Snow Is Great. In Other Words: Stop Your Whining!

I've noticed that lately on MyFace, the little status bar should really just say "What weather would you like to whine about right now?" Before it was snowing in Seattle, and we apparently needed to complain about that. Even those who were excited the first few days were whining after not very long. Except me and K, that is. We wouldn't object to even more of it. Now we've moved on to complaining about the rain. Little hint: if the rain has come as a surprise to you, you probably shouldn't live here. It won't stop. And it smells great and makes things green. So stop whining. (And no, the people whining are not effected by the flooding).

While we were having the Big Snow of '08, I had the opportunity to sit in my comfy beanbag while I was snowed in and ponder the greatness of the Big Snow. There are many benefits to having lots and lots of snow, especially in the area I live.

1. They cancel school, and sometimes work, when it snows. Those of you in places that regularly receive real snow may laugh and mock, but we since we rarely get much snow, we don't have the kind of equipment to keep all the streets plowed and de-iced, and we have lots of hills. We get lots of black ice, and then there is much sliding. I will admit we have our share of stupid people that don't get how to drive on ice and snow. But it is very easy to get stuck on hills, and slide back down them, and so we close our schools. And I have many fond memories of snow days. So you can laugh and mock, because I know you are just jealous you didn't get as many snow days as I did as a kid.

2. Things slow down. During the days where it snowed heavily, there really wasn't a point trying to go anywhere. The roads were covered in snow, the hills were too slidey, and there were stupid people on them. Not worth the stress. So we stayed home. Instead of worrying about my huge to-do list, and going to work, and Christmas shopping, I suddenly had all of this time to fill. It made me ponder what the olden days must have felt like. I felt like I was this close to being able to go hang out with Fonz and the gang. They never had cell phones or jobs, and they were fine (Ok, some of them had jobs, but I think that was just for fun, since they didn't have them consistently).

3. "Town" gets quiet. When we did manage to get out of our apartment complex, the streets and parking lots were all packed with snow and ice, and so many people were staying home. As a result, we enjoyed some very peaceful shopping mere days before Christmas. There was, for instance, no one to witness my "I'm bored" dance while I waited in Lowes for like an hour on the shelving hour while K picked out some shelves for our apartment and calculated things and rang the little bell and got the boys to cut them. Not that I'm complaining. Our house has all kinds of pretty shelves now and I didn't have to think constructiony thoughts. (Shh... don't tell Dad).

4. Little kids bond with their parents. I saw so any whole families out playing together in the snow. I don't usually see so many parents out with their kids, especially on a week day.

5. Snow is pretty, especially from inside the window, near the fire, with my hot cocoa. The snow is clear permission to drink hot cocoa every day. And to wear sweats and comfy socks. And to watch K craft while I am lazy.