Monday's Question of the Day - January 25, 2015

it's another snow day here!  DH went to work but came home.  The plows are still working hard in our area. My street is good; but many others are not, so work is light today and he came home instead.  All the schools in the area are still closed too.  When DH came in the kids were at the table having breakfast and DH asked if DD's school was closed today too.  (We homeschool.)  I wasn't planning on it; but I suppose we can say she's at gym today.  AKA...Daddy is taking the kids out to play in the snow again. 

How do you like to spend snow days?

I enjoy a mix of being inside and out.  I like the crunch of snow under my boots when it's not too deep.  We don't have access to good sledding places here; but man I loved sledding when I was a kid!  This is probably the biggest snow we've had since my kids have been big enough to enjoy it.  DD did get to play in it one winter when we were in my home-state of New York for a funeral.  My 3 year old was climbing the snow piles along the driveway yesterday.  It was so funny because it was hard for him but when he stood at the very top his little voice said 'I'm taller than the car!!!"     DD kept adding big chunks of snow to the pile.  It was hard shoveling because the top layer was icy.  We had to break through with metal shovels first. The plastic things weren't doing anything!  Some very nice person with a backhoe and bucket scoop was going by and saw us shoveling.  He backed up and grabbed a big load of the stuff the plow left at the end of the driveway.  That was SOOO nice of them!  So it is fun to watch the kids play and to have the occasional snowball fight with them.  

When I'm inside I want to enjoy just relaxing.  Reading, maybe a good movie, puzzles or crafts.  It's a chance to not have to be too busy in the house without guilt.  I like that.  Plus we are all together relaxing.  DH is always on the go.  He doesn't sit well.  But right now he's on the couch snoozing under a blanket and we are all in our pjs.  I made a big crock pot full of chili on Friday night.  Tonight we are having pancakes with bacon!  It's sunny out.  I like days like today. 

I don't like the snow really.  I don't like driving in it or even on just the aftermath of mostly-plowed roads that might be slick.  I don't like feeling like I can't go out if I want to or being nervous because I HAVE to go out.  I don't like that enough that I'd prefer it not snow at all.  But I do enjoy the time stuck at home; the change of pace.  At least these first days.  I just need everything to clear out before DD has a doctor appointment next week I think. 

When I was younger, I used to live on a steep hill - perfect for sledding.   It was so exhilarating to zoom down the hill and there was nothing better than coming inside all cold and rosy cheeked to a hot drink.  Now I live in an apartment with no hill in sight so have spent the last few days inside watching Netflix and hanging out on-line.  Tomorrow though I'm going to stomp through the woods beside me.  Or not.  It might be another Netflix day.  Gosh, laziness is a terrible thing!

I used to love going outside in the snow but not so much any more. I have too many ailments that are minor in the grand scheme of things, but would really be an issue if I fell.  I just can't take the chance - I don't feel steady enough on my feet since my last knee operation.  

So, Tom goes out (and even he's getting over it) and I hang inside.  Cooking, straightening up, playing games online, tv, whatever.  

And catch up on sleep.  I don't get enough so any time I can lay down for a few hours with nothing pending is time well spent!

What's a "snow day"?  

It's a balmy 69 degrees F here today and it's supposed to go up to 74 tomorrow.  



No more snow days for me. I've dealt with more than my fair share in this lifetime. 

No one can deny that snow is beautiful ... to LOOK at! But I really don't like going out in it any more. 

There was a time when I couldn't wait to go sledding, ice-skating, and even shoveling snow. But now that I am much older, I can't handle the cold. And having a spinal cord injury, accompanied with arthritis, I have a big fear of falling and (probably) making things much worse than they are.

So, now I enjoy spending snow days inside, watching the big flakes through the window as they flutter down and silently cover the trees and landscape.  I live in an apartment complex, so I no longer have to worry about shoveling snow. I can easily entertain myself. There are so many things to do! Curling up with a good movie or book and a cup of homemade hot chocolate with my Boys is so peaceful. Or playing on the computer, coloring and drawing, cooking a nice dinner, even taking a nap. 

