Seattle and Snow

Last night I was promised snow. Up to 4 inches of it. I even conveniently forgot my laptop at work. I was totally ready for a snow day. But of course nothing came of it, and instead I was handed a chilly rain.

I realize that those of you from colder climates scoff at the idea of a snow day with so little snow. But you haven't been to Seattle. The people here completely lose it at the slightest hint of the white fluffy stuff. Now you can blame this reaction on the hilly terrain, the lack of snow plows, or vehicles and drivers ill-equipped to deal with slippery streets. But I think the real problem is the local news. Those guys can fill an entire newscast with snow coverage, which they usually label with exciting names such as "Extreme Weather 2008" or "Icy Arctic Blast". In fact, they often extend their newscast to provide special coverage on the latest icy conditions. They'll station reporters at various spots throughout the Puget Sound Region to provide up to the minute reports on local conditions. There is video of cars sliding off the road or into ditches. Interviews with gleeful children enjoying the snow day. Important national or world events may be going on, but thanks to the all snow all the time news coverage we in Seattle will be ignorant of all this.

So despite my disappointment this morning, I figured that at least I would be spared the constant news stories. Unfortunately I was wrong. They sent one newscaster to Bellingham (basically the furthest north of Washington) in hopes of finding snow there. Instead all she found was rain despite the weatherman's assertions that the temperature there was 23 degrees. But nothing would deter the local newscasters from their snow coverage. They emphasized the dangers of snow mixed with rain. They spoke of convergence zones and reminded us that there may, somewhere, perhaps still be a pocket of snow left in the lowlands that had not come to their attention yet. They showed us picture after picture of the snow yesterday. They alerted viewers to check out the running tab of school delays and closures, although few districts listed much more than "limited bus transportation". They could be speaking of the State of the Union speech or the declining economy. But instead we got snow coverage minus the snow.

Soon winter will be over and then there will be spring floods to cover. Next will come summer heat waves when temperatures hit 80 or 90 degrees. Then the fall windstorms will sustain the local media until winter is once again upon us.

Well on other fronts in my household, Jeramy's stepdad got out of the hospital yesterday and is doing much better. It amazes me how cardiac care has reached a point where you can have a heart attack one day and then home and feeling much better 2 days later. And apparently "the growth" is still hanging out in my uterus although I have no symptoms to reassure me. But I've been checking my underwear for spotting incessantly and there has been nothing, which is a good sign I guess. The 2 weeks remaining until the ultrasound feel like an eternity at this point, especially given the turtle's pace of this last week. Operation keep Jen busy is obviously failing in its chief mission.