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Pre-Melt Down

Interesting, if typical, New England day yesterday. We had a snow storm inbound so I got out fairly early in the morning. A previously unnoted effect of middle age – when I know I have to get up early for something I automatically awaken around 4am and am wide friggin awake. Just thought I would mention that. Anyways I was rushing around pulling down all the outdoor Christmas lights and decorations as well as escorting the Christmas tree to meet its fellow mulch pile companions. Worcester does a good job in that department by having three different drop off points around the city for Christmas trees. Ours was so dry that I’m sure I showered the route with pine needles. We had a cool wildlife moment when I saw a flash of red crossing our street and followed it around to the back yard where a fairly large fox was cruising around the terraces. My wife frantically went for her phone but the camera shy fox was long gone by the time she was ready.

Height of Storm

I got everything done before the snow flew but I failed to take notice of the toll it was taking in the 15 degree temperatures. I came inside and just could not get warm. I spent most of the rest of the day huddled under blankets in the Man Cave. I made the mistake of mentioning this to my wife who immediately went into Dr Kildare mode imagining all types of maladies she was certain I was besieged with. I think it was just a little exhaustion. When I have a chore such as I described above I keep going till it’s done and fail to monitor the toll. I guess this is part of getting old – realizing a middle aged body isn’t necessarily ready for all the tasks my still adolescent mind cooks up. Shortly after telling my wife she descended into the Man Cave with a cup of hot chocolate which provided the best remedy imaginable.

Christmas Signs Are Down 

She spent the entire day completing the inside Christmas decoration deconstruction. It almost made me feel better to see the artifacts stored away for another year. It just means we’re another step closer to Christmas 2017! The various paintings and pictures assumed their normal positions after spending the holiday season under beds. The snow started around noon time and came in with a vengeance. It was so cool not to have anything on the schedule other than a dinner date postponed until tonight. These storms usually arrive in the middle of the work week and all the chaos that entails. It was so cold that we got the really light powder along with some serious winds so it was not a good day to be on the roads anyways. Worcester did a fairly good job of staying ahead of the snow and even the road in our remote development stayed plowed and passible all night.

Buddy Outside this Morinig

Another early morning wakeup because I knew I had snow blower time this morning, we ended up getting around 7-8". It was bitter cold, 5 degrees with a serious wind chill. Even Buddy decided he would eschew his usual rumble in the snow which he loves. He did his business and immediately turned around to go back inside. I wasn’t so lucky but the snow was easy to throw – once I figured out the wind directions although that took  couple self-inflicted face washes. My wife gave me a great pair of snow boarder mittens for Christmas but I was feeling the cold even through those before I finished.

This Morning's Driveway - Before

And After

In progeny news the Favorite Son checked in from New Hampshire where he and the ABFA were planning a celebration for a very big promotion the ABFA received at work this week. She was down in Boston for yet another project she’s working on but he expected her home prior to the storm. My daughter and the First Blog Reader escaped from New Jersey and are safely (if sadly) back in Los Angeles. My granddaughter has been a good little traveler so far in her short life but yesterday was an exception. My daughter reported she cried for nearly the entire flight and was generally a pain in the butt the entire time. They were both exhausted by the time they reached home where both almost immediately went to sleep.

Birthday Boy with the Soxfather

Finally today is Namesake Nephew’s birthday down in Rhode Island. He’s evolving into the hard working young man we all knew he was destined to be. He’s found love with a very nice young lady and dotes on her young son. They’ve set up house in the same town as his parents and I’m proud of the way he’s starting out his adult life. Happy Birthday Nephew!