2:30 PM: It behooves us all to be reminded that I was raised in sunny southern California and this whole "blizzard" thing typically only ever occurred on set, or during the Universal Studios Tour and is complete bullshit.
2:16 PM: Light snow showers at 18 degrees F, feels like reading is 3 degrees F, in NNW 16 MPH winds gusting to 33 MPH.
2:12: Governor Deval Patrick just had a news conference and offered some post-blizzard advice for citizens.
12:55 PM: 15 degrees F, feels like reading is -2 degrees F, in NNW 19 MPH winds gusting to 38 MPH.
12:53 PM: A light snow has started falling again and the sun is still trying without success to emerge. It is therefore time to do that which any sane person knows to do during a blizzard: play Scrabble huddled next to a hot wood stove in the kitchen, while having hot cocoa and grilled cheese sandwich triangles.
12:13 PM: 14 degrees F, feels like reading is -3 degrees F, in NNW 21 MPH winds gusting to 42 MPH. The snow has finally stopped. Our power has been solid as a rock; Verizon's high-speed Intertubes via land line connection, not so much. Mobile hotspots are the new black.
12:07: The sun is trying hard.
12:04 PM: Our Front door.
Noon: Roof scrapery over the kitchen is complete. Snowshoes were required although not much use in 30" of fresh powder. I wasn't in over my head (that would've been during our first winter here at The Fahm) but I was in over my knees!
10:17 AM: Still procrastinating. Briefly contemplated the wisdom of having a medicinal bloody Mary stirrup cup as encouragement to get outside and rake snow off the roof. In 3' of fresh powder. During a blizzard. But noooo, we hearty pioneers do this shit SOBER.
10:09 AM: WBUR's Bob Oakes just asked for an update on the situation in Scituate. Hell was described as breaking loose there. Which is a helluva Scituation.
10:03 AM: I'm almost done with my morning procrastination which means it is time to put on the 39 layers necessary to sustain life outdoors in a blizzard, pick up my damn snow rake (with extensible handle), and go rake the damn snow off the damn roof so The Fahm doesn't end up encrusted with malevolent ice beasties.
9:43 AM: We have the great good fortune of our closest neighbor being kind enough to plow our driveway during the winter. That neighbor has arrived! He's plowing us out for the second time in less than 24 hours. We like our neighbor very much. :)
9:37 AM: Travel ban is still in place. 13 degrees F, feels like reading is -5 degrees F, still snowing in NNW 25 MPH winds gusting to 40 MPH. Wachusett Mountain ski area, 5 miles up the road, is open for business and reporting 28" of fresh powder on the ground.
8:40 AM: 14 degrees F, feels like reading is -3 degrees F, still snowing in NNW 16 MPH winds gusting to 33 MPH. Looks like 2 - 3' on the ground; I have the dreadful feeling that we'll be outside raking snow off roofs before this is over.
8:32 AM: Princeton Municipal Light Department once again saves the day! We never lost power. Verizon's high-speed Intertubes via land line connection was up and down (mostly down) all night.
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8:43 PM: Verizon's high-speed Intertubes via land line connection goes down AGAIN; switching to service via mobile hotspot.
8:38 PM: 16 degrees F, feels like reading is 1 degree F, snow blowing every ding dang way in N 25 MPH winds. Very blizzardy.
7:55 PM: 16 degrees F, feels like reading is 1 degree. We are going to eat potatoes and play Scrabble now.
7:28 PM: 17 degrees F, feels like reading is 1 degree F, light snow blowing every damn way in NNE 17 MPH winds.
7:20 PM: We're out in the country and without streetlights it is now too goddamn dark outside to see WTF is happening.
7:00 PM: The wind is picking up and The Fahm (aka Brimstone Manor) is starting to creak and groan in protest.
6:59 PM: Potatoes are done and ready for supper.
6:28 PM: Verizon's high-speed Intertubes via land line connection is back UP. Yee haw! Turning mobile hotspot off.
6:15 PM: Verizon's high-speed Intertubes via land line connection goes down; switching to service via mobile hotspot.
6:05 PM: I put two russet potatoes in the coals of the wood stove in the kitchen, for our supper.
5:24 PM: 18 degrees F, feels like reading is 3 degrees F, light snow blowing every damn way in NE 16 MPH winds.
5:19 PM: Out my window.
4:00 PM: Raj made popcorn.
