Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts

By Alyce Wilson

Luke marvels at the snow

I've just spent an exhausting two hours shoveling snow, so I'm going to be lazy today and keep today's Musing short.

We awoke to the sound of freezing rain hitting the window. As The Gryphon, who is the IT director for his business, prepared for the day, he fielded two calls on his cell phone from coworkers, related to the weather. I thought for a minute he might get to stay home, but no such luck: they simply decided to open the doors later than usual.

After he'd gone, I stepped outside to see whether the weather was suitable for a dog walk. It wasn't. Una would have been game for it, but she would have come back coated in ice, a pupsicle, if you will. Maybe it will ease off by the afternoon.

With nothing better to do, I started shoveling. Although I'd shoveled twice yesterday, plenty had accumulated overnight.

I'm not sure what the official snowfall totals will be, but I'd say no more than six inches has fallen since yesterday, probably less. The icy covering over the snow, however, made it heavy.

After I'd cleared the walk, I got the snow off my car and started to shovel out around it. The woman who lived in the house where I'd parked my car (the spot in front of my place being taken last time I returned home) raced out of her house in a high temper, carrying a shovel. She chided me for the snow that had fallen off my car onto her sidewalk and began scurrying around, shoveling it up.

Feebly, I told her that I was going to come back with a broom when I was finished and clear the mess, but I doubt she believed me. So after she'd cleared her walk, scattered more salt and returned inside, I shoveled out the space in front of my house (abandoned by the person who'd previously squatted in it), and then moved my car into it.

Then, just because I didn't want to be mad on Valentine's Day, I decided to do something nice for somebody. I shoveled my next-door neighbor's walk, knowing that she's at work and won't get to it until later.

When I'd finished with that, I kept going, shoveling the sidewalk in front of two houses which are currently unoccupied, the previous tenants having moved out in the fall. By then, I was sweaty, ice-covered and tired. Much to my surprise, I discovered two hours had elapsed since I began. It did explain, though, why about another half inch of wet snow had fallen on my recently cleared sidewalk.

I made a halfhearted effort to scrape off the recent accumulation, then scattered salt and went inside, where I ate half a cup of granola and collapsed on the couch.

While I was trying to decide whether I had enough energy to do my usual exercise routine, my sister called. She wanted to talk to me about what desserts she should make for my bridal shower, which won't be until spring but which she is already planning, along with another of my bridesmaids.

No doubt, I'll have to shovel again later. I guess I don't have to feel guilty about not making it to the gym today to lift weights!

Copyright 2006 by Alyce Wilson

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