…Snowmageddon: The big dump hit Illinois last weekend. I know 12 inches is nothing to what Boston, Maine and other points east experienced recently, and I may be a total little girly-woman for even mentioning it but, and this is the important part, it was really inconvenient for me personally.
If you get to experience a big snow fall by looking out at a world turned magically white and clean, then it’s all good. It’s like living in a snow-globe. If you have to get out and actually BE in all that white stuff, which, as it turns out, is very cold and makes your feet wet, it stinks.
Our power went out early Sunday morning. The temperatures in the house fell along with the snow throughout the day. The gas stove still worked so I drank mug after mug of hot tea and burrowed down with a good book under my blankie. By mid-afternoon it was clear that the power was not going to magically fix itself any time soon. My bladder was going into toxic shock from all the tea, hubster and I were losing feeling in the lower extremities and the Super Bowl was happening in a couple of hours. We decided to make a run for it.
Thank goodness for my hubby’s truck. We somehow stayed on the road, made it to town and checked into a hotel. There we stayed with hot showers, snacks and color TV, warm and cozy, until morning. By then the major roads were plowed enough so we could get to work. They got the power going again the next afternoon and we were able to go home Monday night – all was good.
This is an actual, unretouched(ish) photo of the road as we drove into town.
Bumbles bounce! Off your bumper.
…Humor Me: As bragged, er, mentioned before, I signed (as a free agent) to write a monthly humor column in the local paper. My first offering appeared a couple of days ago to universal acclaim. By which I mean I got an email from one person who did not hate it. I was really touched when a group of townspeople came by the house to show their support. Little confused by the pitchforks, though…
What snew with yew?
Peg-o-Leg's Ramblings 
So glad you got a column! We’ve gotten almost three feet of snow here, and more on the way. Lucky us! 😦
LikeLike
Yikes! Stay cozy, my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just hope that we don’t lose our electricity. Last time we lost it for a week!
LikeLike
love the Bumble!
LikeLike
What’s not to love about a Bumble?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t imagine having your home’s power go out when it is so cold outside! Living in Southern California, my biggest fear when the power goes out is that I won’t have enough ice for my margaritas (ok, I know that was just mean). Stay warm!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I see your lips movin’, but all I hear is “blah, blah, blah.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice to know Peg, that the Bumbles has a place to go after Christmas. I think you can take heart, in regards to your column, that you find Eric Idle and Michael Palin among your fan base. Such comedy giants from, “Monty Python” fame should give you comfort. I’d ignore the pitch forks and torches though, they’re probably just funnin ya.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Recognized my guests, didja? “The Holy Grail” is one of my all-time faves. I actually sprang for a movie ticket to go see it in high school.
LikeLike
I always express my jealousy when other bloggers talk of their snowfalls, I’m desperate for a big snowfall, we’ve just had a pathetic few flakes here. I get that the powercut thing isn’t fun, and having to drive in it isn’t fun either, and that it’s really a pain (or worse) for lots of people, but I STILL WANT A BIG SNOWFALL!
And hurrah for your first column coming out! Is it available online, or only hard copy? And if it’s only hard copy, are you allowed to scan it and show us, or does that break some copyright thingy?
LikeLike
You’re a seriously disturbed woman, VJ. I’ve always said so.
I’ll have to check with my editor about sharing (“my editor” I love how I just casually tossed that out there.)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Let’s house swap. Then you can get an idea of real snow. We’re clocking in at over 6 feet in places and if we get much more, I don’t know where it’s going to go.
Maybe you can drive up here with your truck and take a load off…so to speak, and take it back with you when you leave. Really. We won’t mind.
LikeLike
LikeLike
*’m so poor * can’t afford to buy the letter *. But that’s okay. * can still type “th*s fuck*ng snow” and you’ll get my…dr*ft.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well, when you put it that way…
LikeLike
😀
I am four hours away from a three-day weekend.
I’m sure there’s more, but my brain’s kinda stuck there ATM.
