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12.15.2007 :: My Marshmallow World
It's a marshmallow world in the winter,
When the snow comes to cover the ground,
It's the time for play, it's a whipped-cream day,
I wait for it the whole year round.
~Dean Martin
Unfortunately for most of the NorthEast, the snow came at an inconvenient time.*
*That would be an understatement*
When the flakes fell, apparently every single person that lives in this area and a couple more for good measure, got in their cars and drove. Well, "DROVE" may be a generous term for the parking that we all did on the main roads. I have never had a more frustrating time. For instance, it took me 45 minutes to get home. That would be a 3 minute ride, 4 if the light is red. I could have indeed walked faster.
And then.
(Luckily for us bloggers, there is always an "AND THEN")
Derek and Bethany had gone to the mall earlier in the day to buy their Salvation Army Angel gifts and unfortunately did not think ahead and drove Derek's car which is as ineffective in the snow as...well..as a pair of water wings. (you know, water wings being a summertime swimming activity?) So then I had to get in the car and drive to the mall to rescue 2 stranded loved ones. 3 1/2 nailbiting hours later, we arrived at home. Stressed but very happy to see the homestead. (that would be normally be a 1/2 hour ride, maybe 40 minutes tops)
The memories are behind us now and we are left with the beauty of a Christmas snow. Because honestly? There is nothing as beautiful as a December snowstorm viewed from your living room window.
Am I right?
Who's with me here?
Bird tracks in the snow make me ridiculously happy. Fig too!
One of the millions of things demanding my attention today?
THE tree. For some reason, I'm having some trouble finding my Christmas spirit this year. My inner Scrooge is showing. You know what does not help? When I finally get the lights on the poor dark tree? And despite testing each strand of lights before using them? The top of that tree is DARK. No working lights, even though they worked a couple of minutes previous. Very funny, right? I KNOW, RIGHT? I have wiggled and checked each dark bulb. Pfft.
And?
While I'm on the Christmas stuff?
~Why is it so hard to shop for a 19 and a 21 year old?
~WHY am I just as exhausted after a marathon online shopping excursion as when I'm schlepping the mall lugging all the packages? It shouldn't be, but it is.
~Why can't I be rich?
~Why will there still be kids with cold hands?
Just wondering.
Posted by Sandy on 12.15.2007 AT 09:21 AM
Comments
You really love those kids, and after this they must really know it.
Posted by: claudia on 12.15.2007 AT 08:09 PM
Watching pretty, fluffy snow from inside my house, knowing I don't need to drive in it, is indeed cozy and wonderful! Not that I mind driving in NORMAL snow (ice is a different story), but if I'm out in a car, I can't be home, romping with Chappy, so . . .
Posted by: --Deb on 12.15.2007 AT 06:42 PM
I also have had difficulty getting into the Christmas spirit. I secretly can't wait for Christmas to be over. Normally I love Christmas but this year it seems to have come far too quickly.
Posted by: Ailsa on 12.15.2007 AT 06:01 PM
Looks like we're getting more whipped cream tomorrow ... I went shopping today so that I don't have to set a foot outdoors for the next 24-36 hours.
Posted by: Ruth on 12.15.2007 AT 05:13 PM
Glad to know that I'm not the only one with Christmas tree light *issues*. I'm off to Target to go restock. (And I sent my Soaring Eagles mittens yesterday, but need to blog it still!)
Posted by: Danielle on 12.15.2007 AT 03:15 PM
I saw some news footage about the huge traffic mess you guys had out there! YIKES!! Glad it's over for you....
We are having our 4th storm today. Often times we don't have snow before Christmas - so I think they missed their early prediction for a "mild winter". LOL!
Your tree is very pretty. I always manage to get a "Charlie Brown" tree, as I search for one with open branches for lots of hanging ornaments. My theory is good.... just that the tree itself always looks so sad.
Hope you get your HoHoHo spirit real soon....time's a flying ya know.....
19 and 21 yr olds are ALWAYS difficult...why should shopping for them be anything but??
Posted by: KathyInIowa on 12.15.2007 AT 01:29 PM
I love those bird tracks! (I'm glad you're all safe at home now and enjoying the snow from indoors.)
Perhaps there's a short in the wire, and when you put it on the tree, the wire is angled such that there is a break in the circuit?
I've been having trouble getting in the holiday spirit too. We finally got our tree decorated last night.
Posted by: Andrea (noricum) on 12.15.2007 AT 01:00 PM
I need to know when Norma's David gets home. *L*
Snow? What's snow? Is that like the frost that covers everything in my world in the morning? ♥
Posted by: Cookie on 12.15.2007 AT 12:06 PM
Zoinks! David said to me, 9 minutes ago, "I'm going to mail your packages now." Nine minutes ago, it was 11:50 a.m. The post office closes at noon. AND THEN (yes, we bloggers are so fortunate to have "and thens") it's the holiday season, AND we live five minutes or so from the post office. Cripes. There I am sermonizing this morning about cold-handed kids, and I almost forgot to mail my package.
Why can't we all be rich? Just wondering. (You make me laugh every time, girl.) LXLXLX
Posted by: Norma on 12.15.2007 AT 12:01 PM
Snow is very beautiful especially so when one is safe and warm. Bird tracks make me ridiculously happy, too! I'm going to go look for some in my snow. Happy Bah Humbug! ;-)
Posted by: margene on 12.15.2007 AT 11:42 AM
GAH! I hate when that happens with the lights!!
Posted by: Vicki on 12.15.2007 AT 11:16 AM
The snow is beautiful! I can't wait for more tonight. Of course, I didn't think so on Thursday afternoon/night when it took me 4 1/2 hours to get to Beverly from Chelsea. I was very happy to finally see my driveway (and really grateful that I did buy the four wheel drive version of the truck two years ago--it was a good idea to shop in January when I was thinking of snow).
Posted by: Jo in Boston (Formerly) on 12.15.2007 AT 11:08 AM
you're absolutely right about the snow Sandy! and as for the 19/20 year olds - I am having the same issue myself and have come to the conclusion that these kids need to move out and into their own places so we can buy them things like vacuum cleaners, towels and sheets for Christmas.
Posted by: ann on 12.15.2007 AT 09:45 AM
Snow is lovely and beautiful when you and all your loved ones are home and warm and watching from the living room window.
Posted by: Carole on 12.15.2007 AT 09:37 AM
OK, I posted a photo of my soaring eagles mittens on my blog :)
Posted by: Danielle on 12.17.2007 AT 05:54 PM