I was rushing here and there trying to get the bags packed and the kids ready for our flight to Utah on Christmas Eve. Rich was working at the hospital, so we needed to all be ready to go when he got home. The boys asked when we were going to leave. I told them we left Lexington at 6:40 PM and then flew to Dallas and then Salt Lake City. Matt said, " I didn't know we were going to Texas today." "Yes." I said." We have to make a quick stop and change planes." Matt sincerely stated, "Man, I sure hope I know how to speak cowboy."
While in Utah over Christmas break Matt had his eye exam. He did indeed need glasses. As he and I looked for the perfect pair of glasses he tried on many options. Each time he would put them on and then smile into the mirror. Even if he was putting them on for me to see, he would always give me a big grin. By the end he told me he was tired of smiling.We found the perfect one and proceeded to purchase it. Just as we finished giving them our information, Matt noticed a tiny brown flower on the end of the ear piece. "Is that a flower?", he asked the lady. "Oh, I didn't see that. I think it is. Do you still want these glasses?" Matt didn't hesitate for a moment. "Yes, I want them. I like flowers. That flower kind of looks like a Honeysuckle, and I do like honey." As we left the store, Matt told me, " Flowers are fine for boys too. All gentlemen like flowers."
We were driving along with Christmas music playing on the radio when Madonna's version of Santa Baby came on. After a few lines Matt said, "She sounds kind of sassy, huh Mom." Well put.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Snow Day..... Again
Josh with his snowmanYup, the kids are home once again. We are up to SNOW DAY #8 for the year. June 4 will be the last day of school.... for now. That might not sound bad, except we started around August 12th, so it seems a two month summer break might be where we are headed.
The boys went to school on Monday since they were able to restore power to all of the schools, but as of yesterday there are still nearly 300,000 people in the state without power. We have been the lucky ones. I can't complain about not having school recently. It really has been a mess.
We had another snow storm arrive yesterday that dumped 4 1/2 inches of snow. While that might not sound like a lot in other places, there is still ice on the roads from last week and the new snow made the roads VERY slick. Yesterday the school called around 11 AM informing us they were letting school out an hour early. They have done this before in hopes of getting kids home and buses back before it got worse. The girls and I piled in the van at 1:30 and drove to the school to get the crew (my 3 and 2 neighbor boys) and found that the pickup line went for about a mile wrapping around the park below the school. Thirty-five minutes later we finally got the boys out of the cold. It was a mess. I saw 2 cars (one was a AAA truck) almost crash into a light pole near out house and saw one fender bender in front of the school. The roads were very slippery.
After I got the boys, we had to get Trey to his piano lesson. I had called his teacher and moved up his lesson from 3 to 2 PM, but had to call his teacher at 2 PM when I was still waiting to pick up the boys from school. We managed to get to her house with only sliding partway through one stop sign. The main roads were fine. It's the side roads that are scary. They do not plow them or pretreat them with salt or sand so you just have to go slow and give yourself ample time to stop and hope that you can. Trey's piano teacher had their huge tree in the front yard break into pieces under the weight of the snow and ice. Her husband had just moved their cars out of harms way before it came crashing down. It was sad to see just a large stump left in their front yard and know all the hours of time it must have taken to cut the tree into the small pieces that were in piles in their front yard.
Rich had a rough time getting home last night in my dad's old car. It is rotten in the snow and it was still snowing when he came home around 7 PM. The wind was bitter cold (actual temp was 10 degrees, but the wind chill made it much, much colder) and he had to dig his car out after he did not park in the covered parking lot. The storm took us a bit by surprise since they predicted snow, but they thought it would arrive on Monday. Rich laughed when got home and saw I was out grilling. I bet we were the only ones in Lexington that ate flame broiled hot dogs and hamburgers last night.
I decided to shovel the walks before it got dark and while the girls played inside with their brothers. We have a northern exposure so if we don't get the snow and ice up when it is fresh, we will be stuck with a dangerous driveway for weeks since the sun never hits it. I had to laugh when my neighbor, who had been told by his wife to take out their 2 year old daughter for a few minutes to explore while she finished dinner, came over and asked me if I shoveled a lot of snow as a child. I thought it was a funny question, but made sense since I think every time he has seen me outside over the past week, I was either whacking at ice with the garden shovel or scraping snow off the ground. I told him yes and that my parents had a very long driveway making my very short and small driveway seem like a breeze.