LikeLike
Three-day weekend in the middle of the vast, gotta-go-to-work desert of Jan – May? Heck, now MY brain’s stuck there. So envious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think this is the most touching story of survival since since that soccer team started eating corpses after that plane crash in the Andes mountains several years back. Maybe a made for TV movie is in the offing, eh?
LikeLiked by 3 people
I don’t think you fully grasp the desperation of our situation, Al. I had to eat leftover filet mignon COLD, and the bottle of Lafitte Rothschild (’58, natch) was WARM.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In that case, forget the TV movie. This heart-rending story needs to be told at the Sundance Film Festival.
LikeLiked by 1 person
share you column with us–I got permission from my paper and publish mine every week–we are curious–I don’t want to have to get my pitchfork out now………….
LikeLike
I’ll have to check with them, although it’s just more of the same-old, same-old from around here.
LikeLike
I like your same-old
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awwwwww
LikeLiked by 1 person
I saw your tweet about your power going out on Superbowl Sunday, and I felt for you. I don’t know if you’re a football fan or not (I’m not), but if you are, I figured that would suck for you (not to mention the cold temps…). You were smart to head to a hotel.
Congrats again on the column writing!
LikeLike
Not a huge fan. We actually cut away during the middle to watch Downton, then switched back so we were in on the exciting finale. Don’t tell.
LikeLike
Your secret’s safe with me. And the Internet.
LikeLike
That picture!
LikeLike
Huh?
LikeLike
The snow monster in the windshield. It’s what drew me to the blog.
LikeLike
OHHHHH! Sorry. All the cold has slowed down my brain function.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s cool. I was thinking . . . am I the only one who saw that pic?
LikeLike
That picture!
LikeLike
Eh?
LikeLike
Peg, I think you’ve had enough mid-West winters to be entitled to whine a bit. (Just don’t do it to me!)
Are you able to post a link to your column? I mean so we can all say we knew you when?
LikeLike
I don’t think so. I tried to look at it online and it said I had to subscribe to the paper to view. You’ll just have to wait for the movie. 🙂
LikeLike
Bummer. You’ll have to do a collection! You can call it “The Grass is Always Greener over The Septic Tank”
LikeLike
Hey, that has a nice ring to it! A nice, familiar ring to it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What if you scan the page?
LikeLike
At least you didn’t lose power in chilly November the night before and most of the day of your father-in-law’s funeral. That was last year and that’s why we own a generator! Glad you got a room with heat and TV! 🙂
LikeLike
Oh, that’s right! I forgot about that nightmare.
I was thinking the last time the power went out, Bill and the dog toughed it out and I sought refuge at my dear, mother-in-law’s house for the night. They closed on the house on Friday. 😦
LikeLike
Another chapter. I know how hard it was on Pat when they sold his folks house and land.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here in Buffalo, NY (one of the snow capitals of the world, apparently), Bumbles don’t bounce – but they sure as heck know enough to jump out of the way of sliding vehicles. Amazing just how agile those Bumbles can be when espying a fast-approaching, temporarily out-of-control SUV.
LikeLike
Survival of the fittest, CM. Only the agile Bumbles live to make little Bumblettes.
My brother was in Buffalo over the weekend and he said, surprisingly, you didn’t have as much snow as Michigan. Mother Nature taking it easy on you this time around?
LikeLike
I think we’ve made up for the lack of snow since your brother was here. We got walloped on Monday. Of course, I don’t know how much snow Michigan really has, so it’s very possible you have more. I’d be more than happy to let you have more than us – this is a competition I don’t care to win.
LikeLike
Hey, Peg! Congrats on the gig. Sorry to read about the snow problem. Posts like this make me glad to be on the Texas Gulf Coast in flip-flops and shorts (okay, maybe not today in 47 degrees). I’m not much for snow, unless it’s on vacation and only for a day or so.
LikeLike
I remember how fun the snow was when I was a kid. Maybe what I need to do is go sledding to adjust my attitude.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to hear that you have Bill’s Brumblecrusher truck to navigate those country roads, Smart move to relocate to hotel to watch an unbelievable ending to the Superbowl. It snewed a record 40″ in Bahston, snewed some more today and bracing for another storm Sunday night.
