T-13, 1.16: Thirteen Things About Snow

Well, after the ice storm that took America’s Third World County down a coupla weeks ago, I knew winter had well and truly arrived, but yesterday was quiet, constant reminder: all day (and apparently well into and through the night) snow.

So, what about snow?

1. It does not come down silently. The rush of flakes dropping on cover already laid down is an especially interesting sound.

2. The old saw about no two snowflakes being alike? Really? Who’s examined every snowflake? Until someone has done that (a plainly impossible task, since no one’s going back in time to examine all the snowflakes that ever were, let alone last long enough to examine all the snowflakes that ever will be), let’s just take that lil piece of pompous “wisdom” with a grain of salt, OK?

3. But all right, I’ll give the mechanistic folks a bye on the color of snow. Ignore all that white you see (the reflection of nearly every color in the visible spectrum for humans). Snow is really made up of transparent crystals. Snow just looks white to you and me because, despite the fact that snowflakes are transparent crystals, because we can’t see through those transparent crystals. (Making sense yet?)

4. The Boys (our son’s dogs) hate it while it’s coming down but love it once it’s on the ground. Go figure.

5. Some folks like strapping long narrow things on their feet and playing “collect multiple injuries” in semi-controlled falls down long snow-covered mountain faces. Takes all kinds. (X-country skiers are masochists of a different kind. My kind. Once upon a time, that is. “Long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away… ” :-))

6. Most Third World County drivers apparently have NO idea how to handle driving on snow (or ice). Seriously. See one coming? Your best bet is to duck for cover. Seriously. *heh* Especially the bubbas who think 4WD trucks (usually with empty beds, for a nice UNeven weight distribution) can just drive full speed ahead on snow laid over ice. Again, takes all kinds.

7. Shoveling snow can too be fun. (Repeat this mantra until your driveway is clear, then repent your lie while warming up with some hot cocoa in a long hot soak.)

8. Kids canNOT leave snow alone. They have to *shudder* play in it! That one fact alone is the separator between childhood and adulthood. *heh* (Note: adults can play in snow, but cannot be compelled by childish urges to do so. Can’t resist the urge? Grow up.)

9. The best thing about snow? When there’s enough of it to give my Wonder Woman a snow day.

10. I can recall the time when “snow ice cream” became a no-no. Yeh, during all the scare about fallout from nuclear bomb testing in the 50s.

11. Fun to watch the tracks of small animals accumulate on an expanse of freshly fallen snow and attempt to decipher them.

12. Snowmen? I don’t need no stinking snowmen. Yeh. yeh, made some with the kids when they were young. Even made a few when I was a kid. BTDT. I’ll probably have to do the same some day with grandchildren, if I can make my old bones do that sort of thing by then. But right now? Frosty can take a hike.

13. TANSTAFL. Snow days have to be made up eventually.

Linked to the Thursday Thirteen Hub and The Trouble With Angels Wednesday OTA and

Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson’s Website, Faultline USA, A Blog For All, stikNstein… has no mercy, Right Truth, Big Dog’s Weblog, basil’s blog, Stuck On Stupid, Common Folk Using Common Sense, The Pink Flamingo, The Bullwinkle Blog, Jo’s Cafe, Maggie’s Notebook | Conservative Blog, and Gone Hollywood, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.