After he left, I kept pondering his question. In fact I rather enjoyed thinking about it. I thought about all my memories outside, bundled up shoveling snow with my family. While I can't remember much about shoveling our homes in Salt Lake, I do remember my lovely blue snow coat and awesome moon boots that kept my toes toasty and warm. Though you had walk with caution and be careful when stepping into large snow piles because you could pull out the liner and leave your boot stuck in the snow.
I recalled our first house on Apple Blossom which was a corner lot. If we had to do the sidewalks that would have taken ages. The driveway was a bit steep and there were a set of large, wide, flat steps leading up to the front door in between the lawn and some bushes. When large storms would come (which seemed to be often back then) the snow plow would push the snow into a gigantic mound on the corner. That pile would last until spring. We would dig and build and make amazing snow forts. We loved it. I loved playing outside in the snow with my brothers. We had wonderful snow clothes and gloves since we went skiing every other week so we didn't need to stop for breaks as often as my boys do as they freeze outside in their frozen jeans and wimpy stretchy gloves.
When we moved to our new house up the street it was a whole different level of snow piles and shoveling. Our house is located across the street from our church. When they would plow the parking lot they would make literal mountains of snow in front of our house. They were amazing and we had so much fun playing on those things. We also had fun in the backyard building snow forts and one year made a real igloo you could fit inside. My parents made a rule that you could not be inside in alone in case it collapsed. It was quite the structure and I was so proud of what we had accomplished.
As for the shoveling, the new driveway was long, wide and there were 2 pathways to the door plus a deck out back and the sidewalks in front. My mom was a stickler when it came to how to shovel. We got it out of every corner, space and crack. Often the snow that fell was so heavy I thought I would break my back every time I lifted my shovel that was weighed down with snow. I remember dividing up the driveway into sections and racing my brothers to see who could finish first.
Not only did we remove the snow and build muscles, we learned how to work hard, not complain and be involved in a team. I think it brought us closer together. I was always SO relived when it was done, though that always took one thing. Time. Not only would we shovel the driveway, we would shovel out clear to the road since they never plow the roads in Salem. I think the most icy roads in Salem can be found in front of my parents home.
Here's a long story that proves this point, and one I never wrote down. When I was a senior in high school a massive storm hit the day of Recession (boys choice dance in January). Our group had plans to go skiing during the day. My date (who I will not name, but only went out with him this one time and truly dislike to this day.....) had me drive to Spanish Fork and meet the group at a church parking lot so we could head up to Alta. I remember the Tracker plowing through feet of snow as I inched toward the meeting place. This did not please me knowing he should have come and picked me up. After a fun day on the slopes with my girlfriends, my date had me drop off people in Salem and then arranged for a guy in the group that lived in Woodland Hills to pick me up and bring me to the dance. (Did I mention that I think my real date was a jerk? I digress.....) When the scheduled pick up time came there was a knock on the door and scared looking fella on my porch. His 10 passenger van just slid out of control on the icy roads in front of my house and was completely stuck. Truly. That thing wasn't going anywhere. I ended up driving HIM, picking up HIS date at her house and then made it to the high school. Let's say since I had my own car at the dance, I drove myself home early. Memories though. Memories. Oh and I think that van was there for a few days until they could finally pull it free.
Here's one more classic crazy icy Salem roads story happened around that same time. I was a senior and we had a victory dance at the high school. On the way home I dropped off my friend Erica Hunter at her house and drove the back roads to Salem. As I drove down Salem Canal Road alone on a dark cold night (long before the ages of cell phones....) I hit a slick spot and my car slid out of control to the right. Seconds later I was sideways in my little Tracker stuck in the middle of the canal. It was an unbelievable thing. Adrenaline kicked in and before you could count to three I had unbuckled, kicked the door open and climbed out of my little car and onto the icy road. In the distance was a lone house so I ran to the house, but as luck would have it, no one was home. A short time later there were headlights in the distance coming towards me and I flagged the woman down. She was driving alone, was from California and had NEVER driven in snow before. She could see my car in the canal and was beyond scared to keep driving. The whole thing was like a crazy dream. She gave me a ride to my parents home and I remember running upstairs and finding my mom alone and asleep in her bed (my dad was off at a delivery). I shook her awake and told her that I was fine, but that the Tracker was in the canal. She was awake VERY quickly, but was relived I was safe. The next morning we called a tow truck to fish out my car and it was quite funny when the massive truck spun out on the ice I hit and found itself unable to pull out my car until it moved to safer ground. The most remarkable thing was when he finally got the car out it was completely, 100 % unmarked and undamaged because of the deep snow that cushioned its fall. Very crazy indeed.
