Okay... now what?

[Lisa S]

The kids and I have been snowed in for two weeks now and I must admit, that I'm going a little stir crazy. My husband doesn't mind driving in the snow, so we've gotten out of the house. I'm not an adept snow driver, so I'm not going any where under my own steam. We're supposed to have an inch of rain today, so maybe the roads will clear a bit more and I can get the heck out of here.

I have plenty of projects around here... refinishing furniture, sewing, cleaning... In my heart of hearts, I just want to go to the movies or goof off somewhere other than here. Alone.

[Meryl Schoenbaum]

Yeah, I can relate to that, Lisa. The winter weather can really get to you. Where I used to live on the East Coast, we had a lot of rain and icy roads. I used to hate to have to chip away at ice on my car's windows and shovel a path on the sidewalk before heading off to work. And driving on a "skating rink" was absolutely terrifying. When I decided to move, I knew I wanted to live somewhere that had better weather because the winters were so draining.

On those inside days, just try to use the forced downtime to relax and do things you enjoy since you can't do the usual running around outside, especially since you have kids. When you get back to your normal busy routine, you'll probably long for a relaxing day at home! :)

[Whidbey5]

Lisa, we're just home from vacation, so the whole "being snowed in" thing is still new. My neighbors, however, can relate to you! One family has two cars, both of which are horrible in the snow, so the dh of the family took the week off of work. I think they've had a little too much together time.

DH and I ventured out this morning and it was scary in some spots! We're hearing about rain tonight, but if the temp drop, we'll be driving on skating rinks! Our kid are still loving the snow and we' have an excellent hill for sledding.

I hope you find some time and a place for alone time! Cabin fever is no fun.

Shelley

[Lisa S]

I hope your vacation was enjoyable ~ we're glad you're back.

It's days like today that make me feel that a job outside of the home would be a really good thing!

[Lynzee]

I hear you, Lisa. I can remember feeling that way many times when we lived in upstate NY. Even though we were there through ten winters, I couldn't get used to driving in the snow, so I spent a lot of time at home. It definitely gets to you after awhile.

Wishing you warmer weather--and clear roads--soon! :)

[Zuzu's Garden]

I'm "snowed in" 7 months out of the year. Funny thing is that I love it - I can work on projects, read, watch movies, bake... oh, and shovel snow! :D I'm just not much of a city girl anymore - the more I can stay home, the happier I am.

We have a 20-year-old 4x4 Ford pickup that does great on the icy roads. I just allow extra time to get where I'm going, and if someone is in a hurry behind me, I pull over and let them pass. Last week on the way to work I saw a male Rocky Mountain big horn sheep - about 20 feet away. I slowed down to look at it and it slowed down to look at me. I had to laugh - this is quite the commute to work compared to the 2 hour commute I used to make in San Jose - now THAT was scary!

Zu

[annielinz]

Zuzu, I live in San Jose and I bet you don't miss the commute! I'm lucky my job is at the neighborhood elem. school so my commute is 2 minutes. The only wlldlife I see are the crazy squirrels that love to dart in front of my car!

[memmey]

I know you don't want to hear this but, it is in the high seventies this week.
Last night I went to a CHristmas party and it was too hot for a bon fire.
The kids were so disappointed, they wanted to roast marshmellows.
The humidity is horrible. We were sweating like crazy.....

Two wonderful cooks each made a gumbo and that is usually cold weather food, we sweated and ate it any way.
There were about 15 or so musicians playing cajun music BUT it was hot.
LOL I had a glass of wine then a glass of ice water, wine water wine water. LOL
Jan. and Feb. it will get cold here I guess, right now the A/C is on.:(

I know snow is a pain in the neck but don't pray for heat, it is just as bad.

[Lisa S]

I believe you... I wouldn't want it hot either.

It would be serene to be at home (alone) with my projects, but my reality at the moment is that I'm sharing the indoors with 4 grumpy kids, 5 pets and a husband who is working from home.

I had my husband drive me to meet a friend at the mall yesterday. We did a little bargain shopping and then went out for tea (with amaretto). It was so nice to talk with a friend. She didn't want me to find anything, wash anything or make lunch. Glory be.

I met up with the family for a viewing of Marley and Me. It should have been rated PG13 and it wasn't nearly as good as the book. Still, it was fun to be out.

It's raining and warm again. I can see some flower pots in the back yard. The birds and the squirrels are going crazy out there. I have my car keys in my hand...

[Whidbey5]

Lisa, I'm so glad to hear that you got out and had time with a friend! I'm sorry to hear that Marley is not as good as the book. I read the middle school version of Marley and Me (Marley: a Dog Like No Other) to my 7th grader classes this year and they LOVED the book. There was not a dry eye in the place when I read the last chapters.

The snow is melting here! We finally got the promised rain, but our street is a slushy mess. We had neighborhood game night last night and even the short walk next door was an adventure in slip sliding away!

Here to seeing more green in the next week!

Shelley

[Zuzu's Garden]

Hi annielinz! Happy to meet you! No, I don't miss the commute - this was years ago when my kids were very small. I'd drive from Willow Glen south about 30 minutes to their Montessori school, drop them off, drive past home again :rolleyes:, and then continue on to work. It wasn't the distance so much as the stop and go traffic that took so long - and the scary part was the people that drove way to fast. Lucky you with your 2 minute commute! :D

Lisa - glad to hear you got out!

Zuzu

[Gigi]

I treasure time alone~ it's few and far between---but it's a time to do just what I want~~~ OMGoooooooodness two weeks in because of snow---yikes!

[annielinz]

Zuzu, Willow Glen is where I grew up, right down the street from Willow Street park! I now live more south down Almaden Expressway. My daughter just got home from a drive thru Willow Glen to see all the Christmas tree lights. Small world!

[Zuzu's Garden]

annielinz,

Too funny! I lived there in the early 80s, at the end of a cul-de-sac within walking distance to downtown. I don't remember the street name, but the house was newly built with a wrap-around bay window in the kitchen for the table and chairs. Such a pretty home, and such a pretty neighborhood. It always amazed me how Willow Glen felt like a small town right smack in the middle of so many people! :D

Zuzu

[chyna]

I hear ya on the snow thing LisaS, we've been buried here for weeks too and I'm sick of it also. Doesn't help that my dh is laid up with recovering from the knee replacement so he is useless on shoveling and I had to make sure it was fairly cleared just so he could get out of the yard. Ours was that nasty dry slush stuff that makes driving so exciting. :eek: Ours started to melt yesterday and it was quite amazing to see the streets again! Of course the forecast is saying more snow today. Oh joy. :p

I can deal with the grumpy pets (5dogs and two cats), the kid but my hubby in the mix? Ugh he is the worst one of them all!!! Well and the cabin fevered cats. Owly doesn't even cover it.

[Lisa S]

I've got one tiny patch of snow on the patio! I love to see the snow come, but I don't mind at all that it's gone. Of course, in a few more weeks I'll wish that we had more. Our snowfall created new records. The last time we had this much snow in our area was 100 years ago.

I went shopping yesterday and actually just turned around and came home instead. Obviously, I'm not the only one with cabin fever around here.

[chyna]

It has been too cold around here to actually get rid of all the snow but clearing the roads is a nice change of pace. :D