Soo here we are

Recently I heard a rumor - actually it was more than a rumor, it was a complaint.  From my back.  About the shoveling.  And the walking on ice.   And the cold.

Ayuh (as we tend to say around here),  it's winter.

As time goes by I find myself with fewer new issues to address on this site so at the risk of repeating myself, here goes.

It's winter and we should be ready. 

There should be plenty of hot chocolate laid in along with enough milk and bread or the equivalent so that it's not necessary to rush headlong to the store at the mere hint of a coming storm.  This past month was the first time I ever heard the term "milk sandwich".  I think it was coined in an attempt to explain why people buy huge quantities of both milk and bread in that "getting ready for a storm" mode that flips in the minute Jim Cantore shows up anywhere in your neighborhood -  or even your state!  If people want to stock up on something useful that won't sour in the refrigerator or turn to bricks on the sideboard, why not buy toilet paper?  Shelf life of at least 1,000 years and definitely irreplaceable when you need it.

Side note:  when I was getting ready to retire several years ago someone asked me what I was doing to get ready.  My answer was that I was buying lots of toilet paper - for some reason they looked at me like I was nuts.

Anyhow, we should be ready with more than the T.P.

There should be gas laid on for the snow blower unless we are lucky enough to have a "plow guy"

The Plow Guy

If you are that lucky, cherish him, treat him well in the summer and bring cookies in the winter.  He's worth far more than the money you pay him!

Moving on. you should have a shovel - a snow shovel - and the back and strength to handle it!  It's a recipe for disaster to jump out there after a summer and fall of sunbathing and perhaps raking a few leaves and start shoveling that first heavy wet snowfall.

As the proud owner of a "bad back" I can tell you it's possible to shovel but you'd better approach it with the same level of caution as you would a sleeping cat:  you never know when it's going to jump up and claw at you for disturbing it!  So use it but don't abuse it!

I have apparently reached that stage of being the "older neighbor" that we are all adjured to look out for in bad weather.  I admit to bribery - I take the couple next door homemade bread and strawberry jam at random intervals during the fall and winter. This has conditioned them to think that if I can't get to their house they won't get any goodies, so the man of the family has taken to emailing me that he will take care of my driveway with HIS snow blower and I should stay inside and be warm - and, by implication, cook.

All kidding aside, I am blessed not to have to go out there and "do it myself" unless I want to.  I do get my snow blower out just so it won't feel left out but only to blaze a few trails in the back yard for the dog walks (sprints in this cold weather) and sometimes just to prove I still can, I do the driveway.

So this is just a short installment in the saga of winter - something to think about and something to be ready for.  And don't forget that damned door key in your back pocket for after the outside hidden key is under 4 feet of snow!

We all know, we got this!