Anyway, as I shoveled my tiny driveway last night I enjoyed thinking about my wonderful family and how much I learned from being with them and I cherish the memories I will always have of our good times, crazy times and simply being able to recall bits of our life together. When it comes down to it, memories and knowledge are what we have in the end.
I appreciate that my mom taught me how to work hard, how to see projects through to the end, how to show love to others through service (service= hard work) and to enjoy the beauty of the different seasons and nature. I hope I can teach my children the same things.
Yes, Rhett (my youngest brother) might have it easy now that they have a heated driveway that when turned on melts the snow and can use the snow plow or 4 wheeler to get the pathways and sidewalks clear, but I know he and my dad have spent years shoveling the snow of various families they home teach and that my mom has taught him how to pitch in and work.
I wouldn't trade my years of shoveling for anything. I appreciate that I enjoy doing a bit of work and that I can take those life lessons and pass them on to my children. It proves you can find enjoyment in a shoveling a cold snowy driveway as long as you have the proper perspective and happy memories to warm your heart.
The boys went to school on Monday since they were able to restore power to all of the schools, but as of yesterday there are still nearly 300,000 people in the state without power. We have been the lucky ones. I can't complain about not having school recently. It really has been a mess.
We had another snow storm arrive yesterday that dumped 4 1/2 inches of snow. While that might not sound like a lot in other places, there is still ice on the roads from last week and the new snow made the roads VERY slick. Yesterday the school called around 11 AM informing us they were letting school out an hour early. They have done this before in hopes of getting kids home and buses back before it got worse. The girls and I piled in the van at 1:30 and drove to the school to get the crew (my 3 and 2 neighbor boys) and found that the pickup line went for about a mile wrapping around the park below the school. Thirty-five minutes later we finally got the boys out of the cold. It was a mess. I saw 2 cars (one was a AAA truck) almost crash into a light pole near out house and saw one fender bender in front of the school. The roads were very slippery.
After I got the boys, we had to get Trey to his piano lesson. I had called his teacher and moved up his lesson from 3 to 2 PM, but had to call his teacher at 2 PM when I was still waiting to pick up the boys from school. We managed to get to her house with only sliding partway through one stop sign. The main roads were fine. It's the side roads that are scary. They do not plow them or pretreat them with salt or sand so you just have to go slow and give yourself ample time to stop and hope that you can. Trey's piano teacher had their huge tree in the front yard break into pieces under the weight of the snow and ice. Her husband had just moved their cars out of harms way before it came crashing down. It was sad to see just a large stump left in their front yard and know all the hours of time it must have taken to cut the tree into the small pieces that were in piles in their front yard.
Rich had a rough time getting home last night in my dad's old car. It is rotten in the snow and it was still snowing when he came home around 7 PM. The wind was bitter cold (actual temp was 10 degrees, but the wind chill made it much, much colder) and he had to dig his car out after he did not park in the covered parking lot. The storm took us a bit by surprise since they predicted snow, but they thought it would arrive on Monday. Rich laughed when got home and saw I was out grilling. I bet we were the only ones in Lexington that ate flame broiled hot dogs and hamburgers last night.
I decided to shovel the walks before it got dark and while the girls played inside with their brothers. We have a northern exposure so if we don't get the snow and ice up when it is fresh, we will be stuck with a dangerous driveway for weeks since the sun never hits it. I had to laugh when my neighbor, who had been told by his wife to take out their 2 year old daughter for a few minutes to explore while she finished dinner, came over and asked me if I shoveled a lot of snow as a child. I thought it was a funny question, but made sense since I think every time he has seen me outside over the past week, I was either whacking at ice with the garden shovel or scraping snow off the ground. I told him yes and that my parents had a very long driveway making my very short and small driveway seem like a breeze.
After he left, I kept pondering his question. In fact I rather enjoyed thinking about it. I thought about all my memories outside, bundled up shoveling snow with my family. While I can't remember much about shoveling our homes in Salt Lake, I do remember my lovely blue snow coat and awesome moon boots that kept my toes toasty and warm. Though you had walk with caution and be careful when stepping into large snow piles because you could pull out the liner and leave your boot stuck in the snow.
