500 Words for Snow

Okay, so the whole notion of Eskimos/Inuit having some insane number of words to describe snow is actually an urban legend, but.... I don't know. I experienced at least a dozen different kinds of snow over the last few days. And for someone who grew up in Southern California and who's spent the last decade in San Francisco, this was all a bit overwhelming.

There was gentle-falling-snow, the kind I'd experienced before on trips to Redding, CA, Lake Tahoe, and Payson, AZ. This quickly combined with 20+ mph winds to become something a little less cute, a little more annoying. Then there was the freezing rain. Heard about it; never really thought about what it was. For those of you still in that boat, let me use this analogy: You're a giant. All around you are thousands of tiny warriors - armed with bows and arrows. Any exposed skin is their target. Ow, ow, ouch.

Of course, once the snow settled on the ground, the types multiplied. Sometimes it's powdery and you sink. Sometimes it's like walking on Planet Icee. Sometimes it's almost rock solid and sturdy and you can easily walk over it. More often - if the weather after the snowfall is cold and clear - the world becomes one big ice rink. Believe it or not I haven't fallen. I've quickly learned to spot the different stabilities of snow and ice. I do not fear them. I am their master. (Well, maybe not master, but I've certainly negotiated a shaky truce.)

By late yesterday, enough snow plows and dedicated shovelers had made the town more accessible, although it was still inclement enough to keep me from checking out any "points of interest". I did manage to visit Trinity Church. Nice, big, old cathedral. I took some pics, but - as I foolishly packed the camera-specific usb cable in my moving crate - those will have to wait. In the meantime, here's one someone else took:



Oh, and sad to say I missed out on St. Patrick's Day. Thought I was getting sick. Turned out it was just severe allergies. FYI, whenever there's a sudden change in weather - from, say, nice and mid-60's to below freezing, allergies kick in with a vengeance.

That's it for now. Lots coming up on the horizon, so my posts may be a bit more sporadic in the immediate future. Just know that I'm doing well, that I'm thinking of you all - yes, even you - and that this adventure's already got a few interesting twists in store....