Thursday, January 13, 2011

We need to get the ____ out of the house.

This state is freezing.  A giant piece of ice with a few gerbil holes for breathing. And it is chaos. Why? Because we are having a bit of a snowy mayhem. Mayhem which means if it snows more than 2 flakes, we have problems. Oh, I know, I know.  Most of the U.S. is susceptible to icy weather and debilitating storms. But we are tender. Do you think we live here for the grits? 

Metro Atlanta has not a single company capable of sanding, salting or shoveling snow. We are going on the FOURTH day of no school or work. Have you ever lived in a place that closes school AND office buildings for almost a week? Neither have I, until now. Let me share an equation I crafted yesterday: 
3rd day of being trapped in house due to weather + a LOT of family togetherness + toddler with abundant energy - the Wii Running program we have already used = my idea to have a "jumping jacks" contest with MiniMac. Repeat 100 times. Genius. Someone is napping. Desperate times lead to desperate measures, people.
And friends of ours had to go out to the store yesterday. Have fun buying the last two cans of fruit cocktail in heavy syrup and deviled ham.  People are panic stricken. 
After so much family time, JMac said, "We need to get the ___ out of this house." AMEN. In sheer desperation, we bundled, and I do mean bundled, up to traverse 1 mile to go to one of our favorite restaurants. My first exclamation, "THANK YOU for being open." Living in a typically balmy city, we do not know what to do with ourselves after multiple days of being kept indoors. I have ordered several new books for my Kindle, read a new cookbook I got for Christmas, and I have made several great new recipes including wheat bread. YUM. That's the idea...stay inside, drink wine and eat bread.  Oh, and while doing my Wii workout, I was front side down on the exercise ball doing lateral arm raises with weights only to have our son see me, think I was like a new ride at Disney, and run AND jump upon my back and yell "GIDDY UP." The positive thing about being trapped inside, you certainly need a laugh.
BUT, my Mom just arrived this morning. Never mind hers was a travel pattern similar to  John Candy in Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Minus the pillows of course. And we had planned a fun weekend full of enjoyment.  I need enjoyment people, Swiss Family Robinson, it is not. 


I hope you are warm. We actually see sun today and supposedly, this part of the world will resume normal temps this weekend. I hope so. We need it.

52 comments:

Ed said...

Pansies.

We're on our 3rd day of heavy snow with more on the way, and the most our kids have gotten was a 2 hr delay the first day.

JennyMac said...

haha, Ed, I know! Growing up in Seattle, there were rarely snow days. Put a coat on and get to school! Now, if you put an ice cube from your freezer on the road, there is trouble.

Sultan said...

In 1978 I lived in Northern New Jersey and they had a blizzard which left school canceled for a glorious week. This seemed at the time like a feature rather than a burden but of course when one grows up snow is endlessly inconvenient.

Dumbwit Tellher said...

I guess this is where I say I'm glad I'm not in GA! I love being home but too much of a good thing is claustrophobic. 4 days is unheard of even in Norway! Glad your mom is there, she'll keep MiniMac occupied.

Thank god for Wii, wine and open restaurants. Stay warm & hoping the wine cellar is stocked!

Cheers ~ Deb

Anonymous said...

Being a Jersey Girl, I'm certainly used to the snow as is our state. We've had snow on the ground since December 26th and were also hit with an additional foot on top of the foot that hadn't melted from the blizzard that dumped 3 feet. Honestly, I'm loving it. I'd take cold and snow over the muggy heat of the South anyday. I actually lived in VA for 6 LOOOOOOONG years and was deported back to Jersey for my poor attitude and unwillingness to embrace the Southern ways : )

Hope the melting starts soon for ya ; )

Rebekah said...

I'm in Augusta, and we were shut down Monday and Tuesday. I don't think all of us would have survived if it had been any longer. Seriously-I live in the south for a reason!! Come on Springtime!!!

Anonymous said...

My kids had a snow day yesterday and I though I would lose my mind. Today they are at school but *my* schools were cancelled so I get a glorious day of peace - which makes me say I LOVE WINTER.

Ashley Stone said...

hope you make it out soon!!! : )

Erin said...

I hate snow...and I live in Minnesota, so not the best recipe for fun in the winter. I am glad that you were able to make some fun at your house. I sit inside and dream about summer. I do not get snow days from work, since I work from home :(

the walking man said...

