weather delays

I grew up in an area of the country that dealt with weather delays. There was the blizzard of '77 where there was so much snow that we couldn't get out of the house for a week and we ate everything in our freezer, making such concoctions that we named "frozen mice tail casserole". Or the time that the winds blew so hard across the plains that the windshield factor was 60 degrees below. Or the April 1st that heated up all the snow so fast that the rivers flooded and bridges were wiped out.

But when the weather turns bad in most sections of the world, you get out and get on with life, and deal with what has been dished out. It rains, you get your rubber boots on and grab your umbrella. It floods, you grab your precious things, turn on the sump pump and head for high ground. It snows, you shovel.

Last February I went on vacation to the mountains. By mountains let me just say that it is referred to the high peaks. During this week long vacation, it snowed every day. During the week it dumped about 3 feet of snow. And nothing stopped. People did not even turn on their TVs to find out if schools were delayed or closed. My cousin, strapped his son on his back and went outside to sweep the snow from the roof (from the ground -- he did not get on the roof with his son on his back). People drove a little slower. Okay, I drove a little slower. But life went on.

In comparison, whenever there is weather around here (where I currently live) everything stops. And by weather I mean -- any weather.

When I moved here about 5 years ago I was not prepared for this. In February of that year I was still unemployed and looking for a job. I tried to get out a few times a week -- so I wouldn't go insane. On one day I stepped outside and it was snowing. By "snowing" I mean DUSTING. It was less than 1/4 inch of snow. It was nothing. I drove to walmart and the post office and some other places I have now forgotten. A dusting! When I got home I turned on the TV and every channel was the weather. All TV shows were cancelled. A dusting!! Schools were closed for 3 days. My secretary still tells stories about her normal 45 minute commute took her 12 hours that day. I am not exaggerating -- it was a dusting!

This week it is raining. I have teased for years that I don't need a traffic report to get to work. I need a weather report. If it is raining my commute takes twice as long. There will be dozens (again, not exaggerating) of accidents. True -- but a joke. Monday is rained most of the day steadily. Wednesday it rained most of the day steadily. Today it rained the first half of the day. It was a steady rain. But it was not a heavy rain. I did not even try to find my umbrella. It was not raining hard enough for an umbrella. I did not wear a jacket. It was too hot for a jacket. I continued to wear my sandals. Ladybug wore her new funky peace sign rain boots.

43 schools either cancelled or ordered a 2 hour delay to the start of the school day. Because of the rain. School delays for rain. 43 schools!!

I think I live in an alternate universe.

Mean Mama