I'm fed and I'm loafing

“What to do when an ice storm hits during spring vacation? Stay home, enjoy homemade chicken, sausage and ravioli soup, chill a 12-pack of Corona longnecks, and kick back.

Glad I didn't have any serious plans to go anywhere today.”

“We've had a serious outbreak of warm weather and sunshine here. But they're not letting us off for that.”

“Hot one today in Philly, but will get colder tomorrow. But still, no ice. That's cool!”

“Still more ice outside, but have made it through a few beers, a pizza, and Jackass The Movie. Time to stick in another DVD and make the most of the crappy weather. The pleasures of enforced indolence.”

“Wife's turn to make the coffee and let the mutts out early this a.m. Ice storm continues, so a great morning to stay in bed.

But now that we're both up and caffeinated, a check of the cupboard/fridge shows I forgot to get eggs on my slippery foray to the store yesterday, so no pancakes, scrambled eggs (to go with the sausages I did get) or any other eggs-necessary breakfast. Øoops, out of syrup for pancakes anyway. Just enough Cream of Wheat for the two of us, or we'd have to have leftover soup or chile verde for breakfast.

This is really nasty weather. Our water spaniel even slipped and fell when trying to run across the back yard. And when I made my grocery run Wednesday, I tried to find sidewalk deicer but that's gone from the stores -- had to make room for the gardening stock -- that's a hoot.

Let's see, got plenty of books, cable service intact, a couple DVDs to watch, a few Coronas left (for p.m.), and nowhere I have to be -- unless I get a craving for eggs.”

“I guess this is when a pair of crampons would come in handy.”

“No kidding. I did remind my wife that I have plenty of BPing food stored, including some MREs. So no real problem, even if the electricity got knocked out.”

“Yah, when we have ice storms down here (yes, it happens) first thing is we lose power. So having camp stoves, sleeping bags and such is a good thing.”

“I may try to get out for a bit...hope it doesn't turn into my own version of a Jackass stunt, lol. Getting to a main street will be the trick...only a half block, but downhill.

As the man said when the powerlines went down, "The trees sure look pretty with all that ice on them."”

“Walking or driving? Either way, be careful pekka, don't want you on the TTIR...”

“Where do you live, Pekka? Greenland?”

“It's 78 degrees and sunny. I'm repainting the front porch, in between wrestling sessions with the baby.”

“Who's winning, Tree?”

“I'll try driving. Getting a bit antsy, and the beer that's left will only last so long between the two of us, so gotta make a run eventually...and I'm not even much of a beer drinker, so it must just be a bit of cabin fever.”

“I gotta repaint my front porch this summer, it looks like crap...”

“Right now it's a draw. She's in my lap playing with a bottle. I'm sure that will change momentarily.”

“The bookies in Vegas are giving the baby two to one, TB!”

“Tag team baby wrestling; HPM's turn!”

“Don't forget the eggs, pekka!”

“treebeard, I live in Rhinelander in northern Wisconsin, about 40 miles south of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan's border. The weather folks thought a couple days ago that we would get some freezing rain followed by a bunch of snow, but all we've gotten is more freezing rain, upgraded overnight from a winter storm advisory to an ice storm warning. Supposed to end by this evening, but then rain through the weekend. So the temps will determine if we are wet or icy. Has been around 28-30F through the morning.”

“The wife just called out that she's ready to give it a go, so I'll be back with the eggs soon!”

“Dang, I'm pinned!
HEEEEEELP!”

“I see, Pek! Just curious where this ice storm was located (Pardon the urge to get facetious about it) Sounds like a pretty relaxing time, though. Enjoy it while you can...

...Oh, and beer is a very important mission. That's a given. Just be careful...”

“SEE YOU IN BARABOO!”

“So, did pekka make it back with the eggs? Should we call someone?”

“Yes, we made it back, eggs and all (oj, pineapple & microbrew lager), but then we were getting some power interruptions, so we turned off and unplugged the computer (don't fully trust the surge protector, though it's a good one). Now that the freezing rain has passed on to the east finally, and no more momentary blackouts for a couple hours, I'm back.

Finally went out a little bit ago and broke into my truck -- about 3/4 inch of ice on top, tapering to about 1/4 inch on the lower side panels. Supposed to be 50 tomorrow. We'll see.

One more DVD to go and a fresh Corona and lime in my hand. Island time is now in effect.”

“What's a spring vacation?”

“I'm a college instructor. In March, we had a week off and it was called Spring Break. Now, with Easter so far into April, we got all but Monday off this week and they called it Spring Vacation. Of course, with this ice storm, I would have had the last two days off anyway, just like the K-12s have.”

“Just after I posted last evening, the ice storm finally took out our cable TV and cable internet service -- couldn't even log out of TT. But civilization has returned.

But we were better off than many -- radio said some 14,000 electric customers in our area were in the dark since yesterday afternoon -- with service not likely fully restored until this evening.

Supposed to eventually hit 50 today...we'll see. Right now the danger is falling ice from the trees and overhead utility cables.”

“Ice storms suck. I lost power for a weekend once here because of one. That prompted the local Utility company to go berserk, butchering every tree near a power line for several years. It worked, of course, the last time I lost power, it was only for 4 hours.”

“I, of course, spoke too soon. I had barely posted my previous message about being back than we lost service again for a while. Then it came back but I lost priority on the net to my wife's business e-mailing. The thaw continues. Everytime ice falls around us, the dogs think something is up and start barking. A quiet afternoon interspersed by loud outcries.”

“And it never got anywhere near 50! I think our high has been 34, enough to melt a bit of the ice, but very slowly all in all. Our cedars and lilacs are taking a beating.”