Living in the US - Where we say TO MA TOE and you say TO MAH TOW

[alipiggie]

Wow we filled the thread guys. So as I was about to Say UR you've probably had squirrel if you've eaten Chinese . Think I've had most things. Just don't ask eat. Roasting hot here, very busy but having a blast. Enjoyed our new gym yesterday and picnic in the park tonight which was wonderful. Live music, handsome young men - need I say more.

Sled problem solved - we got the only one left! But my snow boots appear to no longer be waterproof so we had to come home before we used it. I think we will be sledding tomorrow.

Everyone ok? How's Anorak doing?

Nope, not the last day of school. We got about an inch and everything's closed again. Yesterday it was 2 hours late, and there wasn't even hardly anything on our side road, much less anything at all on a main road. DH did say everything is ridiculously icy today, though, and he had to chain up to keep from sliding all over the place.

So today is stock making day. I'm making beef and chicken, and then French Onion Soup for dinner. I have to say, after cutting back on meat, I only really like chicken and pork anymore, and by pork I mostly mean bacon-type products.

We've got the startings of a long snowstorm here, predicted a foot of snow oh joy. I got the last underground parking spot in my local parking garage so I am a happy bunny about not having to dig my car out tomorrow!!!! However, I do have to go babysiting in 2 hours and by then there will be 6" probably, at least it's in walking distance. My car isn't coming out til Monday.

We have had typical holiday travel snafus for the family coming in Last year my niece and nephew in Denver got snowed in. this year the runway lights went out at our airport and they cancelled 3 flights and diverted 3 others. Same niece from last year was on cancelled flight and my brother and another nephew were on one of the diverted ones. grrr. They finally made it in last night, although niece had to fly to Tulsa and then drive the last 4 1/2 hours. Now we are waiting to see if Boston weather cooperates on getting another nephew ( at mananny) in for tonight.

On the fun front, I bought a gingerbread house kit today. It has become a tradition for me and ds1. After the first one I decided to forgo making the gingerbread myself

Oh Jabber, what chaos! Am glad people are arriving. Gingerbread house will be fun. I always think I will make ours myself but give in and buy a kit - from your post I think that is a good thing.

We went sledding today. Was fab. Off to Yule carnival party in a while but I'd really rather curl up in bed with some cocoa and my book (Marley and Me).

at Jabber.

It's still snowing here, we've probably got a foot or so. It's still at the white, pure looking pretty satge. Am dreading the next few days when it goes grey and dirty and slushy. Although we've now been predicted a second storm I think tomorrow. Super duper. I am going to Target to pick up a shovel, salt, spare blankets etc for my car journey on Monday. It usually takes about 3 hours but suspect it will take longer cos of the weather, and I want to Be Prepared.

We're up to 3 inches now. Does that mean we officially have snow yet? I feel so sorry for poor DH who has to go out in this every day, since he doesn't have any days off.

I was so meh at the snow yesterday, we didn't bother getting dressed, and didn't do much productive. Today we're all dressed, and am cleaning the house like crazy.

I was just thinking of you, Cali, when I was cleaning the kitchen. Hadn't seen you around much the past few days, and was especially sucked in yesterday with all the to do going on here.

Happy birthday Bunny! Are you old now?

Oh, no, Cali. I hope you didn't take that to mean I thought you flounced. I had just been spending a lot of time on here, and hadn't noticed you anywhere.

I can't stay away. I'm fascinated by that thread. I don't see how some people see that the MNoldies was started just to hurt them. I don't see how none of the people who are MNO's can't see why some people are hurt when their secret group of secretly chosen members gets leaked, especially when they're other so called "oldies" who didn't even know of the groups' existence. I don't see why people are mad that said existence was "outed" on the blog, as even I am aware there was some sort of group out there that wasn't just facebook, since there was one outright thread about it, and several allusions to it by members. And I'm really surprised at who some of the people are that had no idea about the group. Of course, I'm guessing I wouldn't be so interested if there wasn't 6 inches of snow outside, with it snowing and ice pelleting at the same time with heavy winds all day, and I hadn't been housebound most of the week, with only 1 trip to the store, 1 trip to school, and several forrays outside.

