Snow Day

Growing up in San Diego, we never missed any days due to inclement weather. I mean, let's be honest, nothing ever happens in San Diego weather wise. When we get rain, everyone overreacts because they don't understand how something wet can be falling from the sky, but this does not keep us from attending school. In fact, the only event I can recall keeping kids home are the wildfires, and that's because it isn't healthy to be out breathing in the air full of smoke and ash, even just to get to an from school. I never had one of those days because the bad wildfires happened post-high school graduation, and so never forced school to close while I was in attendance.

This is my first experience with a snow day, and man is it great. I was supposed to work on Sunday, but with the transportation system of DC shut down, there was no way to make it in. Still, I don't truly consider that a snow day since it was the weekend. However, tomorrow is Wednesday. I am supposed to work, but once again, thanks to big ass snowstorm numero dos in less than a week, no buses will be running in the District. This means I can't make it to work. Oh darn. Half of the streets of DC are still covered in snow from the last storm, so this one on top of all that ice and slush just makes the roads too dangerous to be out on. Even walking in the leftovers is dangerous, so this on top of that, well, you understand.

DC's reaction is ridiculous though. I mean, the District just completely shuts down. Apparently these snowstorms are the worst many people have ever seen, and I'm talking about people from Pennsylvania and Maine. So that on top of DC's ineptness with snow in general? Can we spell fiasco? DC is just not prepared to deal with this much snow. Schools are closed, the local government is closed, the Federal government is closed, the metro isn't running above ground, the buses aren't running, streets aren't getting plowed, etc. It is just a mess. In fact, its like San Diegans with rain, kind of a WTF is going on situation.

No complaints from me though, as I have a paper I am supposed to be writing. This gives me the perfect opportunity to procrastinate a bit more and go back to reading my pleasure book. Its about a serial killer, and is much more entertaining than how racial prejudice and the media have a role in characterizing drugs.

Happy Snow Day!

Snowmageddon!

So I survived the big Kahuna (at least 20 inches! they are counting the snowfall at Reagan as the snowfall for the District, but we definitely had about 2 feet), and we may be getting another one on Tuesday/Wednesday. So exciting. I love the snow. Abso-freaking-lutely love it. I might write an actual entry on it some time soon, but for now, here is the link to the pictures:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Michelle.R.Roth

And here is a sample:

Tree limbs and power lines

The White House


Chilly in California

Lincoln Memorial and Reflection Pool

Walk to Lincoln Memorial

So long, farewell

Blizzard Warnings!!!!

Issued by The National Weather Service
Baltimore/Washington, MD
9:30 pm EST, Fri., Feb. 5, 2010

... RECORD SNOWFALL FORECAST IN THE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON DC REGION...

... EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS OVERNIGHT...

GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH WITH VISIBILITIES FREQUENTLY FALLING BELOW ONE-QUARTER MILE DUE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL OCCUR OVERNIGHT... PRODUCING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS EAST OF INTERSTATE 95 BETWEEN BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON. ELSEWHERE AROUND THE REGION... NEAR-BLIZZARD WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR OVERNIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. TRAVEL IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED OVERNIGHT THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING AND WILL BE VERY DANGEROUS.

Issued by The National Weather Service
Baltimore/Washington, MD
10:44 pm EST, Fri., Feb. 5, 2010

... BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST SATURDAY...

A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST SATURDAY.

* PRECIPITATION TYPE... HEAVY SNOW... ACCOMPANIED OCCASIONALLY BY THUNDER OVERNIGHT.

* ACCUMULATIONS... WIDESPREAD STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 20 TO 30 INCHES... WITH SOME LOCATIONS IN EXCESS OF 30 INCHES.

* TIMING... SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL WILL OCCUR THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING WITH THE MOST HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS OCCURRING OVERNIGHT.

* VISIBILITIES... WIDESPREAD VISIBILITIES AT OR BELOW ONE-QUARTER MILE ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT IN HEAVY SNOW.

* TEMPERATURES... TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 20S TONIGHT AND SATURDAY.

* WINDS... NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH FREQUENT GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH OVERNIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY... ESPECIALLY ALONG THE COAST.

The roommates and I went out and played in the snow tonight, and it was amazing. Lots of fun acting five, throwing snowballs, taking pictures, "sledding," and watching a fire truck get stuck. Good times with pictures to follow. :-)

I love the snow... and I can't believe there is a blizzard warning and a threat of 20-30 inches of snow. I say bring it on Mother Nature. Bring It. On.