Shoveled.

[navygreen]

Well, three hours and twenty minutes later, the driveway, walkway and back deck are shoveled. The swing is cleared off, and the trash area is clear. I even cleaned the snow off the trash cans on the curb (pickup day was supposed to be today, so they were already out there).

It feels nice that it is done. All my men neighbors finally started coming out when I was in my last 45 minutes or so of shoveling. Not only that, but their not doing nearly as nice a job as I did, leaving that bottom 1/2" or so of snow (whereas I shoveled and scraped all the way to the pavement). I was happy to come inside and see my lovely drive all clear, and I'm not at all jealous of the folks who are still out there or have yet to even start clearing their houses.

I ache in so many places now, though. I've already taken my ibuprofen, but I'm surely going to be very sore tonight and tomorrow. I'm also having asthma attacks from the cold winds and then coming back inside. I'm taking a warm shower in a few minutes, and I hope that helps some.

Schools are already closed for tomorrow, so the boys are excited. Now that it's beginning to get dark, there's not time to really play in the snow. Tomorrow will be the best day for them to really play, and there's certainly plenty of white stuff to do so!

I must say, though, that Philip has impeccable timing in leaving. Seems like this happens every time he leaves - I get stuck with the big snows. What a jerk. (I kid, I kid.)

Comments

[shoebox_addict]

Wow, that is a lot of shoveling! Hope you're ok after it! Hey, school closings! That must help with your load!

[navygreen.livejournal.com]

I'm sore and getting more sore by the second. I betcha I can't lift my arms in the morning, but at least my drive will be pretty!

[shoebox_addict]

Awww, feel better! Don't be tooo sore!

[navygreen.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Today wasn't too bad, actually. I was pleasantly surprised. :-)

[adiasplat.livejournal.com]

You need to learn how to use the snowblower... They are SO much fun and not that hard to operate at all. Mickey said the worst part is starting ours but then ours is also 20 years old. I'm assuming you have one that might be a littler bit newer. :)

He let me snow blow 2 weekends ago... So much fun! I wanted to do the whole neighborhood!

[navygreen.livejournal.com]

A guy from two doors down came out there as I was finishing up, and I yelled to him and caught his attention. He came over, and I told him that the snowblower was gassed up and he was welcome to use it if he wanted to. He and his 14-year-old son tried to figure it out then for the rest of the time I was outside, and they couldn't keep it going for anything. It has an electric start, too - not just the pull cord.

So not my thing, though. It would have been done so much faster, but I'm afraid to even try it. It's only 3 years old, but for such a huge amount of money, I'm certain I'd break the thing and then Philip would kill me. I don't even know how to use a lawnmower, so I'm really clueless as to what to do with it (so many people say it's not harder than mowing).

But I know how to shovel, and I got it done! :-)

[kristchan.livejournal.com]

Both interstates leaving Sioux Falls are closed.

Oh gawd, there's no way out! We're stuck! I'm stealing a snowmobile and leaving this place for good!


You're crazy, woman! I went out and did my stairs and said "fuck this noise" and went back inside. It'll melt eventually.

[navygreen.livejournal.com]

I was in a groove, you know? It gave me hours of peace and quiet (the boys stayed inside and played on the computer and watched a movie), and I think it was probably good for me. And heaven knows, I need the exercise - yikes!

[scarletharlot52.livejournal.com]

Even I can operate a snowblower...we had one in Thunder Bay and I used to plow the driveways when I was like 12 years old. It was great fun. Except for the time I had it in reverse and forgot how to stop it and backed myself into a snowbank. Luckily, when I fell into the snowbank, I let go of the handle and the snowblower stopped moving!

Seriously, if anybody gets it figured out, find out how they did it and learn how to use it. You could also go online and Google the make and model and look for tips on how to get it running.

I was going to say that I envy you the snow, but maybe I don't. We got some here yesterday, very localized, and as always our area was one of the hardest hit. I think I am done with snow for the year. Steve's mom called and southern Ontario is getting hit hard now too.

[navygreen.livejournal.com]

Well, the guy tried forever it seemed, and all that he succeeded in doing was accidentally pulling the cord/string completely OFF. He felt so bad and apologized over and over, too. He promises to get it fixed as soon as possible, but I'm not too worried. It has an electric start as well, so it's not like the cord is the only one to start it.

But even still, he couldn't figure it out, and I had no clue, either. I was more than happy to just continue shoveling and "git'r done."

