Jack Frost Just Keeps Nipping!
I'm sure we in the Midwest don't own the adage "If you don't like the weather, just wait ten minutes," but today that's almost literally the case. We had a wonderful respite from Old Man Winter yesterday, with temperatures up around 55 degrees, and even this morning it was still 49. Well, that looks as though it's going to be the high for the day, and not only that, but we're apparently going to the opposite extreme in a major way. It's noon right now, the temp is already down to 27, and the weather folks are telling us that we need to get our outside stuff done NOW, as by 6pm, we're supposed to have blizzard conditions. We're only supposed to get a couple of inches of snow, but as is always the case when cold and warm fronts hit each other, extreme wind is going to be the main problem, with up to 50mph gusts.
If there's a silver lining in all of this, it's that I'm snug at home inside with a day off. Besides being sheltered from the elements, that also means that I don't have to deal with the crazies at the store who go into a frenzy when they think they might have to go ten minutes without a brewski. Virtually every time we get a weather warning of some sort, the Wine and Spirits Department ends up being the top-selling department, right behind the fuel station. The problem is that in our department, we check out all groceries with no limits (we all think we should be "20 items or less"), so we just stand and check and deal with cranky people (who have to stand in line) all the live-long day.
Wow. I have the noon news report on the tv, and you can see the big white band trudging our way, while the weather woman is using terms like "trecherous," "white-out conditions," "wind-driven event" and 4 degrees below zero as the actual overnight temperature. The infamous wind-chill factor is supposed be 25 below. Believe it or not, I was actually going to grill out tonight, but I think I might just keep the lamb chops inside so they don't end up on the neighbors' grill instead. (If they're blown away, would they be on the lam(b)? H-m-m-m-m...)
We'll, I actually have some chores to do this afternoon, so I'd better get moving. Our new garbage disposal isn't going to install itself, darn it. Man, as I sit here, I can really hear the wind starting to blow all around the house. I think I'll go and get the Little House on the Prairie tapes to listen to while working on the disposal. (Will Pa make it home through the blizzard outside?!) But maybe I should go and get some beer first! Heh-heh.