Darth Vadar On Ice

This weather!!!

I actually forget what day I started writing this blog, but it doesn't really matter because this entry describes just one of many days this winter in NW Pennsylvania where the township where I live and that I so love (Erie Co. Wayne Twp.) now holds the record for the most snow in the entire Commonwealth so far this season. I realize that is a dubious thing to be known for, but just think -- it could be much worse.  Anyway ...

In addition to over 12 feet of snow so far this season -- it's not just cold here.  It is brutal. It was -14º (feels like -24º) when I first checked this morning.  Now it is up to -11º,  but it is okay because it only (feels like -11º ) so there must be no wind to at the moment.  And to think that today is the day I simply must make myself go out to run a couple of errands.  At least the temperature is moving in the right direction. I hear that it may reach zero today before it heads back down into the "belows" - as in below zero.  Today will be a hat, scarf, boots and gloves day (thankful here for long underwear), and I will put on my special cold weather coat before I leave… that will be layer number 4. 

This coat is worthy of further description -- this is an ugly down filled puffy coat that goes almost to my ankles. It has served me well for too many years to count. I reserve it for days like this one. It is black, waterproof, and has a rather scraggly looking fake fur lined hood as well -- sort of gives me a puffy fluffy 5' 2" Darth Vader appearance without the hardware. Now I am wondering if lightsabers give off any heat and am sort of wishing I had one to help melt ice as I walk the 200+ feet to my mailbox and then back. (Sometimes I even wear this coat if I drive my Jeep to get the mail.)  It is an impressive winter garb even if on the ugly side.  I can't forget to add that it has so much filler in it that it cushions falls on ice.  I know this from experience. I really should give the coat a name.

If you live in a "colder clime", you tend to think a lot about the weather. In NW Pennsylvania, we talk a lot about it too. Some refer to it as a "character builder" and maybe even take pride in being "hearty stock" or a "survivor".  Personally, however, I am relishing the current forecast of temperatures above 30º.  Around here that is sweatshirt weather. We talk about that too and laugh at people who think 50º is cold or who whine about what we call a dusting of snow... anything under 6 ". One more thing...  in spite of it all -- I must mention -- I prefer North to South.  I can always manage to get warmer.  I find it hard to get cooler. I dislike sweating. Plus -- I am am way past the shorts and sleeveless stage of life. I have become a lover of thick socks, jeans, and baggy sweaters with a scarf around my shoulders. I own at least 7 pair of boots that look worn-out because they sort of are.  This has become my uniform. It is my comfort zone. I have even been known to iron my jeans for dress up occasions.  No apologies. That is just one of the things I love about being my age.  You get away with stuff.

Hanging on here until Spring... Can't wait for  "I wonder where the birdies is...".

Stay warm and take care....   If you see a guy with a snow plow -- say Thank You!  

If you live somewhere around here where you know what it is like to feel like your eyeballs are freezing.  They are.  Time to go inside.

This too shall pass.

Like a Log

Sleep is an important and wonderful "thing". I am thankful for it. Ironically... as a child you can't wait until you are grown up so that you can stay up late. Late was around 9 PM in my childhood world.  Then when you are older... or old...  trying to stay awake until 9 PM may be a difficult goal to attain.  I rarely make it until then. Some say that "9 PM is the new midnight" or "the older I get, the earlier it gets late." Have you noticed that sleep is a popular topic?

"Hit the Hay."

"Catch some Z's."

Sleep tight; don't let the bed bugs bite."

"Sweet dreams."

"Call it a day."

"Slept like a log."

Do sleep phrases run in families?  There certainly are a lot of ways to talk about it.

Another thing I've noticed is that people sleep differently. Some are night owls. Others, not so much.  I usually crash early and fall asleep within minutes without even thinking about it.  It happens rarely, but ...  if I wake up in the middle of the night and fall back asleep, I have weird dreams that I often do not want to remember or even think about.  Mostly though, since I go to bed earlyish, I just get up when I wake up at 3 or 4.  The predawn hours are peaceful, quiet and, being an almost morning person, I often work on a blog or do desk work.  If, for some reason, I do sleep in to a "normal" time, I feel like half the day is gone and everything feels off. I am behind before I even begin. My son jokes that people of my generation can get an entire day's work done before 8 AM.  The thing is -- I am starting to see this wake up early tendency in both my kids and they are not even 50 yet. Is it hereditary?

