"What are you doing for Valentines Day?" asked the sweet girl at the barbeque restaurant. It was time for my annual speech, which starts, "Nothing, I am married". The look of confusion comes on to a face, and this time was no different. My explanation of whom I considered Valentine to be, and the 'unrequited' love he had for the princess, etc., etc., was delivered. "Interesting", said the young lady, who was perhaps not enamoured with my recount of history. I have noticed that the male population tend to sit up and listen when I read from my internal tickertape, perhaps wondering if they can get away with this as an excuse! "Valentine sent anonomous letters! It was a secret love. You are meant to send unsigned cards to your hopeful love of the future!" I am told that their wives would never fall for the excuse. Of course, the card companies, flower sellers and chocolate makers would probably offer some sort of reward for my head on a platter, should that trend ever become popular!
As glorious was Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday evening saw the 'cold' front come in. The snow in the forecast was somewhat of a surprise, as we have had snow this year, and we have had what we thought was our winter. However, it appeared that we were in for more than a few degrees drop in temperature.
I was most pleased with my effort to be early on Wednesday morning, as I had a nail appointment and a lot to complete before heading south. However, I had a culinary epiphany! However, it turned out not to be as ephininal as I had hoped, and I had to revert back to the original, which was a good idea in itself! This took time, a lot of silver foil, and several dishes needed to be put back into the cupboard. By the time I had finished, I was no longer early! Michele sent me a message to say that she had a flat car battery, and could we reschedule. I counted to ten, breathed a few deep breaths, and typed back, "Of course". I waited. "Tomorrow at 9:30". I responded, "Is that good for you?" She countered with, "That is all I have that will work". I asked Dana what he thought. "Of course it is okay". I thought about it. Of course it was okay! Only it was not okay. Why? Because it was a deviation to my routine. I am such a strange creature of habit! Perhaps it was the departure from the norm last week that prompted the panic in the suggestion of making a change this week. I sent back a message. "That works for me", I responded, throwing my phone to the desk, so as not to add the word, "NOT!" complete with exclamation mark, after the comment! I spent the next half an hour giving myself a lecture on how I needed to be more flexible!
Thunder followed as the skies turned dark. Hail could be heard tapping harshly at the windows. I felt as if I was in a film noir scene, or a science fiction adventure, and something dreadful was going to come winging its way through the sky and wrapping its wings around the building. Yes, it was that bad! I stilled myself and headed to my car, after my nails were painted two different colours, five of each, and hearts in the alternate colour painted on each nail. Although I do not celebrate the festival, I am still prone to 'join in' on some of the attributes!
By Thursday evening, the weather had taken a very harsh turn for the worse. The 'work out' team at my house did not go for a 'cool down' walk. It had started to snow, and whilst not laying, the roads were reportedly hazardous. I apologised to Grant before asking him to send me a message to let me know he was home. His drive was going to take him through some rural back roads, and I was concerned, especially after one of our servers had called to say he was going home, due to the worst, slippery conditions he had ever known. Driving at five miles an hour, he could not keep his car in a straight line. Grant did text me, and said the drive was not that bad. Samantha said she had driven reasonably slowly, but it was not as bad as she had thought.
The dogs were dropped off to the office early on Friday. My daughter and Edward were heading out of town for a couple of days, for their 9th anniversary. We had offered (or should I say, agreed) to take the animals for two nights. The roads were not too bad, she said, but she had avoided the toll road, due to the elevation, and more prone to ice. I took an early walk, and did not really want to drive myself into work. Despite all the years of driving in snow, teaching Samantha to drive during snowy conditions (her very first drive, although I am still unsure as to why I agreed, was in snow) and travelling home many moons ago in a blizzard, I was feeling less than confident should a storm blow in and cover the road home. I reminded myself of the time when my kids were at school and a storm had blown in. I drove to collect them and parked at the bottom of the road that turned into the road upon where the school was situated. Everyone had parked behind me. I was told that "If Tracie isn't going to chance it....". Where was that Tracie now? She was hiding behind the fact that she 'doesn't do cold' anymore! I asked Grant if he would mind swinging by and collecting me. I was early today!
