Friday, December 31, 2010

Blizzard, Part Two!

Well son of a gun.

It turns out it WAS news after all. It was news because our state and municipalities totally dropped the ball on the snow removal, resulting in people at the Shore still trapped in their homes, more than four days after the storm ended.

The blizzard was effectively over by Monday morning. By Wednesday night, our street had still not seen a plow. There was a six foot drift covering my van in the driveway and a solid three foot bank of snow from one end of the street to the other.

As the days slid into Wednesday with no escape in sight, every few hours my daughter, who is eight and a half months pregnant, would clutch her chest and cry “We’re going to run out of food!! I know it!!”. Then we would both laugh. But the laughter was getting pretty thin after 60 hours, down to about a half a cup of milk, no butter and one frozen chicken. I had to miss my MS treatment because I couldn’t get to the oncologist’s office. I started making feeble jokes about being Donner, party of two. But it actually was getting worrisome.

Her Significant Other was on snow duty at the firehouse in Ocean Grove, a tiny little community here at the Shore. He was completely trapped there for over 72 hours. Nothing with wheels could move at all in the snow and the firemen spent most of their time digging out other emergency vehicles that were stuck. One rescue call had to be done with the patient being pulled through the snow in a sled-like basket. As of Thursday, most of that town had not been touched by a plow.

Local politicians were trying to deflect blame (there was too much snow to remove) or pass the buck (the state didn’t do its job properly), but the bottom line is the entire situation was an unacceptable disaster.

Here is one article in the local paper: http://www.app.com/article/20101230/NEWS/101230061/Neptune-digs-through-the-night


So I filled the time doing what I had done on Sunday:

I read.



I baked cinnamon bread.







I finished a baby quilt top I am making for a friend, but couldn't complete the whole thing because I am all out of batting.


I made… a patchwork thingie. I had in mind a patchwork prayer shawl, as a change from the knitted ones I make. While I was testing it against my shoulders for size, The Critic appeared in the doorway and said “Why are you wearing a table runner?”. So presto, it was a table runner.



We are finally shoveled and plowed out. I may venture to, where else but the fabric store? But the roads and streets are still dicey, so I will play it by ear. One broken shoulder is more than enough, thank you very much. If I don’t get more fabric, I am sure I will find something to do over the holiday weekend.

I wish all of you a wonderfully peaceful, joy filled and healthy New Year!!



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7 comments:

Muffie said...

Marie, I'm so sorry you had such a rough time with the snow. I live farther south and west of you in NJ (as if it's a huge state!!) and we were very fortunate: less snow -- 12 inches, and immediate removal. (Our little town is so good with that.) I imagine the time you were stranded was quite stressful -- and scary!
Peace,
Muff

Dana said...

Oh boy! Talk about making lemonade when you are handed lemons. Marie, you are an expert at it! Yes, a couple of days being snowed-in can make for a nasty time. Safety becomes a huge concern. But three cheers for you. You deserve a medal. Mmmm I am smelling the bread baking and hearing the hum of your sewing machine. You are a very good soul...

Anonymous said...

Wishing a very Happy New Year ahead to you and yours, Marie!

Junk Drawer Kathy said...

I'm glad you could see the humor for as long as you did, and my, how productive you are! It should never take so long to clear streets, no matter what it takes, time or money or both. No excuses!

I adore your shawl, er... table runner. It's gorgeous.

Happy New Year!!!!

Marie said...

I loved reading your post today, particularly as I had a similar experience here in Ireland with the snow. The snow put a stop to our Christmas plans as it prevented us travelling to our home for Christmas. The turkey, the tree, the gifts all lay waiting for us at home, but we got trapped in the city and couldn't make it home. We ended up having the best Christmas ever, as stripped down to its most basic and simple, we concentrated on the gifts that really mattered - simplicity, love and togetherness. Happy New Year from one Marie to another :-)

Jen said...

You were stuck in a house with a pregnant woman? OMG I can't think of anything worse. Weren't you scared she was going to go into labor and you would have had to birthed that baby yourself?

I'm so glad you are out and safe.

Love the table runner and that bread looks awesome!

Unknown said...

I want to be snowed in with you all and the cinnamon bread. :) What a story to remember!

Caregivingly Yours, Patrick