One Hellish Commute…and other tales of winter January 27, 2011

I looked at this for a looooooooong time...

I had the pleasure of staring at this big SUV  stretched across the road oh…for a good 30 minutes or so…I’ve never felt so grateful for my Blackberry. The bus to the right of the suv had decided it wasn’t going anywhere, and on the left, a young women in heels and a short skirt had slid her car into the curb and she wasn’t going anywhere…so the guy decided to turn around and head UP the hill. Ummmm, no ….you’re not. Bad idea.

a wreath on my back porch this morning...

It was without doubt(and for those of you who were stuck in the worst of it around 6:30 to 7:30..ok, 8:30)the most harrowing and frightening drive home I’ve ever had. Ever. The snow was whipping down sideways, so that my right front and rear car windows were completely snowclogged. And there were moments that I really didn’t think I was gonna make it home, and wondered what happens to all the people stuck in their cars. I filled the car with gas that morning, so that wasn’t a worry. But just when I finally got within a mile of home, I knew I’d get there even if I had to ditch the car and hike it…or claw my way. And I did ditch the car, but it was at least on the side of the road in my neighborhood, not blocking any traffic. My heroic husband went back at midnight and dug it out after the plows had come through, and drove it home, bless him. So all’s well that end well right?

Here are a couple of pics you might enjoy…..first 11 Sports Director and voice of the Ravens Gerry Sandusky forgot his snow boots…whaah??

Deep south snow boots...

And this is what he came up with(right before he cleaned off my car at 6:30-thanks G). I told him that was what we always used when I was a little girl. We didn’t have snow boots in ‘bama, because we really didn’t need them. So on the rare occasion we got measurable snow, my Momma would just wrap plastic freezer bags that usually contained that summer’s lima beans, around our feet. Hey, it worked, kinda. 

A harbinger of spring...pussywillow!

And I thought you’d enjoy a little glimpse of spring. I found this little weeping(not crying) pussywillow tree at Trader Joes..and I thought it was the best $12.99 I’d spent in a a long time. Things will warm up…right? Right???????

What snow viewers are saying and what they’re cooking!! February 10, 2010

view from my hotel room early am...Williams Sonoma store on right.

Thought I’d post a little addendum to snow camp post while I have a little “down” time…this from Trish…” As much as I love a good night’s sleep in a comfortable bed, it sounds like the tv snow camp at the station is much more fun! Thanks to the WBAL staff for being on the air and keeping us updated. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this is the last big one for this winter!” (I’m with you Trish.)

And I’m not the only serious snow foodie out there…this from Amy…”I’m cooking: Breakfast: Potato O’Brien, egg and sausage casserole, fruit and juice….Lunch: Hoisin Shrimp, Seasme Tahini battered Chicken, Tabbouleh, salad…..Dinner: Just for Rob Roblin: Sausage Jambablaya with saffron rice, cornbread and don’t forget the hot sauce!!  Oh, and we’re baking cupcakes! Let the cooking games begin!!! I win!!! “  (Holy hot skillet batman, I’m coming to your house, girl!)

From Thomas T…..” Donna,  We’re making the best out of the storm. we’ve made love a dozen times and now we’re cooking up some pot brownies. It’s tough times out there.. But here in Dundalk we know how to make the best out of the worst situations.. I mean, Christ.. We live in Dundalk. Life sucks when it’s 80 and sunny. Love your coverage.” (Hey I don’t make this stuff up….)

Assistant News Director's "kiddie" kamp-out kompound

This from ……Kathy C… “very cool I’m on my computer watching you all broadcast on TV. I had to check out the snow camp.”

