Kelly’s Unnecessary Blog

Today in Minnesota, we had our first consequential snowfall. It wasn’t significant in terms of inches (it looks like it was about one inch), but it certainly wrought havoc. I know it snows in Alaska in the summer. I know California is having their own unusually chilly weather. I know the UK is still trying to figure out how to build an ark. And apparently the American Southwest had snow yesterday and today and didn’t know what to do with it. (Did I forget anyone?) A few snowflakes shouldn’t faze us hardy Minnesotans. Nevertheless, every winter there is a period of adjustment. Heck, even a rain shower in the summer or a curve in the road throws traffic into chaos. It wouldn’t be half as bad if we were more courteous to each other on the road.

I was supposed to write about Minnesota license plates or, if I were writing a real entry for yesterday rather than relying on my bowling scores, about food that’s all the same color. Well, the snow made everything outside look the same color and I’ve heard that because of the snow, traffic was a mess which is related to license plates in that vehicles are supposed to have them.

I am glad that I don’t have to drive-commute to work. I benefit from readily available inner city public transportation and living less than two miles from where I work downtown. I can’t remember the last time I used my car to get to work. On the rare occasions when I do, it’s because I will be time-pinched to get somewhere right after work that is in the opposite direction of home. It would take me about 30 minutes or so to get home, get my car, and backtrack through downtown.

In the warmer weather I bicycle to work. It only takes 10 minutes and that’s a short enough length of time that I don’t get overheated (as a woman over 40, that’s an important consideration!). When it’s cooler, I strongly prefer to walk. It’s so much less stressful than dodging idiot, blinders-on car drivers with my bike. The walk takes about 30 minutes, which is a perfect length of time to decompress after the work day and to get physical health benefits. I call it utility recreation.

I guess as a walker, I have a little adjustment period, too. Experience on the bike and on foot tells me that when the temperature is below 25°F, I need longjohns, so I always accomplish that part of the triquation. Last winter, I acquired my first ever sleeping-bag coat. Some of you know what that means. You know who you are. Today, I should have chosen the sleeping-bag coat over my merely big coat. My torso is always plenty warm even in the subbest of freezing temperatures, but the fronts of my thighs eventually get cold. Even 15 minutes (half the walk) is unpleasant enough. The sleeping bag goes down to mid-calf and takes care of that.

But this weren’t nuthin’ today. Just talked to my parents in central Wisconsin and they’ve had a preemptive state of emergency declared for their possible foot of snow in the next 24 hours. They’re also 10°F warmer. I guess we Minnesotans got off lucky.