November 29, 2006
more swearing! and more haphazard punctuation!!! and a contest!
Baby, it’s cold outside.
I realized this morning that one of my favorite things about Christmas is the inevitability of hearing a gin-soaked Dean Martin happily slur his way through Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Thanks to satellite radio, my kids have heard every Rat Pack version of Frosty the Snowman ever recorded (including the one where I SWEAR you can hear ice cubes clinking in highball glasses), interspersed with various Boston Pops renditions of Carols No One Ever Actually Sings (seriously, Good King Wenceslas? Too hard to say. Also, was he a real king? I should Google that). At our house, Christmas smells like cinnamon and sounds like a swank cocktail party. Now THAT’S Holiday Cheer.
It’s cold as hell here today; in the time it took us to eat breakfast, the temperature dropped from 60 to 46, and it’s still dropping. I sent the kids to school in multiple layers of cotton and fleece, which was weird because just YESTERDAY they wore shorts and tee shirts. Of course, just yesterday it was in the mid-70s here. Sheesh.
Charlie somehow managed, during a fall where the average temperature was 186 degrees, to lose ONE mitten at school, but because I am nothing if not PREPARED, I went yesterday (YESTERDAY! while it was still warm!) and bought new mittens for him. And because I knew we were in for two or three days of bad weather, I stocked up on cheese sticks. Also beer and wine! What else do we need? At the end of the day yesterday I was patting myself on the back because WE WERE READY.
As it turns out, we’re not; we need milk and bread and cereal and perhaps something for DINNER. But at least Charlie’s little hands won’t fall off today, and I could throw a cocktail party if the whim struck (because cheese sticks! and wine! and Dean Martin!).
Henry’s school called a few minutes ago, to remind me about their policy for weather-related school closures because apparently there’s a good chance that school will be CANCELLED tomorrow. So possibly I may want to get something besides cheese sticks for us to eat. And maybe some videos for the kids to watch. And another bottle of wine for me.
Tomorrow I may very well be live-blogging the First Snow Day of the Year, which will certainly necessitate much swearing and random! use! of! punctuation! Plus I’m going to announce a Fun Contest! with a Great Prize! that YOU can win! right here! at Friday! Playdate! Huzzah! Check back tomorrow for details.
Because right now I need to go to the grocery. AGAIN. Dammit.
Hey, whaddya know? King Wenceslas WAS a real person! And he was hacked to death at the door of his church. Surprisingly, that detail didn’t make it into the Christmas carol . . .
Posted by Susan @ 10:52 am • Uncategorized
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November 29th, 2006 at 12:21 pm, The June Cleaver Diaries Says:
See, that’s the difference between our family and yours. At 46 degrees, we’re peeling OFF the layers, because hey, it feels like springtime!
BTW, I found out that Ontario just doesn’t do snow days. So if there’s a foot of snow per minute dropping on my car, it’s up to ME to rig up the dog sled to get Alex to school.
I miss New York.
November 29th, 2006 at 12:22 pm, Rachel Says:
All that loverly weather is headed my way! My daughter worn sandals to school today, there is just something wrong with that. It was 64 this morning at 6:45 and that cold front will be coming through tomorrow. Can’t wait.
November 29th, 2006 at 12:30 pm, Annika Says:
Let’s see…what rhymes with hacked to death?
November 29th, 2006 at 1:08 pm, Sheryl Says:
During college, my friend Mel The Gay Weatherman used to sing a very, very dirty version of Good King Wenceslas. My brain blushes every time it runs through my head.
November 29th, 2006 at 1:23 pm, Laura Says:
Ok, it is officially a little cold up here in MN (20 or so) and I would kill for some 40+ weather.
Christmas at our house involves haggling over the tree, standing around singing “Baba O’Reilly” and elf hats worn backward. And that is just the kids. No alcohol involved.
Also, HANG IN THERE! Only 1 more day of required blogging! You can do it! Love the boots!~
November 29th, 2006 at 1:32 pm, Susan Says:
Now I’m racking my brains trying to think of something to rhyme with “hacked to death” AND trying to imagine what really dirty lyric alternatives there are to Good King Wenceslas.
Happy Holidays indeed.
November 29th, 2006 at 3:51 pm, Jenorama Says:
There is a very good chance of an ICE day here tomorrow. Whee!
I need to go to the store as well. And make cookies!
I have to give a talk tomorrow at my alma mater. I have not yet prepared it. But I am working on a proposal that is also due tomorrow. Guess which one is more important?
I am pulling out what is left of my hair.
November 29th, 2006 at 4:14 pm, Joel S Says:
Hahhahaaa, oh the south. It’s been around mid 40’s F here for awhile, sweater weather really. I’m surprised at how quickly you guys close schools and what not. In Winnipeg 3 and 4 year olds go outside to play all the way to -4 F and the winters habitually reach -22 F. Usually there’s a week of -60 F weather, but my all time favorite was -80 F. Schools don’t close for -60 though, they just have indoor recess. They do close when they think the kids might actually succumb to hypothermia on the way. The only way to get them to close for snow is if enough staff calls in. A foot of snow usually isn’t enough.