Is it true that a person needs less sleep as they get older? Personally I think that is a myth.  Are naps a good thing? Why do "they" call some naps "power naps"? Personally I wish I could nap more.  Nothing quite like waking up from a rare nap and wondering what day it is. 

One last sleep related idea -- I personally think that sleep will always be an interesting topic to contemplate -- and to talk and write about.  Every single human being sleeps... every single one. 

Five February Thoughts for the day + 1 ...

 

1. February is, without a doubt, the longest month of the year. Ask anyone who lives in snow country.

2. "When you are dead, you don't know that you are dead. It is difficult only for others.    It is the same when you are stupid." (unknown, but it sounds like something Sen. John N. Kennedy of Louisiana would say.)

3. "Did I offend you with my common sense?" (imprinted on a mug)

4.Question from me:  Have you ever seen hand railings in any photos taken in Europe? I have seen lots and lots of steps in photos  – never any railings.  I simply do not know how people get around there.  Guess people died younger when everything was built in that part of the world.  Are there not any elderly or disabled people there now?  I mean – some of those breathtakingly beautiful ancient cities in Italy, Greece, and throughout Europe seem to be carved out of a mountain and the ups and downs are seriously insurmountable – in my opinion. If I lived there, I would have to live at the bottom and hope that people would bring me food or just roll it down the mountain in a slow moving basket with a tight lid. 

5. Personal favorite:  Words on a suicide prevention sweatshirt:

                             You are enough.... (front)

                 Dear person behind me,

                         the world is a better place with you in it.

                                                       Love,

                                       the person in front of you  (back)

Just one more -- Winter cannot last forever... it just seems that way.

Brrr... (again)

Ran across this blog from 12 years ago and could not resist reposting it. 

Wonder why?

 Thursday, December 18, 2014

Brrr...

I continue to live in NW Pennsylvania because I don’t enjoy hot weather.  The summers are relatively cool (usually) and the winters -- well -- they are a bit more than cool, but I tell myself that the cold preserves me better. Earlier this season, even before the calendar start of winter, when what the weather people called an Arctic Express blasted Buffalo, it seemed too cold to snow here, but today is different.  I woke up to snow, and it has not stopped all day.  Now early evening, there looks to be a least a foot of the white stuff on the ground, not to mention deeper drifts, and it is still coming down.  Natives of this area would say that we are paying our dues for the seventeen days of sun this past summer or for a lovely autumn – several nice days in a row – maybe even three.   If you are not from around here, you need to realize that snow people believe that we will “pay” for every nice weather day we have throughout the “non-winter” month(s).  We simply cannot comprehend that there are places in the world that enjoy nice weather most of the time and where people don't know what lake-effect snow means.  I mean -- we know that there are places like that; we just don’t really get it. We live by our experience with weather and have begun to take some level of pride in our ability to survive. We often mention things like we are of hardy stock and take pride in our ability to keep a sense of humor when surrounded by white and gray from sky to ground. We also know that a person needs more than one type of snow shovel.  Bless our hearts. 

To make matters worse this time of year -- what I am finding now is that I don't enjoy winter as much as I did when I was younger.  Duh....  There are a few reasons. Snowshoes are no longer as much fun.  Ice has taken on new meaning now that my age group no longer jokes about broken hips... and... my eye balls sometimes seem to freeze during the time it takes to walk to my mailbox and back.  Yep -- new meanings. Winter no longer means ice-skating on Alice Lake at Mead Park, sledding on Piccadilly Hill, or spontaneous snowball fights. Then again it no longer means wool coats that when wet weigh twice your body weight. (Remember that wet wool smell of mittens and socks drying by the fire at Nichols lodge?  Actually -- I seriously don't miss that smell.)   

Then or now, winter weather is winter weather. As time passes, it takes longer and longer to get psychologically prepared for it even if we do have access to better winter clothing and to boots that do not require bread wrappers over our socks. Winter in NW Pennsylvania can be especially challenging, but then again -- there is a certain beauty to the change of the seasons here as well -- even if you start in early October to count the days until spring... even if you wonder if it will snow the night of the prom in May.  I think I will stay here for a while longer -- I am a snow person.

