Saturday, March 19, 2011

I've Finally Crossed The Line

Yesterday morning I was down by the pond cutting up one of the many fallen trees on the property. You know, cut off a limb with the chainsaw and stack it on the burn pile. Cut another and put it on the pile. You get the idea. Across the pond, near one of the many, other downed trees, was a little pile of snow about the size of a softball. This was the last, little bit of snow left from the past month of storms.

That was until 3:00pm. Now the weather guessers said we might, and I repeat might, get some snow down as far as 3000 ft from the incoming storm. I hate Winter. It rained for all of 5 minutes and the snow started. At 3:30 pm I called my wife and told her it was starting to stick to the ground and she should think about coming home. Now remember, my truck (4 wheel drive) was in the shop getting repaired because of the little slapping it got by the tree I cut down last Saturday and her car is not 4wd.

By 4:00 pm I called to tell her we had a good 1/2 inch and it was snowing hard. I hate Winter. By the time she got home at 5:00 pm we had 2 inches on the ground and still snowing hard. By the time we went to bed, 5 1/2 inches on the ground and still snowing. Did I mention I hate Winter?

The time: 5:30 am. The phone by the bed is beeping as the electricity keeps going on and off. Every time the electricity goes off, the phone lights up a bright orange and every time it comes back on, it beeps. This went on every five minutes for about a half hour. I gave up and went upstairs. Oh, did I mention the electricity went off around 2:00 am? As I write this, we are now at 13 hours without electricity, AGAIN.

So, what about the title? What line have I crossed? The one that has to do with winter. I'm done. I hate winter. I hate snow. I hate rain. Can I have some cheese with that whine????

To add insult to injury, while snow blowing the turn around this morning, I got a stone jammed in the auger that's shut down the snow blower until I can get it to a repair shop and get it removed. I tried, but couldn't get it out. The repair guys are going to have to tear it apart, I didn't want to fiddle with because it's still under warranty. But to get it repaired, I need my truck back so I can take it to the repair shop, but that won't be until the end of next week or the first of the following week AND we are getting another storm tonight. Did I mention that the pull started rope broke this morning too. I hate Winter. Thought I should put that one in bold in case you missed the others.

They say that things come in threes. One, my truck. Two, the snow blower. Three????? Oh, one thing I forgot, had I left that tree hanging over the house last Saturday, it would have fallen on the house last night. I think I'll call ithe insurance company and let them know how good a decision I made in getting the truck slapped by the tree when I cut it down. It could have been much worse.

So I took the opportunity, this morning, to run down to town and pick up a set of chains for the wife's car, just in case the storm tonight and tomorrow turns out to be as bad as they are predicting. High winds, two to three inches of rain (at lower elevations), and a low snow level. I hate Winter. That's the line I've crossed.

OK, I'll shut up now. Thanks for listening. I realize it's not something interesting, but you've seen photos of snow before, so I'll pass on sticking any out here.

Till next time.

Mark

13 comments:

  1. Hey Shoreman - this winter nonsense is for the birds. Once you're ready to finally call it quites and head to the islands chase tarpon & bones, I'm in.

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  2. It always feels better when you get it off your chest.Winter is almost over.

    I have a little snow left in my pool area but it should be gone by Tuesday if the weather guessers are right.

    Hang in there.

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  3. I can relate to the winter hating.
    We just had a few beautiful spring days of 70 degrees, and I hear snow for Monday.
    Winter is not through.

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  4. Mark, if it wasn't for bad luck you wouldn't have any at all! Hang in there buddy, there's light at the end of that long, long tunnel.

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  5. The next line you cross should be the border.

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  6. Stay tough, Mark, I am counting on you for trout stories and pretty pictures. If it means anything, the wind blew hard, it snowed, it rained, it was miserable today in eastern Idaho. I changed my fishing plans. I hate winter, too!

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  7. Hi Shoreman,
    You'l love our winter, once or twice it hits minus 2 or 3 degrees C then everyone thinks it's the end of the world. Had snow in 96 and everything came to a halt for a week.Trout fishing is great here in winter. Writing this from KwaZuluNatal South Africa. KwaZulu means place of the Zulu

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  8. Ah Mark, your winter blues are more a matter of elevation rather than geographic location. Perhaps a coastal drive and salt water casting will chase away those negative vibes.

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  9. Every time I feel like complaining about how hot it is I just remind myself that it is better than shoveling snow. Stay warm and be safe.
    Callan

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  10. Mark
    I am glad I live in the South. It would be hard for me to get use to weather I have no control over. By the way if you will email me your address I will mail you one of those Black Gnats to try out on the crappie. I am curious to know if they will produce---should be interesting.

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  11. Hilarious post! Move to Southern California and put up with our traffic and congestion. You probably won't hate winter as much.....

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  12. Man, we'll welcome you back to FL anytime:)

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  13. "The weather guessers"
    I'll have to remember that...they're here too!!!

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