snowbound

I should have known better than to leave the trusty old Camry under those oak trees in the side yard. Mid-afternoon yesterday it started icing like no tomorrow and when I got up this morning at 5 the snow was still falling. Problem number 1 was that all the doors were iced shut and I had no de-icer. Yeah, I know it was in the forecast but I forgot. After two phone calls to work to report my lack of progress and another fall which re-injured the shoulder that took the hit in December, I finally got the windshield clean enough to see so I put it in drive and...nada. Stuck as a goose. By this time I was figuring that it was Big Ernie's way of telling me to just say to hell with it and call in...which I did. It was the first time ever that I remember calling in because of the weather but I was truly stuck right here on this hill, much like when the big floods came. Only much MUCH colder. And I smell like vinegar because that's the only thing I had for the locks...that plus WD40.

Thank the lord I have roommates because it took three of us to get even one vehicle road worthy. At times like this I fantasize about having a garage or even carport. I've spent a lot of winter mornings scraping and freezing my ass off to report to work when all the teachers were sleeping in and drinking hot chocolate. I rarely carry an umbrella so I'm always dripping in the rain..you know that kind of Girl Scout gone bad in the "be prepared" department. Hey, I try but a significant icing event like this is enough to shut down entire cities. The western windows are all covered with ice as well and all the trees are gorgeous, especially when the sun comes out. Redbirds are looking around hungrily for the sunflower seed I neglected to buy.

My cousin called early today letting me know that my auntie has fallen and her hip is broken and requires surgery which can't be done today because of the weather. If I know morphine, it will keep her out of pain until the whole deal can be arranged. That's what it's about, peeps..do no harm. Mama told me that the mail would run because they do regardless of rain, sleet or snow. These teenage kids behind me in the middle room are doing their best to aggravate both their mother and baby brother. I suppose they're too old to be thrilled with a day off from school. Not!

I'm watching House of Cards for the second time and paying more attention. Those little side chats of Frank's with the viewer are kinda' creepy but a good indicator of what he's really thinking while he shovels the bullshit that is politics today. Nurse Jackie went to rehab and her recovery is interesting to watch, particularly in a healthcare setting where availability was questionable prior to computerized dispensing devices. There are counts at the beginning and end of every shift and every time something's missing there is a paper trail that leads from the machine to HR. I read the other day about a super dooper opioid being pushed by the big fat manufacturer in spite of objections by pain control specialists and others. We don't need something more powerful, just accountability. Benzos and opiates are freely dispensed by foreign doctors who are running money mills and sending the $$ back home for jihad. My least favorite of them all looks like a bad terrorist, smells like a French whore and has dropped the door on my face more times than I care to remember. Not.A.Gentleman.

Wherever you are I hope you're happy with being stuck there. My brother just barely escaped to the Bahamas through a 12 hour window before the St. Louis airport closed and is presently more than likely having an adult beverage and playing poker or blackjack. And then of course there's the concert with Kid Rock. Mama said I should have gone with him...next time I think I will! Knowing me I'd be too wound up to let loose and have fun. I reckon that's age creeping up on me. Anybody who works on my shouldr will get some free pecans, I promise. They're finally through falling now that it's March and there's snow on the ground. Jesus, what a long winter!