Same Song Different Verse

Snowpocalypse Part II, Snoverkill, Snlaughter…call it what you like, I call it getting old. It began snowing again yesterday afternoon and has continued to increase in intensity. I have a sneaking suspicion that all this snow was meant for Vancouver and got lost along the way, finding itself on the East Coast rather than the West. These things happen, especially if you hold your map upside down.

I spent yesterday in my room reading for my class. All my classes have been canceled this week but because many of my assignments are due online, I still have plenty of work. I admit the snow has come with some blessings. Yesterday I was very behind in all my classes but when I woke up this morning, I found myself very much ahead in them. Being pushed back a week does wonders for staying on top of assignments.

But as I said, I spent all of yesterday locked in my room wading through books and articles. My room makes an ideal lookout point, so while my door may be closed and I am seemingly cut off from the rest of the house, very little goes on without me knowing it. This means I had the perfect vantage point for witnessing the large truck full of burley men with chainsaws pull up to our home. Reason told me these men were here to take care of the neighborhood menace firmly rooted on our property line. They backed their large truck well into our driveway and carefully navigated their crane between the electrical wires running parallel to the street and the second floor of our house. I found the whole thing very distracting and I soon set my book aside to get a better view. Watching a man lifted high into the air while holding a running chainsaw, perilously pinned between power lines and the hard place known as our house was decidedly more interesting than my book.

View from JLW's window of the work crew taking the tree out. Forgive the interference of the screen, it was out of our hands.

These men cut several branches and cleared many others that had already freed themselves from the tree, and then stopped to discuss further proceedings. They then packed up and pulled out, leaving the most problematic branch wrapped around the power lines. I imagine fear of electrocution played a key role in their decision, but it is unfortunate the problem was not addressed. I think it goes without saying that I’ll be keeping frequent tabs on said limb as it becomes increasingly weighed down by the snow.

For the most part, things here are quiet here today – except for the wind. It is roaring around our home blowing the fallen snow back up into the air where it settles along our window panes. The snow is wet and when it touches the tree limbs, it sticks. The way it lines the dark branches in white is beautiful and I do like watching the snow fall and accumulate, but I’m very content to watch it from the warmth of our home with a mug of coffee in hand. The same cannot be said from my roommate, JLW. Most of my roommates are homebodies and enjoy spending time around the house, but I think if JLW were to spend too much time here, we would witness a reenactment of a scene from The Shining. For the well being of the collective, JLW decided she would rather face record snowfall, high winds, and blizzard conditions than remain trapped here. She is currently trudging through several feet of snow to the nearest Panera Bread, just under a mile from our home. I hope I see her again one day but until then, I’ll happily remain nestled under my blankets, warm and inside.

JLW freeing herself from captivity and making her way to Panera.