All the snow (except a few piles that were plowed up in the parking lot) has melted. Right now, in Southeastern Indiana, it is 47F outside and I have all my windows open.  I've been cleaning and it feels so good to have the nice, crisp fresh air coming in, and the Boys are enjoying being on the window sill feeling the cool air.  

I'm patiently waiting for Spring and the first crocuses to pop their heads through the soil!

I love to just sit inside and watch the snow and all that is going on at the squirrel and bird feeder outside. We missed out on the snow again this time, but boy did we get the wind! Cats only make it about two feet outside the door and they are back before I can get the door closed!    

We got a foot of snow a few weeks ago. I admit I didn't leave the house for a few days. I had to wait for our neighbors backhoe to clear the driveway. I didn't buy a four wheel drive SUV now I wish I would have forked out the extra cash. We are expecting snow tomorrow so I went to the store today for essentials. I was totally lazy during last snow fall it was perfect for sledding but my daughter didn't want to. The cats where amazed don't think they've ever seen snow before. The news said it hasn't snowed this much since 1985, I remember that I was in grade school still. I like to make snow angels but it was too deep for that last time.

AT home, drinking coffee, in front of the gas fireplace.

I do not really have to deal with snow days now...before I moved into my apartment building, snow days were few and between, if not non-existant. I used to work in a hospital. It wa required; no excuses at all, that I would be into work on a snow day/ blizzard.... if not there would be He** to pay.

Now that I am not working.. it is just another day.... I do relish the fact that I do not have to worry about my car, driving, the train situation---resulting in getting into work or coming home.....seriously..think about it.....

It is not fair to require everyone involved in patient care to come into work.....99.5% of exams, and patient exams can rescheduled. Those that cannot be rescheduled, can be accommodated by the doctors who are on call.....

I sound so bitter; but I have seen the abuse of the system.. If you were pregnant, would you risk your life and the life of your baby for an routine ultrasound???? People are crazy...



Ok--I went off on a tangernt; sorry.....

Now, I am enjoying my snow days.... I stay in, and enjoy my time with my guy, Artie....it is a good feeling...something I never had before...something I love.... it is so relaxing...

I spent it hanging out with my cats and doing some genealogy.  I did go to work today, but I was one of only a few people in there. Not surprising with schools closed, and a lot of people take advantage of the time off (we can all work from home these days I guess).  The roads were bad in some spots, black ice and regular ice. The parking lot was a skating rink.  The worst part was the people on the road who figure they can do their usual speed and who like to come riding up on your bumper if you don't. Fortunately, I made it with no problems.  The streets are mostly clear now, but will probably be some black ice again in the morning.

We got less than a half inch with this last system. And my two little ones are a little too young still.

When I was young we had a lot of hills to play on. We never had a sled growing up so we used garbage bags. If we were lucky we would get a roll of plastic. We would dress in layers with bread bags on our feet between socks and socks as gloves. One year we decided to build a ramp with an old car hood. My older cousin went to the top and started down the hill. He got half way on the hood and it collapsed. Lol.

My grandma also had us a play house with a coal stove in it so we can go in there and get warm and go back out. She done it to keep us from tracking the floors.

Artiemom said:

 
I do not really have to deal with snow days now...before I moved into my apartment building, snow days were few and between, if not non-existant. I used to work in a hospital. It wa required; no excuses at all, that I would be into work on a snow day/ blizzard.... if not there would be He** to pay.

Now that I am not working.. it is just another day.... I do relish the fact that I do not have to worry about my car, driving, the train situation---resulting in getting into work or coming home.....seriously..think about it.....

It is not fair to require everyone involved in patient care to come into work.....99.5% of exams, and patient exams can rescheduled. Those that cannot be rescheduled, can be accommodated by the doctors who are on call.....