Aw, thank you

Had lovely morning on sled. If link works, you can see it here (also pic for Mr. Dooney's benefit in there too). This evening, in our way home, I got stuck in a pothole. I had to call the city services helpline and they put me through to 911 because I was blocking a lane of traffic. They sent the police and a tow truck (whose driver treid to bribe me til I wailed, "But it's my birthdayyy". DS had to sit in the back of the police car while the car got pulled out and then wrote a report which the officer claims will say, "fell off shitty city street" The result of all this is that a chunk of my car has fallen off and needs to be repaired. And we had big plans for tomorrow

Dooney, I'm ancient. Or at least, I feel it.

That sucks eggs all over the place, in a Cliff Richard in hell type of way. I was having a discussion about how bad the roads must be in Chicago, because of chains and studs and stuff, whereas here they only come out once every few years.

Am dying at the pics, SB. DH was saying that the regional VP was supposed to be here tomorrow, but probably won't make it. I said that is a good possibility as he's coming from Chicago. He said no, he just probably won't get a car and drive around in this weather. I just gave him a blank stare and pointed out the fact that he was from Chicago, but it didn't seem to register that maybe being from Chicago, this would be normal driving.

If you're ancient, what am I???

Our roads are appalling - last year people could claim back from the city repair costs for damage to cars due to the state of the roads. That's partly why I got the police report. And we're not even allowed chains so they can't blame those.

Yeah, I have a happy boy!

How's your visitor, Cali? All ok?

I'm avoiding all this Moldie business. I have 2 regular threads and will post on others if I have the time/ inclination but I don't get caught up in them.

Like I said, I think it is because we've been housebound all week and I have nothing better to do. I'm even contemplating cleaning my oven tomorrow, as I've hit rock bottom. I've never seen this much snow at one time in my life except for when we go to the mountains.

How exactly does a tow truck driver try to bribe you? I've been trying to figure it out and can't unless he said he wasn't going to tow you unless you gave him more money?

Will you please send him this way, Cali???? So many broken things to fix here. I was going to throw a bunch out, but the garbageman was to wussy to drive in the snow, and they completely skipped this week, so have to wait until next week, and our can and recycling bins are beyond full.

That was it, Dooney. I didn't understand. They sent a towtruck and the driver came up and said, "Do you want me to get you out?" So I said, "Er, yes please. If you can." and he responded with, "Well, if you want to give me some money I can get you out"

So I sat for a bit but didn't feel there was any choice - I had DS with me and if the city towtruck wiouldn't get me out of a hole, no-one else was going to. I asked how much and he said, "whatever you've got. Just tell the police we have an agreement"

I told the police officer, "The towtruck guy says I need to pay him, is that right?" and he said, "yeah, that's how it works. But I haven't heard anything about this, ok? That's between the two of you"

FFS. No wonder this city is known for its corruption

Ooo, Top Trumps! Fab!

I was reading a story about how most people think Chicago has the most corruption, but in actuality, it is actually the entire state of North Dakota, oddly enough. If Chicago doesn't win, I can only imagine what it is like to live in ND.

Bloody Hell. I can't believe somewhere is worse than here! And can you imagine the size of the pot holes in North Dakota. I bet they're allowed chains there too.

Are you allowed snow tires? I was talking to DH, and he said he was talking to an intern he had from Chicago, who actually said that driving here was much worse, because Chicago is flat as a pancake, and there's so many hills here. I don't think DH would make it to work if he didn't have chains, but he has a huge hill that goes down almost 1000 feet over several miles on his way to work.

I think you must have chains on hills. Chicago is apparently flatter than a pancake (topographers tested the theory) so we don't have to worry about that. Only sliding through stop signs, your car getting buried when the snow plough goes past and hidden potholes