Oh no! SNOW!

On Sunday we got a lot of snow - almost a foot! The snow then turned to sleet/freezing rain... what joy. The ice barrier at the end of my driveway was daunting to say the least. I had to hack at the ice layer before I could shovel the powder underneath! I was a little over 1/2 way done shoveling when my girlfriend Gail's husband Dougie drove by and said "We have a plow" I responded with, "why yes you do and it's lovely" he said, "scoot over - we'll finish" and he did! He even took a big swipe in front of the steps where the snow/ice was even taller! What a doll :) I should have taken a picture of what it looked like when it was done - but it was dark!

End of the Season

Saturday was my last day skiing for the season. Sugarloaf will be open 1 more weekend, but I am over it! It was SO warm! There were people skiing in shorts and t-shirts... I wasn't one of them so I was roasting! So, I skied my 3 runs and called it a day :) Look how much snow there still is - and it was 70 degrees!

It was great to sit outside with our friends on "the beach" and enjoy the beautiful afternoon... This season was really good - not too much ice (people from Utah are saying what? ice?) and never so bitter cold you couldn't stand to be outside. But after 5 months and a couple weeks, I am ready for spring/summer.

A Tad Premature?

I couldn't help myself! I had been SO cold for a week that when I heard today was going to be in the high 50's - I got a little crazy and decided to wear the new flops that Meagan gave me ---->

aren't they the cutest!? I am even wearing capri pants! See, that's the funny thing about Mainers - at the first sign of spring (any day over 40 degrees) you will start seeing people without coats... some short sleeve shirts here and there, then once it gets to be in the 50's it's like a summer day! sandals, shorts, capris, jeez a woman in my office was wearing a sleeveless shirt with her capris! Considering we spend 6+ months out of the year at 30 degrees or less, anything over 50 is a heat wave!

Let's just hope it stays this way...

YIPPEE!!

WE HAVE POWER! Luckily it warmed up a bit last night - and I didn't go home until it was time to go to bed so I didn't mind quite as much.

I was counting my many blessings last night - my home wasn't washed away in flood waters, or get flooded, nor did a tree fall on it, I don't have children (besides my big boys Steve & Chris) I needed to worry about without power for 4 days when it was so cold. I knew my power would come back on unlike people who live in places where they don't have or can't afford electricity... I actually have a home! I have loving a loving family and friends who would take us in if need be.

I am truly blessed.

OVER IT!

At first it was a bit of an adventure... now it is just a big pain in the butt! For two nights I have cooked by flashlight and ate dinner in the "ice box" a.k.a my house, boiled water to wash dishes in and gone to bed at 7:00 out of sheer boredom (and I was freakin' freezing!)... I am ready for a warm bed, and a warm meal - not cooked by me! I told Steve we would be eating out tonight, I would decide where :) I won't even get started on missing my shows! Steve was headed to the YMCA last night to take a shower and he asked if I wanted to go. "Why would I want to go?" He said "because there is heat and light". I was ready to go before he was.

I would have NEVER made it as a pioneer... Anna from the gym who has two little kids said "at first it was fun to play Little House on the Prairie, now I want my lights on". Chris said (as he was wrapped in a blanket with a ski coat and winter hat watching his breath plumes, while standing in the kitchen and warming his hands on the stove) "the novelty has worn off"...

Every prayer I say includes how grateful I am for my house, and all the luxuries I have. I know it is pretty pathetic to bitch about not having power for a couple days when there are much bigger problems all over. This is trivial in the big scheme of things... I think I needed a reminder of how lucky I really am. And here it is.

Candlelight Dinner for 3

This is on the highway in Brunswick (town where I work). The wind blew the semi over!

This is a picture of the Kennebec Tavern that sits on the Kennebec River. It's a little less than a mile from our house. This view is from the parking lot looking out onto the river - and the river that is now in the parking lot!

Maybe you heard about our crazy weather yesterday? I don't think I have ever seen it rain that hard with the wind gusts - up to 80 mph in some areas! We lost power sometime during the day while we were at work (of course, wouldn't you know it - we never lost power at work!) and it was still out when we left this morning. Yeah for a warm shower at the gym!

I am SO glad we have a gas stove... I have always liked it for the cooking reasons, but when the power goes out - as it's known to do in Maine fairly often - I can still cook! We were still able to have a yummy, HOT dinner of Brunswick Stew (minus the biscuits, bummer) which was a treat because it was so cold in the house you could see your breath! I said to Steve and Chris "I swear it's colder in here than it is outside!" Steve told me to "open a window" hardee har har

Tonight I going to try my hand at making spaghetti and meatballs by candlelight... and if we are lucky and have power - maybe I will finish our taxes?