Weather Not This Bad in 100 Years!

Hey, I'm still around...just coping with the filthy, dirty, rotten, stinking, disgusting 2 weeks of snow and blizzards, that's all. So, here's what went down:

Feb. 06. 2010 - Lost electric power at 3:20 am meaning no heat or water - hot or cold - so I hunkered down. By daybreak, such as it was, there was that dreaded "winter mix" of precipitation which changed to all snow as the day wore on. By Evening the gusting winds sounded like freight trains rumbling through. Snowed in, nowhere to go, and listening to a small radio for updates - - there are 36,000 homes without power with more expected as the heavy mix brings down power lines. Flying snow and ice clumps crash into the outer walls of the building, scaring the crap out of me.
Living with beaucoup lighted candles (thanks Martha Stewart, I think!) and closing off the other rooms kept the main room above freezing, at least.
Constructed a festive single burner cook top that only a gay man could conceive. I' ll add pictures later. Heated soup and stew. You had to be here. Well, no actually, glad you were not here.

Feb. 07.2010 - Slept under layers of blankets and comforters and woke to sunshine, less wind; thereby expecting the apartment to warm up as the sun always does. It did, but not enough. I was unable to dig out and work that day so I dug as much as I could - careful not to damage my back anymore than it already is and waited for a plow out which, when it came was not from the state or county, but from a neighbor with a frontloader.
Tired, sore, cold, hungry, and feeling very alone I heated an evening meal, grabbed more covers and went to sleep.

Feb.08. 2010 - The apartment is literally freezing. The snow I scooped into a pitcher last evening to use for washing and toothbrushing remains snow and ice. I am in trouble!
I telephone the boss explaining my situation - that I can work my shift but need a place to warm up and sleep until the power is restored. He tells me to get the hell out of there, and meet him for breakfast at the other restaurant and we'll figure it out from there.
The hot coffee, eggs, bacon, and toast were like manna. To suddenly be warm was a shock for my body. It took hours to stop shaking, to take deep breaths, to feel my toes again.
During my shift it was determined that I would be staying at the home of another employee and that there would be 3 of us rooming together. The house mother is another host at the restaurant and the other roomie is a server, who just as I, had no utilities or water. Though we don't know one another well, we got along as old friends. Thanks be to G*d for that!

Feb. 09.2010 - Covered for the other host who couldn't get dug out to work the shift. Bracing for a duplicate of last weekend. And, sure enough it comes. Snow falls heavily all evening as the winds shift into high gear. Almost white-out conditions finally force the issue state-wide.

Feb 10. 2010 - State of Emergency in place making travel by anyone other than emergency personnel subject to a heavy fine. Many unsure whether to believe the histrionics from the weather casters. Still, the decision was made to open the restaurant and so there we were. Two hours later, the city decided (thanks to someone wise rather than someone greedy) to close down in order to clear as much snow off the Avenue as possible - - preparing for the big 3-holiday weekend.
Meanwhile back at the apartment, we celebrated with Bombay Sapphire Gin, roasted chicken breasts in a creamy mushroom sauce, salad, and garlic bread. Not bad.
This was followed by copious amounts of wine as we giggled and laughed as the weather morons continued to tap dance they're way through the mess as the snow mounted and roads were impassible.

That will do for now. Part two will follow soon. It's great to be on my own space, my own bed, enjoying my own crazy. Can I get an Amen.

Cocktail time. Yes, well, it's 5 o'clock somewhere.
Cheers!

Calm Before the Storm

All was eerily calm as I made my way to work this morning. Little traffic, a pale sun behind gray clouds straining to make its presence known, an uneasy quiet, not even a breeze. Most odd, being on the ocean there is always at least a light breeze.

Very little in the way of human activity in town today. The lunch customers were few and subdued; everyone anxious for the shoe to drop, for this monster to arrive, already. The snow began to fall at the end of my work day, accompanied by a 10 mph wind. The severe weather warning went into gear at 4 pm, the Blizzard warning went into effect at 7 tonight and continues until 6 tomorrow evening, so batten down the hatches.

Everyone at work was joking that "wouldn't it be funny if this whole thing fizzled out in the end?" and I said YES, I'll take that instead of what is coming our way.

To top things off, unless a State of Emergency is declared, I will be expected at work tomorrow morning. A telephone chain has been implemented, so I will not know until the morning.

I have food, coffee, tea, wine, gin, and Sazerac ingredients, of course.

Time for a cocktail and supper. Cheers!

"Blizzard Conditions" - No Kidding?

No kidding!

That's what forecasters are saying. Anyone who has been to DE knows that the state sucks at anything snow-related. Main highways are kinda-sorta cleared, but forget side roads and those in the beach towns and surrounding communities.

When I got to work this morning the forecasters were calling for up to 12" of snow beginning tomorrow and through Saturday night. As I left this evening it's now up to 24" and blizzard conditions with 40 mph winds. Not looking good. As I made my way back to the apartment I noticed that supermarket parking lots were pretty full, as were the gas stations.

Mind you we've already seen 10" last weekend, another 3" yesterday, and plenty of that is still on the ground, which is saturated from all the recent rains.

Virginia is already under a state of emergency with first-responders already getting into place.

I'm sure I'll be able to get to work tomorrow, but all bets are off for Saturday. The only fear is that we lose electric power. Everything in the apartment runs on electricity. EVERYTHING!

Well, at least I have plenty of food, filled containers of water (we're on a well) and all ingredients for a Sazerac, so I'm good.

Ought to be quite a ride and like it or not, I've got a ticket.

First Ride: The Day Off

Ok, so it snowed (again!) overnight - only 3 inches, but heavy, wet stuff - and it was a shock. Especially after the weekend storm dumped about 10 inches of powder on us, also totally unexpected. The weather folks made it up as they went along.

Shoveled the porch, steps and a path to the car.

Cleaned off the car. The weight of the snow was a bitch.

Shoveled the neighbors steps and porch. Very bad idea, that one.

Returned to the apartment with severe pain in the hands (arthritis) and lower back (3 fractured vertebrae last year). Swallowed a couple of Ibuprofen and took a time-out waiting for them to kick in.

Decided to pull out the big Dutch oven and make a hardy stew. It freezes well and is just the supper on those cold nights after work when the last thing I want to do is face pots and pans. It turned out well.

Came back to the Station to work on ideas for page elements and other content.

Received a call from a friend in New Orleans squealing that he and his honey were heading to FL for, (what else?) the Super Bowl. So many gay and lesbian friends are going to be there, it boggles the mind. Well, that's New Orleans. The excitement down there is unbelievable. NOLA is a great place - to be from - I don't know that I could live there at this time in my life. Love the food and cook it all the time. Nothing like it. Nothing!

I work in a sports-crazy restaurant and bar at the beach and I am certain this weekend will be outrageous and fun. Fortunately for me, they are, for the most part, in the Saints corner. I don't like football, too violent for my taste, but I'll make an exception for this game. I will even be sporting some Carnival beads for the Saints.

Good News: The sun finally made an appearance and helped up the temperatures, so the snow is melting nicely, slowly, but nicely.

Bad News: There's more snow forecast for the weekend. Nuts!

It's 5 o'clock somewhere and time for a namesake cocktail. Guess what it will be...uh huh. A Sazerac!*

*If you don't know its history or how it's made, just leave a comment.

Welcome to Sazerac Station

All Aboard!

Trains go north and south and bring you back from anywhere the same day, if you like.

Stop by whenever you like, stay a while, enjoy a beverage of choice (Sazerac is mine) and join the conversation or leave a comment. I love visitors.

Have a nice trip.