Sunday, January 14, 2007

Sittin' & Knittin'!

Maybe it's the, "Maine-ah" in me. But, I do loves me a weather event! I love the planning, the anticipation and the "hunkerin' down." I get a weird sense of satisfaction knowing that I am snuggled in with the kitties for the duration. I am the person who always has the flashlights on hand, extra candles and knows how to purify the water with bleach if need be. I have a plan for salvaging the frozen food and once kept my fish tank at the correct temperature and oxygen saturation during a lengthy power outage. Of course, had I been as vigilant during the good times, the tank wouldn't have had to be declared "protected swampland" by the Environmental Protection Agency, but you see my point.

I'm handy to have around in a natural disaster. Blame Hysterical Mind. She forces Rational Mind to plan for the unforeseen. It's really the only way we get any rest around here.

You can imagine my giddiness, then, at the news of impending inclement weather for this holiday weekend. The plan for today was to get up bright and early, hit the stores for supplies (Mountain Dew, frozen pizza and matches), gas up the truck and then get ready to settle in for the storm. This probably would have worked out a bit more smoothly had I set the alarm before bedding down last night.

But, I didn't. Thus, I arose just after 8:00 this morning and that is really just too late to get a good handle on that nice smug, "I'm all ready, are you?" attitude. But, I was out of Mountain Dew so I pulled myself together as quickly as possible and headed out. It looked fine...just a bit overcast.

Not so... The freezing rain had already begun in such a fine mist that you didn't really see it from the windows. But it was there and the roads had already begun to get slick. A ten minute run to the store took about an hour and I actually had to pull over twice on the way to the corner market because the windshield had iced over. But I made the journey unscathed (although I blew off getting the gas) and have had a quiet day since. Good thing as the icing seems to be a good deal worse and I'm thinking that I won't be going anywhere any time soon.

Winter has finally arrived in the Northeast, it seems. I guess I'll be spending a bit more time here:





My knitting spot!
The Samurai Knitter asked her readers to post pictures of their usual parking spots and this is mine. I can pretty much run my entire life from that one area. The computer, phone and fax are all within arm's length as well as most of the knitting supplies. You can also see the little bike in the lower right hand corner peeking out from it's home under the coffee table. Not visible from this view (because I cleaned off the couch before taking the picture) are the television remote, GameBoy and PSP that I like to keep close to hand in the event that the knitting goes horribly awry and diversionary activities become necessary to avoid cerebral accidents. Also not visible is the coffee table because it is an utter disaster area although tastefully decorated in Post-It notes. I use a lot of Post-Its. Most of them are scrawled with cryptic notes that I made with all good intentions but are now just beyond my ken. I keep them until the sticky stuff wears out and they flutter to the floor. If I haven't figured out what deep, insightful thoughts I had recorded for all posterity by that time, I feel that it is acceptable to throw them away. But, I still think about them...I'm not make of stone, here!
And this is where you will be finding me for the next couple of days should my presence be required. I'll have to get up to go to the bathroom or move the truck so the plows can get through, but that's about it. I've got me a sock on the fast track courtesy of a lengthy training on Friday and the three day weekend and I'm taking full advantage of the time to keep the momentum up. It's preparedness at it's finest, people.
Pass me another Mountain Dew, willya?
SA

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

My knitting spot looks very much like yours except that the cushion I sit on seems to have caved in for some reason.

I did have to go out this morning to go to work (right as the nasty stuff began at 5:30), but the jammies came out as soon as I got home and I am now hunkered down in my knitting spot; where I also intend to stay for the duration.

mrichme said...

We've got the wireless PS3 controllers charged and ready to go. We are ready for a hunkering. Keep us updated with your knitting goodness during this inclement weather.

sheep#100 said...

Uh, oh - we'd better call Number Guy's Maine-ah uncle then.

Stay warm. Stay put.

Mouse said...

As long as I have absolutely nowhere to go, I really enjoy 'snowdays'. Alas, I now live in the South where its tropical all year long.. but at least I can see PHOTOS of snow and dream of cozy days next to the fireplace.

Tania A said...

Oh, how I miss actually being trapped in my house for a day or so, with nothing to do. But nowadays, that doesn't happen, being in the sunny South (Today it was over 70 degrees. Whee!) and so I have only my memories, and the well written tales of those such as yourself to delight the part of me that misses the snow.

Anonymous said...

Enjoy the hunkering! :) I'm a bit envious. Stay inside until it's safe...even if you run out of Mountain Dew!

Lorraine said...