Move to Detroit JennyM. We be so bad even da snow don't come roun' hea no mo! hahahahahahaahahaaha

Seriously want to keep the snow away? Go out and buy a snow blower, a big monster with a 36" intake that will throw the snow 400 feet in any direction. Then it will never snow there again.

brokenteepee said...

4 days for 7" of snow.
Wimp.

sorry it's the Montana talkin'
Today I get to experience pouring RAIN on top of the 4" of snow that fell yesterday. The snow that fell on top of the 3" of ICE that had built up in my driveway.

Jealous?

And for comic relief? Not much better than trying to watch 9 goats navigate said icy driveway - they like to run to their pen and goat habits die hard.

Unknown said...

We got over a foot of snow yesterday, but things are back to normal today...school and businesses are all back open.

Kristina P. said...

I guess I need to thank my lucky stars for living in Utah, and only getting 10 inches of snow, every so often.

Sherri said...

I'm from NC and remember well the days of no school for many days with a couple of inches. I do not miss it one bit. On the flip side, now I live in NH and we got 18 inches yesterday. Kids were back at school today with not even a delay.

Bird Shit said...

I was trapped in the house for 1 day and almost lost my mind. It wasn't even heavy snow, my apartment complex just sucks at plowing

Unknown said...

Since December 7th my children have had 7 days of school.. Did you read that 7 DAYS!!! They will have been out 4 this week alone by the time tomorrow runs by AND they have Monday off for MLK birthday. At this rate they will have school into summer.. which sounds good except because the buses are not air conditioned they won't go to school then either due to heat related illnesses. Shoot.me.now

Chain Stitch Crochet said...

I truly feel for you! Savannah didn't get the ice and snow but it's cold as crap here. I had ice on my trees the other day at home when the storm came through and they were saying to not get on the roads if you don't need to. I was just worried about branches popping off of the trees as I live out in the woods. It's sunny here today but lot of good that does with the wind chill! Hope the white stuff melts soon!! You're right...we live in the south for a reason, and it damn sure isn't snow!

Kir said...

oh c'mon. We got more than 5 inches of snow and had to go to work yesterday...UGH. I wanted a PJ day.

I know that it's different in the south and I wonder if I'd miss the winter...um....not so much. :)

hope it's balmy again this weekend.
HUGS

KittyCat said...

I live in the Midwest and we have had some snow finally and really cold temps, but whats crazy is my kids have been out of school for 3 days, and we didnt nearly get the snow you got.
Just craziness.

MommyLisa said...

I hope you get warm enough for my friend to get out on her trip to V.I.! She needs to get away from our FEET of snow and sub-zeros'

BB said...

This winter thus far has just messed with everyone's lives. Cold, snow and ice in the south. Blizzards in the northeast and more to come. Uhhhh! We did the same thing yesterday, got out of the house for 1/2 hr or so just because I was going to lose it!

Inge' said...

Schools were closed for 2 days here in Elvisland. Personally, I like the snow just not the idiots that seem to come out of the wood work like cockroaches in the rain.

We mainly get ice here so to see actual snow was a real treat.

Had an ice storm several several years ago. Power was out for 3 days good thing I have gas heat. But I did get in a fight with a hunter in my local grocer over the last bag of charcoal. I think he saw his life flash before him for a second. Never under estimate the wrath of a southern woman and the need to cook for her kids!

Cathi said...

I guess you don't want to hear that it is sunny and in the mid 70's here in So.Cal! :) Your days sounds cozy and fun, that being said I hope you are able to thaw out soon! Warm hugs to you! xxoo :)

Mrs. M said...

It is always so interesting to see how cities deal with weather patterns they aren't used to seeing. Or in your case, don't deal. Let the melting begin!!

mCat said...

Oh how hateful!
We are used to the snow but right now our temps are FREEZING and I just can't seem to get warmed up!

Christopher said...

I actually wrote a guide dedicated to all you southerners yesterday if you need advice.

Jessica-Lauren said...

ahhh ! lol come to Canada :) we are a little more prepared here but brrrr it is cold!

J.J. in L.A. said...

I felt that way on 12/18-12/22 when we got 10.25 inches of rain. I'm used to going outside at least twice a day. It was torture!

I love MiniMac! lol! And I hope you have a great time with your mom.

ChopperPapa said...

Just found out you can make that 5 days of no school.

Georgia DOT, you kind of suck! Jus sayin!

Mrs. Tuna said...

Would I be a bad person if I told you it was 72 degrees and sunny today in arizona?

Anonymous said...