  Stay warm... 

Change of Plans

A Tribute to the people of David Corry ... As my son said more than once when I was telling him about this experience -- you rarely find that kind of service in today's world.)

 A few days ago, in a moment of extreme laziness, a lot of surface ice on a long driveway, and an impressive wind chill factor, I decided to drive my Wrangler down the driveway to get my mail instead of walking.  Alas, when I pushed the start button,  the battery was dead... dead... dead....  Time for a change of plans.

I called my Jeep Dealer (David Corry) thinking that the service department probably would be closing early since it was Saturday after all and the weather was terrible. I was just thinking that they could put my Wrangler on the list for Monday morning.  Surprise, surprise.  Within minutes the Service Department had arranged for two gentlemen to come to my home, jump my vehicle and take it off to the dealership to see what was what. Communication by text worked well from that point on.  Easy Peasy.

I think it was in less than three hours - maybe less than two, the Jeep was returned with a new battery and all ready to go.  The thing is -- I never even had to put shoes on to take care of this. It was wonderful.  Plus --  after checking with me, they even did the state inspection that I had been meaning to schedule, but hadn't gotten around to.  

What started out as an "Oh, No!" turned into a "This is wonderful!"

How often does that happen?

How many times can a person say thank you!  The people of David Corry get an A+... excellent service all the way around ... above and beyond.  Thank you again ... and ...  Happy 10th Anniversary!

The Hug Seen Around the World?

 

I saw an ICE agent hug a protester in Minneapolis and for a brief moment, the insanity stopped. I am surprised that there was not more made of it. Well actually -- I am not surprised.  The mainstream media doesn't like to cover positive moments in time or present the full story. 

Picture this.  You have seen it a lot lately. Two lines.  Protesters screaming into the faces of ICE agents. It is a common scene these days.  Yet -- this time, it evolved into a nice moment. It was a positive in a boiling sea of negative. Hope many people saw it - caught this brief pause.  This leftist anger needs to be assuaged.  Too much hatred flowing in one direction.  It has been my experience that hatred is never productive and it doesn't  ever accomplish anything good.  

In the middle of air horns and screaming hysteria, an ICE agent spoke quietly to a protester. It was a genuine and calm moment.  He asked if she needed a hug ... said she looked like she needed a hug. She admitted that she did.  He hugged her.   It was a moment of kindness in time...perhaps unrecognized, but important.  I, for one, won't forget it.  Ever.

Human reaching out to human. Maybe there is hope after all. 

One more thing....  I implore women (and men as well) not to allow themselves to be used and taken advantage of. Don't take on the manufactured anger of others. You don't need that to be worthy ... of value. Think.  You know yourself. Do not allow manipulation of your energy. You are master of the world you create for yourself. You are not a puppet.  No one can tie strings on you unless you allow it. Think of where you want to be tomorrow.

 

 

Angel On The Porch

 A week into the new year now.  It sort of feels the same as last year, but I am trying to sense a difference. 2026 is young.  I don't know about you, but I, personally, am going to try to make it a good year for myself and for those whose lives I may have an opportunity to touch. This is sort of my goal every year.  Not sure how successful I am, but I do think that trying counts. Hope so anyway....

What really made me stop and think about this is the angel who appeared on my porch the morning after the most recent ice storm -- it was still mega icy out and yet -- there she stood ... a lovely angel with a lovely smile and cleats on her boots.  She brought me a book -- because it reminded her of me as far as sense of humor goes and, in some ways because of the sort of things I write about in this blog -- or maybe more about how I write about them. That she would even think of me touched my heart. The book is a bonus. Huge.  She mentioned that she had ended up using the positive messages of this book as a daily devotion.  I can see why.  I could never come close to that in my writing.  Wish I could.

So .. I recommend this book to you. My hope is to share the blessing that was passed on to me.  It is entitled When Life Gives You Pears.  The writer is Jeannie Gaffigan. These words are also on the cover -- "The Healing Power of Family, Faith, and Funny People."  That gives you a hint about the nature of this writing.  Warning... If you choose to read it, you will occasionally find yourself smiling/laughing through tears.  Have Kleenex at the ready. 😊 

So thankful for the kindness of others.  I believe in angels.  I think I always have.  May 2026 bless you and yours.... 

I wish you an angel on your porch.