I know there are people out there that MUST make it to work–EMTs, police, ER workers, radio/TV reporters, DOT workers, and many more–so don’t get me wrong. I don’t assume everyone gets a snow day (or snow week, in our case). Heaven knows, retailers (especially online retailers such as Amazon) and postal workers also have to keep up their work.

But I was just thinking about the people who have gotten to stay home with their kids, bake cookies, take the time to write to relatives, and just take life a little more slowly. Because we CAN’T make it to 4 Christmas parties in a weekend, go to the mall, or get gussied up for a night out at the Nutcracker, perhaps we can focus on the reason for our festivities. Some people have no power, which shuts down access to the internet, video games, and DVDs. Maybe we use our minds to read, create, and write now–an option anytime of the year that is usually overridden by our constant access to passive media.

Justin and I went on a walk to the mailbox and to Schuck’s to see if they had tire chains (walking–another benefit of icy roads!). On the way, we saw that the gas station was out of gas, and that Firestone and Schuck’s were out of chains. However, the most heartwarming sights we saw were neighborhood kids playing together, using McClellan’s closed roads as a sledding course, and seeing adults help cars get un-stuck from the snow. We saw another man skiing down another hill.

I’m not excited that we’ll have to go to school until almost July, that my flight was postponed, or that many retailers will face dismal sales this year due to the weather, but I am thankful that I’ve had just a little more time before the holidays to rest, get caught up on that which gets neglected during my busy school year, and enjoy the company of my husband.

It is snowing HARD here in Seattle. Yesterday we had a snow day, but no snow, as heavy snow was predicted during the school day. (Gotta love Seattle, although there is history behind this–look up the 1990 snowstorm in which 1,200 kids had to spend the night at school due to a snowstorm during school hours.) Snow fell Saturday night, causing late arrivals Monday and Tuesday. Well, this morning at about 4, snow pellets started falling, two earth-shaking thunderclaps (apparently called thundersnow) sounded out after lightning, and at least 3″ of snow have fallen so far. I was checking the weather cams around the city, and I came across this one–it’s so snowy, the camera speaks for itself.

Today we’re taking it easy–we had a late, healthy breakfast of steel cut oats and poached pears. I updated my Amazon wishlist, read a few blogs, and let Virgil step out into the snow to sniff around. I’d love to go out and explore our area and take some pictures after I finish my grad school paper (one page and proofreading left!). I doubt we’ll have school tomorrow, which might allow me to get the house cleaned up, get the newsletters sent out, and get some laundry done. I also need to finish packing, grade some papers, and do a little more (online) Christmas shopping.

We had some plans for this weekend–I hope we can still get out and enjoy a couple of social events before we leave! Ohana’s Christmas party is Saturday night, and our play is Friday night. I also have another life insurance medical exam scheduled for Friday at 5:30, but I wouldn’t mind if that were cancelled .

I just finished my latest book–The Nanny Diaries. One might think it’s a fluffy, mindless book, but I guarantee that anyone will be riveted by the injustices present in the gap between the haves-too-much and the have-somes. I actually picked it up to read during the students’ silent reading time in advisory and enjoyed it so much I took it home to finish it. I’ve read quite a bit this year, and my next adventure will be reading the complete Sherlock Holmes collection–over 1,000 pages of delightfully classic English Literature. Any other recommendations for Christmas and New Year travel reading? I’m looking for something to I can read on a plane, in the car, or curled up with some coffee or cocoa. If you know me, that is just as easily non-fiction as it is fiction, and a snow day pulls out the readers in all of us.