LikeLike
Ha! Yes, we’re delighted to have a Bumblecrusher to help us through the drifts.
I know I shouldn’t complain when you guys have snew galore, and another foot or two on the way. Groan! Try to stay sane.
LikeLike
Blaaahhhh! I can’t believe how used to electricity I am, too. I keep flipping switches each time I go into a room even though the lights have been out for hours. Again, good luck on you column. I know you’re having fun. (with or without lights)
LikeLike
You, too, without power? It stinks, don’t it?
And thanks for the words of advice and encouragement “off line.” It helps to hear from someone who has been in the trenches already.
LikeLike
Ya’ll Northerners are just making me feel bad. At supper tonight I was complaining about how it’s overcast and 45 degrees out, and I might have to go get my coat out of the closet. Hope it clears up soon.
LikeLike
I’m so moved by your plight, I’m starting a coat drive so you don’t have to go out in that bone-chilling cold with just a sweater on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Last year, we were without power for a week . . . . . Which included Christmas. A week, no power, kids home from school, . . . . . (shudder) next time we will go to a hotel.
LikeLike
A week???? With Christmas??? And Kids???? I’m surprised nobody snapped and went all “Shining” about the place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you survived Snowmageddon! I worried while reading that your pipes froze!
Congrats again on your column! How very exciting. What was the subject of your first article? Are you going to repost it here? I hope. I hope I hope…..
Recommended blogger and a columnist. You are my hero!!!
LikeLike
Thanks Susie, but puleeze. Viral on Reddit? Boulder Blogger of the Year? Shooting into the Statosphere? I just hope you still let us peons lick your boots when you complete your total world domination.
Cuz I really like doing that.
LikeLike
I think it’s more of a fizzle than a shot, but thank you! I may fall short of world domination, but my mud-stained boots will keep on hiking, no licking required!
LikeLike
Glad you got your power back. Out here in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, we lose power a number of times each winter, but thankfully, not for more than about 8 hours or so. We crank up the generator, stoke the wood stove, and carry in buckets of water from a nearby stream to flush. Today, however, was a very unseasonably warm 59 degrees. Very weird indeed!
LikeLike
Maybe it’s time for us to consider a generator as my sister, Tar Buns, got last year. The power doesn’t go out often, as it did when we moved out here 25 years ago, but once is enough. We only have a couple logs stacked up, and they were buried under wet snow.
We’ve lost that pioneer, can-do spirit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congrats on the column, Peg!
I know what you mean about being a snow-pansy. I don’t remember being such a wimp when I was younger. The power outages were an adventure, the partially cleared and icy streets a challenge. I took pride in getting myself out of the ditch after spinning out. Now it feels like an imposition to put on boots. Crap, is this what getting old is?
LikeLike
I think it is. Crap. We need to bundle up in our boots and snowsuits and get out there and go sledding. Why aren’t we doing that? We SHOULD be doing that! Let’s go have fun and frolic in the frosty snow, this very weekend!
You go first and report back to me.
LikeLike
I scared my cat laughing at this.
LikeLike
Cats nowadays. Jeesh.
LikeLike
Since I’m currently buried under more than FOUR FEET of snow, I think today I’ll stave off my cabin fever but hunting down your column. Congrats again, you superstah you!
Also? I giggled at that photo because Bumble is my absolute fave character, ever year my kids buy me an ornament or a plate with his likeness on it. This has been such a bad winter, I think I’m even starting to look like him myself.
LikeLike
I know I shouldn’t complain with the amount of snow you guys have. And another foot or two this weekend – will it never end? Pretty soon you’ll be delighted to welcome Bumble in the house for a change of pace.
LikeLike
I wish I could relate, but…no wait, no I don’t. I’m very glad I can’t relate. I had to dress the kids up extra warm today, because the high is only going to reach 53. Brrrr…
(What can I say? I love being a southerner.)
