The Winter Storm That Wasn't

They said it was coming. They said it was going to be four inches of snow. As the day wore on, the forecasts grew more dire, the amateur forecasters more snarky in their predictions. Snow was coming to SOUTHTOWN and it was gonna be a doozy.

We started out our day with an IEP and if you've never done that it takes forever and is boring as hell but you have to pay attention because it's serious stuff. The wind was whipping the feeling of ICE around us, and the rain was pouring down like it was the Great Flood itself. The sky, the air, and everything in my bones said - this shit is about to get real.

After the IEP we had the 7th Grade awards program where the oldest boy made the Honor Roll. Cue proud parents.

Shortly after that, as the temperatures dropped, the husband had a tooth cleaning and I turned into Bill Brandon 2.0 and decided all of my children had to come home right now. I drove around to fetch them all.

 The girl had just completed her 100th day of school celebration and was covered in chocolate. My timing was perfect. After we picked up the twins, it began to rain ice. As we approached the house, it began to snow.

Any snow in Atlanta is a bad thing. We just don't have the mental fortitude for it. We don't have the "oh well just keep going" attitude. We have to hunker down in a blind panic. Or at least hunker down.
At our house, we settled in for the night, expecting Snowmageddon to rain down on us like a fabled Nor'easter.

As temperatures dropped and snow swirled, I prepared myself to rise early and drag these kids outside for SNOW FUN! SNOW! SNOW! LET'S PLAY!

Except, we just got a dusting. Not enough to play. Not enough to be interesting. Just cold as shit however. Cold as ever loving shit.  By 1 it was melted in the sun.

We spent our day inside, and the girl did this to my phone.

I didn't even know that was POSSIBLE.

I downloaded Neko Atsumi because everyone seems to have it. I discovered I don't understand the point of it and then I learned that there is no point, I'm just feeding and collecting cats.

So fine, this skill I have. Behold my cats. This is what I accomplished on this freezing cold day. It was a good day to stay inside, that's for sure.

I hate being cold, that's why I like living in the south.

So much for Snowmageddon 2016 in Atlanta. Although, the French Toast report guys say we're doing this again later this week. We'll see boys, you got this one so very wrong!
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The Winter Storm That Wasn't

They said it was coming. They said it was going to be four inches of snow. As the day wore on, the forecasts grew more dire, the amateur forecasters more snarky in their predictions. Snow was coming to SOUTHTOWN and it was gonna be a doozy.

We started out our day with an IEP and if you've never done that it takes forever and is boring as hell but you have to pay attention because it's serious stuff. The wind was whipping the feeling of ICE around us, and the rain was pouring down like it was the Great Flood itself. The sky, the air, and everything in my bones said - this shit is about to get real.

After the IEP we had the 7th Grade awards program where the oldest boy made the Honor Roll. Cue proud parents.

Shortly after that, as the temperatures dropped, the husband had a tooth cleaning and I turned into Bill Brandon 2.0 and decided all of my children had to come home right now. I drove around to fetch them all.

 The girl had just completed her 100th day of school celebration and was covered in chocolate. My timing was perfect. After we picked up the twins, it began to rain ice. As we approached the house, it began to snow.

Any snow in Atlanta is a bad thing. We just don't have the mental fortitude for it. We don't have the "oh well just keep going" attitude. We have to hunker down in a blind panic. Or at least hunker down.
At our house, we settled in for the night, expecting Snowmageddon to rain down on us like a fabled Nor'easter.

As temperatures dropped and snow swirled, I prepared myself to rise early and drag these kids outside for SNOW FUN! SNOW! SNOW! LET'S PLAY!

Except, we just got a dusting. Not enough to play. Not enough to be interesting. Just cold as shit however. Cold as ever loving shit.  By 1 it was melted in the sun.

We spent our day inside, and the girl did this to my phone.

I didn't even know that was POSSIBLE.

I downloaded Neko Atsumi because everyone seems to have it. I discovered I don't understand the point of it and then I learned that there is no point, I'm just feeding and collecting cats.

So fine, this skill I have. Behold my cats. This is what I accomplished on this freezing cold day. It was a good day to stay inside, that's for sure.

I hate being cold, that's why I like living in the south.

So much for Snowmageddon 2016 in Atlanta. Although, the French Toast report guys say we're doing this again later this week. We'll see boys, you got this one so very wrong!
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It Snowed In SOUTHTOWN

It seemed like overkill and overreaction on Monday, and on Tuesday morning. They called out the national guard. They brought in scads and loads of utility workers from other states and positioned them around town in strategic locations in trailers. They kept coming on the news going on about how the salt trucks were in position, the state troopers were relocated to be ready to help.