And I thought Seattle was bad. I was laughing because our school district canceled all activities at night on the mere prediction of snow. It did start snowing but not until 9pm when I'm certain everyone could get home safely.

But then when it does snow and get icy I make my husband drive me. I need to move south!

K A B L O O E Y said...

I'm just impressed you can survive a jumping jack contest with your kid, because, Jenny, no WAY. I'd be huffing and puffing, clutching my chest and all Redd Foxx "I'm comin', Elizabeth...." As for snow and the south, when I lived in Texas, the lightest dusting would cause people to drive up the lamp posts.

Maria said...

Well, no snow in Florida but girl, running in 40 degree weather at 4:15 am is no joke...And bundling up three kids before walking out the door is no fun!

Here's to the thaw...I bet the GA400 sucks right about now...

webb said...

Snow south of the Mason-Dixon Line is a different sort of chaos. Remember that we don't waste tax dollars on snow plows that only get used once a year - or once every 50 years in your case. So the price we pay is days marooned at home with kids out of school. It was so bad in Virginia last year that I started seriously considering a move to South Carolina for warmer winters... am rethinking that this year! Hope you get thru day five without killing MiniMac. It will warm up eventually! Oh, and have a cocktail!

BigLittleWolf said...

Try teens out of school and with no wheels... Nothing like a nice Dirty Martini. It always helps to stock up on olives.

Simply Suthern said...

So you aint here for the Grits??

Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a classic Holiday movie. One of my favs.

Ours schools have been closed for 4 days and have a 2 hour delay tomorrow.

Hope you thaw soon.

Mrs Montoya said...

Whoa Nelly - 4 days is too much of a Winter Wonderland for me if I didn't bring skis!! I hope it thaws for the weekend with your Mom. Giddy up! Ha ha ha :)

Little Ms J said...

I was stir crazy when Mr. J and I stayed at our place in Utah where there is always snow during the winter. We got over seven feet, -30 degrees (as in negative 30 degrees) + pregnant girl sitting on couch for week, snow drifts to wade through to walk dogs = severe bitchiness.

Godspeed my friend.

Jane said...

I miss the South. Y'all are so helpless and cute when it snows!

ladytruth said...

Since we don't have the option of a snow day, I wonder why the government won't let us have some heat days so we can stay at home too since going outside leads to ... well ... exposure to dangerous UV rays? Yeah, I also didn't think so. :)

Emily said...

Yep. I left the house on Wednesday out of sheer desperation. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be a raging alcoholic before this is all over.

Nitmos said...

Something doesn't seem right...up here in Michigan, we've only had ONE snow day for the year?!

Jenn @ Youknow...that Blog? said...

Awww... Muffin.

I'm near Toronto in what many of my American friends consider the frozen north (notsomuch, guys) and we only just got snow the past week, and have not yet had a snow day for the kids. I don't recall the city ever totally shutting down for any amount of snow ;) My kids didn't get a single snow day last year, either!

Enjoy your time off ;)

mandatorybloghere said...

omg get out
my husband recently had 12 days off work and stayed home all 12 days
I work from home so you can um imagine
i think i blogged about it i dont remember its all a blur with the xanx and booze lol
get out!

Pandorah's Box said...

I am from Canada, and although we have not had TOO much snow this winter, it has been EFFING freezing. The temp right now is -8F.

So I understand about being cooped up inside. Unfortunately, this is what the whole winter is looking like for us....

I cant wait to ride my bike.....sigh.

Susan said...

We are also in Atlanta and luckily had the foresight to go to a family member's home in Roswell. Why there? Lotsa wine. Lotsa food. Distraction for the 3 year old. You don't have to say it. I know it was a genius move.
; )

Entre Nous said...

I'll take your freezing over our freezing any day. Got done to six below last night and the cats are asking for legwarmers... :}

secret agent woman said...

We got sun, but there's more snow forecasted ahead. :-(

Anonymous said...

Old man winter can suck it...we have another foot or so coming this week!

Caty said...

"Do you think we live here for the grits?" LOL...my sentiments exactly! What is up with this freezing icy cold snowy winter in the south??? I am not happy :) Hope it goes away soon...unfortunately for me hospitals don't close.

Anonymous said...

Memphis shuts down too. We only got enough to shut down for two days this last time though.

Anonymous said...

So funny that the city shuts down for snow. Here, we never get snow days because it's the norm. I'm not sure which is worse! Hope you're thaw by now!