Ice Days and Snow Days

Sigh. Today is snow day #8. We have had an unbelievable amount of school closings over the past two months. Some have been snow, some due to ice. I appreciated the first two, because the extra time helped me get ready for Christmas, but now hearing that school is cancelled again makes me cranky! Here are some ways I keep myself occupied during these dreary days.

1. Revise my lesson plans, again. Worry about my students' progress this year.

2. Watch the Today Show. Catch up on Meredith, Matt, Al and Ann along with the latest news. Turn the channel when they do another report on Tiger Woods.

3. Let the dogs out to potty. Feel sorry for them when they slide on the ice. Make a mental note to pick up the poopsickles later.

4. Check my email. Read about a sale on exercise equipment. Think about exercising.

5. Log on to Facebook and read a bunch of grumpy status updates from my teacher friends.

6. Vacuum. Wonder about the strange noise the motor is making.

7. Browse online for a new vacuum.

8. Watch Rachael Ray and feel inspired. Cook up a triple batch of casseroles for the freezer. Congratulate self on being so productive.

9. Think about research paper I should be writing for my masters program. Feel guilty.

10. Notice the puddles, slush, and ice chunks all over the garage. Sweep garage and forget about research paper.

11. Try to remember what science unit I'm teaching at school.

12. Feel lazy and crawl into bed with my dogs and a good book. Read awhile then take a nap.

13. Wake up and make a cup of tea. Look around the house for some chocolate.

14. Bake something with chocolate.

15. Think about research paper again. Look over notes. Feel anxious and uncertain about how to begin. Put notes away.

16. Watch Oprah. Marvel at how messed up some people's lives are.

17. Clean out 2 closets to prove I'm not a hoarder like the crazy people on Oprah.

18. Do laundry. Think about how tired I am of my clothes.

19. Shop online for sweater sales.

20. Make dinner. Decide what movie to watch since everything is cancelled tonight.

21. Look at pictures friends have posted on Facebook of the snowdrifts in their yards.

22. Try to remember the names of some of my students.

23.Watch The Biggest Loser. Consider exercising.

24. Make popcorn after the Biggest Loser is over. Watch another movie with the family.

25. Watch the news and say a prayer that the weather will be better so we can have school tomorrow.

Trading Cars

I try to be a good sport. While our oldest son was driving back and forth to Iowa City during Christmas break, I agreed to share my car. I drive a little blue Focus, and it gets wonderful gas mileage. With the Focus, the gas wouldn't cost so much and he would be able to spend more time at home in Boone between his work days. It seemed like a little thing-- to drive someone else's car for a few weeks.

But I'm a little-car kind of gal. My little Focus isn't fancy, but it just fits me. My car is like my purse and I love being able to know right where everything is without looking. The radio stations are programmed just the way I like them, I can punch in the code to my keyless entry without thinking, and the seat is always pushed clear forward the way it should be. Even driving around in snow is not a problem because that car is predictable.

Using the boys' Explorer is another story. I have to mentally recall the date of an important event in Hawkeye history to unlock it. Adjusting the seat takes me 8 tries before my feet properly reach the pedals. The radio controls are a mystery to me. When Ben had the system installed, I'm sure it was the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I can't figure out how to change the station without pulling over and parking first. Getting out of that vehicle reinforces the fact that it's just too big for me. I shouldn't have to aim my foot for the running board as I descend. I have a feeling me sliding down out of the car looked like something people wished they could capture on video.

The doors unlock, sometimes. Actually, it's just the driver's door that can be persnickety. Just getting in the car after some long days at school required me to climb in the back door and crawl between the seats. You'd think the storage in the back of a vehicle like that would be handy, but I usually forgot to check the contents before I went shopping. Lifting the door to load groceries at Fareway would often reveal something that made me roll my eyes and the carry-out boy snicker. Boys.

Now that it's mid-January, Joe is back in Iowa City with the Explorer and I have my little car back! Driving around town isn't easy this time of year, but at least there are no surprises.