Ack!! More snow is due tonight and tomorrow. Haven't we had enough already??? The last two storms, back to back, were killer (and yes, this was in addition to that huge storm from December that messed up our travel plans).
We still have piles and piles of snow in the streets, in our driveway, on our roof, in parking lots. We saw this absolutely huge pile of snow in the Acme shopping parking lot, took up probably at least twenty parking spots. Parking at my train station lost about 20 spots (which means I have to get up extra early to make sure I get a spot).
They say that this is the second biggest winter Philly has ever had (at least since records were kept). It could even become the biggest, if we keep getting these big storms. These last three snow big snow storms were three of the top 6 storms Philly has gotten ever, and we got all three in one year! Usually Philly just gets one big storm a year (and by big, I mean between 6-12 inches). So far, Philly has recorded over 72 inches of snow this winter. The upcoming storm is predicted to drop another 6-12 inches.
In general, I like snow. I didn't grow up with it, so I still love watching it fall. I love playing in it. I love taking snow days off of work. The problem, however, is shoveling the stuff out of the driveways and dealing with the kids. When the kids are older, it won't be as much of a problem, but right now its hard. Elise is just a little too small to really play around and enjoy it, she can't keep her mittens on, she can't walk in it when its deep.
The other problem is school snow days. I don't mind the school being closed when its really snowing, or even the day after a big storm that went all night. We didn't get dug out of the second storm two weeks ago until after noon. But that was Thursday. We had been home for two days now and so on Friday, when most of the digging out had occurred, the streets were driveable, the weather nice, I had to go to work. So did Stef.
However, our daycare was closed because the school district was closed. The school didn't want to heat up the building for one day, when it was going to be closed again for three more days because of President's Day holiday. My babysitter was unavailable because she was still only two weeks removed from brain surgery, and would be out of commission for at least another month. Her two older daughters also had been home for two days and had to go work on Friday to make up for the time off. Basically, everyone had to work except teachers. So I had no choice, I had to bring my kids to work with me. Stef, who had missed client meetings for two days, was going to be out all day meeting with said missing clients.
Going to work was awful. I should have just driven and parked in the city, forking over $28.00, but our tax refund still hadn't come in and we had just shelled out $100 to get our driveway and sidewalks snow-blowed and cars dug out (yeah, we got hosed, we might buy our own snow-blower, but they are $900). So I was feeling cheap and decided to just take the train in, since the kids ride for free. What a mess. Instead of a train every 5-10 minutes, it was one train every 30 minutes and they were absolutely packed (because everyone had to work after being home for two days). We waited at least 25 minutes in the cold for a train and only made it on because two other people got off when they saw I had kids. It was brutal standing the entire time. When we got to the train station, for some reason, only one door on the train opened, I got pushed and fell, catching my leg between the platform and the train. Nice big bruise on my leg.
Finally got to work, and of course, after being cooped up for two days, the kids were not too quiet. I tried to keep them as quiet as possible, with DVDs and crayons, but they still wanted to run around too much. I had hoped to go home early, but I had a lot to do at the office that I couldn't do at home, so it took almost a full work day to get everything done. I know my bosses were not happy I had the kids with me, but I didn't have much choice. Totally unusual circumstances all around. One can only hope we don't have to go through it again.
The next storm is scheduled to hit sometime tonight. I expect tomorrow to be yet another 'snow day.' I'll bring home what work I can. Hopefully the storm will end early enough that it won't mess Friday up too, but frankly, I anticipate that it might be a very long weekend. After that last week with two storms, I'm really ready for spring to come.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Ode to Reading
One of my favorite authors died on Sunday, Dick Francis. Francis was a steeplechase racer in England, who after retirement wrote mystery novels. I was first turned onto his novels when I did a semester of law school in London, England. A college friend of mine was visiting London with her family and she was a big fan of his books. Turns out, he was going to be in London signing his latest book, but she was going to miss it. So she asked if I would pick up her signed book and bring it home with me (definitely cheaper than shipping). I did so, but being a mystery book lover, naturally I read it first.
