Better to Laugh

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here are a few thousand words on digging out after the ice storm.

A Beautiful Morning to Be Outside

My trusty friend will be no help today.

Pure Ice

A half an hour worth of chipping...

It's going to be a long day.

We might need a new shovel before I am done!

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In my previous blog, I mentioned all the blessings of an ice storm. While humorous, here are a few of the not so pleasant things:

• Steaming crab legs at home in the winter really stinks up the house
• Flipping the light switch out of habit whenever you enter a room during a power outage makes you feel a little nutty, “Dang, I flipped it, again!”
• Sitting in the lovely candlelight knowing that the mouse you saw two days ago hasn’t been caught, yet (update: no more mouse as of this morning)
• Forgetting that you put a pizza in the oven just before the power went out…apparently it will still cook from the residual heat, if you leave it in the oven long enough. Luckily, it was not actually burnt, just extra crispy.

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Weather related misfortune can actually be full of blessings. You might have to look for them, but they are there. Here are a few from the last couple of days:

• More Sleep
• Just being home with no agenda
• Spending two solid days hanging with my youngest son and his friend discussing life, faith, religion, school, etc.
• Power outage…forcing us away from the electronic world (once I put my cell phone down) and into a fun evening of playing board games by candlelight
• Quiet…no power means no noise from electronics:  no furnace, no refrigerator, no television…just peaceful quiet

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The forecast for the next couple of days calls for more snow, lots more snow. Ice is also forecasted. Frankly, I would take snow over ice. I would be ecstatic if we only get rain, even if we don’t get a snow day. After the last large snowfall prediction, we only got about an inch or two. Let’s hope they get it wrong this time, also. I’m ready for spring.

Lots of people make fun of those who run out for bread, milk, and eggs when the weatherman forecasts a big snowfall. I admit it, I did go to the store tonight and get milk and eggs (already had a loaf of bread). What if I want to bake? What if I want French toast or pancakes for breakfast? Being prepared lets me do things on a snow day that my schedule normally doesn’t allow. So, laugh if you must, but I will be smiling while I eat a nice, hot breakfast.

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A friend of mine started blogging her favorite things from the week. I think I will give this positive posting idea a try. Here are my favorites from this week:

• Partnering with a second grader during a PE activity with one person blindfolded and one giving directions on how to do exercises on fitness dots (i.e.: move your legs in and out and your arms up and down…jumping jacks!). It was precious how he used his patient teacher voice as he gave me the descriptions, along with “good job” when I got it right. Note: there was a sighted adult in the room while I was blindfolded.
• Watching a rough and tough, middle school boy gently lead a fragile, middle school girl during the same activity mentioned above. He even held her hand as he led her around the dots.
• Learning that I can run three miles with a partner and talk at the same time. I usually run alone and save the talking for a brisk walk. I enjoy my runs alone, but it was a nice break to have a running partner.
• Having the house to myself for three days while my husband was away on business.
• Having my husband back home again after being away for three days on business.

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