So...

I haven’t used these in 5 days…



Not since we left sunny 40 degree temps in Atlanta, where we had a fabulous time with the Legal Dude’s family and ate tons and tons of sushi.

Then we flew into this...



Chicago in winter...



where it was wet, windy, cold and icy almost everyday with a blah, grey sky.

But we had a lovely time with my family and had more great food!

The Legal Dude and I kept saying...“Give us Wyoming weather.

It may snow...it may be cold...and it will definitely be windy.

But the sun is almost always shinning and the air is dry!”

That is, until we came home to this…



Yep…I shoveled that 6' high, 10' wide mound of snow when I got home this afternoon.



Okay…I embellish.

This is what I actually shoveled.



A path to the gas grill! (We stopped in at Whole Foods in Ft Collins on our way home.)

It snowed in Laramie on Christmas Day.

We've heard just 2" fell from the sky…the rest blew in from the plains and down off the mountains and created havoc in town leaving 2...3...and 4 foot snowdrifts everywhere, including around our house.

The grad student looking in on the house shoveled our driveway!

He was worried we wouldn’t be able to get into the garage with all the snow drifts.

So he shoveled.

Nice guy!

He said the drifts were pretty high on the street in front of our house and cars were getting stuck, thus this…



It’s on the NW corner of our lot, where the sidewalk curves into the cul-du sac.

I saw it from w—aaa—y across on the other side of the Junior High, on 22nd Street as we were driving home.



Not sure what we’re going to do with it…




A Belated Merry Christmas…

Had my message all sent up to go…then I didn’t have easy access to a computer.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, with lots of joy…good food…and fun family time.

The Legal Dude who came in from the...

Legal Dude was on one of the first flights out of National yesterday.

He arrived in Atlanta last evening.

Good thing he was on an afternoon flight.

National didn’t open until 12:30 p.m.

Had we been able to get him a seat on an earlier flight…

Well, I’d rather not think about that.

Didn’t think I’d be posting over Winter Break.

But…here I am.

Sitting with my SIL’s laptop in Atlanta, posting away.

I hear tell that a winter storm is on its way to Chicago, which is our next stop.

Lordy! Lordy!

Winter does happen outside of Wyoming…

Hope everyone gets to where they want to be… when they want to be there!

Ironic

Legal Dude has been in D.C. this past week.

He’s supposed to fly back West Saturday morning.

Doesn’t look like that’s gonna happen.

Frontier Airlines cancelled Saturday’s flights Friday afternoon…before the snow even started to fall.

Legal Dude was scheduled to meet us at DIA Saturday evening and then fly together to points south and then north again.

Frontier says the earliest they can get him to Denver is possibly Monday evening…depending on what happens at the airports.

If he’s a no show for the first leg of our trip out of Denver on Saturday, the rest of his ticket/trip is cancelled, which means we have to buy him all new tickets.

I expected this to happen here in Wyoming…not D.C.

Hope you D.C. people stay safe, are able to get to your destinations and that you enjoy the snow!

Have I mentioned lately...

That despite all the (boring) weather reports...

I actually like living here?!

I can’t tell you “why.”

I just do...

Go figure.

Just saying...

[Of course, check back with me after I’ve spent a few days in warmer climes and in a large metropolis...]

Not a weather post…

I got stuck trying to get into the garage this morning after dropping the teenager off at school.

The driveway hasn’t been shoveled since about 3 snows ago.

Too large...it’s about the size of a half-court.

Well...almost.

These are lousy photos. My hands we’re cold after shoveling, and I could only capture portions of it…





There was a big “hump” of snow just in front of the garage door.

The wind blows the drifts against that side of the house…garage.

That’s where I got stuck.

It took a good 2 to 3 minutes to get un-stuck.

Seemed like forever.

I was too close to the door frame to gun it...didn’t want to damage the car or the garage!

So this is what I did with my trusty Wyoming shovel...



We haven’t seen concrete on this part of the property since...I don’t remember.

This is what I unwittingly created...



A deep ditch for the tires to get stuck...



That’s solid ice.

We left our “ice pick” in VA, for the renters.

What did we know?

The garage is on the North side of the house and this part of the driveway obscured by the garage.

Keeping my fingers crossed, though, that the warm(er) temps will soften that block of ice and I can shovel it away.

I guess it’ll be good experience.

With the Legal Dude out-of-town, I’ve got just me...

Frontier Woman.

Airports, airplanes and all things weather…

I know.

I’ve been going on and on and on about the weather as of late.

So, I’ll make this my last weather-related post…for the year.

First, though…it’s snowing again.

It was threatening most of the day and around 4 pm we had what looked like little, teeny tiny snowballs falling from the sky…I guess you could call it hail.

The Legal Dude has an early flight out of Denver tomorrow morning.

With snow in the forecast, he wanted to make sure he didn’t run into blowing snow, fog, or closed roads.

So he left this afternoon.

For an 11 am flight…tomorrow.

Don’t like this aspect of living here…in this season.