3:45 PM: 18 degrees F, feels like reading is 5 degrees F, light snow blowing sideways in NE 13 MPH winds.
3:07: Out my window.
2:16 PM: Light snow showers at 18 degrees F, feels like reading is 3 degrees F, in NNW 16 MPH winds gusting to 33 MPH.
2:12: Governor Deval Patrick just had a news conference and offered some post-blizzard advice for citizens.
12:55 PM: 15 degrees F, feels like reading is -2 degrees F, in NNW 19 MPH winds gusting to 38 MPH.
12:53 PM: A light snow has started falling again and the sun is still trying without success to emerge. It is therefore time to do that which any sane person knows to do during a blizzard: play Scrabble huddled next to a hot wood stove in the kitchen, while having hot cocoa and grilled cheese sandwich triangles.
12:13 PM: 14 degrees F, feels like reading is -3 degrees F, in NNW 21 MPH winds gusting to 42 MPH. The snow has finally stopped. Our power has been solid as a rock; Verizon's high-speed Intertubes via land line connection, not so much. Mobile hotspots are the new black.
12:07: The sun is trying hard.
Noon: Roof scrapery over the kitchen is complete. Snowshoes were required although not much use in 30" of fresh powder. I wasn't in over my head (that would've been during our first winter here at The Fahm) but I was in over my knees!
 |
| Before |
 |
| After. What isn't documented are my screaming triceps. |
10:09 AM: WBUR's Bob Oakes just asked for an update on the situation in Scituate. Hell was described as breaking loose there. Which is a helluva Scituation.
10:03 AM: I'm almost done with my morning procrastination which means it is time to put on the 39 layers necessary to sustain life outdoors in a blizzard, pick up my damn snow rake (with extensible handle), and go rake the damn snow off the damn roof so The Fahm doesn't end up encrusted with malevolent ice beasties.
9:43 AM: We have the great good fortune of our closest neighbor being kind enough to plow our driveway during the winter. That neighbor has arrived! He's plowing us out for the second time in less than 24 hours. We like our neighbor very much. :)
 |
| The Plowful Neighbor |
8:40 AM: 14 degrees F, feels like reading is -3 degrees F, still snowing in NNW 16 MPH winds gusting to 33 MPH. Looks like 2 - 3' on the ground; I have the dreadful feeling that we'll be outside raking snow off roofs before this is over.
8:32 AM: Princeton Municipal Light Department once again saves the day! We never lost power. Verizon's high-speed Intertubes via land line connection was up and down (mostly down) all night.
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8:43 PM: Verizon's high-speed Intertubes via land line connection goes down AGAIN; switching to service via mobile hotspot.
8:38 PM: 16 degrees F, feels like reading is 1 degree F, snow blowing every ding dang way in N 25 MPH winds. Very blizzardy.
7:55 PM: 16 degrees F, feels like reading is 1 degree. We are going to eat potatoes and play Scrabble now.
7:28 PM: 17 degrees F, feels like reading is 1 degree F, light snow blowing every damn way in NNE 17 MPH winds.
7:20 PM: We're out in the country and without streetlights it is now too goddamn dark outside to see WTF is happening.
7:00 PM: The wind is picking up and The Fahm (aka Brimstone Manor) is starting to creak and groan in protest.
6:59 PM: Potatoes are done and ready for supper.
6:28 PM: Verizon's high-speed Intertubes via land line connection is back UP. Yee haw! Turning mobile hotspot off.
6:15 PM: Verizon's high-speed Intertubes via land line connection goes down; switching to service via mobile hotspot.
6:05 PM: I put two russet potatoes in the coals of the wood stove in the kitchen, for our supper.
5:24 PM: 18 degrees F, feels like reading is 3 degrees F, light snow blowing every damn way in NE 16 MPH winds.
5:19 PM: Out my window.
4:00 PM: Raj made popcorn.
3:45 PM: 18 degrees F, feels like reading is 5 degrees F, light snow blowing sideways in NE 13 MPH winds.
3:07: Out my window.
2:07 PM: Currently 20 degrees F, light snow.
2:00 PM: Listening to more breathless news and disaster predictions on WBUR radio!
1:45 PM: Travel Ban Throughout MA just announced, all traffic and all roads except first responders in effect from 4:00 PM "until the travel ban is lifted". The wording of the announcement is ominous, don't you think? The ban is in effect "until the travel ban is lifted".