LikeLike
Yeah, better put them in their warm flip-flops or DCFS will be after you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congrats on the column! I feel a little bad about wishing for an ice day here in Memphis, so I could be off from my day job. Yeah, we’re wimps and any sign of ice on the roads means we shut the whole city down.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t feel bad, I feel the same way. Unfortunately, we have to have mountains of snow before we feel able to close businesses here. Why, oh why, didn’t I listen to my mother and become a teacher?
LikeLike
Same here in Atlanta, Faith. “There’s a snowflake! OMGsh! Close all the schools! Everybody buy all the bread and milk you can carry!!”
LikeLiked by 1 person
What is it with the bread and milk when there’s a disaster coming? I’d want to stock up on wine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My theory is that when we see snow, we immediately want to eat something that has the same color and/or texture.
LikeLike
Ahhhhh. So much is made clear.
LikeLike
Hey, nice news on the humor column. You go Girl! And I though Hermie took care of those teeth a long time ago on the big, bad snow man…
LikeLike
Thanks, Lorna. I think he was looking for a Christmas tree to put a star on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Doesn’t matter. They are lucky to have you!
LikeLike
In NYC we were hunkered down for the “snowpocalypse” last week, which, after forecasters were predicting the end of civilization, turned out to be about 6 inches total. I’m not complaining though!
Looks like Bumbles was hitchhiking his way to town. You should have picked him up. I bet he was hungry. 🙂
LikeLike
Yeah, you NYCers were kinda wimps with your “oh, no, it’s gonna snow! Let’s close down the town!” and then you got a light dusting. Not you personally, of course, Jackie.
LikeLike
I thought I commented earlier . . . or tried to, which is exactly the point. I mostly read and write from my phone these days and I miss a lot. Apparently I missed your big You-Can-Call-Me-Columnist news. That’s awesome.
Also, I love “unretouched(ish).” If I “borrow” that, is your editor going to haul me in on plagiarism charges? Suddenly this is getting very complicated.
LikeLike
No, you’re good, Karen. Borrow anything you want. I know what you mean about the phone. When I read and comment on it and my pearls if wisdom suddenly disappear
LikeLike
Thank goodness for your husband’s truck, though I’m sure he would have walked in the blizzard to town, to watch the Super Bowl! It’s becoming so ridiculous now. Another foot for Sun-Monday, here. I pray that my flight to Puerto Rico to stay with my mom does not get cancelled. I think I will cry and have a real life tantrum if that happens.
Continued success to you on your monthly humor column, girl! 🙂
LikeLike
See? I just tried to comment on this #$%& phone and it doesn’t even make sense. Grrrrrrr
LikeLiked by 1 person
? It doesn’t let you comment using your smart phone?
LikeLike
I usually can’t get it to post right.
LikeLike
The snow continues here. It does seem endless. I am happy to say that thus far the power has stayed on. I’m better prepared this year after being without power for five days before Christmas.
Is there a link to your column? Did I miss it?
LikeLike
I didn’t link to it because I can’t figure it out. Besides, it’s more of the same drivel. Glad you have been power-ful this winter!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My mom works in Boston but she commutes back and forth on Amtrak on weekends back to NY. She went back to Boston on Tuesday (Monday was Presidents’ Day) and got stuck between Boston and Providence for three and a half hours. It snowed on Tuesday again and I’m assuming wreaked havoc again in Boston. They’ve shut down the MBTA several times; the T is just a terribly inefficient rail service to begin with and this winter has highlighted the lack of infrastructure much to the despair of Boston commuters. My mom posted a picture of the sidewalks on her way to work on Facebook this morning–just a tiny skinny little path between incredibly high snow banks coming up to her waist. I think we are all looking forward to the end of winter!
LikeLike
I pity your poor mom. My sister-in-law is in BOston, too. She said she hasn’t had much trouble keeping the driveway clear and her car gets through, but the tough thing is getting out of the driveway. The piles are so high on both sides she can’t see if any cars are coming down the street without a spotter standing out there!
LikeLike