And so we waited.

Then the storm arrived. If you know anyone from ATL you know that every facebook update for 48 hours was "It's raining ice. It's snowing again. It's raining ice again. We have X amount of snow, we have more ice." It kept coming. And coming. watching the trees grow heavy and listening as another hundred thousand people lost power made it seem dire and worrisome.

But we were cozy inside, and so we waited.
I think the kids were less enchanted this time around.

But still getting outside was good for everyone, and experiencing real winter was fun. The snow was hard due to all the ice, not as fluffy as it was last time.

And despite waking up to a real wonderland of snow and ice the second day, nearly by noon the snow began to melt and flow down the street, signaling the end of yet another snow storm we shouldn't have had.

We decided this time around to make SNOW ICE CREAM. After much research I found out that you can just take some snow, some cream and some sugar and mix it up and bam you have a cold treat.

We set a bowl outside to collect pristine snow as it fell and then brought it inside. I drizzled honey over it so we could have it Nero style but the boys thought that wasn't tasty. I liked it, however.

Now they say it's going to be in the 70s next week. good. My bulbs are coming up and I can be done with winter now.

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It Snowed In SOUTHTOWN

It seemed like overkill and overreaction on Monday, and on Tuesday morning. They called out the national guard. They brought in scads and loads of utility workers from other states and positioned them around town in strategic locations in trailers. They kept coming on the news going on about how the salt trucks were in position, the state troopers were relocated to be ready to help.

And so we waited.

Then the storm arrived. If you know anyone from ATL you know that every facebook update for 48 hours was "It's raining ice. It's snowing again. It's raining ice again. We have X amount of snow, we have more ice." It kept coming. And coming. watching the trees grow heavy and listening as another hundred thousand people lost power made it seem dire and worrisome.

But we were cozy inside, and so we waited.
I think the kids were less enchanted this time around.

But still getting outside was good for everyone, and experiencing real winter was fun. The snow was hard due to all the ice, not as fluffy as it was last time.

And despite waking up to a real wonderland of snow and ice the second day, nearly by noon the snow began to melt and flow down the street, signaling the end of yet another snow storm we shouldn't have had.

We decided this time around to make SNOW ICE CREAM. After much research I found out that you can just take some snow, some cream and some sugar and mix it up and bam you have a cold treat.

We set a bowl outside to collect pristine snow as it fell and then brought it inside. I drizzled honey over it so we could have it Nero style but the boys thought that wasn't tasty. I liked it, however.

Now they say it's going to be in the 70s next week. good. My bulbs are coming up and I can be done with winter now.

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PAX ATL

I am sitting in my living room, feet up on the ottoman, watching winter storm PAX arrive outside my windows. I left work early as ice and snow were already accumulating at my more northern located home. And so now, we wait.

The north does this all the time. Storms come in, and life pauses until you can get out and about your business. However the south doesn't. We've all got our French Toast ingredients stored safely away and are waiting to see what happens when night falls.

Because that's when it's coming, the ice. "UP TO AN INCH OF ICE". "ICE STORM OF CATASTROPHIC PROPORTIONS" are the kinds of things that they are saying. I've realized too late that we don't have enough wood dry in the house, but hey I DO have wood in the forest and I can bring it in and and let it dry if I need to. Not a perfect solution but, it's not a perfect situation.

We have food. We have shelter.

No one has to leave this house for the next few days if necessary.

I feel annoyed, I have to admit it. I want this storm to get done and let's move on.

But it's coming at it's on it's own terms. I have this feeling none of us are going to like them much.
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PAX ATL

I am sitting in my living room, feet up on the ottoman, watching winter storm PAX arrive outside my windows. I left work early as ice and snow were already accumulating at my more northern located home. And so now, we wait.

The north does this all the time. Storms come in, and life pauses until you can get out and about your business. However the south doesn't. We've all got our French Toast ingredients stored safely away and are waiting to see what happens when night falls.

Because that's when it's coming, the ice. "UP TO AN INCH OF ICE". "ICE STORM OF CATASTROPHIC PROPORTIONS" are the kinds of things that they are saying. I've realized too late that we don't have enough wood dry in the house, but hey I DO have wood in the forest and I can bring it in and and let it dry if I need to. Not a perfect solution but, it's not a perfect situation.

We have food. We have shelter.

No one has to leave this house for the next few days if necessary.

I feel annoyed, I have to admit it. I want this storm to get done and let's move on.

But it's coming at it's on it's own terms. I have this feeling none of us are going to like them much.
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You probably heard that last week Atlanta was brought to it's knees by two inches of snow.

