Snowpocalypse 2015
Okay I need to just rant about how awful this winter is.
The number one reason I live in the city and endure all the negatives and problems that come with being a city mouse -- is that I get to live my life on my own two feet, not with a car glued to my ass. It makes a profound difference, and one that my suburban and exurban friends never seem to realize.
Here in Boston, Snowpocalypse 2015 has hammered us. As hard as I can ever remember, and I shoveled my parents' house out from the Blizzard of 78. Even now, now that the assembly-line snowstorms seem to have paused, it's awful in Boston. Some sidewalks (and roads) are well cleared, but many other sidewalks (and streets, including mine) are slushfests. All snowbanks are at least hip high to shoulder high, and many are over my head (I'm 6'3") and there are few cut-throughs that are not for car access. Navigation is difficult.
Most people are being pretty cool with it. There's lots of stepping aside into a doorway or driveway to let someone else pass, because most sidewalks are barely wide enough for one. We smile and nod as we do this, and sometimes I try a one-liner and get a grin. But just every once in a while there's some jamoke who is letting his obvious frustration with the snow lash out at the people around him -- I'm trying to steer clear of those.
Anyway, I have missed several good social events because the weather cancelled them or I simply couldn't get there. I clambered my way through unplowed walkways to Fenway, wanting to get to a BB event, and waited over half an hour, during which only two trains came through, both so packed that there was no way I could get on. So I had to bail on that. I did manage to meet a ride for the Mensa new members' party (though there was only one new member there) in Westford, but I had to walk along the superhighway in the right lane. There simply was no sidewalk there, it had been way plowed over. Walking it, every time I saw the headlights casting shadows of my legs ahead of me, and hearing the car coming up, I was wincing, waiting for the impact. Didn't happen. But I can't stop fearing it.
Looks like next week temperatures might get to be actually above freezing for a bit. Is that even possible? Whoda thunk?
The number one reason I live in the city and endure all the negatives and problems that come with being a city mouse -- is that I get to live my life on my own two feet, not with a car glued to my ass. It makes a profound difference, and one that my suburban and exurban friends never seem to realize.
Here in Boston, Snowpocalypse 2015 has hammered us. As hard as I can ever remember, and I shoveled my parents' house out from the Blizzard of 78. Even now, now that the assembly-line snowstorms seem to have paused, it's awful in Boston. Some sidewalks (and roads) are well cleared, but many other sidewalks (and streets, including mine) are slushfests. All snowbanks are at least hip high to shoulder high, and many are over my head (I'm 6'3") and there are few cut-throughs that are not for car access. Navigation is difficult.
Most people are being pretty cool with it. There's lots of stepping aside into a doorway or driveway to let someone else pass, because most sidewalks are barely wide enough for one. We smile and nod as we do this, and sometimes I try a one-liner and get a grin. But just every once in a while there's some jamoke who is letting his obvious frustration with the snow lash out at the people around him -- I'm trying to steer clear of those.
Anyway, I have missed several good social events because the weather cancelled them or I simply couldn't get there. I clambered my way through unplowed walkways to Fenway, wanting to get to a BB event, and waited over half an hour, during which only two trains came through, both so packed that there was no way I could get on. So I had to bail on that. I did manage to meet a ride for the Mensa new members' party (though there was only one new member there) in Westford, but I had to walk along the superhighway in the right lane. There simply was no sidewalk there, it had been way plowed over. Walking it, every time I saw the headlights casting shadows of my legs ahead of me, and hearing the car coming up, I was wincing, waiting for the impact. Didn't happen. But I can't stop fearing it.
Looks like next week temperatures might get to be actually above freezing for a bit. Is that even possible? Whoda thunk?