[mom2jej.livejournal.com]

::waves:: Hi! My name is Wendy. I see we have a few friends in common ;) I'm suffering thru this same brutal storm as you ;) I live in Missouri Valley, IA and frequent Omaha alot. My husband works there and my sister lives there :) You can check out more about me on my userinfo ;) If you don't mind... I'm adding you as a friend ;)

[navygreen.livejournal.com]

Hi Wendy! I've checked out your userinfo before, but I was still too shy. It's nice to "meet" you finally, though. I'm glad you have more courage than me!

[mom2jej.livejournal.com]

hehehehe oh really? You shoulda added me ;) I'm an open book! :-D I've seen your user name around often... but it wasn't until you talked of all this snow that I realized you're from THIS area!! How neat :) There are a few of us that meet up from time to time too in this area (that I've met all off of LJ!) Nice to meet you ;)

[mom2jej.livejournal.com]

and please don't be scared of my first entry you'll probably read as it's a bitchfest hahahaha I CAN be happy sometimes :)

[navygreen.livejournal.com]

Oh, gosh. We ALL have to rant SOMEtime, don't we? No worries, seriously! ;-D

[navygreen.livejournal.com]

Yep, we've been at this base for close to 5 years now. We love this area, even if it means some major shoveling from time-to-time. ;-)

And I love LJ meet-ups. I've met up with several LJ friends over time, but mostly ones from other areas of the country. Though I do have one very dear friend that I met on LJ and then met in real life at the movie theater here. We've been fast friends ever since. :-)

[rafferty.livejournal.com]

If I'd gotten sent home earlier, I would have come by and done what I could to help, maybe even figure out the snowblower.

[navygreen.livejournal.com]

No worries - I got it all done. There's a slight drift blowing on things now, so the drive doesn't look as pretty as it did about 2 hours ago, but I know that this tiny bit will melt off easily if the sun comes out tomorrow.

We're about to head out and find some milk. I knew it was supposed to snow, but I never dreamed it would be this bad. We ran out of milk last night, and I thought we could push through on the water, juice, Kool-Aid and soda that we have (of which there is plenty). But the boys are moo-crazy, and they've been asking for milk almost all day. Jack really doesn't like other drinks nearly as much, and I'm happy that he drinks his milk so well. But I don't know who might be open in all this mess, so it'll be an adventure.

The plows came by and cleared our roads while I was shoveling. They came back around 5 times, so the road looks fabulous and easy-going. Here's hoping that 36th isn't bad, though. *crosses fingers*

[kechara.livejournal.com]

Next time he's home, Philip should teach you how to use it. :-)

[navygreen.livejournal.com]

But I'm afraid to learn, too.

[starrchld.livejournal.com]

Wow, you are braver than I. Patrick went out and dug the truck out, in case we need to go anywhere. Mom couldn't even get to work this morning, lol.

[navygreen.livejournal.com]

It's not really courage, you see. It's necessity. If I didn't do it, no one else would.

[fiendfyre.livejournal.com]

You are a BRAVE soul you. I've never lived anywhere where snow was a problem ... I've only seen snow 2 times in my life, once when I was 8 and then when i was 14 ... But from what you had to go through I think I'll stick to the 110 degree heat and the beaches :)
The other day I got into the car and it was nice and hot and there is just something about getting into a really hot car that I like. Does that make me a little nuts :)

And if only AJ was a little older, he could do the snow blowing for you ( I makes me laugh every time some says *blow* hehe)

[navygreen.livejournal.com]

It's like I told Annie above, it has nothing to do with being brave. It has everything to do with the fact that it is necessary that the drive be cleared, and there's no one but me here to do it. :-)

And yes, you are nuts. I hate hot cars more than just about anything! Yick! I crank the A/C for a few minutes before I'll contemplate getting in to actually drive. I like it to be very COOL in my car. :-)

[fiendfyre.livejournal.com]

I remember when I was a little kid and we would all go outside to play. The cement would be hot enough that it would melt the tar on the road ... yet we would all be barefoot! But when I'd go to my grandparents house out in the country I couldn't STAND walking on the rocks/pebbles since their driveway wasn't paved!

The best feeling is being wet from being at the beach and getting into a nice toasty car! I like it hot but not so hot that it takes your breath away! That's why I try to park in the garage during the afternoon if I can. And leather is a NO NO in hot cars!

Did y'all get some milk? you never said if you succeed in this quest.

[navygreen.livejournal.com]

Yes we did, and I just wrote about it. :-D