Perpetual clouds have covered the land and sucked any hope out of pretty much all of us in the Lower Mainland. This has, without a doubt, been the worst year for weather since we traded the Edmonton blue skies for this nonsense in late 2005.
Don't get me wrong. I love that the summers usually end up beautiful. I love the mountains. I love that I can play outdoor soccer year round.
But the clouds can just die for all I care.
I'm sure that would wreck something though.
So thankful for the arrival of sunshine and warmth yesterday. It is actually starting to feel like summer. Although my mind is telling me I should be on a beach...
Here's what I'm looking forward to this summer:
- Manchester United in Seattle in July. I get giddy just thinking of it.
- Date night with my beautiful wife to see Owl City and Mat Kearney.
- Friends & family visiting. I'm not even sure when they are all coming, but the pool and the BBQ will be ready at all times.
- Going to Toronto for my friend (and former intern) Ryan's wedding in August.
- Slowing down...fewer nights out. More time at home.
Why do I have the feeling this will all be over way too quickly?
It's so rare to get much snow around here, but the last week has made life interesting.
On Saturday we all headed out to the church to here some friends talk about their past (& upcoming) missions experiences. It was just starting to snow when we left and Becca remarked about how great it would be to walk up the hill later that night. (Side note: living on a mountain means that we usually have 1 or 2 times a year that we can't get up the road due to slick roads.)
We head out from the church around 9:30pm and it's not looking good. Sure enough, we can't get the car up the hill so we make the 40 minute hike. Good memories, but it's a little tiring.
Then it starts snowing again last night. The phone rings just after 6:00am to inform us that the schools are closed. I hang up midway through the automated call, which means I get another one 15 minutes later. And then another one. ( Like I can't figure out the school will be closed when I won't be able to make it down the hill.) I check Erin's classes on the phone. Cancelled. Time for an old fashioned snow day!
So now, no youth tonight (we cancel when the schools cancel) and I figured I should dust off the blog. And then I realize I'm falling further and further behind on my blog reading. Then I realize I didn't even evaluate my 2010 goals. Then I realize I don't write much anymore. Then I realize there's a hockey game on...
It's 36 degrees right now.
With the humidity it feels like 43.
Today I came home from the office and jumped in the pool with the kids.
Now I'm inside and cooking alive.
I love summer!
The snow started falling sometime last night. It's been getting worse throughout the day. In fact, the ride home for me took 50 minutes. It usually only takes 12.
I also had to leave my car at the bottom of the mountain with the other 2 dozen vehicles that couldn't make it up the incline. Hopefully it's still there and in one piece tomorrow. Last year my father-in-law left his vehicle down there and a snowplow took off one of his mirrors.
Thankfully I was able to catch a lift up the mountain with a Good Samaritan 4X4 owner. He doesn't even live on the hill but has spent the last hour shuttling people up the mountain.
Now the kids are playing. It's strange to think that this is abnormal for them. When I was growing up this usually happened in October!
I saw this on Josh Griffin's blog and I just thought it was fascinating.
Apparently they are from a Volcano that erupted in Chile. Check it out here.
"God give me patience...or a gun."
Yes, it's that time of the year again folks. The white stuff has started falling from the sky which ultimately means that most people out here who get behind the wheel end up forgetting how to drive. It's like the snow causes basic motor skills required for operating a vehicle to involuntarily shut down.
Seriously people, it's not that hard to drive in. If you could follow these few simple tips it would help me out a great deal:
- Do not push the pedal all the way to the floor. If you find yourself slipping as you head uphill, it will not help you to floor it.
- Do not drive 5 km/h. You're being paranoid and causing more of a problem to the rest of us on the road that can actually drive the speed limit.
- You don't need chains just because there is a little snow on the road.
- Do not refer to this as a blizzard. You are only bringing on the ridicule of everyone who has actually lived in the prairies at some time in their life.
I'm told it's called "snow". It's kind of cool looking. But it put the satellite out of commission, so now I'm watching a CNN special called "God's (Christian) Warriors" which has me swearing at the TV. I don't think that's healthy, so I may have to work on my student ministries retreat video. At least until the power goes out.
I awoke to find white fluff covering the lawn. And you already know what that means...
- People are parked on the hill up to our neighborhood because their car can't make it up.
- Schools are canceled.
- I'll be fielding phone calls all day that ask "Is there still youth tonight?"
- I'll be fielding emails all day that ask "Is there still youth tonight?"
- People forget how to drive.
Yeah, this seems to be the usual response around here when the frozen stuff falls from the heavens. After last time this is starting to seem normal though.
Snow. Lots of it. Well, lots of it if you're living in BC. If you call Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta home, then this really isn't that much snow. But hey, who am I to argue with taking a day off?I actually drove to work and found a sign on the door saying "office closed". School's have been canceled. People are stuck in their driveways. You cannot see me, but I'm shaking my head in disbelief right now.Oh, and to all the wonderful "BC drivers"...if you're tires are spinning and you're not making progress through the intersection DO NOT HIT THE GAS HARDER! Sheesh...you'd think that something like this would go without saying.And lastly, now playing on iTunes is "Christmas Convoy" by Paul Brandt. My wife is loving it!
It's snowing...I hate snow...I hate the cold...I just wish it was warm and that I was somewhere fun...maybe Maui or Disneyland with my family...yeah, that sounds like the plan...now if only I could win the lotto!
And now back to The Amazing Race...