Although this evening, I heard from a long-time resident that dense fog is frequently an early morning factor to contend with between here and Colorado.

This is also the first trip the Legal Dude has taken since we’ve moved here.

I’ve gotten used to having him around all the time.

New house…new town…new weather patterns…and the legal dude is gone for a spell.

I’m feeling just a teeny, tiny bit blue here.

On a brighter note…the frigid temps have left, for the moment.

Where’s the Matzo?

I went in search of Matzo meal today…for the potato latkes.

Seems the Kosher food section at the local Safeway has shrunk.

I couldn’t find Matzo meal…even after walking the aisles several times and eliciting the services of several…very, very helpful…Safeway employees.

“Everyone” is so nice and helpful here…even if they don’t know what the heck you’re talking about!

I know Matzo meal exists here…I saw it on Friday night at the family Hanukkah party.

I’ll just have to hit Albertsons or Wal-Mart tomorrow, or one of the other little specialty shops around town.

With the exception of a few items, I’m finding one can “usually” find what one wants…or a variation of it…if one looks hard enough.

As long as one is willing to give up their Whole Foods addiction…

Yesterday’s Tweet…

(...which I didn’t get to post).

Grady Kirkpatrick, of WPR’s Morning Music program, played batches of themed related songs yesterday morning.

Christmas tunes, both old and new…

A fun and funky “Hanukkah Blessing” from Barenaked Ladies’ new holiday album, “Barenaked for the Holidays”…

Several warm weather songs, including this gem…“Love is like a (Heat Wave)” by Martha and the Vandellas

The latter was due to the “heat wave” of high 20s temps that hit Laramie yesterday.

Made me dance around like a crazy, silly old goose.

Funny how little things like that can really make one smile and act silly…

Hope you're having a great weekend and not going too crazy at the malls, etc.

Happy Hanukkah

Hanukkah began last night… at sundown.

There are seven more nights to eat latkes (potato pancakes), light candles on the Menorah and open gifts (small ones for the teenager).

Last night we gathered with other members of the small Laramie Jewish Community to make and eat latkes and light family Chanukiahs (i.e., Menorah) we each brought from home for a community lighting.

I took some photos…

Chanukiahs…

(Ours is the one with the wall. Notice the cat and dog?)

Pounds and pounds of potatoes were washed and peeled...

Shredded, mixed with Matzo meal, egg, salt and pepper...

and fried in oil.

I know these don’t look appetizing in the photo, but believe me…the crispier the better and this recipe was one of the best latkes I’ve tasted...sorry Legal Dude!

Lighting the Chanukiahs

All the Chanukiahs after lighting...pretty!

After eating (lots of) latkes and the community Chanukiahs lighting, we went to a neighbor/friend's house to have our own little celebration.

A very nice beginning to Hanukkah…

Warm Front...

"Today is forecast to be Much Warmer than
yesterday. "

Courtesy: Weather Underground (Laramie)

This is significant...to the three of us...even if today's temps (with wind chill) is -3.

Everyone...including the teenager's classmates...tell us this is the worst December in years...some say ten!

Oh well...it's supposed to reach the mid- to high-20s in the next few days.

Who knew we'd be happy with temps in the 20s?!

And the Sun is shinning in full force again.

It was woefully missing, lo these past 7 to 10 days.

Heard though, on the Weather Channel this morning, that another storm is brewing off the West Coast that could potentially affect the entire country.

Hope that's wrong.

Or least until we all get to where we want to be for the Holidays.

Stay warm, stay dry and stay safe.

p.s. WPR just concurred with Weather Underground: Warmer Today...good news!

Winter Storms....

Updated: 6:28 am MST on December 9, 2009

Wind Chill Advisory in effect until 11 am MST this morning...

Winter Weather Advisory for blowing snow in effect until 2 PM MST Thursday...

Rest of Today

Partly cloudy. Blowing snow in the late morning and afternoon. Windy. Highs 5 to 10. West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph. Wind chill readings 35 below to 45 below zero.

The Legal Dude and I watched a bit of The Weather Channel this morning.

We see that blizzards and hazardous weather are happening all around the country.

We heard though, that while it may be cold out there (Chicago with a -15 wind chill...please stay warm...or stay inside!), Wyoming has the coldest temp around the country....with -45 degree wind chill.

Frankly, I'd rather be here than in Iowa (wow...see that snow!!! ), Chicago, Boston or anyplace else that has inclement weather, because after all...I don't have far to travel to get to where I'm going.

Kinda nice that way.

It is, at least, until we have to travel to the Denver airport, which is 2 hours away.

On days like today, with the wind blowing across the high altitude plains or in the mountains...remember, we're at an elevation of over 7,000 Feet....visibility may be nil and then they pull these closed...

[Click on the photo to enlarge. See those gates back there...and the sign?]

and then no one gets out of town...or in.

Remember the post about the food trucks not being able to get in to town?

Before he left for school, the teenager said..."It looks like a sand storm out there!"

He's right...it does.

Wish that I could capture it on my little Nikon...

Anyhoo.

Stay safe...stay warm...and be cozy.

