Today is balm for the weary spirit: the pre-Christmas frenzy is over, a powerful snowstorm raging outside has brought city life to a standstill, and after an exhausting spell of long hours at the office over the past couple of months, I have before me eight days of jealously hoarded time off.
The pace may be slow here for the rest of the year; the lovely Nina and I will be hibernating here and in Wellfleet, giving top priority to rest and quiet contemplation.
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Sounds like a great way to close out one year and usher in the next. Have fun while the city is digging itself out.
Thanks, Bob.
It was one hell of a blizzard here. We got at least two feet here in Brooklyn. All the parked cars are entombed, and so far the plows have only got around to the bigger thoroughfares, and even those have been given only the most perfunctory attention. The side streets might as well be switchbacks in the Hindu Kush; they are completely impassable. (As I recall this sort of thing cost John V. Lindsay his re-election bid in 1969, but I suppose that for our Dear Leader Mike Bloomberg, for whom electoral procedures and regulations are negligible trivialities, it won’t be an issue.)
The snow is no longer falling, but with the temperatures in the low 20’s it’s all blowing into huge drifts. It’s really beautiful. But there sure is a lot of snow.
I spent a bracing five hours today shoveling my stoop and the sidewalk in front of my house, then disinterring my car in the hope of getting out of town sometime tomorrow or the next day.
I’m seeing news that the slow cleanup has something to do with union workers trying to make a point. This came out because some of the workers felt guilty about their bosses’ plot and have anonymously reported the story to the news. It’s also being said that the union workers’ “point” may have cost some people their lives, given the inability of EMS vehicles to navigate the streets. At this point, three days after your above comment, Malcolm, how are the streets? Any better?
Hi Kevin,
Well, we’ve relocated to Wellfleet for a few days, but when we left yesterday, there were still streets in our neighborhood that hadn’t been plowed. Meanwhile our condescending Lord Mayor, whom I loathe more deeply with each passing season, told us yesterday that we’ve just been “spoiled” by the increasingly competent responses the city has mounted to these storms over the last couple of decades; an answer that explains nothing.
I haven’t checked the NYC news today, but when we left yesterday afternoon to head up to the Cape, Park Slope was absolutely chaotic, with traffic barely able to move on even the main thoroughfares. I did see a few front-end loaders (finally) attacking the neglected streets, though.
That’s an interesting angle about it being a union slowdown, and I’ll see what I can dig up about that.
Apparently Dear Leader Bloomberg has his zip codes wrong – enter 72576 (Jeff’s “old hometown”) and hit Go –
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/
On the other hand – it’s 70°F and the most we’ve to deal with are tornados.
Yes, I’ve just heard on the news about some tornadoes down in NW Arkansas, JK. You OK?
Snow hell.
http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?product=N0Z&rid=SGF&loop=yes
10 miles and closing.
I was awakened by a siren – upon closer inspection, I should be alright. Check back in “about” 15 minutes should a red dot appear over my region. (Refresh as required).
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/today.html
Waaah, where’s my Nanny Bloomberg?
You know – them Pakistanis might be on to something. If you can get a message through to the White House Malcolm – tell the President to keep a tighter rein on the guys fiddling around with that HAARP thingy.
It may be New Year’s Eve – but screwing around with the weather is serious business. Especially at this time of year.
@ Kevin (keep in mind I’m in Arkansas).
“He vowed to investigate whether the rank-and-file deliberately slowed down work to protest budget cuts, as has been rumored, but said he doubted it.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/01/nyregion/01doherty.html