Sunday, February 7, 2010

After



Wow. What an event! The snowstorm has at last finished its reign over the midatlantic. Those of us left in its wake are in awe, restless (because house bound) and wondering how long we'll have to contend with these huge amounts of white stuff.

The initial stages of any big natural event are awe-inspiring. Snow is beautiful, unlike floods or big fires, hurricanes or tornadoes, hence most of the people I saw yesterday were really happy to be out, slipping, sliding, and at times plunging knee deep into it. There were huge snowball fights at Dupont Circle as well as in Lincoln Park yesterday. People went sledding on the Capitol grounds even though they aren't suppoosed to. It was a convivial scene.

Today is very cold so the snow will now be hard, icy and sharp. Many people are without power which means many will not be able to watch the Superbowl and that's not a happy thing for we privileged Americans. I expect tempers might begin to flare today in households all over DC which is one great reason to go to work. Three of my clients have not cancelled, so I'll be busy, a Very Good Thing.

The camaraderie that is typical immediately following a natural event will no doubt begin to fade sometime today as it dawns on folks that the 2 feet of snow outside (looks like 4 or 5 feet because of drifts and piles made from shoveling) is not going to disappear magically in the next few days.

I hope I'm wrong about that! We shall see.

24 comments:

ellen abbott said...

It's always awesome when Nature shows her power. Looks like a tree went down.

Hurricanes are so devastating but having ridden out probably half a dozen or so when the eye passed over me, I can say that it is also an awesome experience. Scarier than a heavy snowfall, but WOW, so powerful.

Angela said...

No, it hasn`t magically disappeared here, either! Our complete beach is covered in snow and ice. The island Hiddensee in the Baltic Sea has been completely isolated for a week, not even an ice-breaker came through, and it was too stormy for helicopters. I wonder how that`s how the last glacial started? I`ll send you photos from here, Reya. Yours are really something, too! I would not want to be without power. Not that we care much about the Super Bowl, but we have electric heating!

Lynne said...

That's a big tree to have come down! Is that near your house? Thank goodness you didn't lose power especially since you don't have a fireplace for heat.

Mother Nature is awesome and not be fooled with!

Cyndy said...

What a beautiful photo montage! It's really cool to see the progress of the storm that way.

Unknown said...

That's a lot of snow for your part of the country--wow. Hope things stay calm & that power gets restored soon. I remember being in Charlottesville, VA in 87 when we got that much snow, & the town was brought to a standstill for days--there was no equipment to take care of it. The town plows in Charlottesville were about like what folks use here for plowing a driveway.

Mary said...

WOW - people will get cranky when their plans are derailed ...but sometimes I think its a way for someone much smarter to make us slow down. And that's a good thing.

steven said...

reya it looks perfect for snowfort building!! sad about the big tree coming down. thankyou for the so-very-cool photo sequence. you really are a marvel! steven

C.M. Jackson said...

wow---thats enough snow for the rest of winter!! Love the time elased photos--can cherry blossom time be only a few weeks away? stay warm--c

Barry said...

Snow is beautiful but very dangerous. A lot of trees and tree limbs come down after a heavy snow and their weight can be deadly.

On the plus side it does weed out the weaker trees.

Looks like the kids in Washington may get a "snow day" on Monday.

Whitney Lee said...

Beautiful! I love the initial hush of the snow, but after awhile that cabin fever sets in. The sun is shining so brightly here that a great deal of the snow is already falling off the trees.
This is one of those times that you are particularly fortunate to be within walking distance of so much. I would imagine the worst part will be the power outages. Sending warm thoughts to those trying to resolve those issues!

Mrsupole said...

Hi Reya,

Glad you are safe. Very cool time lapse pictures too. Stay warm and glad you have something to keep you from going stir crazy.
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Janelle said...

just incredible. love the series of piccie...to show the change. unbelievable amount of snow....its just SO wow for me....WOW WOW WOW. beautiful pics. xxx j

Linda Sue said...

Montage- wow what a fantasy! And there you are right in the middle of it! Won't soon forget this winter! Ours is opposite but also unforgettable- mixed up season- spring in winter-- BIG (?)! Thanks for the really great photos- very clever, you!

Wisemarian said...

We're missing the big event! Missing the camaraderie! Bummer!
We're "stuck" on Marco Island in FL until Wed.--were supposed to leave today.

Rosaria Williams said...

When utilities are affected, and when people realize that their lives are disrupted then tempers begin to fray. You are going to be working somehow. It's a good thing, I gather.
Be careful how you get around.

Ronda Laveen said...

Wishing I could have seen the snowball fight at Dupont Circle, Lincoln Park and the sledding on Capitol gronds. There's something about snow that turns everyone into a child again. That is, until they have to get around in it and clean it up, then we become like the cranky parent.

Thanks for the update.

Mary Ellen said...

What you just got there would be a heavy amount of snow even here in the North Country (Minnesota). We're getting a wave of new stuff over the next three days, but I don't think it will be quite as heavy. Life goes on! Of course, we have a well-developed road clearing system, which I don't believe is as robust in southern states.

Susan said...

You're snowed in and our blogger friend in Vancouver is showing photos of rosebuds and flowers she saw on her walks this weekend.
Remarkable.
Stay warm!

Reya Mellicker said...

I saw a few people driving around today and wondered, do they really HAVE to drive or are they just used to driving so they feel like they HAVE to drive?

A mystery that will not be solved.

Reya Mellicker said...

The camaraderie has NOT faded. Some people built a huge igloo in Lincoln Park. I'll take pics tomorrow.

Pauline said...

the slide show was amazing -

My kids and I spent 12 years homesteading in Northern VT and we had no power nor indoor plumbing for the first two+ years. It's interesting to see what a few hours or days without power will do to us!

NanU said...

Neat slide show, Reya.
Two feet all at once reminds me of my Minnesota days, now thankfully behind me. There, they piled up the scrapings from the streets into huge Snow Collection Points (vacant lots the rest of the year), which were still melting a month or more after all the other snow had gone.

Enjoy it while it's fun!

glnroz said...

my goodness. Yesterday, I was wondering if you were staying warm and safe. I heard this morning, you may get another "dose" of this weather. take care,,,

janis said...

WOW!