reasons.) Are we all going to get sick now from the temperature ups and downs? (Again, yes.) Am I going to make sure I spend some time enjoying the warm air this evening? (Very much yes.) I may also stop by DSW on my way home. The weather may be nice for the last time this year, but I’ve got priorities.
All bark and no bite
Today was supposed to be all rainy and stormy. So far, though, it’s not rainy and stormy enough. Actually, it hasn’t been stormy at all, and that’s rather disappointing. Somewhat disappointing. If it had been really stormy earlier, I’d’ve been all annoyed that I couldn’t just go home and enjoy it from there.
But, really, where’s the rain?
My fingers and toes are cold
Stupid weather. Sure, we need the rain, but did it have to come with a 20-degree temperature drop?
I am homeworked out. I got a ton of work done this weekend and was still able to hang out with John and his parents for a few hours last night and this morning (because I’m amazing like that). For anyone keeping track, my SQL homework is 100% done, with only the final exam left, and I finished one of the last two chapters in statistics and the corresponding quiz, with only one more chapter (these are super-long chapters), quiz, and the final left to go for that class, too. If I can take the SQL final after work on Tuesday, I can finish the last statistics chapter and quiz by the weekend and then take the final early next week and be DONE.
Of course, if I’m going to hold to that schedule, I’ll have to do all my internetting during the day…
Baby, it’s not that cold outside
It’s not cold enough. I should be happy about that (I hate being cold), but it’s hard to feel Christmas-y (or Hanukkah-y – yes, I’ve been lighting candles this year. Please pick your jaw up off the floor. That’s not sanitary.) when you barely need a coat to go outside. I’ll get over it. Just as soon as we hit the road. Which can’t be soon enough for me. What I’m really looking forward to is the time off. I need a long, long break. Or maybe…yeah, we don’t talk about that on the internet.
I also didn’t mean to publish that yet. The Publish button looked a lot like the Save Draft button just then. Whoops. (For those of you coming late to the party, first of all, shame on you. Get it together and be on time. Secondly, it’s kind of obvious what just happened, so this explanation is unnecessary.)
I regret my choice of post title now. Not just because it’s dumb, although that should be enough. No, I regret it because that song is stuck in my head now. I like it fine, but I’ve been having this problem all day, and I can’t settle on a song I’d be happy to have looping through my brain all day. I woke up this morning to the theme from The Price is Right (thanks to the episode of How I Met Your Mother we watched last night), but I started to tell John about it and immediately switched to “You Were On My Mind” by We Five. (John, you were right. It’s We Five.) Maybe I can get that one back. I’ve always liked that song. Wish me luck!
Sunny days
My moods are tied way too closely to the weather.* I woke up to a bright and sunny (and cold and windy, but who cares when you’re inside?) morning, was in no rush to get up, and had tea and pop tarts. (Mmm…pop tarts.) Then I found the funniest thread on reddit about mispronounced words, I’ve been laughing my ass off for about 20 minutes, and I can’t imagine why I wouldn’t start every day like this.
*This is not entirely true. There are plenty of rainy, snowy, or otherwise gloomy days when I am happy as a clam (usually because I’m snuggled up warm and dry with a book).