Let It Snow or Maybe Not!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Friday we were supposed to get snow.  In Pennsylvania when the weather forecasters call for snow, everyone and their mother runs to the store to buy milk, bread, and toilet paper.  I had an excuse, however, to be up at the store buying the same things and it had nothing to do with the weather.  I really was out of all three.  Trust me when I say if I thought I was going to be snowed in for a long period of time my grocery list would include ingredients for baking cookies, frozen pizzas, and Tylenol, in case I had to beat my head against the wall if the power went out.  When my turn came to be checked out, the check out guy decided I looked like a nice lady who would enjoy hearing his life story.  I learned he was from Puerto Rico and hated snow.  He didn’t like walking in snow, looking at snow, seeing snow fall, and it all stemmed from a time when he happened upon some black snow.  He actually asked the check out girl next to him if she could carry him to his car and her expression said, “how did this guy get a job here?”  I always get sucked into these conversations even though I tell myself not to say a word and just nod once or twice, but somehow I ended up telling him I love everything about snow.  I suggested he should have moved to somewhere other than Pennsylvania if he had such an aversion to snow and just to give him something to keep him up at night, I added, “watch out for yellow snow!”  If my husband were there, he would have mouthed, “keep moving, Chatty Cathy.”

Well, it seems I may have spoken too soon in regards to loving everything about snow.  I guess I realized if I had taken the time to delve into all my feelings about snow since getting Fudge and Vern, I would have probably still been there at closing time and somehow finagled into carrying the guy to his car.   As much as I love snow, my dogs love it even more.  When the snow starts to fall, I want to be inside watching it, baking cookies, with my PJ’s and slippers on.  Nothing makes me happier than snuggling up at night in bed with my warm flannel sheets and a good movie knowing that there is a beautiful blanket of snow outside.  Fudge and Vern have very different ideas about what makes snow wonderful.  They want to be out in it, tearing through it, eating it, rolling in it, and most of all, playing in it together. 

They are like two kids in a candy store not knowing what to get into next.  This is a lot of fun to watch for about an hour and then I want to be back in my house romanticizing about the beautiful snow as I sit bundled up inside.  My visions of my dogs quietly snoozing by my feet as I gaze out the window at the falling snow, while sipping a cup of hot chocolate, has so far not happened.  Instead they watch me and hover over me in the hopes that I will decide to don all my winter attire and head back out again.  If I so much as walk in the foyer for a forgotten anything both of them line up at the door and give me their best pleading look.

Walking them in the snow up at our local park isn’t a walk in the park either. Vern is convinced he can eat all the snow in front of him and alternates between walking upright and bobbing for snow.  He also likes to make Vern angels along the way. 

Fudge tries her best to avoid Vern’s flailing legs and locate a place to go to the bathroom, so she can kick back enough snow to build a snowman over any evidence she leaves behind.  If I could remember to bring a carrot, coal, and a corncob pipe, I could finish her snowman to perfection. 

Mostly, I am trying to remain upright and avoid ice.  To help me in that matter, I went ahead and ordered some new snow boots from a catalog that I received in the mail.  They were waterproof and provided better traction, but unfortunately upon arrival, deemed the ugliest boots on the planet by every member of my family, including me, and promptly returned.  In fact, when John saw the Velcro closure instead of laces, he said I would be the envy of all the women up at the retirement home.   This isn’t the first pair of shoes I have gotten that he has poked fun at and the ones I came home with from the Podiatrist office he took one look at and asked me if I had come over on the Mayflower.  I guess comfort matters to me above all else and if that means I walk around like an aged Pilgrim, so be it. 

Today, we had 57-degree weather and instead of snow we now have mud. I wonder if the check out guy hates mud as much as he does snow.  Even though the snow illuminates our yard like a spotlight at night and the dogs can see every critter passing by in the night, I still miss the snow.  I guess it is true what they say; you don’t know what you’re going to miss, until it is gone.

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Oh yes Zoe is like that too!  I was just thinking that it would have been funny if she was really mad because thats how much she wanted to go outside :)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, BG. Vern's look is the same one he has at 3 am when he stops by to wake us up :) Of course, Gavin loves Snow...that is why they are known as Gavernstein :)

Joanna, Fudge has such a fun personality and it is so hard to capture in a picture. LOL

Elizabeth, Keep nagging her. I have been trying for a while to get her to go.

Thanks, Allyson!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Love this.  Laurie the pic of Vern close-up - those eyes - Peri gives them to me all the time :)

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Lisa, you must come on the cruise....I can't wait to meet everyone in person!! 

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Fudge looks fuming mad in that picture! haha

Aw I want to make Vern angels with him!!!!  

[BG and Gavin]

Love those pleading looks.  I am very familiar with them.  Gavin loves the snow too and I agree - but you can't beat a good snow storm when you are snug as a bug inside :)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Doris. You know you can fly to PA :)

Deanna, LOL about your DD. I remember one trip out west through the mountains. I was being my usual wonderful self asking my dad to let me see the snow over and over again. He finally pulled the car over, hauled me out of the car, and said, "there is the damn snow." Wow...what made him react like that? LOL

F, I like your idea about pigs instead of dogs. Our yard is a muddy, straw-filled, mess. No desert for me...I hate hot weather. When you are 6 feet tall, heels are not something you ever need :) I guess we need to move faster in the stores.

Lisa, My feet are too big for Keens. Thank you for making me feel badly about my big feet. Meanie :) LOL I love Clarkes. Poor Daisy in the beginning. These doodles are so funny. I see you are still counting :) Go on the cruise and then we will meet.

Pat, Thank you!! I wish my dogs didn't like rain and mud :)

Elizabeth, We are going to be a pair on that cruise attracting all the people who tell us their life stories :) We will need to move quickly. I am not ready for hot weather yet.

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

I am so envious of the snow that you are getting, but remember, it's something that we get once a decade and even then, it won't stick and is gone within a few hours.  Love the snow angel pic! 

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

When my daughter was 20 months old, my mom, dad, husband, and I took Rebecca to the mountains so she could experience snow.  We got to our destination and took what seemed like forever to bundle her up into her "snow clothes".  She was finally ready - took three steps, sank to her knees, and announced with conviction, "All done snow!"  That pretty much sums up how I feel about the white stuff!!

As far as getting sucked in to those kinds of conversations - I'm convinced I have some kind of invisible tattoo on my forehead that says, "If you're strange, talk to my".

[F, Calla & Luca]

I do find as I get older, if I stand still too long, everyone tells me their life story : )