8:30 a.m. - Struggle into consciousness, aware of something hard lodged under my rib cage.
8:31 a.m. - Remove Rachel's elbow from my rib cage. Briefly regret the two glasses of sherry at bedtime. Notice that Rachel and Leah are both in bed with me. And the cat too.
8:32 a.m. - En route to kitchen, admire the cleanliness of living room, except for the tree, which the cat apparently decided to un-decorate while we were gone. Helpful of him. Not.
9 a.m. - Making breakfast for girls. French toast for Leah, toasted bagel with butter for Rae.
9:22 a.m. - Standing at window with coffee watching the snow blowing off the roof and new snow falling and blowing sideways.
9:47 a.m. - first snowmobile of the day zooms down the road in front of the house.
10 a.m to 1 p.m. - girls play with plethora of Kinder Egg toys they received from Santa and Josie. Also, Leah challenges me to Wii tennis. I win, but my arm feels like it's on fire. It's still snowing.
1: 15 p.m. - the girls offer to shovel the driveway for $5.oo.
1:26 p.m. - I peek out to see Leah building a snow fort and Rae digging out the driveway.
1:33 p.m. - En route to kitchen, I stop and survey the complete destruction of the living room: Kinder Egg toys and stuffed animals everywhere, and all the sofa afghans on the floor in some sort of pattern acting as Barbie houses.
2:03 p.m. - girls come back in. Driveway is shovelled completely -- they have done a good job. Girls decide to play with new Lego sets.
2:05 p.m. - girls are instructed to put away toys in living room. Somewhat grumpily, they comply.
2:15 p.m - snowplow shows up and fills end of driveway with snow.
2:16 p.m. - I say a great many unprintable words under my breath. Girls are upset because all their work was for nothing.
2:20 p.m. - I am out shovelling the plow ridge. I am not having a date with Murray because I need to buy gas, and also I need to work off my breakfast of an omelette, toast, dark chocolate candy-cane bark and shortbread cookies (Josie's fault).
2:24 p.m. - the neighbours are out too, shovelling. We compete to see who has the most colourful descriptions of the snow plow driver. I win.
2:45 p.m. - back in the house thawing out. The second and third snowmobiles of the day go past the house.
3:00 p.m. - watch in disbelief as snowplow returns. Fortunately for his continued good health, he doesn't turn down my street.
3:14 p.m. - open large can of Blackthorn cider and finish taking the decorations off the tree that the cat has so graciously started for me. Sigh, it's back to work and school tomorrow.
Happy New Year, everyone!
It's 5:14 p.m. -- I live in just west of downtown in Hintonburg. I haven't seen a plough all week.
ReplyDeleteThe street is now too narrow to allow for street parking. The street is almost too narrow for one car to go down. (But it's a two way street and people still drive down it as a short cut. Hence, there has been a lot of honking.)
How is it NOT going to be a snow day tomorrow? What is the matter with you eastern Ontarians? For pity's sake, look out the window ya'll. Stay off the roads and in your warm, wind-free homes. Who's going to object to an extra day of vacation? Will the Ottawa economy grind to a halt if all us pubic (not a typo) servants don't show up for just one day? (I really, really, really don't want to go back to work tomorrow)
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a full day. I can't believe you talked the girls into shoveling snow.
ReplyDeleteWe're back to school tomorrow and we're all moping about it.
But without all the dark chocolate bark and shortread yu wouldn't have had the energy to shovel :P
ReplyDeleteWho's Murray?
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny how beautiful and serene it looks while it's falling and how quickly it turns into a giant pain in the ass when it's fallen? Kind of like a guy I knew in grad school, now that I think of it.
ReplyDeleteNat - Seriously? I would so complain to the city and your councillor about that. It's dangerous.
ReplyDeleteXUP - If it looks like the drive in is going to be bad, I'll work from home. I have work with me at all times after about November 20th for just such an occurrence.
Jen - Blinded by avarice, they volunteered. They'll do a lot of things for five bucks.
Josie - Right you are! It was energy food.
Pat - Murray is my snowblower.
Allison - I may have known that same guy. You didn't go to University of Windsor, did you?
ReplyDeleteMy dog and your cat should get together... Mine also helped get me motivated to take the tree down - by taking down everything at her level and eating them!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.YummyMummyClub.ca
The snow plow thing? You know I'm with you on that, sister. He dumped a heaping pile at the end of our driveway two days ago, then again yesterday, then TWICE today. I saw him coming again and nearly cried. Then I realized he was just salting. Thank the gods. I would have been committed for running down the road swearing at a loud truck.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I was right there with you!
ReplyDeleteoooooh you gave me the wonderful idea of paying grace to clear the driveway. not so much to do a good job, but to tire her out a little bit!
ReplyDelete