I recalled our first house on Apple Blossom which was a corner lot. If we had to do the sidewalks that would have taken ages. The driveway was a bit steep and there were a set of large, wide, flat steps leading up to the front door in between the lawn and some bushes. When large storms would come (which seemed to be often back then) the snow plow would push the snow into a gigantic mound on the corner. That pile would last until spring. We would dig and build and make amazing snow forts. We loved it. I loved playing outside in the snow with my brothers. We had wonderful snow clothes and gloves since we went skiing every other week so we didn't need to stop for breaks as often as my boys do as they freeze outside in their frozen jeans and wimpy stretchy gloves.
When we moved to our new house up the street it was a whole different level of snow piles and shoveling. Our house is located across the street from our church. When they would plow the parking lot they would make literal mountains of snow in front of our house. They were amazing and we had so much fun playing on those things. We also had fun in the backyard building snow forts and one year made a real igloo you could fit inside. My parents made a rule that you could not be inside in alone in case it collapsed. It was quite the structure and I was so proud of what we had accomplished.
As for the shoveling, the new driveway was long, wide and there were 2 pathways to the door plus a deck out back and the sidewalks in front. My mom was a stickler when it came to how to shovel. We got it out of every corner, space and crack. Often the snow that fell was so heavy I thought I would break my back every time I lifted my shovel that was weighed down with snow. I remember dividing up the driveway into sections and racing my brothers to see who could finish first.
Not only did we remove the snow and build muscles, we learned how to work hard, not complain and be involved in a team. I think it brought us closer together. I was always SO relived when it was done, though that always took one thing. Time. Not only would we shovel the driveway, we would shovel out clear to the road since they never plow the roads in Salem. I think the most icy roads in Salem can be found in front of my parents home.
Here's a long story that proves this point, and one I never wrote down. When I was a senior in high school a massive storm hit the day of Recession (boys choice dance in January). Our group had plans to go skiing during the day. My date (who I will not name, but only went out with him this one time and truly dislike to this day.....) had me drive to Spanish Fork and meet the group at a church parking lot so we could head up to Alta. I remember the Tracker plowing through feet of snow as I inched toward the meeting place. This did not please me knowing he should have come and picked me up. After a fun day on the slopes with my girlfriends, my date had me drop off people in Salem and then arranged for a guy in the group that lived in Woodland Hills to pick me up and bring me to the dance. (Did I mention that I think my real date was a jerk? I digress.....) When the scheduled pick up time came there was a knock on the door and scared looking fella on my porch. His 10 passenger van just slid out of control on the icy roads in front of my house and was completely stuck. Truly. That thing wasn't going anywhere. I ended up driving HIM, picking up HIS date at her house and then made it to the high school. Let's say since I had my own car at the dance, I drove myself home early. Memories though. Memories. Oh and I think that van was there for a few days until they could finally pull it free.
Here's one more classic crazy icy Salem roads story happened around that same time. I was a senior and we had a victory dance at the high school. On the way home I dropped off my friend Erica Hunter at her house and drove the back roads to Salem. As I drove down Salem Canal Road alone on a dark cold night (long before the ages of cell phones....) I hit a slick spot and my car slid out of control to the right. Seconds later I was sideways in my little Tracker stuck in the middle of the canal. It was an unbelievable thing. Adrenaline kicked in and before you could count to three I had unbuckled, kicked the door open and climbed out of my little car and onto the icy road. In the distance was a lone house so I ran to the house, but as luck would have it, no one was home. A short time later there were headlights in the distance coming towards me and I flagged the woman down. She was driving alone, was from California and had NEVER driven in snow before. She could see my car in the canal and was beyond scared to keep driving. The whole thing was like a crazy dream. She gave me a ride to my parents home and I remember running upstairs and finding my mom alone and asleep in her bed (my dad was off at a delivery). I shook her awake and told her that I was fine, but that the Tracker was in the canal. She was awake VERY quickly, but was relived I was safe. The next morning we called a tow truck to fish out my car and it was quite funny when the massive truck spun out on the ice I hit and found itself unable to pull out my car until it moved to safer ground. The most remarkable thing was when he finally got the car out it was completely, 100 % unmarked and undamaged because of the deep snow that cushioned its fall. Very crazy indeed.
Anyway, as I shoveled my tiny driveway last night I enjoyed thinking about my wonderful family and how much I learned from being with them and I cherish the memories I will always have of our good times, crazy times and simply being able to recall bits of our life together. When it comes down to it, memories and knowledge are what we have in the end.
