I really am astounded at the amount of snow on the ground right now. I arrived on Saturday afternoon, after re-arranging my flight to avoid flying in during the storm that ocouured on Friday, dumping record amounts of snow in a very short time. My husband an kids were supposed to be on the flight after mine. Due to certain circumstances (human error perhaps?) they missed their flight Saturday. The last 3 days have been a travel logistics nightmare. After missing the Delta flight Saturday (which was paid for with miles) Mark had to buy three tickets on Alaska for Sunday. We're on a "don't ask/don't tell" basis with that particular purchase as you can imagine. Their flight Sunday was cancelled due to the ridiculous storm in Portland. Tiffany and my mother made it into the airport safely last night, but are holed up at the Spokane Hilton because the road conditions are so bad. Mark and the kids are finally on their way (on Southwest - another 3 tickets, purchased on Sunday. Again, "don't ask/don't tell") and I am waiting for a break in the snow so I can go shovel the driveway and attempt to go get them. And make a run to the store. I have some food in the freezer, but a hamburger from the Fourth of July and a handful of chocolate covered raisins do not make for the best balanced diet.
The roads by my house have not been plowed in days. I took a test run to the dump yesterday to take the trash. I know GM is in trouble and behind the times, but I have never been more thankful to have a huge, 3 ton, 4 wheel drive Suburban. I have always loved driving a Suburban. It's my urban assault vehicle. I drove that thing through the babyhood and toddlerhood of both girls. It smelled like a wet dog and looked like a Jersey landfill, but I could strap those kids in, put on a movie, get a Starbucks and reclaim my sanity. Driving in traffic in Phoenix. Which should give you an idea of how nuts my kids are. So, now I drive a really nice, very politicially correct Toyota Highlander hybrid in Phoenix and moved my big Sally Suburban up to CDA where she belongs. She's just not made for the city. She's made for days like today when you need four wheel drive and serious power just to get up the hill from my house. I feel like a tough, resourceful, gimmie the elements -I-can-take-on-anything kinda gal plowing that thing through the snow. I do have seat heaters and XM radio though. I'm not crazy.
So I have been alone for three straight days. Everyone is calling me, worried, panicked, wondering if I'm surviving up here. I'm not camping y'all. I'm alone in a house that has a steam shower, soaking tub, internet, wii, books and a freezer and pantry full of food. And let's not forget the fully stocked wine room. I'm like a pig in you-know-what. There was a moment of panic yesterday morning when I looked in the coffee canister and saw three dry pale beans looking back at me. "OH HELL NO" was the thought running through my mind. Mark was up here in October and if he forgot to replenish the coffee...... I ran to the freezer and started digging through the fossilized chunks of meat when I saw it. A shiny white two pound bag of Starbucks espresso beans. A little powdered coffee mate (bought in error by someone who obviously doesn't drink coffee) and some vanilla syrup and I was back in business. I think at times I would rather run out of toilet paper than coffee. Luckily I have plenty of both. If it wasn't Christmas, I could be alone for weeks up here. I might start talking to the chairs and develop a tic, but what's a good hermit without a few eccentricities?
So here I am. Another foot of snow fell last night. I write, in my sweats and UGGs, looking out the windows at the snow. I can't even tell where it's coming from. Every time I look up it's coming from a different direction. It even seems like it's falling from the ground up sometimes. It's heartbreakingly beautiful. Everything is covered in huge slabs of thick white frosting. The snow on the deck is two inches below the railing now. I shoveled for 2 hours yesterday and only got through the driveway, walkway and half of the deck. I must have shoveled 200 lbs of snow off that deck yesterday. It was actually enjoyable. I geared up, turned on my ipod and sang at the top of my lungs while I shoveled. I had to stop every so often for some serious booty shaking in the snow. It's a good thing I don't have neighbors. Workout, schmourkout. Shovel snow for two hours. And dance and sing while doing so. You'll never go to the gym again. I saw our little deer family looking for food in the snow. I feel so bad. I'm going to pick up a salt lick in town for the poor little buggers. I don't care if they eat my flowers in the spring. I also looked up yesterday while I was on the deck and watched, in awe, as a huge bald eagle flew right by my house, sailed over the lake and dove into the water and flew off with a big squirmy fish in it's claw. It was what I call my "Sarah Palin" moment. I felt patriotic and wild at the same time. Just call me the Great White Booty Shaker of the Inland Northwest. The Bumble ain't got nothing on me.
So I'm off - to shovel and fetch my family in Spokane. I am really excited to have everyone here finally. I need some noise. I need the craziness of my kids and husband and parents. I need to cook. Fill the house with good smells and warmth. Put up the tree. Stop drinking alone. Just kidding. Maybe.
Merry Christmas.
