Springy Snow

Why do I watch Ghost Whisperer? Could it be that Mr. Ghostwhiperer can be counted on to make an appearance in just his abdominal six-pack and a towel in nearly every episode? Think I just answered my own question. There is a full blown stinkin' blizzard going on just outside my window! This is April 25th! And this is weather that is January worthy in intensity! Except that by now, if this were indeed January, it would be dark outside by now. And it would have been dark for over three hours at this point. As I look beyond the sleeping Einstein through my bedroom window, there is still considerable light in the sky. Traced against it are the still bare branches of the silver elm in the back yard. It's near about leafing time. And lilac time. In this land of infinite variety we had a thunder storm yesterday afternoon and today there is something like six inches of heavy wet snow on the ground. Snow that will likely be melted away in the next forty-eight hours. It took me an hour to get home from work today. Normally, the three or so miles between work and lab are traversed in seven minutes with the lights in my favor. Ten with the lights uncooperative. This hour long ordeal included digging my car out from under snow and ice, driving, and a quick pit-stop at the liquor store. Where I found J Lohr's Wildflowers Monterey Valdigue at such an incredible price that I stocked up. For some reason, ponderable or otherwise, I have been thinking that it might be pretty okay to go out on a date. You know, that social thing where Leo (see, Meeting Leo, from several days ago) calls me and inquires as to whether I might care to share a meal or a movie or some other social engagement with him and we do just that. Dating has seemed to me of late to be somewhat of a repugnant ritual I must endure to find and bond with Mr. Leo. But for some reason, on this snowy spring evening, my brain has decided that dating might possibly be enjoyable. Fun. Wildfowers, anyone?

Home Sweet Home

Think I'm finally over my vacation hangover. You know, that nagging feeling that you need a day or two off to recover from all that time off. I've had a nice, relaxing weekend of rearranging furniture and garage cleaning and crawling out from under a mammoth pile of laundry. Part of garage cleaning entailed setting out numerous containers of recyclable materials that have been accumulating over the winter. I know, they do pick up that stuff even during the winter months. I admit that I'm a minimalist when it comes to snow removal, and that end of the driveway business where the snowplow deposits a hefty heap of large, hard-packed chunks leaves me to carve out just enough room to gain access to the street. Making it difficult to set out the recyclables until the spring thaw rids the driveway of that crusty, frozen ridge. And now I'm mildly annoyed that in addition to the paper, cans, and plastics being hauled away, my containers for the stuff disappeared as well. My only explanation is curb shoppers who mistook my recycling containers for fair game. Shame on them! Even when these containers blew halfway down the block due to the brisk prairie breeze they were returned by thoughtful neighbors. From now on I'll use cardboard boxes and be free of wondering where those totes could have wandered off to. I need to issue a public thanks to my elder son who cleaned up the kitchen for my return. And to Mom specifications! The younger son fared well while I was gone and even said he missed me. Could this be a sign of maturity? Gives a mother hope. Back to the forty hour week tomorrow and I certainly hope that I'm up for it. In a mere six weeks summer work hours shall begin and I must say I'm looking forward to that! Almost as good as anticipating the last day of school.

Oddities

Okay, a cat in a suitcase isn't so odd. But the fact that he is welcoming me home is kind of odd as far as feline behavior is concerned.











I thought all the alien weird stuff happened in New Mexico or Nevada or somewhere. Here, Martians are welcomed at the Quality Inn in Flagstaff, Az.

















Oh my God!!! Gary's drinking beer! How odd!











I don't care if he looks like a hotel employee, don't take candy from odd looking strangers.

Cheers

Shawn and Gary. The heart and soul of Abby SomeOne. I love these guys. That's all. Wish I could have taken them home with me. But the car was too full of vacation stuff and dirty laundry and I did do just a little shopping while I was gone. Only bought one pair of shoes and I liked them so much I wore them three nights in a row!

