Sunday, January 9, 2005

I Feel Shorter

Because everywhere I go, the bottom half of my body is submerged in fluffy white snow. The restaurant where I work has been closed four or five days since (and including) New Years Eve. I remember a lot of snow here when I was a kid, but not like this. I don’t think Ruby remembers the world without snow; it has been such a pervasive part of the environment these last two weeks that I don’t know if I remember a pre blizzard world. The New Years Eve storm was the largest we’d had in over a decade, and before it even started to melt, a larger and deeper storm dumped on us all day yesterday. My friend Paul’s roof was so laden with powder that the three-foot vent for his heater was buried. He’s afraid of heights, and I wish I’d been there while he was on top of his house digging the snow off of the slippery shingles... He’s funny when he’s a little nervous.

My truck does pretty well in the snow, especially with chains on the tires, but many other people's vehicles haven’t faired nearly as well. I think I’ve helped ten people get unstuck in the last week. I love that feeling, being able to help someone in trouble. I just leave the tow strap on the seat next to me so that I’m ready at any given moment. Driving in the snow is a blast if you’ve got the right rig, but the roadsides are littered with abandoned autos, and if they get left there more than an hour or two, they get burried when the snowplow comes by.

Dan and Leah were driving through Shasta when the first wave hit, they had a minor accident, brushed themselves off, and they made it home just in time for the next wave. Justin is in town, and is taking out his Reno Blues on my baby.

He’ll be driving South and East soon, and Leah will be heading over the hill to return to school. I’ll be driving out to Galena on a semi regular basis after the last expected push of snow on Monday/Tuesday. I wish we all could ski or sled everywhere that we needed to go. It’d be a lot more fun.

Ani and Ruby and I decided to go for an evening walk in the crazy snow yesterday. Just as we had strapped ruby to Ani’s chest and secured our new Sorrel snow boots and assorted Patagonia warmies, Jim in Portland called. I told him that I’d call him back as soon as I got back from my walk because the momentum of our outing wouldn’t allow for a quick conversation. He said that was no problem, he just needed a little help; he’d explain when I returned his call.

We went out in the blizzard, and let the Dink run amok while Ruby laughed and laughed at the big wet flakes that levitated in front of her face.

I helped someone get their minivan out of a drift, and hurried home to see what Jim’s problem was. I was kind of worried; what help could I be to Jim, man of the world and the experienced parent of two lovely daughters? I brushed off the snow and hurried to the phone. After some small talk, he told me his problem…
He had just bought Warcraft III and was stuck on the last Undead level. Whew… I’m still waiting to hear if my advice helped. It’s all in the Ziggurats man… The Ziggurats…

So, Cory, Justin, Greg Borgerding, Kyle, Dan Ruby, Jim Elliot (if he can tear himself away from WOW for a second) and Jason Glass (who I hear has a new computer and is playing some games) should email me. I just beat Half Life 2, and I miss those beautiful nights playing Starcraft on Battlenet. Who’s down? Let’s do it!