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Hello and Happy
Valentine's Day!
It's
another cold, snowy day here in southwestern Pennsylvania...but then
that seems to be the only kind of weather we have these days. It
sure makes it hard to believe global warming is a real threat,
especially when combined with the cool, rainy summers we've had the
last few years. This winter is like the winters when we were
growing up in the 70's and 80's and both Tim and I can remember
being taught in school that we were on the verge of entering a minor
ice age. That really panned out, so who knows what to think. I
guess all we can do is try to be earth-friendly and muddle through
as best we can.
Schools here have been closed since the Friday before last. Megan
and I are both about to go stir-crazy from being cooped up. There
really hasn't been anywhere to go with around 3 feet of snow on the
ground. Snow removal crews have been doing their best, but some
back roads are still not good. There is no place to put any more
snow and now a very real fear is that if we should get a quick thaw
flooding will become the major worry. Megan did get out to see a
movie with a friend on Thursday. Tim and I went out Friday night
for Valentine's Day dinner with some friends and today we are going
to Pittsburgh to see Matt, Ashlei, and Sora. Yea! We haven't seen
Sora since New Year's. So, we are slowing making a reentry into the
world and I am sure schools will reopen tomorrow....just in time for
a predicted 2"-4" to catch us in the afternoon.
Tim has managed to keep working through all of the snow. Last
Saturday was the only day he was off....and only because with 12" or
more of snow on the roads the governor had called a state of
emergency. Otherwise, he probably would have attempted it in his
truck. Most of what he's been doing is snow removal. The big plant
he built last year had so much snow and ice on the roof that it was
pulling the joints apart and causing major leaks. Tim and the two
owners of the company he works for spent two days shoveling the
roof. At the project site he's on now it's been a case of clean the
snow away and get ready to do something, have it snow again, clear
the snow, snows again....
This being Megan's senior year of high school we are watching what
happens with the snow days with great interest. After the days we
missed in January her school added one day to the end of the year,
but said they would not change the date of graduation. Now with
five more days to make up, we are wondering. I'm sure they will
have to extend the school year. The question is just what they will
do with the seniors. Announcements and all were ordered right after
Christmas. You'd think they'd have to take that into
consideration. I guess we will find out soon enough.
My mom and her husband are leaving for Florida at the end of the
month for about a week. John has been diagnosed with prostate
cancer. He lost his wife to cancer and while I don't really know
much about that, it left him with a basic distrust of doctors and a
hatred (or maybe fear) of chemotherapy and radiation. At any rate,
he refuses to consider traditional treatments so they are going to a
clinic that is having some success with an alternative "proton"
therapy. It is the only place in the country doing it, though
another is scheduled to open later this year in Philadelphia. This
trip is so they can evaluate John and see if he is even a good
candidate for the treatment. If he is, they will have to go back
and stay for 8 weeks. During that time he'd receive treatment 5
days per week. The center has apartments available to rent and even
ones where they can take their dog along, which I think is a really
nice thing. Pets can be a real comfort.
Not sure what's going to be happening with gardening this year, but
this snow sure has me dreaming of warm weather, sunshine and getting
plants in the ground. I picked up the latest issue of
Urban Farm
because it has some great articles about growing in raised beds and
square-foot "farming." It's all going to depend on what happens
with Mom and John. If they are going to be away during planting
time, we will probably claim the garden this year, not that I think
John will mind much. His heart hasn't seemed to be in it the last
couple of years and the garden's been a bit of a weedy mess. If
they will be around and John's up to it, then I'll put Tim to work
building the raised beds.
If Megan has her way, once she turns 18 at the end of July Tim and I
will be empty-nesters. She has been bound and determined for as
long as I can remember that she is moving to Alabama. She'd go
right after graduation, but we told her she must wait until she's
18. We're probably going to get Tim's sister that lives there
involved, too. The economy is awful where they live and Megan has
no plan other than to move there. She's more than welcome to live
with Tim's sister, but she has to help support the household. Tim's
sister is going to have to put it to her in very blunt terms. Say
maybe she can go down for a specific amount of time and if she
hasn't found a job, she's got to come home. I think Meg's going to
be disappointed. She has built Alabama up as this wonderful place
where all her problems are going to disappear (she has had a VERY
rough year...which means we have, too). Her favorite cousin lives
there, but I don't think she's thinking about the fact that it will
be different if she moves there. When she goes for a visit he's
around all the time to entertain her, but if she's living there she
won't be company and he will have his
life....work....girlfriend....etc. I'm also pretty sure that she
thinks her aunt is going to be lots of fun and won't push any rules
on her (she has not been happy with how strict we've been forced
into being this year). That's going to be a rude awakening, too.
Her aunt is stricter by nature than we are and one tough cookie who
won't take any crap or let her get away with anything.
Well, not much else to tell with the weather so bad these days.
Hope everyone is well and staying warm.
Stacy
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