Life Lately (February 2016 Edition)

I have serious blogger's block, for starters. 

It's nothing new - I published half as many posts in 2014 as 2013 - but has grown steadily worse. And it's always worst at this time of the year. The cold and snow force me into hibernation, so my days become an eventual cycle of get up, go to work, go home, and go to bed (sooner rather than later) with little variation (or excitement) from day to day, and my journal entries follow suit. (I'm a winter wimp - no skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, snow angels or snowmen for me. Snow shoveling is my compulsory winter sport. A whole lot of shoveling...)

Speaking of weather (since I'm blocked, it's the inevitable conversational fallback), though I'd love to complain, I must admit that the first few months of winter felt more like the longest fall - much warmer and greener than usual - in recorded New York history. I actually hiked in my local park multiple times during a snowless December, including the first green Christmas that I can remember. It was awesome; for a few months, I even stopped fantasizing about relocating south, west, or southwest, and decided if all New York winters were this mild, maybe I'd consider staying here forevermore.

A green Christmas Eve at the park

But then reality hit in the form of our first significant snowstorm on New Year's Day. This month has been even worse (or more typical, in this case). Two weeks ago I had to work late (I've been doing double duty since one of my colleagues resigned two months ago), until 9 P.M. rather than my usual 4 P.M. Ironically, if I'd worked my usual hours, I could have made it to work and back home without incident. But the snowfall started in earnest at 5:30 P.M. and didn't let up until the morning hours, forcing me to stay overnight at a local hotel. (Surprisingly, considering the horrible weather we've had, this marked only the second time in eight years that I haven't been able to safely drive the 25-minute journey home. I guess I've been lucky?!)

A few days later, I awakened to a winter storm warning, forecasting eight to ten inches of snow between 7 A.M. and 7 P.M. Unfortunately, my college employer was not among the schools and businesses closed, but with the previous week's escapade still fresh in my mind, I wasn't willing to risk my safety (again), so I called in, for only the second time in eight years. (The first being the onset of 2014's epic Snowvember storm that dropped 88 inches in three days.) It turned out to be a wise decision; the area received a foot of snow that day, with unplowed roads and low visibility creating dangerous driving. If I have to be snowed in anywhere, my vote is always for the safety (and sanctity) of my home (versus a cheap, cold, uncomfortable hotel). 

 

But warmer, sunnier days are ahead. The snow will eventually melt, my coworker will eventually be replaced, my workload will eventually lessen, and I'll eventually escape from it all. After months of research, I've booked my California adventure (which will happily include Disney California Adventure...woo-hoo!), a much-needed break from the mundane...and guaranteed blogging material.