I appreciate that my mom taught me how to work hard, how to see projects through to the end, how to show love to others through service (service= hard work) and to enjoy the beauty of the different seasons and nature. I hope I can teach my children the same things.
Yes, Rhett (my youngest brother) might have it easy now that they have a heated driveway that when turned on melts the snow and can use the snow plow or 4 wheeler to get the pathways and sidewalks clear, but I know he and my dad have spent years shoveling the snow of various families they home teach and that my mom has taught him how to pitch in and work.
I wouldn't trade my years of shoveling for anything. I appreciate that I enjoy doing a bit of work and that I can take those life lessons and pass them on to my children. It proves you can find enjoyment in a shoveling a cold snowy driveway as long as you have the proper perspective and happy memories to warm your heart.
Ice Storm 2009
We ventured out early on Saturday morning for the boys' basketball games. The world was covered in white and ice. It was magical and breathtaking. And impossible to truly show the elegance and beauty through photographs. Here are a few of the photos I took that morning..jpg)
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Some trees looked as if millions of snowflakes had stuck to their branches..jpg)
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Huge evergreen trees sagged and many were in pieces under the immense weight of snow and ice..jpg)
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Berries were frozen beneath layers of ice
but the robins were out in full force eating the frozen treats..jpg)
Our Lexington Winter Wonderland.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Random bits of life....
Rich was home today sick in bed. I never think he fully recovered from his weeks of night float. I am hoping that the homemade chicken noodle soup and orange juice will help heal him and get him going tomorrow. The Z-pack might do the trick too. It is never fun to be ill. I think I'll be sleeping on the boys trundle bed (per Rich's request) tonight. It never hurts to be cautious.
Yesterday Rich bought his airline ticket to Washington D.C. On February 8th he will be MOVING there until March 6. Every third year radiology resident (Post Graduate Year 4) gets (HAS) to spend a month training at Walter Reed Medical Center. The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) instructs and trains the radiology residents in various pathological studies. Each attendee is required to bring their own case and present it. They keep these on file, which gives them a collection like no other. The other residents that have already completed their time have been impressed with the new education they have gained. Let's face it, if you were single this would be quite the trip! Who wouldn't love a break from the hospital and free weekends exploring a new city? That's not quite the case for us. We will try to get Rich home for a weekend or two, but we will not truly know the logistics of it all and if that will be possible until he gets there. I am counting down the days until it is all over with- already.
For a few years now when people find out I have two sets of twins they have asked me if I have ever seen the show Jon & Kate Plus 8 on TLC. While I do have cable, I had never watched the show- until yesterday. Josh was flipping channels and it was on. There actually was a marathon of them so we watched two episodes yesterday and I watched two more while I rode the bike today. Man, hats off to them. I can't imagine SIX children at once. I was (and am) often overwhelmed by two. They are so structured and make it look doable (I would never say easy!), but I know, like she says on the opening, there are days she could lose her mind. I feel like that often and I only have 5-spread out over six years. Amazing people. I hope the family that delivered EIGHT babies just yesterday have a positive outcome and outlook as they do.
I have been really enjoying watching American Idol this season. I haven't really watched it in years since I usually would see bits on Youtube.com of the people I was interested in. Last week they had auditions in Louisville, which was fun. Yesterday it was in Salt Lake City. I loved seeing two of my homes on TV. I also was so impressed and proud at how polite everyone in Salt Lake was. I loved that they showed contestant after contestant say "Thank you" after the judges said no way. Way to show off my great state!! Also, Simon Cowell is an interesting fella. He is all about the whole package. He will dismiss someone with talent because they don't have a certain look or charisma and yet some barefoot, hippie girl with beads in her hair and tattoos (you know who I'm referring too) can come in and squeak by after Paula said she needed to work on her vocals because Simon said she was memorable. True I will remember her, but shouldn't talent be the real judge here? I am excited to see what happens next.
There you have it. A bit of my mind- lots going on inside and often only a few things of importance. Now time for bed!!!
Yesterday Rich bought his airline ticket to Washington D.C. On February 8th he will be MOVING there until March 6. Every third year radiology resident (Post Graduate Year 4) gets (HAS) to spend a month training at Walter Reed Medical Center. The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) instructs and trains the radiology residents in various pathological studies. Each attendee is required to bring their own case and present it. They keep these on file, which gives them a collection like no other. The other residents that have already completed their time have been impressed with the new education they have gained. Let's face it, if you were single this would be quite the trip! Who wouldn't love a break from the hospital and free weekends exploring a new city? That's not quite the case for us. We will try to get Rich home for a weekend or two, but we will not truly know the logistics of it all and if that will be possible until he gets there. I am counting down the days until it is all over with- already.
