The weather reports are pretty unanimous now: we’re in for a big one. At least a foot of snow, if not more, plus strong winds, ice, low visibility — the works. Needless to say, all plans are cancelled and we ain’t going anywhere. It’ll be our first family snowed-in weekend!
Our last major snowfall was the February snowpocalypse of 2010. About 2 feet of snow fell around D.C., grinding the area to a halt for more than a week. It was about a month before I met Spencer, and I remember everyone — ev.ery.one. — logging into OkCupid, bored at home and rekindling their efforts to find romance. It was kind of fun.
So now it’s six years later, and we’re staring down another monster storm. I’m a little excited . . . and nervous, too. It’s strange to know a crazy weather event is coming to pummel your area full days in advance. We’re grateful for the warning, of course, but we’re all just holding our breath as we wait. It’s going to be bad, but we don’t yet know how bad.
As long as the power stays on, we’ll be fine.
And if it doesn’t, we’re heading to the basement.
Spencer and I have spent the last few weeks transforming a little-used storage room downstairs into a space for my crafts, home decor, organization of random junk I’ve somehow carried through two moves, etc. January seems to be the time for that. Put away all the Christmas decor and you’re suddenly aching for a clean, fresh, unsullied start.
After dropping way too much cash at Lowe’s, Spence is building me a counter/table work space. I’ve been Googling “craft rooms” and saving all sorts of photos to my own for inspiration, turning to Pinterest and basically pretending I know what I’m doing. (I don’t know what I’m doing.)
But we’re figuring it out. Sometimes it’s easier to pinpoint what I don’t like, decor-wise, and I basically buy everything from Zulily, anyway. So soon I’ll be dragging plastic storage bins down from every corner of the house to finally have my art supplies, stationery, seasonal decor and such in one place.
No more chaos. Organized chaos, perhaps, but I can work with that.
I’ve never considered myself OCD, but a coworker recently commented on how “clean” my desk was. I glanced over at a strange blend of clementines and bananas (always have healthy snacks on hand! Still going strong on Weight Watchers), many scratchy notes on Post-Its, various magazines I’m using for research, Coke Rewards caps, etc.
Everything was in tidy piles: right down to the bottle caps. Square things were at right angles; round things were grouped together.
I’ve always thought of it as being orderly. I just like things the way I like them.
But we have to be flexible sometimes, right? With the looming storm, we’re converting my soon-to-be craft room — currently just a newly-painted space with a bookcase — into The Bunker. The basement is strangely warmer than anywhere else in the house, plus it’s below ground . . . and, as in a tornado warning, that makes me feel safer.
The Bunker will have bottled water, extra blankets, a power pack for charging cell phones, the baby’s formula and extra bottles, flashlights, etc. I don’t know why I’m treating this like, say, a hurricane . . . but weather-related disaster prep is apparently all in one mental manila folder.
I have always lived in suburban Maryland, surrounded by bedroom communities with commuters heading into D.C. every day. The jokes about Washingtonians not being able to handle a single inch or two of snow aren’t wrong, but that’s not the full picture. Trust me, I get it; my husband grew up outside of Buffalo. What freaks me out doesn’t even begin to worry him.
But the roads quickly get congested and messy here. Our traffic is horrendous on a normal day, let alone during a rush hour with sleet coming down. We’re not used to cruising on ice, and hey — no one is safe on ice.
Plus, in our case, we have this little baby now.
I can worry about my own safety just fine, but worrying about Oliver’s safety is an entirely different shade of anxiety. Being responsible for a child is stressful in the best of circumstances, but having a 9-month-old still recovering from a weird virus, refusing to sleep and dealing with an upcoming blizzard has had me hitting the coffee — my drug of choice — pretty hard lately.
We took him to the doctor yesterday, knowing he wasn’t too ill yet . . . but we’d soon be stuck inside for days, and on a weekend. We’re no stranger to emergency rooms and urgent care, unfortunately, but I’d rather stave off that sort of craziness if we can.
Ollie is doing better today, thankfully, and I’m hoping the worst has passed. I stocked up on diapers, water, formula, etc. on Tuesday, ducking out after work before the crowds got unmanageable. Marylanders do tend to panic at the word “snow,” but this time? Well, I think that’s warranted.
I’m not going to lose my cool, though. We’re working from home today and tomorrow, Ollie is doing better, we have plenty of peanut butter for PB&Js if it should get a little dark in here.
And if nothing else, we’ll have stories — many stories — to tell.
Stay safe and warm, my friends! I’ll be looking for your Instagram photos and snow totals this weekend. Keep those yardsticks handy.
What a great post! We’re moving to Iowa next month (from TEXAS!), so learning how to deal with snowstorms is going to be on my to-do list. And turning our basement into a bunker will be a smart idea, too!
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Good for you planning for the “just in case”! I’m so excited about two feet of snow here in Virginia! I’ll be thinking about y’all holed up in your warm and cozy bunker while I’m out playing in the snow like a little girl! β€
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What an awesome article! How do I find you on Instagram?
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We move from VA this pass summer–your post made me miss the organize chaos of impending snow fall!
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Good luck! So far, we have avoided much snow, but the bitter, arctic temperatures have hit us pretty hard in the last week. I think I’d rather have the snowstorm. I’ll be looking on Instagram to see how you fare!
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I hope you stay warm! Being snowed in can be quite cozy if you don’t have to go anywhere. I remember winters when I was growing up — I was home schooled so it wasn’t a problem. But when you grow up and start commuting, snow becomes more of a worry than a joy!
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Very good post. Best of luck for your weather security. Stay warm, stay safe, enjoy your crafts, and may Oliver be well.
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Stay warm and stay safe! Hope Ollie is feeling better soon. π
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Surprisingly, I don’t think we’re getting a storm here in NY for once but I could be wrong. We got a few inches of snow today which caused some scary car-sliding, but nothing major yet. I hope it doesn’t get too bad there and that Ollie feels better soon! Thinking of you guys!
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Stay warm, stay safe! π
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NIce post. There are parts of the country that don’t do well with the snow. I lived a few month in Raleigh North Carolina and I remember an inch of snow had everyone in a panic. Be safe and warm.
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Definitely stay warm and keep safe!! As a Florida resident, I don’t get to experience this stuff so I’m anxious to hear your updates!
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That makes me super jealous, because we don’t get much snow her. π¦
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I mean “HERE.” haha. π
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I live in DC too and have been snowed in the last three days, I hope we can get out and about maybe on Tuesday!! Really like your blog π
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South central Pennsylvania isn’t looking too good right now. The couple of feet of snow we got was sooo pretty until it got plowed and shoveled and driven through until it turned black from road debris. Things sure are a mess! I hope you made it through the storm okay!
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I can completely relate to the anxiety you’ve felt regarding Oliver. Two months after my younger daughter was born, we were living in a Houston suburb when Hurricane Ike hit. It was a Cat. 5 just before it hit land, so…yeah. Talk about anxiety times 10! Funny enough, I grew up in Myrtle Beach, SC, which is one of the towns that breeds hurricane veterans, but it’s so different when you’re a parent and not a child who relies with that ever-eternal optimism that children do on parents to make everything okay. It was definitely a huge challenge.
Sending good thoughts your way!
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Us folks in the mid west just escaped the last winter storm, hoping it stays that way! Hopefully your organization habits are just that. Habits. I could not imagine having everything be perfectly tidy. Best of wishes for your son though, being sick and so young can be tiring for mom when snowmadeggon is coming! Sending good vibes to ya!
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That’s really good Megi!! here is Summer and never snow!!! Hope I can see the snow again. : ) check me out on http://www.hhhigh.wordpress.com
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