I'm a cypher, wrapped in an enigma, smothered in secret sauce. Also, my name is Kev and I own this here website.
Allegedly, we could get snow in my neck of the woods tomorrow.
Consider me skeptical. I’ve been burned too many times by the possibility of snow.
I know that some of you live in parts of the world where snow is an annual occurrence. To some of you, snow is an afterthought. Those you who prefer warmer weather might even hate snow.
Let me tell you something. When you live in an area of the country that hasn’t seen snow in over a decade, the possibility of snow is a big deal. In your head, you hype it up like it’s the greatest thing on this planet.
Snow is like that tropical paradise convicts in prison movies talk about going to once they “bust out of jail.” It’s like that food you crave when you haven’t eaten in a while. It’s like the music of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana.
In other words, snow isn’t really all that special. It’s just perceived as special due to circumstances. And in this case, the circumstance is: it never freakin’ snows where I live!
So, that is why the possibility of snow tomorrow is a big deal. We never get snow. Also, it’s a big deal because I love to wear jackets and snow would allow me to wear a jacket without anyone asking me, “Why are you wearing a jacket? It’s not even that cold.”
However, like I said, I’m skeptical. Every couple of years I’m teased with the possibility of snow on some random winter day.
“Did you hear the news? It might snow on Tuesday!”
“The weatherman says it’s supposed to get down to 20 degrees tonight. We could see snow!”
“It’s snowing in the Carolinas. We could be next!”
Lies. All lies.
Heck, I didn’t even get to experience snow when I visited Minnesota during Thanksgiving a couple years ago.
I was so excited about seeing snow I didn’t even mind the fact I was going to be away from my family. In early November that year, Minnesota already had over a foot of snow. I was psyched! I bought gloves. I bought a scarf. I bought a ski cap. I bought a wool trench coat. I was ready for some snow!
By the time Thanksgiving arrived, it had stopped snowing. The snow from earlier in the month had already melted. Not only was there no snow, the temperature was practically the same as my home state.
Are you kidding me??
Minnesota, the state where Grumpy Old Men was filmed, a movie that portrayed Minnesota as an icy wonderland, couldn’t even give me snow.
So, again, I’m skeptical about tomorrow.
However, I do look pretty darn good in my wool trench coat…
;-) 1.14.09 at 2:23 pm:
I obsessively watch the news to see what the chances are that it may possibly snow (it never snows here). And when the weather people forecast rain, I obsessively watch the temperature gauge, hoping that it will just drop another 5 degrees because surely that’s the point where the snow drops. It never happens. But it’s a fun game to play until Spring comes.
;-) 1.14.09 at 6:51 pm:
Wow, you have a love of snow. We can’t be friends.
Today and yesterday (the two days I designated to brave going downtown to do research) are the days where we have gotten the most snow. Today was a blizzard and three cars almost slid into me on the way home.
Last year the snow was so bad that some lady hit me when I was driving because she couldn’t stop sliding from the snow and ice. She hit me so hard my shoes fell off. My neck and back were sore for three days. But I don’t blame her. I blame the snow. It’s evil.
So yeah, you wish for snow, well if I could, I’d snowplow it from Ohio all the way to you. Every huge mound of it.
;-) 1.15.09 at 12:48 pm:
*doubtfully* Well, I hope you get (got?) snow, even though it sounds more like something I’d say to a person who made me angry.
Honestly, though, even though snow is not exactly my friend, I would be sad if I didn’t see it once a year. Too bad I can’t limit it to once a year. So, I hope this is your year, and that you get, say, six inches. Just enough to stomp around in without making a gigantic mess of everything.
;-) 1.15.09 at 12:53 pm:
Oh, I know. We were in BUFFALO, NEW YORK on CHRISTMAS EVE in 1994 and not only was there no snow, but it had the nerve to be horribly cold. There’s nothing worse than a bright, snowless day with a single-digit high. For extra misery, throw in a stiff wind. Makes my teeth hurt.
There is no snow predicted for Columbia tomorrow, but that doesn’t stop folks from freaking out, going around wringing their hands in mock despair and declaring that “It’s only going to be in the teens tomorrow!”
ACKtually, it may hover in the teens from 3:00 to 3:44 tomorrow morning … but tomorrow’s highs are more likely to be in the high thirties. And there is no precip in the forecast. Much ado about absolutely nothing.
I’m working tomorrow, and it will be one of the possibly two days of this entire “winter” when I really need to wear my black dress coat and cashmere-lined black velvet gloves (I got the gloves for Christmas so I’m truly excited about that part).
But otherwise … Woo Hoo.
I like rain and I’d be thrilled with a rainy day just about any day. You can keep the snow.
But good luck with that, Kev!
;-) 1.15.09 at 1:06 pm:
@Everyone: Sadly, though not unexpectedly, it is nowhere NEAR snow-like weather today. The sun is shining, there is a slight breeze…it might as well be Spring.
I’m beginning to think the people who predict the weather just like messing with my head…
;-) 1.15.09 at 2:40 pm:
It was 2 degrees here this morning. Now it’s up to a high of 7 degrees and the sun is out!
My feet are frozen, I think a toe may fall off.
I wish it was Spring already.
;-) 1.15.09 at 3:00 pm:
@Diana: Two degrees? Seven degrees?? Geesh.
You know, if I lived where you do, I probably would get sick of the snow, too. I’d be careful and try to avoid having your toe fall off, though. Guys (should) rarely wear foot attire that shows their toes. Not so with you girls!
Of course, having a missing toe could be an excellent conversation starter.
Guy: “Are you missing a toe?”
You: “Why yes, yes I am.”
;-) 1.15.09 at 9:46 pm:
It was so cold today that when I took a nap I slept with three layers of clothes on PLUS my blanket! Usually I sleep with way less than that on.
When I woke up my arms and legs were all numb from me curling up in a fetal position trying to stay warm.
I hate it here.
But I still have my toes. For now.
;-) 1.16.09 at 7:48 am:
Oh, Kevin, I know. Isn’t it pitiful? I have the same feeling! Its very, very depressing for me because I lived in a place that actually saw snow once in a while (North Georgia), but it didn’t snow much when I was there. The year I left, they got all kinds of snow. I think they get snow every year now. : ( I bet you anything, if I moved away from here, it’d snow the next day. Its just not meant for me to see it, I guess.
(I did get to take part in the “up to your knee in ‘93″ blizzard, but, who didn’t?)
;-) 1.18.09 at 2:39 am:
My layover in Chicago was cancelled last Saturday due to snow/ice (all incoming/outgoing flights that day were cancelled apparently).
We also just got done having 1-2′ of snow.
Oklahoma had no snow but it was below freezing almost the whole trip.
Sunshine and freezing temps is awesome, second only to snow.
That was random…
;-) 2.27.09 at 12:51 am:
[...] I would like to make a snow angel. Yes, I realize this sounds lame, but as I’ve written about before snow seems to allude me year after year. I want snow. I want to walk around in it. I want to stick [...]
;-) 3.2.09 at 3:20 pm:
[...] two months after I lamented the fact snow likes to tease me and a mere two days after I listed making a snow angel #1 on my list of things to do before I die, [...]