And from Marge…”you go girl …I am so proud of your girl power, you and the rest of staff deserve special thanks …” Thanks from all of us Marge)

And from Brenda(who feels a little differently than some of you)..and I can dig your point of view Brenda…” Enough of the blah!blah! blah…. Having lived in Vermont for over twenty years, this is just the way it is. I understand your need to broadcast emergency information, but the 24-7 reporting is a little much. You tell people to “stay in” and then continue to interview/show people who have gone out, sending a mixed message. Report the NEWS – including the world news. There is more to life than Baltimore!” (Brenda, as H.L. Mencken  used to reply to his critics, of which there were plenty….You may be right…)

Note the camping shorts...he's ready for anything..

And last but not least….for those of you who didn’t believe me about the guy who wears shorts to work every day, no matter what …here’s what our monster truck caveman(and I say that with all fondness), wore today in a blizzard…told ‘ya.

WELCOME to tv snow camp….. February 10, 2010

have crockpot will travel....

When it gets really really really bad outside…like it’s going to get tonight and tomorrow and tomorrow night…and you really really really have to get to work, like I do, and like everyone with whom I work does, you head to tv camp. Now this camp can take two different forms…one is roughing it tv camp. That’s when people camp out at the tv station.  You see the evidence of that in the pics…crock pots, sleeping bags, blowup mattresses(no dolls), tons of  chips, drinks, breakfast stuff, boots, extra clothes, 3 bottles of nice wine(for one discerning wo-worker), chicken pot pies, blankies, pillows(one does want one’s own pillow)…you name it’s probably here.

my drive home from work last night...'nuff said...

And for others, there is a nearby hotel with actual beds! I shall be going there for the night, but I too have lots of crap to take with me. My laptop(hotel has wifi thank goodness), my Ipod and speakers(love my sleep music by Don Slepian), my yoga mat(forget that), some cookies, makeup, clothing, hair accoutrements, face accoutrements, you know…my stuff. Oh yeah, and my pillow. Those of us there will ferry over and back…that way they know where people are, and how to get to them. I made the huge mistake of not taking my things WITH ME yesterday morning so I had to drive home last evening to get them. A 15 minute drive only took me an hour! But got the stuff, and the hubbster kindly drove me to the hotel. I overlook the parking lot and a warm, lovely looking Williams Sonoma.

There’s an almost festive atmosphere…people running on coffee, granola bars and adreneline….that will wear a little thin later on …but right now, it’s a good spirit here, as everyone

It’s Friday…a snow Friday! December 18, 2009

Hi everyone…this has been the oddest week for me. The first few days back at work were a little difficult, I’m not gonna lie to you…and I have just felt all over the map emotionally this week. But yesterday, i think I turned a corner of some sort. I can still cry at a certain song or something someone says, but it’s better…definitely better. My sisters and I will call each other to check on the other to make sure she got home after a trip. This was always Mom’s job…she was an dutiful, unpaid, professional worrier….she was so good at it, I let here worry about things for me. Now we’ll have to check on each other.

Mom would be so excited about the snow tomorrow, though always distressed when I would have to go to work(which I may have to do sometime over the weekend)….She would say, “WHY do you have to go to work? It’s snowing!” And I would reply, “Mom, in most jobs you stay home when it’s bad outside. But in my business, the worse it is outside, the more you have to go to work.” She always hated that.

And in Alabama we never got much snow…but a couple of times in my childhood we got 6 or 8 inches…..what delight. As we had no snow boots(really, only people with more money than sense or those who went on ski vacations had them, and Mom would probably add ski vacations also indicated more money than sense)….my ever inventive Mother just tied plastic freezer bags(which also housed creamed corn and lima beans) over our shoes, with rubber bands to keep them tight at the ankle…though this was only marginally effective. We made quite the fashion statement I can tell you. When they wore out ..which happened after about 3 snowballs, we came in for new ones, and hot cocoa.

I won’t wear plastic bags tomorrow, but a heavy-duty pair of snow boots I have from Eddie Bauer…don’t drag them out often but tomorrow looks like they will finally see what they were made for…cold and snow.

I wish for all of you a safe and warm weekend…enjoy the snow if you can…I know for some people it’s nothing but misery and hardship. For you, I hope it melts soon. Hope you get some hot chocolate this weekend!