Meeting Leo

I met Leo yesterday afternoon. I'm certain of it. For those of you who show up here with some frequency, you're aware that I've been in love twice. With two very different men. They are at opposite ends of the spectrum in good ways as well as the not so good. Ways that made me crazy, ways that attracted me, ways that flattered me, ways that eventually made us go our separate ways. Very, very, very different. And a couple of years ago I was thinking that it would be wonderful to meet someone who was a happy medium of those two very opposite men. In taking an average between their behaviors, the most reasonable method seemed to be to take an average of their birthdays, landing this mythical man of my desire squarely in Leo. Not the least bit scientific and not particularly reasonable, but at least it gave me a way to refer to him. Looking for Leo. There are multiple reasons why this can't possibly work and I already accept that after three meetings with him yesterday, I may never see him again. Leo. He exists. And that alone gives me pause to reflect on the random intricacies of life as we know it. The interesting thing is, he can find me if he chooses to make the effort. And only time will tell if he does. Find me, Leo. I just might turn out to be the woman of your dreams.

Hospitality

I have this theory about the hospitality industry. I believe that a secret government mandate exists that requires the industry to employ a minimum of ten percent of its workforce with angry people involved in the Federal Witness Protection Program. Case in point would be Carolyn who checked me in to my room yesterday. She was cranky and brusque while the woman back in the office was friendly. Perhaps they should trade places! I didn't take it personally, maybe witness relocatee Carolyn was having a bad day. Until this morning. Carolyn quite loudly informed me, while I was trying to decide between the Cheerios and the Raisin Bran (no Froot Loops!), that I must wear shoes! I have stayed in hotels all over in the last ten years and have wandered sleepily down to breakfast in my jammies and bare feet and nobody minded in the least. It makes me feel like I'm at home. After all, I just like to shop for shoes, not necessarily wear them! I grabbed a tray and took my breakfast back to my room. I wonder what I will do next that will offend Carolyn. Not that I'm planning anything deliberate...

Extremes

This could also be called, I Love AWD Part II. The shortest leg of my journey back to SD was in Wyoming. It also took the greatest amount of time per mile. It wasn't snowing any longer, it was quite bright and sunny. Also very windy, creating ground drifting that at times made it nearly impossible to distinguish the road from not the road. I slowed down for these patches, whispered an internal prayer to the AWD Goddess (I think her name is Tractionestra) , and did my best to focus on what was visible of the yellow center line. The most stressful part of this drive was on a quite slippery curve when a very large Budweiser truck was on my ass looking for a likely stretch of road on which to pass me. There was no likely stretch of road on which to pass anything! He backed off at the point on the curve where we both saw a large motor home in the ditch. The skid ruts in the icy slush had not yet filled in with the drifting snow, they must have gone in just moments before Bud and I arrived. The ditch was quite steep, the motorhome had been towing a car and it was apparent that the rig had jackknifed on the curve and slid for a ways before dropping into the ditch. Bud backed off even further a mile or so later when we came upon an SUV in the ditch, iced over and on its side. Bud kept his distance until we reached a stretch of relatively clear highway with a passing lane on our side. I would have waved bye-bye but I was too intent on keeping both hands on the wheel. The funny thing was, we both ended up in Torrington about the same time. Meanwhile, back in Brookings, my younger son enjoyed a snow day at home yesterday. I talked to him Thursday evening and he was already anticipating the possibility of a blizzard moving in and creating a three day weekend. He assured me he was going to complete his homework anyway, just in case the collective wishful thinking of the entire student body didn't pull the storm their way. I just hope the rest of my way home is passable by Monday! I've experienced quite enough weather extremes in the last week, from welcome heat and sunshine to rain, zero visibility dust storms in New Mexico, snow in the mountains, slush falling from a threatening, black sky, and drifting snow blown along by the relentless wind across the plains. Thank you, Tractionestra, for my safe delivery to Rapid City. Where it may be warm enough to wear sandals tomorrow!