I sound so bitter; but I have seen the abuse of the system.. If you were pregnant, would you risk your life and the life of your baby for an routine ultrasound???? People are crazy...

Ok--I went off on a tangernt; sorry.....

Now, I am enjoying my snow days.... I stay in, and enjoy my time with my guy, Artie....it is a good feeling...something I never had before...something I love.... it is so relaxing...

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I know what you mean, but I worked in geriatrics and Hospice and did 12 hour night shifts. I remember when we had a blizzard and the day shift people couldn't get in to work! I had already done my 12 + hours and had to stay over. It was a crazy morning! We couldn't leave or we would have been 'abandoning' our patients - we couldn't get out of the parking lot anyway. But, on top of trying to get morning meds passed, do treatments, chart on everybody, plus keep running to answer the phones and take call-offs, the few of us who worked the night shift had to prepare and serve breakfast because there was no cook or kitchen staff!  We literally had a skeleton crew and we did the bare minimum and the best we could - and do you believe that when day shift started straggling in they complained because we didn't have all the patients dressed and out of bed! And after it was all said and done, I had to go out and dig my car out after putting in 18 hours! And I was expected to be back in for the 7:00PM shift that night! I got written up for an unexcused absence because I called off. There was NO way I was working 18 hours and going back in with about 2 hours sleep. 

Next time it snows, remember all the people who work in long-term care facilities and hospitals who can't leave their posts and work extra long hours to take care of you and your loved ones. It wasn't fun, but I don't regret doing it. Now, I am happy just sitting at home and looking out the window!

Preferably in bed with the cats and a good book. And the electric blanket on High. A Smirnoff Ice on ice on the nightstand. (Oh wait, that could be any cold winter's weekend day.)

Ok, baking something and hanging out in the kitchen. I made some chocolate chip cookies on Saturday and watched out the kitchen window, while cussing at the snow.. 

I work in health care (pharmacy industry). Before I went to the IT side, the rule was that if the post office was open, we had to be open. And if we called in, it got held against us. And of course, that was when we had the busiest time of year. Who decided the middle of winter was a good time for 1st quarter of the year? lol. Basically, people still needed their prescriptions, we still had turn-around times to meet (no one ever accounts for snow in those contracts), and more often than not, we were smack-dab in the middle of busy season during snowstorms.

Out of 8 years there, we only closed one day, and only for PART of the day. I didn't go in though for any of that day. The exact words I said were ones I can't say here, lol. Forget that madness! That was the Groundhog's Day 2011 snowstorm, when they shut down LSD and people were trapped on there. Horrible.

Now that I'm in IT, I can work from home pretty much whenever I need or, well, want to for that matter. So snow days are just another work day. The business side is still open, and we still need to support them. Although technically I'm working on projects, so I'm just trying to make deadlines.

I was working in the ultrasound side of Maternal-Fetal-Medicine....that is high risk pregnancies...

We also trained our "fellows" ( already graduated doctors who are spending an extra 3 years in a speciality) and the Residents, to be skilled in scanning patients and dealing with medical issues...

We were "Required" to come into work, every storm--even when the Governor declared a "State Of Emergency"

We did not take call, the doctors did.....why would they need us, risking our lives and leaving our families at home to come into work, when there was absolutely no conceivable (pun) on knowing a fetal sex, or routine exam.....but yet, our patients came in, because NO ONE called them to cancel.......

What is the logic in that????????

It comes down to: COMMON SENSE!!  ~~~~ no one seems to have it, any more

I still say: would you risk your life and the life of your unborn baby to come in for a routine ultrasound?? or for one which could very easily be rescheduled?????????

Think about it....it is not all about "Cute pictures"

I sound so jaded, but honestly, after over 30 years of this, enough is enough....I was taking care of my own elder father who could not deal with me leaving due to issues regarding the storm....home care, etc....

I was written up each time I did not get into work... even when my car was buried up to the side mirrors in snow....

Hospitals are so dysfunctional....

Sleeping in, cooking, watching movies, playing with the cats, taking naps, going for a walk in the snow, hot chocolate...