For a few years now when people find out I have two sets of twins they have asked me if I have ever seen the show Jon & Kate Plus 8 on TLC. While I do have cable, I had never watched the show- until yesterday. Josh was flipping channels and it was on. There actually was a marathon of them so we watched two episodes yesterday and I watched two more while I rode the bike today. Man, hats off to them. I can't imagine SIX children at once. I was (and am) often overwhelmed by two. They are so structured and make it look doable (I would never say easy!), but I know, like she says on the opening, there are days she could lose her mind. I feel like that often and I only have 5-spread out over six years. Amazing people. I hope the family that delivered EIGHT babies just yesterday have a positive outcome and outlook as they do.
I have been really enjoying watching American Idol this season. I haven't really watched it in years since I usually would see bits on Youtube.com of the people I was interested in. Last week they had auditions in Louisville, which was fun. Yesterday it was in Salt Lake City. I loved seeing two of my homes on TV. I also was so impressed and proud at how polite everyone in Salt Lake was. I loved that they showed contestant after contestant say "Thank you" after the judges said no way. Way to show off my great state!! Also, Simon Cowell is an interesting fella. He is all about the whole package. He will dismiss someone with talent because they don't have a certain look or charisma and yet some barefoot, hippie girl with beads in her hair and tattoos (you know who I'm referring too) can come in and squeak by after Paula said she needed to work on her vocals because Simon said she was memorable. True I will remember her, but shouldn't talent be the real judge here? I am excited to see what happens next.
There you have it. A bit of my mind- lots going on inside and often only a few things of importance. Now time for bed!!!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Exploration
It was the finally time for Brynn and Kaitlyn to venture out into the cold world of snow and ice and explore a bit today. They pulled out their mittens, hats and scarfs and began to dress themselves in their winter best. I knew they needed to escape the house for a little adventure.While it has finally stopped raining and snowing, the temperatures stayed well below freezing which kept our glistening icicles in top form. The girls were not disappointed in what they found, in fact they were delighted.
They climbed on the slide, ran across the lawn, took a stick to the bushes and then decided their perfect spot was on the stairs. Brynn's main objective was to toss snow and then eat whatever stuck to her gloves. Kaitlyn was a bit more cautious, but couldn't resist the lure of tossing the powdery white snow into the air. Brynn gobbled up icicles while Kaitlyn knocked them down. They do make quite the pair.
Brynn finally lost her hat in all the bending and throwing which signaled it was time to head in to find warmth. Kaitlyn stayed out a bit longer and enjoyed it when Josh came out and took a few runs with his slide on our mini back hill.
Brynn finally lost her hat in all the bending and throwing which signaled it was time to head in to find warmth. Kaitlyn stayed out a bit longer and enjoyed it when Josh came out and took a few runs with his slide on our mini back hill.
I loved being outside and looking at the ice up close. I am still amazed at how incredible ice storms are. We experiences our first one in Louisville years ago, but have not had one this severe in the eight years we have lived in Kentucky. When I drove out to Wal-mart this afternoon I drove past tree after tree broken in pieces under the weight of ice and snow. The ice and gloomy cloud cover made the scene very surreal. It was lovely, but very sad at the same time.
While I was in the backyard chasing the girls around I noticed how crunchy the grass was. With each step I would break and crack the ice that was underneath the snow. When I looked down I thought there were hundreds of icicles that had fallen and landed upright in the snow. If I would have thought that idea through, I would have realized that the ice was over the entire yard and not just under the gutters and deck. Obviously you can't have icicles falling from the sky. Then it dawned on me that what I thought were icicles were really individual blades of grass that had a thick coating of ice. It seemed as if there were clear fingers poking out from the ground. Very strange, creepy and cool at the same time.
A state official announced tonight that the fierce winter storm that slammed Kentucky with ice and snow has caused the largest power outage on record in the state. 607,000 people are still without power in Kentucky. The boys do not have school again tomorrow making it an entire week of cancellations and SNOW DAY #7 for the year. A few schools do not have power and a high school is still being used as a shelter. I hope by Monday things will be looking up.
Wherever you are- stay warm, dry and SAFE!!