We're in for 5 to 8 inches of the white stuff in MN, too. The kids are ecstatic, I'm nervous, since we have one more hockey game on the morrow - the Championship!!!

Susie said...

As we were watching the Patriots win tonight (Yay!) there was a "Bleep! Bleep!" across the bottom of the TV screen, informing us that we will be having 6-10" of storm snow and the potential for double that in the lake-effect snow areas (us.) I don't believe this for a moment as the weather soothsayers and shamans have falsely prophesied all winter. It's January 14th and not a drop of the white stuff on the ground.

I think I'm going to go back to college and get certified in meterorolgy. How cool to have a job where you can be wrong almost all the time and be paid well for it.

(But I made sure I had enough coffee, half and half and gas for the generator...)

Teri S. said...

Inclement weather?! Maybe some snow after the ice? It was 65 degrees in Virginia today but rumor has it it will once again turn wintry soon. Maybe you'll get lucky and your three-day weekend will turn into a four-day weekend! Stay warm, dry, and safe!

Amy Boogie said...

I thought of leaving the house and getting gas (tank on empty) and a few other things but really I'm the bad type of Mainer, the one that treasures putting the first tracks out on the roads. Empty parking lots are even better!

Lazuli said...

Oh wow, a weather event! I wish we could have one of those. NJ is having rain, rain, and more rain, with a possible flurry or two on Tuesday. It will at least be sufficiently cold to feel like winter, so that's better than nothing.

Enjoy the winter weather and get lots of knitting done on that cozy spot of yours!

Bells said...

Oh I'd love a weather event that was cold. We had one last week that wasn't knitting friendly - 40.25 deg C (that's 104.45 to you northerers!)

I would LOVE to be snowed in. :-)

Very hand knitting spot, too - everything in arm's reach. I like it!

Jeanne said...

Our weather guys aren't committing one way or the other. They don't seem to know what form it's going to take, only that something called "precipitation" is going to be falling on us Ohioans in a big way. Ah, well. Snow day, freezing rain day... either way, it's a holiday and that means more time with fiber.

Sheepie, thank you for the comments about my weaving. I've yet to try a rigid heddle loom. What have you made with yours? A girl at school is working with one right now and I'm really curious!

lobstah said...

Wow, you guys got the freezing rain down there? They are calling for 6 to 10 inches of lovely snow tomorrow and I am praying it happens!
I'd love to see the Sheepish Annie Guide to Surviving Maine Storms, as our power goes out up here all the time. Though for some odd reason, more often in the summer than winter.

Mel said...

Driving home 50 miles in it was great fun, lemme tell ya. At least I wasn't one of those folks turned around the wrong way on the side of the turnpike. Of course, I have to drive 50 miles in to work tomorrow, when it's supposed to be even nastier. Fun, fun.

mehitabel said...

Ah, how I wish for a snow day! No such luck here in La-La Land, though. We did get a few clouds and I thought for a fleeting moment we might get some of that wet stuff--what's it called again? that stuff that falls out of the sky?? Oh well. It's hard to find excuses to sit and knit when the weather doesn't cooperate and I have to go to work anyway!

Julie said...

It's been 70+ degrees here, every day. I know SC doesn't get THAT cold in the winter, but this is just messed up. The azalea bushes have buds on them; I'm starting to worry about the plant life.

Thanks for the photos. That looks like quite a nice little nest. A computer near the couch... I would never move. And Game Boy for distraction! I'm going to try that.

Anonymous said...

I am envious of the serenity you're displaying about the weather. I wish I were so calm, but alas, weather like this throws me first into hysterics about whether I will be able to get home and once there, survive. Secondly, a hissy fit of epic proportions about not being able to leave the house for days. Not that I have anywhere to go and not that I wouldn't probably have stayed right there regardless. I just want the option to leave if I get the urge!

Anonymous said...

Oooh, I want to learn how to purify water with bleach!

Sounds like a cozy way to spend a few days. Have fun!

Anonymous said...

We're having a cold snap, well cold for So. California anyway, I;ve even been able to wear several of my sweaters. What has me confused is this.. A few days ago, the weather person gave us a forecast of cold temps with fog in the mornings but also informed us of high fire conditions due to low humidity. What the h...! Doesn't fog mean that there's moisture in the air? My personal opinion is that they forecast everything to try and cover their butts no matter what happens.

This is completely off topic but I'm shouting this from every available rooftop. I'm a grandma! My daughter had a little girl Saturday evening. Mother and baby doing wonderful.