Jan 15 2007
Ice Uck
Ben enjoys yogurt.
We’re at my in-laws’ house, because they have a gas-powered source of heat.
Friday, all forecasts predicted icy doom and gloom for the Dallas metro area. Saturday, that started coming true for places in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas. There were downed power lines, tree limbs, and rooftops. Finally, at 6:15 that evening, we decided we didn’t want to risk getting marooned at our house with no heat.
In a slow-motion frenzy, we packed what we needed for two or three days and headed out.
Now, Sunday night, we’ve been watching the weather all day, even ventured out into it during Ben’s nap, and this area is just starting to get icy. As of 11:30, there have been no reports of power outages near our house, nor any here.
We’re not completely out of the woods yet, but for now I’m going to drop this subject and leave it up to Moksha Gren’s post. He and his also relocated to ride out the storm, but already had problems on Friday.
Do you remember when we liked all of that stuff? It meant one thing - a day off from school. I remember trying to get up to your house one time and oh Tiffany just could not do it. I had to turn around and make it back down the icy mountain. I think I went to Travis’s on that day as well and almost wrecked. Fun Times! It is 60 degrees in Kentucky and everyone is saying ” what a mild winter” . It is a strange day when Texas gets more winter than Kentucky.
Glad to hear your weathering it well, so far. Our power came yesterday around 5:30 pm or so. We opted to stay with our friends last night anyway since more ice was supposedly on the way. As of this morning, we’ve got nothing but good news. Power’s still on, and last night’s rain never froze..actually melted most the ice that was already there. We lucked out. Hope your luck continues as well.
Mark, you simply must get over some time before the ice thaws. My neighbor across the street has two huge trees that are completley frozen. Bring your recorder and get some of nature’s wind chimes. I’d never heard the wind blowing through a frozen tree until moving up here.
Rob - I remember hoping against hope that the local DJ would say our school’s name for the closings (the Little Rock TV stations couldn’t be counted on to mention our town until we were quite a bit older). Ah, yes, drives to Travis’ could always be risky. I think you read the Bessie Story that contains one of my adventures to his place (including a wreck).
Moksha - I’m just going to act like that mis-use of “your” never happened. I know how it is when you’re trying to fit blog stuff into everyday life. Glad yours didn’t turn into one of the horror stories we’ve been hearing.
Josh - That’s cool to hear this from the view of someone who didn’t grow up with ice and snow. Great description of that particular phenomenon. I hope it’s still there by the time we make it back home.
No big bad ice storms up this way… just really, really cold the past week, coming out of it now.
Like, for instance, when I went flying on Thursday morning, the wings on the jet were frosted up, requiring de-icing. But it was -35 (too cold to distinguish between C and F) and too cold to use the de-icing fluid. So the maintenance crews had to come out and brush off the frost with brooms.
WTF?!
Good catch on the ‘your’ bit there, Mark. Part of loving a Moksha is teasing him relentlessly.
I saw on the Today show Sunday where they are predicting that redheads will disappear by the year 2112 or something. Need to arrange Ben’s future redhead wife for him so he can pass on the gene. Great photo Mark!
Well, Mark…I was going to let this slide…but now that you’ve got all nit-picky on me, I feel compelled to bring attention to the fact that your blog title today is a clear homonymn for “I Suck” And as I sit here with grammatical tears flowing down my cheek…I’m inclined to agree, you meany. I hope your happy. ;)
How come I read all this and the only thing that sticks in my head is “I suck” LOL Mokman. Good one.
(But Mark, his spelling is atrocious, you’re not used to it by now? It’s funny, usually that would bother the piss out of me but I am Fascinated and Intrigued by the way that man’s brain works, so I turn a blind eye. Besides, I can’t type for shit.)
Love this picture of Ben, nice contrast between the perfection of his face and the messy mouth. He’s like a perfect mix of you and Shannon in appearance.
Glad y’all are warm and safe. In the northeast US, it’s rainy and very near 60 degrees. That should change overnite tho’.
Simon - Glad you’re back. And glad your back.
When high-dollar chemicals can’t do the job? Get a broom. I love it.
Blitz - I heard something about that, too. Maybe I just notice them more because we have Ben, but I’ve seen quite a few redheads around here. I don’t know if Ben wants one as a wife, though, considering all the (baseless?) things I’ve heard about them.
Moksha - I totally did that on purpose, partly inspired by your moniker, of course.
I realized on the way home today that I should have called it “Ice Ucks,” but it was already out there at that point.
Linda - He’s clever, and I was trying to imitate him. I admit it.
Yeah, I considered cutting out from below his nose down, but then figured there was more character in the pic if I left everything.
It quit raining here in Conway about noon today. It is getting colder. I heard that northwest Arkansas got the ice. Some folks up there lost their power. It is just wet here.
I just saw the weather report on the evening news. Little Rock got about 6 1/2 inches of rain these last few days. We should get a break for a few days.
Glad to hear all’s safe and sound Mark.
Good grief… what weird weather this year…..
John and Dave - The weather has been weird. We don’t usually count on winter rain to get our lake levels up.