I used a whole canister of salt on the slope to the office. "How long
Dropping by the hour, the temperature went down to below freezing. "I took the toll", said our server, who was surprised that no one else had found the roads so slippery the previous evening. As if I was the 'fountain of knowledge' of all things road-wise, I said with confidence, "Oh, you never take the toll when it is freezing". I had learned that not twenty four hours previously, but my tone was as if I had known it all my life. "And you are not even from here, but you know so much about.... everything!" came the response. Perhaps my message about St. Valentine will be heard! I shall watch my head! The server in question (and I am not naming names) did try and put the Valentine's theory to his wife, one year, when I gave my speech, and it did not go down particularly well. When I added my epilogue the content of which was (in not so few words) that if my husband only showed me one day in the year how special I was to him, it would be a sorry state of affairs. If they had a dog, he would have been in his house for a long time.
We picked up our usual Friday night specialty. The restaurant was empty. It is Austin, the temperatures were below freezing, and there has been a threat, no matter how mild, of snow. The roads were virtually empty. As I walked in the door, my tortillas were thrown on the press, and the regular guy waved across the restaurant! I walked along the food line to the end, not saying a word. As I reached the final trays of ingredients, the manager made a slight sound when the server put my chipotle sauce on the filling, rather than offer me a choice of a pot to be added later, but when I smiled and said, "Thank you", he raised his eyebrows and put his head from side to side, realising that this was not new to her. I took the dogs out a little after ten, and did not wear gloves. My mistake was quite harrowing, as I could not undo my jacket, nor take off my extra top. My fingers would not work. I had been out for sometime!
My walk on Saturday morning was probably not a good idea, as the wet ground had become very slick. The fire brigade were at the entrance to our complex, and had put up some yellow 'warning' tape across the road. I walked down to ask what had happened. I wondered if it was a crime scene, as indicative of the tape. Apparently, they had closed the road, and put tape across all roads leading on to the hill, as it was like a sheet of ice. I thanked them for their time and continued on my way. I only fell once and slipped twice. Second time around, I knew where to avoid. A previous spillage by the dumpster truck had been cleaned up, and the chemicals used to clean had caused the surface to be impervious to water. I was able to walk up the line the cleaner had made, and not slide down. By the third time, I was marching happily.
The road was opened around 11, and whilst Dana did not go to the office, I went shopping. The road I had to take to Costco was closed. The bridge to the highway could not be entered. It was too dangerous. I would have to take an alternate route. It was a good thing I was not planning to visit the home of my inspiration, as I would have taken the same route to Jerry's house, should she still live there, and should I have known her!
As I was wandering around the warehouse, I received a call. "Do you have electricity?" I put the phone down. A spam call on Saturday. Really? I received another call. "Yes", I said. "Do you have electricity?" asked the caller again. "Yes, why?" I said rather abruptly. "We don't. Tracie, is that you?" It was my neighbour. Obviously he thought I would recognise his voice when he asked the question, or perhaps his number, but I did not. "You are out?" he said. "Yes and I may be sometime", I said, not meaning to quote the Captain, but realising that I had. I called Dana, who said the power had gone out about thirty minutes ago. I called my neighbour and told him that he was not alone. It appeared that the city was turning off different sub-sections for an hour at a time, to deal with the surge that it was experiencing, due to the sub freezing temperatures. I hoped it was only going to be the once! Costco had limited edition heart-shaped cereal! I could not imagine that being a compromise for a Sapphire!
By the time I returned home, it was colder, and windier. The electricity was on. The dogs needed to be walked, and I was already bundled up with warm clothes. I took out some dinner, as we had decided that to be out after dark would not be sensible.
Sunday morning was colder still. 24 degrees in Celsius is quite warm. In Fahrenheit, it is way below freezing! I put my the toe of my shoe in a puddle and broke the ice. I did not slip but could see the pitfalls. On my third time around, the broken ice had reformed. After breakfast, I walked again, and nearly turned back, as the ground was very slick. On walking one of the dogs a little later, it was almost impossible to stay vertical! A car drove down the road, and slid to the side unable to get a grip as the driver attempted to leave the complex.
We are not experiencing 'all time' lows, but it is the coldest it has been for thirty years. An overnight low of 9 is expected. I am wondering how I ever managed winter! The good news is that the 24 degrees Fahrenheit today will turn to Celsius next weekend! Welcome to Austin!
Although the airport is open, and the airlines are not cancelling flights, I am wondering if my daughter will be able to make it to my house! Perhaps I will have to have the animals for another day, and enjoy another late night, sub-freezing walk! All I can say is that I am very much looking forward to this time next week. The first thing I got used to when I moved here was the weather. It makes me so much more grateful for the winter sunshine! I shall remember that when I am wondering when I will have a chance to wear boots again!
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