I was hooked. The first novel I read, The Edge, involved a transcontinental train ride of racing horses across Canada. All of his novels involved something to do with racing, plus usually one other subject, like painting, trains, photography, art, wine, banking. That's what made his novels so enjoyable, he thoroughly researched the second subject of his novels so that I always learned something new.
I read The Edge while I was about half-way through the school semester. I spent the remaining couple of months scouring used book stores in London picking up a bunch more paperback Dick Francis novels. There were quite a few. Once I got home, I began to buy his books each year as they came out. I always looked forward to the next novel, since it combined two of my favorite topics, horses and mysteries.
I understand that the majority of the novels were actually co-written (or at least co-researched) with Francis' wife. When she died in 2000 the novels stopped for several years. I heard that he was no longer writing. However, in 2006, the novels started again when Francis' son, Felix joined in. The books were a bit different, but still good. Unfortunately, Francis' health continued to deteriorate, so there was only a couple more books, and it is entirely likely that Felix wrote the majority of the text, following the "Francis' formula." I anticipate that Felix may continue to write more books, hoping for his father's following (like Frank Herbert's son has done with Dune - with mixed results, imo).
Francis is one of the few authors that I will buy books. These days, I tend to just borrow books from the library. Its cheaper and takes up less space. I've thought of getting a Kindle, but while that solves the space problem (I already have four very full book cases), libraries are still cheaper than Kindle books at $10 a pop. Plus, I know that if I buy a book, I have something tangible, whereas I'm still wary of losing downloaded information with a computer glitch (which is why I still prefer to buy CDs over MP3s and print my photos, even if I also keep back up copies on disc). If I do break down to buy a Kindle (or similar), it will likely be because its smaller and easier to carry than a book.
But for authors that I really love, I'll buy the books. These days, that includes PD James and Martha Grimes (also discovered during my time in London), Sue Grafton, Janet Evanovich and Laurell K. Hamilton. I've also been a fan of Lillian Jackson Braun's "Cat Who" series, but reviews of her last book in 2007 suggest that she's not writing them anymore (she is 97 afterall). I used to buy John Grisham, but his last several fiction books weren't all that great, so I've just been renting them from the library.
I had a few science fiction/fantasy authors I followed religiously as well, but they too are waning: David Eddings (died), Melanie Rawn (ill with cancer), Anne McCaffery (now taken over by son Todd). Katheryn Kurtz and Harry Turtledove are still writing, but I've not read many of their recent books. To be honest, I think the science fiction/fantasy genre is starting to get really played out, a lot of recycling of the same old plot lines and ideas. To be sure, Kurtz and Turtledove's recent books (or at least the summaries of them) sound very much like rewrites of their older books, just with some new names, which is why I haven't sought them out recently.
All of my favorite authors are aging and frankly, there's not really much new out there that's of interest to me, at least in fiction. I've actually started reading more non-fiction books lately, though, as I said above, mostly library rentals. My co-workers have started an in-office library, so I'll try out some of the books there, see if anything or any one interests me like before.
Its just as well I have less books to read because I have less time in which to read them. Most of my reading time is on the train home from work (riding to work, I read the newspaper). Once I'm home, I don't have too much free time, between fixing meals, cleaning up, spending time with the kids. The hour or two I have after putting the kids to bed, I tend to catch up on shows I've recorded on the DVR. I don't even read during commercials these days, I fast forward through them. Usually the only time I spend an entire evening reading a book is when the library due date is quickly approaching, or I'm on vacation.
I do want to keep reading and I hope that my kids pick up the reading bug like I did. I had hoped to give my old Nancy Drew books to my girls when they are old enough, but unfortunately, my collection (1-55) somehow disappeared through my various moves in California and never made it to Pennsylvania. I guess we'll just have to track down copies of the books, either used or at libraries. I do still have my old Piers Anthony books, plus the Harry Potter books, which I hope they will like. My love of books means I am never board. Once the girls learn to read, I'm hoping it will be the same for them.