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Time for Brynn to head on in
Josh 
Coated blades of grass
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Snow
Just when you thought freezing rain was difficult to deal with, a new storm came through this morning ushering in snow. Louisville got hammered- six new inches of white on top of their ice. Kristi called early this morning informing me they were in the middle of an intense winter snow storm and they had lost power at 7 AM. My heart sunk. What can you do when you lose power? Just about nothing.An hour later huge, white, wet flakes began falling at a record pace here in Lexington. In a flash we had two inches white blanketing the world I could see. The sun broke through for a moment and I rushed outside in hopes to capture the splendor through the lens of my camera. The ice shone like diamonds in the brilliant light and the world had a glow as the ice glittered from beneath the new layer of pure white. It was lovely, gorgeous even, but as the snow piled up, the trees began to bend, bushes began to snap and the worry of losing power was always in the back of my mind.
In fact it pushed me into over drive. I ran the washing machine four times until the basket of dirty clothing was empty. The dishwasher was soon rinsing, the vacuum was whirling, the garbage disposal was grinding and food was baking in the oven and microwave. You certainly do not appreciate what you have until it is gone and electricity is high on that list! The boys pitched in (forced was more like it), but work needed to be done especially when you are confined to indoors. And I never mind being home when it is clean!
Soon the phone began to ring off the hook. Visiting teachers calling to make sure we were alright, VT supervisors asking us to call our sisters to check in on them. As I called my women three were safe and warm at home, but my 4th sister answered her cell phone and told me she had just slid off the road trying to get to her cousins house when their apartment lost power. Thankfully her husband was ahead of her and was getting her pushed out. I could imagine her panic sitting in the car with her baby hoping to be freed. I relayed my information to the Relief Society President who was at the hub of the frenzy. Home Teachers, scout leaders and members of the primary presidency all phoned to make sure we were well and letting us know of meetings that had been canceled. You certainly can never feel alone or in need when you have a ward full of willing and wonderful people there if you need them. That is such a great blessing when we are so far away from family.
Rich took our van to work early in the morning before the ice and slush froze again. Not that I minded. The kids will be home again tomorrow marking the 4th straight day and making it SNOW DAY #6 for the year. These poor kids will be going to school until July at this rate.Though my fellas are not complaining one bit. In fact every time they announce another snow day, they get the widest grins. But really, who doesn't enjoy a day off from school? They bundle up and play for hours on end with friends. After their noses and fingers and toes are frozen solid and their jeans are sopping wet, they come in, swap pants and gloves, eat some food and head back out for round two, three, four..... They would never let such lovely snow go to waste. They sled on the hill, build snow forts, battle with light sabers and thoroughly have a ball. I love our cul-de-sac and wonderful friends the boys have just waiting outside our front door.
Cleanup slowly began this afternoon, but in the storms path it left 473,000 across the state without power and caused nearly impossible travel conditions in some areas.
The only larger outage in Kentucky occurred last September, when fierce winds from the remnants of Hurricane Ike knocked out power to about 600,000 customers.
When I talked to Kristi later tonight I discovered nearly all of my old ward in Louisville was in the cold. Traci, Vicki, Lacey, Cynthia, Melissa- all my blogging buddies- are without power. They gave them the range of 7-10 days to get it back on. She also said her neighborhood had so many trees down it looked as if a bomb went off. Huge, lovely old trees are great for shade and beauty, but in a wind storm, tornado or ice storm they equal TROUBLE! Todd just happened to be at Lowe's when a shipment of 12 generators were delivered. He hopped in line and $800 later was a proud owner of a lifesaving power source. I know Traci borrowed one from friends, but I hope the rest are safe and warm on this cold wintry night.
Many Lexington residents are without power as well and they have opened various high school as shelters. A number of counties just south of Fayette have declared themselves in a state of emergency after their main water lines burst leaving residents without water and 70% of the people without power. They also have had flooding in areas close to us as well. I feel blessed we have been spared so many of these difficult problems.
The main concern now is that we are not supposed to get above freezing until Sunday and then a new wave of snow storms are set to hit on Monday. Man, I am seriously not sure when life will fully resume. I know I bash folks around here for not getting out in a bit of snow, but ice storms are scary, crazy and very dangerous, so this one will take some time to heal from. I'll just have to keep you posted. Until then know we are healthy, warm and safe indoors- the kids and I here and Rich slaving away at the hospital. Life does continue on.
Over an inch of ice
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