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urbpanThis very beautiful snow--conveniently timed to arrive on a Sunday when I'm not working--would be much more appreciated if it hadn't already snowed eight times this winter. (by my count at weather.com) It hasn't been very much snow any of these times, but there is a relentless quality to it, with about 15 weeks of potentially snowy weather to come.
Last winter was so mild, that I began to feel like maybe I didn't want to leave New England. I may have even wished that the next winter would be more severe, to galvanize my desire to move. Mission accomplished.
When we had our first day this winter where the temp got down into the teens, I remarked to Alexis, "It only gets this cold a few times a year," you know, trying to be upbeat. She berated me pretty well on several counts. First we had to decide what "this cold" means. I think we settled on sustained temperatures below 20 degrees (also the temperature at which it is considered inhumane to set live wildlife traps in my pest control program). Then we had to negotiate what "a few" means, to ensure the greatest level of accuracy when she inevitably and repeatedly says "I told you so." Probably "a few" is generally recognized as 3-5 or so. We've gone well past 5 days where the temperature went below 20 and stayed there.
I don't know that this is an unusual winter--I kind of think that it will average out to be pretty typical, despite the frequent snow and low temps. I'm glad I'm not working at Drumlin this winter--they always get more snow, and the understaffed wildlife care department has to do a huge amount of their own shoveling. I'm pretty lucky to be working at the zoo hospital; most of my work is done indoors, and I'm responsible for a small amount of shoveling, especially compared to the rest of the keepers. Huzzah to you, zookeepers! May the snow be light and the locks thaw quickly.
EDITED to add: Now when people ask me "Aren't you cold?" (like when I go outside without a coat to get to a building 20 feet away) I say "Yes. I am cold. From November to April I am cold."
Last winter was so mild, that I began to feel like maybe I didn't want to leave New England. I may have even wished that the next winter would be more severe, to galvanize my desire to move. Mission accomplished.
When we had our first day this winter where the temp got down into the teens, I remarked to Alexis, "It only gets this cold a few times a year," you know, trying to be upbeat. She berated me pretty well on several counts. First we had to decide what "this cold" means. I think we settled on sustained temperatures below 20 degrees (also the temperature at which it is considered inhumane to set live wildlife traps in my pest control program). Then we had to negotiate what "a few" means, to ensure the greatest level of accuracy when she inevitably and repeatedly says "I told you so." Probably "a few" is generally recognized as 3-5 or so. We've gone well past 5 days where the temperature went below 20 and stayed there.
I don't know that this is an unusual winter--I kind of think that it will average out to be pretty typical, despite the frequent snow and low temps. I'm glad I'm not working at Drumlin this winter--they always get more snow, and the understaffed wildlife care department has to do a huge amount of their own shoveling. I'm pretty lucky to be working at the zoo hospital; most of my work is done indoors, and I'm responsible for a small amount of shoveling, especially compared to the rest of the keepers. Huzzah to you, zookeepers! May the snow be light and the locks thaw quickly.
EDITED to add: Now when people ask me "Aren't you cold?" (like when I go outside without a coat to get to a building 20 feet away) I say "Yes. I am cold. From November to April I am cold."
Locust Fork Journal
Date: 2009-01-19 12:36 am (UTC)http://blog.locustfork.net/
no subject
Date: 2009-02-01 11:56 am (UTC)M