Merriam-Webster defines…

co•ed
Pronunciation: \ˈkō-(ˌ)ed\
Function: noun
Etymology: short for coeducational student
Date: circa 1878
: a female student in a coeducational institution

That’s me…


I’m a student again.

Classes are full, but I’m on the wait list for ‘Oral and Written Language Acquisition” and Developmental Psychology.

I have high hopes there will be room for me.

No large pots of coffee, no-doze, or all-nighters this time around…at least I hope not!

Learning to drive…in the snow

Laramie is probably one of the best places in the North to learn how to drive in snow.

The speed limit is 30…everywhere in town (except out near Wal-Mart and the Interstate, which is 40 to 45).

And at certain times during the day, there aren’t that many cars out.

So…if I go slip-sliding around, there’s no one to crash into.

If I choose to go r…e…a…l…s…l…o…w, which I’m wont to do, there aren't "too" many other drivers to get pissed at me.

And while there are a few steep inclines where we live, it's mostly flat.

Plus…nothing is really very far away.

So if I wake up on a morning like today, no worries about the snowy conditions… whether it be a mere 3 inches or a foot.

I’m finding I can get around…slowly.

But I won’t drive after dark when temps are this cold.

There’s too much slichy (slushy ice) stuff on the roads for me to navigate.

Stay safe out there…

Clean Sidewalks...

See these sidewalks?





I did that…twice.

Once at 7:30 this morning and then again around noon



Still haven’t done the driveway.

Like I said before…at this rate we’ll probably have ice on the driveway until June (or possibly July).

BRRRRR.....

The temp this morning was listed at "0" but with the wind-chill it's a COLD and FRIGID...-19.

Wind-chill for tomorrow and Wednesday...-30!!!!

Balmy weather is just around the corner, however.

By week’s end, we’re supposed to hit a high of 30 and possibly even the low 40s!

I can deal.

Frontier Woman Crafts…

[Another previously written but never posted...post]

I sat and stood behind this table all day last Thursday, and most of Friday, and smiled and chatted and told passerby’s about my wares…cards, tags, gift boxes and bags.

I broke even…earned back the cost of the table plus the little chotskies I got to decorate the table.

I then spent it all at the craft fair.

I immensely enjoyed myself.

It was probably one of “the” best things I’ve done in a long, long time.

I met lots of people.

I made new friends.

I made connections.

I even sold some of my crafts.

I think I’ll do it again…

Thanks to mom, for contributing these to my table…

The little bears are modeling them.

[This one is unfinished]

Aren’t they cute..warm too!

Thanks, mom!

Frontier Woman perseveres

[Written but never posted last week.]

Last Wednesday night we truly experienced Wyoming’s frigid weather for the first time.

The temp dropped overnight to -25.

Yep. You read that right…-25.

Our master bathroom pipes froze.

They’re on an outside wall facing West…from whence Mariah blows…and boy has she been blowing as of late.

Fortunately, the pipes did NOT burst and lucky for me, I was able to coax them back to room temperature…with help from the plumbing company and my dad.

Thank g-d they were all in at 6:45 am.

I did what they told me….

I opened the cabinet doors.

I put a portable heater in front of the open doors.

I turned on the cold water faucet to open up the line.

Eventually I heard a drip…drip…drip as the pipes unfroze.

The frigid temps have been with us all week and will stay in place for the next several days.

So for the time being, we’ll sleep with the cabinet doors left open and the cold water faucets turned to “on.”

Wyoming…always an adventure!

The Weather Outside is Frightful...

This is what I saw on my dashboard when I left the campus parking lot at 6 pm.


(Still haven't changed the clock...yet)

This is what it read by the time I pulled into our garage.



Need I say more?

Remember this?

It now looks like this…


It happened yesterday.

Took the car out to pick up the teenager and wham…the frigid cold just cracked that baby lick-ity split.

It’s going to cost the equivalent of a new washing machine...or the price of a high-end snow blower.

For the record, I did get a few quotes.

Sigh…

Paranormal Activity…?

It’s snowing again.

It got a late start…around 8 pm.

They predict between 4 and 6 inches.

It’s also gotten colder…and is supposed to be frigid…(like 4 degrees) this week.

(This afternoon, though, I was running around with just a little suede jacket…just like the locals do).

I figure, at this rate, the ice that is still on our driveway, which I never did shovel after the last snow, will be here until June.

Anyway…I took this shot earlier this evening.



It’s of our neighbor’s yard.

I liked the look of the moon poking through the clouds and gave it a try with my little Nikon.

Looks like our neighbors have some Stephen King activity going on in their backyard.



This is what I got using the flash…



Not nearly as exciting.

But the neighbor's trees with lights do look lovely in real life.

Happy December....

Hard to believe it’s already December.

Hard to believe it’s December and I’m in Wyoming.

Hard to believe it’s December and not only am I in Wyoming…but that I actually LIVE in Wyoming.

Hard to believe it’s December and not only do I live in Wyoming, but that I actually LIKE living here.

Then again…there is that ice on the driveway.