Got back from a biz trip to Atlanta around 10:00 on Friday night.
There was about four inches of snow and hard-packed plow drifts from the prior day.
Another storm was predicted for last night/this morning. It was supposed to rain, so I never finished shoveling the driveway, figuring a good part of the stuff would wash away.
Woke up this morning to another 4-5 inches of – snow.
Now, it is sleeting, and I’m immeasurably grateful that I
a) am not a newspaper delivery person or the holder of tickets to this afternoon’s Patriots/Jets game;
b) completed the weekend’s chores and holiday shopping yesterday;
c) returned from Atlanta in between storms;
d) have electricity, heat and hot water;
e) postponed writing holiday cards until today in lieu of spending some quality time yesterday afternoon with Emme and James;
f) don’t have to drive on ice-encrusted roads to an obligatory family party as do some of my nearest and dearest; and
g) bought a couple of good books yesterday at Border’s.
Speaking of Border’s, I had a great time there, unheard of for a retail store visit during the winter holidays.
My original plan was to pick up DVD’s for Peter’s birthday, which was this past Wednesday. The Hyannis store was out of stock the weekend before I left and mercifully, they got a shipment in on the day I returned.
I also found gifts for my three football game pallies, a music CD for another friend, and the two aforementioned books for me.
One of the local animal rescue groups had a gift wrapping service set up, so for a modest contribution, that chore was completed as well.
Yesterday, the two grandkids previewed the Christmas gifts I purchased for them, and their reaction motivated a second trip to Hyannis, this time to the ToysRUs for items actually on their wish lists.
I’m giving up on selecting gifts for anyone but my friends, who are savvy enough to make a gracious fuss even over bad choices.
If it hadn’t been for the trip, the weather and the timing of Bonnie’s family’s holiday get-together, I’d be putting out Peter’s birthday brunch and putting up my Christmas tree today.
With so many forces intervening, it may be prudent to pass on the decorating altogether, the 22nd being the earliest I could get to it, and by that time, what would be the point?
Anyway, with no fewer than three heavily decorated trees at the office, I’m glutted with lights, ornaments, ruffles and flourishes.