Jenny, that sounds so good

I worked at a paper plant for over 18 years, 7-day, swing-shift, including most holidays. We were expected to be at work and, even when the Governor declared a State of Emergency, we were still expected to go to work. IP didn't shut down for anything or anybody. And we made baby diapers; it wasn't earth-shattering, it wasn't saving lives, we were in manufacturing. And we were expected to be to work. I remember two guys coming into work on third shift, on snowmobiles that they actually drove over the Interstate and down the road to the plant.

Back in January of 1994 or 1996, our temps went down to - 24 F. Unheard of around here, but it was a bitterly cold snap.  And all businesses were expected to close. Including our work because the electricity was going for heat. Well, they made the decision to stay open. And then the power company called and basically said, "Look, people the choice is yours, you can close willingly. Or....we'll shut the power off." And that was that. We shut everything down and went home that night at 7:30. 

During the blizzard of (I Don't Remember What Year It Was, but it was in March, of all months), we had well over two feet of snow and, with the wind, the snow drifts were simply unreal. They had to come out our road with backloaders to get the snow out. We were still expected to be to work on time and, when I didn't make it in, they threatened to write me up. Well, I called PennDOT and asked them to fax something into work, that they didn't get to us until that Monday. As it was, Rick and I shoveled the driveway out (which was an experience in itself, but we were young and it was good exercise, I guess). The PennDOT guy said, "Oh, you work at XX? Yeah, I'll fax it in for you!" And they did. They didn't like the company anymore than anybody else did. I didn't get written up, but they made it mandatory after that, that come hell or high water, you get your butt to work. Or else. (And I wasn't one of those people who stopped driving at the first flake of snow. I drove through pretty much everything to get to work and it didn't matter what shift it was. I was there. But sometimes, it was just too flipping dangerous to even attempt it.)

And again, we didn't save lives, we made baby diapers. 

Winchester said:

 
I worked at a paper plant for over 18 years, 7-day, swing-shift, including most holidays. We were expected to be at work and, even when the Governor declared a State of Emergency, we were still expected to go to work. IP didn't shut down for anything or anybody. And we made baby diapers; it wasn't earth-shattering, it wasn't saving lives, we were in manufacturing. And we were expected to be to work. I remember two guys coming into work on third shift, on snowmobiles that they actually drove over the Interstate and down the road to the plant.

Back in January of 1994 or 1996, our temps went down to - 24 F. Unheard of around here, but it was a bitterly cold snap.  And all businesses were expected to close. Including our work because the electricity was going for heat. Well, they made the decision to stay open. And then the power company called and basically said, "Look, people the choice is yours, you can close willingly. Or....we'll shut the power off." And that was that. We shut everything down and went home that night at 7:30. 

During the blizzard of (I Don't Remember What Year It Was, but it was in March, of all months), we had well over two feet of snow and, with the wind, the snow drifts were simply unreal. They had to come out our road with backloaders to get the snow out. We were still expected to be to work on time and, when I didn't make it in, they threatened to write me up. Well, I called PennDOT and asked them to fax something into work, that they didn't get to us until that Monday. As it was, Rick and I shoveled the driveway out (which was an experience in itself, but we were young and it was good exercise, I guess). The PennDOT guy said, "Oh, you work at XX? Yeah, I'll fax it in for you!" And they did. They didn't like the company anymore than anybody else did. I didn't get written up, but they made it mandatory after that, that come hell or high water, you get your butt to work. Or else. (And I wasn't one of those people who stopped driving at the first flake of snow. I drove through pretty much everything to get to work and it didn't matter what shift it was. I was there. But sometimes, it was just too flipping dangerous to even attempt it.)

And again, we didn't save lives, we made baby diapers. 

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I'm actually speechless.  I keep trying to think of something to say about the management of this plant and it's too rude to post. 

for me, snow days aren't much different than other days. the main difference is that snow removal is on my mind, and i plan when to do that.