Snow, Again

This winter has been one of the worst I've ever seen. Actually, strike that, this has been the worst I can remember.

There was the winter where we were snowed in for almost a week with a blizzard (what was that... '96? '95? Eric was just in college and I was still in high school). But starting at around 10:00 AM yesterday, we got hit with our second crippling blizzard. I got to work from home, which was nice. By 5:00, I had already shoveled once, and it looked like I had done nothing.

So Brian and Mary invite us over for board games, and we figure we'll shovel ourselves out, head over (since it's likely the last time we'll be able to do so for a while), then head back around midnight with Brian helping us get out. Of course, that doesn't happen. Around 7:30, Laura and I get the cars all plowed out and are ready to head over when I get a call from Brian:

"We lost power."

Crap. So I tell him if his power comes back soon, we'll be on our way over. About fifteen minutes later, he calls back. No power still, but if it goes like this for much longer, can he pack the family and head over here since we still have heat. Sure thing. We've got a bed ready and everything.

Of course, this actually happens, and by about 9:00, he, Mary and the kids are packed away in our house. Sean is sleeping soundly (after being upset that snow would dare fall on him when he's outside), and Ben is excited about a sleepover at Uncle Mike's. We settle in, grab a few beers, chat for a little while, and then pull out Order of the Stick.

And naturally, this is when Brian and Mary get power back. They call to confirm with a neighbor, and sure enough. We decide to play anyway (a pretty funny game, and very light-hearted) and get to close to midnight before we have to head back out and shovel my walk and Brian's car back out of the snow. Plows were going up and down our streets, keeping them clear. While we shoveled we were passed by no less than four plows (probably the same ones a couple times) as they were just trying to stay ahead of the snow.

This morning, however, I went outside at 8:00 and we had a ton of snow. About a foot, despite all the shoveling we had done. So I shoveled my walk and my neighbor Robin's walk (she's recovering from chemo and I'd rather she stayed indoors if possible). Now I'm eating breakfast two hours later, looking outside, and we've already got another inch and change of snow where I was working.

And it's supposed to keep going like this all day.