This isn't about that.

This is about how much fun four children who rarely see snow can have, in just over an hour outside. It's funny, they always have this list, they wanna make snow angels and a snow man and have a snowball fight etc etc etc.

What's funny is how quickly the snow just becomes, wet and cold. And then they realize that we're out of things to do because we have done them all.

And then they wonder, so what now? When I assure them that this is in fact IT other than sledding (we don't own a sled) and point out that this is why winter is SO DREARY up north, I think it sinks in that snow is best as a rarity. I know I don't miss it.

It was fun for a couple of days. And we did even make a snowman.

It was a good excuse to wear the wonderful hats grandma knitted us too!

Now, back to rain and warmer weather. YAY Atlanta!
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You probably heard that last week Atlanta was brought to it's knees by two inches of snow.

This isn't about that.

This is about how much fun four children who rarely see snow can have, in just over an hour outside. It's funny, they always have this list, they wanna make snow angels and a snow man and have a snowball fight etc etc etc.

What's funny is how quickly the snow just becomes, wet and cold. And then they realize that we're out of things to do because we have done them all.

And then they wonder, so what now? When I assure them that this is in fact IT other than sledding (we don't own a sled) and point out that this is why winter is SO DREARY up north, I think it sinks in that snow is best as a rarity. I know I don't miss it.

It was fun for a couple of days. And we did even make a snowman.

It was a good excuse to wear the wonderful hats grandma knitted us too!

Now, back to rain and warmer weather. YAY Atlanta!
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Iago On The Horizon

We spent the day making plans for a winter storm. Iago, named after the infamous liar and deceiver from Othello seems to have once again proven to be false.

Because three hours ago a huge storm was rolling toward me. And now - it's gone.

I am likely to chalk it up to my own powers. You see, I spent most of my day making PLANS for the storm. Getting extra remote coverage for work, checking on this and that and making lists and to-do's in case of THE WORST.

It was my plan you see, that by doing so much planning and thinking through all of the What If's - that then we wouldn't have to do ANY of it.

I have to admit though, I'm a little bummed now. Because the big kid in me might've been hoping for a snow day. Just one.

According to Weather.com we're getting next to nothing.

But then I check local weather and...

Iago.

You cannot trust that bastard, I tell you what.
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Iago On The Horizon

We spent the day making plans for a winter storm. Iago, named after the infamous liar and deceiver from Othello seems to have once again proven to be false.

Because three hours ago a huge storm was rolling toward me. And now - it's gone.

I am likely to chalk it up to my own powers. You see, I spent most of my day making PLANS for the storm. Getting extra remote coverage for work, checking on this and that and making lists and to-do's in case of THE WORST.

It was my plan you see, that by doing so much planning and thinking through all of the What If's - that then we wouldn't have to do ANY of it.

I have to admit though, I'm a little bummed now. Because the big kid in me might've been hoping for a snow day. Just one.

According to Weather.com we're getting next to nothing.

But then I check local weather and...

Iago.

You cannot trust that bastard, I tell you what.
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Let It Snow - Last Week

Right after Christmas we had lots of winter fun going to an outdoor lights show and partaking of the firepit marshmallow roasting. That would've been a perfect time for some lovely white fluffy snow right?

No it didn't come that week, did it? It let us get more than a week beyond the holidays. We got beyond the sweets and cookies, beyond the hot chocolate and warm holiday cheer.
So after all the holiday shenanigans, AFTER the holiday lights and the marshmallows and hot chocolate consumed around the fire pits, a good TWO WEEKS after, Atlanta get socked with a snow AND ice storm.

People who live up north don't get it. So let me help you out. I'm from the north. So yeah I get the snarly giggling that goes on. "Atlanta has a misting of snow, it's closed today." Except that isn't what happened. We got seven inches in some places. Then, we got ice.

So you smart mouths now, tell me some more about what a joke it is that Atlanta closed for a week.

It's a lot worse than most people who aren't from here would guess, because what most people don't actually know is that the Atlanta metro is amazingly hilly. Up north we Hoosiers have a big flat place on which to deal with our ice and snow. It's a skill. Here, there is no skill. If there is ice and there is gravity, you won't win. Not ever.

But for little boys who have grown up in a snow deficit, it's pretty amazing.

A REAL snow storm. Really missing SCHOOL because of a SNOW STORM. It was everything they'd ever imagined and then some.
Atlanta may not see another storm like this for another ten years. I am glad we didn't miss this one.

And this is the look of joy you get on your face when you see your family for the first time in three days, after having been snowed in at work - a mere 18 miles away.

Now it's raining and the snow is leaving.

Thank God.