It appears that our big weekend plans will be thwarted by Mother Nature. We were planning to drive up to the White Mountains late tomorrow and spend the weekend with Andy's parents and his sister and her kids—something we've never done in all these years. Andy hasn't even skied with Jo in something like 30 years. And while the 8 of them skied, I would keep Jerry company, since he had a knee replacement a couple of months ago and isn't allowed to ski yet. (And thus I wouldn't have to feel bad about being the only non-skier in a skiing family.) And Sunday we would wake up to Steph's birthday and then drive back home to continue the celebration—and then begin Hanukkah at sundown. Sounds great, huh?
Not so fast. New England is in for a doozy of a snowstorm, beginning around noon tomorrow and lasting until the wee hours of the night. We talked about driving up early Saturday morning, but that really cuts into the ski day, and then we'd have to just turn around and drive back down Sunday—and they're predicting more snow for Sunday evening! (There just better be school on Monday and Tuesday is all I can say—because then the kids are off for 12 days, and we have no vacation plans. I don't want to think about it.)
The only silver lining is that I have a ton of work to plow through (get it? plow, like a snowplow?) and would've lost about 6 hours in the car and probably would've found it impossible to get much work done up there anyhow.
Oh, but wait, there's another silver lining: I finally get to post a wonderful graphic I found at Universal Hub. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you The French Toast Alert System:
The French Toast Alert System has been developed in consultation with local and federal emergency officials to help you determine when to panic and rush to the store to buy milk, eggs, and bread.
We're in the orange zone for tomorrow! (For those who don't live in Boston, Harvey Leonard has been a TV meteorologist here since, well, I think forever. And for those who have never lived in a snowy clime, I regret that you just might not get the joke at all.)
LOVE this (ah and miss good ole Harvey Leonard - is he still with channel 7?)
here is GA just the mere mention of the word SNOW throws people into a tizzy, at least in New England it has to be a prediciton of a few inches to get people into a panic. But then again, my sister was without power for days last week with the ice storm, but I don't think milk, eggs and bread would have helped her keep warm - LOL!
Posted by: Kathy | December 18, 2008 at 10:01 AM
SEVERE in Atlanta is just about any precipitation with temperatures anywhere under 40F. It's a sad and pathetic sight watching folks rush out for bread, milk and eggs because they had to use their windshield wipers in the cold.
Love the 'plow' pun. I'm glad I'm not the only one who sometimes feels the need to explain their jokes..............;)
Posted by: steve | December 18, 2008 at 11:03 AM
The "French Toast Alert System" cracks me up. We're supposed to go to Maine on Saturday morning and we'll probably get snowed in with my family on Sunday - the horror! Will definitely have to stop at the NH liquor store on the way. Snowed in = copious amounts of vodka.
Posted by: Erin | December 18, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Twelve days out for Christmas vacation? My kids are out 10 actual school days, 16 including weekends. Oh, and they have not been in school the last three days for ice. Chances are they will return to school tomorrow, the last day before the beginning of their Christmas vacation. I dread the run to the store I've got to make shortly with three, cooped up children. Someone should send out a search party if I haven't blogged in a couple of days!
Posted by: ShortyMom | December 18, 2008 at 12:45 PM
How funny, we just had French toast this morning on our second snow day of the week. The Pacific Northwest weather forecasters are equally gleeful at the thought of any snow. This country is so hilly and we have so few snowplows around that even as little as an inch can stop everything. Snow days are great, but there's only so much work I can miss. I envy your ability to work at home.
Posted by: Janeen | December 18, 2008 at 01:18 PM
We're having a doozy of a snowstorm right now. It's at elevated or high. My older daughter had to walk from downtown Seattle to her apartment on Capitol Hill since the busses weren't running! Sorry you missed out on the trip. I think I'll just stay around my house until it melts. (got milk, coffee, beer, cookies--all the necessities)
Posted by: Margaret | December 18, 2008 at 08:25 PM