November 29th, 2006 at 5:05 pm, standing still Says:
I’m sure that in OK if someone spits on the sidewalk and it chills, school is cancelled because of the potential for a dangerous ice slick. Gads. As I’m typing this my thermometer reads 17 degrees. BUT, when it’s cold, you GOTTA wear cute heeled boots with just the right hardware. I LOVE them! And, as my mother taught me during them cold winters in Topeka, be sure you have at least a 1/2 tank of gas in your car when it’s dangerously cold. So, gas up the Mommy-mobile, Friday, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
November 29th, 2006 at 5:11 pm, Susan Says:
Okay, it’s 5:00 pm, 31 degrees (I know, why aren’t the kids out playing in the yard? Sheesh) and raining. The rain will turn to sleet and ice any time now, which will be fun! Or something.
We have proper food and Scooby Doo videos and 200 pieces of construction paper for craft projects. And booze. And fleecy pants. And a full tank of gas, although if it’s icy I’m not driving anywhere. I think we’re set.
Pray for me. (Imagine if I lived in Minnesota! Or Canada! I would die!)
November 29th, 2006 at 5:27 pm, melynda Says:
Susan, your weather is bearing down on us right now. We are at 68 right now and in the morning it is supposed to be mid 30’s and falling throughout the day. But I LOVE LOVE LOVE cold weather, so this tropical fall thing has been making me whine.
Can’t wait for the contest! I’m just hoping that it doesn’t involve math or any sort of feats of strength.
November 29th, 2006 at 7:18 pm, chichimama Says:
I just have to thank you for your fashion recommendations on holiday wear. I bought both the Target jacket and a pair of the Old Navy pants to wear to my husband’s holiday party. You should get paid to do this. *I’ll* pay you to be my personal shopper.
And thank you for reminding me about laying in the beer and wine since that front is hitting us late tomorrow, and we are dangerously low. And the milk too of course. Oh, and gas. Man, where would I be without you???
November 29th, 2006 at 7:29 pm, Laura Says:
I had to comment again. My husband grew up in Buffalo, NY where they have TONS of snow. In the blizzard of 1977, they had something like 12 feet of snow dumped on the town. A regular blizzard with all the snow on Lake Erie blown on top of it. He was snowed in with his Mom and sister for 2 weeks. He said they ate some very creative things, and he went sledding from his upstairs bedroom window. Pregnant women and the elderly were taken to hospitals by 4 wheel drive vehicles.
Think of his mom, trapped for 2 weeks. She doesn’t remember much of it - I think she was drinking. His Dad? On a business trip, in a hotel. He thought it was bad when they ran out of beer nuts.
November 29th, 2006 at 8:37 pm, Susan Says:
I’m sorry, Laura, I think I misheard you. It sounded like you said TWO WEEKS, but that’s not possible.
Is it? IS IT?!?
November 29th, 2006 at 8:53 pm, The June Cleaver Diaries Says:
Oh, it’s possible. We got severe ice storms twice when I lived in Rochester, and people were not only stuck inside, they were stuck with no freakin’ power. Imagine trying to huddle for warmth.
Blissfully, both times, a three mile radius around our neighborhood was spared. The only way I found out anything happened was when no one was on the road as I drove to get my highlights. Then no one showed up to open the salon. It was a dark day, I tell ‘ya.
November 29th, 2006 at 9:38 pm, Karyn Says:
You can bet your sweet bippy I will be checking in to see how the live snow-day blogothon goes…
November 29th, 2006 at 9:39 pm, Karyn Says:
(PS, Oh yeah. Forty six is cold-as-hell? Forty six degrees up here, baby, we’re breaking out the shorts and flip flops. Too funny.)
November 29th, 2006 at 10:40 pm, Susan Says:
School closed. Sleet. Cold.
Going to bed to rest up for a FULL DAY with the kids. Stay tuned. Pray there won’t be any bloodshed.
November 29th, 2006 at 11:13 pm, Laura Says:
Oh it was indeed 2 weeks. Ask his mother about it and she still gets a twitch in her eye. Do a search under “monster snowstorms” for the Blizzard of 77. Scary shit.
Bring on live blogging! Woo!
November 30th, 2006 at 3:48 am, nadine-and-riana Says:
Great pic!
I love everything in it.
BTW, before going to the grocery, maybe you can take a look at this.
Enjoy…
November 30th, 2006 at 3:29 pm, Busy Mom Says:
It’s 77 degrees here.
December 1st, 2006 at 7:31 am, Mary P. Says:
Ontario does so do snow days. It just takes a heckuva lot of snow before we feel we need to take it that seriously. Because we are seriously tough up here. (City kids get fewer of them than rural kids, whose busses get cancelled. The SCHOOLS are almost always open, if parents want to send the kids. Sometimes, though, if I’d have to shovel 50 pounds of snow just off the CAR, never mind the driveway, I just declare my person Snow Day, and we All.Stay.Home. With hot chocolate.
I sing Good King Wenceslas! (I also knew he was a real king, but not about the gruesome death. Ick.) I also know all five verses. By heart. Wanna hear??
December 1st, 2006 at 3:20 pm, Jeana Says:
I adore the Muppets. Have you heard their “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”? Hilarious!
I read this post this morning and the gin-soaked Dean Martin and the clinking ice cubes has made me grin all day long.
Any chance of you posting that chicken recipe?