I was hooked. The first novel I read, The Edge, involved a transcontinental train ride of racing horses across Canada. All of his novels involved something to do with racing, plus usually one other subject, like painting, trains, photography, art, wine, banking. That's what made his novels so enjoyable, he thoroughly researched the second subject of his novels so that I always learned something new.
I read The Edge while I was about half-way through the school semester. I spent the remaining couple of months scouring used book stores in London picking up a bunch more paperback Dick Francis novels. There were quite a few. Once I got home, I began to buy his books each year as they came out. I always looked forward to the next novel, since it combined two of my favorite topics, horses and mysteries.
I understand that the majority of the novels were actually co-written (or at least co-researched) with Francis' wife. When she died in 2000 the novels stopped for several years. I heard that he was no longer writing. However, in 2006, the novels started again when Francis' son, Felix joined in. The books were a bit different, but still good. Unfortunately, Francis' health continued to deteriorate, so there was only a couple more books, and it is entirely likely that Felix wrote the majority of the text, following the "Francis' formula." I anticipate that Felix may continue to write more books, hoping for his father's following (like Frank Herbert's son has done with Dune - with mixed results, imo).
Francis is one of the few authors that I will buy books. These days, I tend to just borrow books from the library. Its cheaper and takes up less space. I've thought of getting a Kindle, but while that solves the space problem (I already have four very full book cases), libraries are still cheaper than Kindle books at $10 a pop. Plus, I know that if I buy a book, I have something tangible, whereas I'm still wary of losing downloaded information with a computer glitch (which is why I still prefer to buy CDs over MP3s and print my photos, even if I also keep back up copies on disc). If I do break down to buy a Kindle (or similar), it will likely be because its smaller and easier to carry than a book.
But for authors that I really love, I'll buy the books. These days, that includes PD James and Martha Grimes (also discovered during my time in London), Sue Grafton, Janet Evanovich and Laurell K. Hamilton. I've also been a fan of Lillian Jackson Braun's "Cat Who" series, but reviews of her last book in 2007 suggest that she's not writing them anymore (she is 97 afterall). I used to buy John Grisham, but his last several fiction books weren't all that great, so I've just been renting them from the library.
I had a few science fiction/fantasy authors I followed religiously as well, but they too are waning: David Eddings (died), Melanie Rawn (ill with cancer), Anne McCaffery (now taken over by son Todd). Katheryn Kurtz and Harry Turtledove are still writing, but I've not read many of their recent books. To be honest, I think the science fiction/fantasy genre is starting to get really played out, a lot of recycling of the same old plot lines and ideas. To be sure, Kurtz and Turtledove's recent books (or at least the summaries of them) sound very much like rewrites of their older books, just with some new names, which is why I haven't sought them out recently.
All of my favorite authors are aging and frankly, there's not really much new out there that's of interest to me, at least in fiction. I've actually started reading more non-fiction books lately, though, as I said above, mostly library rentals. My co-workers have started an in-office library, so I'll try out some of the books there, see if anything or any one interests me like before.
Its just as well I have less books to read because I have less time in which to read them. Most of my reading time is on the train home from work (riding to work, I read the newspaper). Once I'm home, I don't have too much free time, between fixing meals, cleaning up, spending time with the kids. The hour or two I have after putting the kids to bed, I tend to catch up on shows I've recorded on the DVR. I don't even read during commercials these days, I fast forward through them. Usually the only time I spend an entire evening reading a book is when the library due date is quickly approaching, or I'm on vacation.
I do want to keep reading and I hope that my kids pick up the reading bug like I did. I had hoped to give my old Nancy Drew books to my girls when they are old enough, but unfortunately, my collection (1-55) somehow disappeared through my various moves in California and never made it to Pennsylvania. I guess we'll just have to track down copies of the books, either used or at libraries. I do still have my old Piers Anthony books, plus the Harry Potter books, which I hope they will like. My love of books means I am never board. Once the girls learn to read, I'm hoping it will be the same for them.
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