Thursday, February 28, 2013

k


Image by SnaggleTooth Feb 2013

Still finding strange faces in sunsets.... This one is actually up-side-down.

Beginning to recover from the blizzard aftermath a few weeks ago. My poor African Violets tho, are shriveling up their once vibrant leaves due to the cold shock they experienced. Good thing I took a pic then, I don't want one now...

Photo by SnaggleTooth Feb 2013

Last week on Day off I braved sub-zero windchill on the D-bridge to take these sunset pics the first time in awhile...Getting used to the freezing conditions around here lately.

At the Boat Ramp today in the current, large on the map rain-storm, I had thoughts of tethering myself to a tree in the strong 35 mph winds out there. Still too cold to stand still with the wind-chill factor by the water around here. Really nice to have heat n hot water when I get home again tho.

Image by SnaggleTooth Feb 2013Last week I also skipped a day of sleep for a field trip. I'll share some pics from that in other posts soon. That was also several frozen hours outside, with a windchill reported to be 18F (-7.7C) . Needless to say, catching up on sleep n warmth is taking priority this week as the (40F) rain dominates my free time, n there aren't more pressing issues.

Photo by SnaggleTooth Feb 2013

Probably it will be awhile before I catch-up on blogs, rest enough to function well, n maybe the Violets will still make it too. I've just slowed way down recently, except at work where I can't.  I have tons of house chores waiting too. I noticed it all gets behind quickly without light to see the mess or clean it...

Enjoy the last day of February- one of the top for snow months in my state ever, n the one I'll always remember as the one that had little warm in it! But I'll be ok...



Thursday, February 21, 2013

Snow on the Beach

Photo by SnaggleTooth Feb 2013



Crusty, icy sand crystals

Gusty, frozen wind gales

Bouncy, dancing water ripples

Meandering, sunken footprint trails

Image by SnaggleTooth Feb 2013

Winter shore crusty, white

Wind chill gusty, sheer

Wild cover bouncy, blues

Wandering, meandering telltale signs


Photo by SnaggleTooth Feb 2013

The tide comes in, The tide goes out

The snow falls, The snow melts

Seasons shift, Sands sift

Right is wrong, Reason fades

............................................
Poem by SnaggleTooth Today

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Blizz


Image by SnaggleTooth Feb 2012

Second Bad Joke of the storm:
"I should hire Crystal Gale to sing my new country song. "I had Frost Heaves in my Sleep"..."
(I really did!)

How do you survive 3 days of no power or heat at home during n after a blizzard? when there's a driving ban, no work, n No one in town is spared?

I'm very fortunate the downstairs apartment has a gas stove. The oven has no way to get the pilot lit when powers out, but I used the two front burners to heat water on the lowest setting, n kept the side of the house with pipes from going below 40 F degrees.

Every few hours I took trips up n down the stairs carrying pans or the kettle of steaming water upstairs, where I filled glass jars, pans n bowls with hot water to keep as warm as possible. I kept two small jelly jars of warm water in my pants pockets all day.

I turned on all the sink n tub faucets so the water wouldn't freeze up. Luckily I had a "No Heat Drill" just two weeks ago. This time tho was no power or heat. Then I at least had the little electric heaters to fall back on...

After the first Day, the temp was still about 50F upstairs. The second day tho, the whole place was below 43F. The downstairs hallway by the door measured 27 F degrees, while the frig was 40F, so I put the most perishable food out in the hallway.

I considered putting some freezer food outdoors, but I know the animals would likely rip into it. Between the stray cats, opossum, n skunks there'd be a big party-. I did plastic bag some free ice from outside to put in the frig for the rest of the food.
The small, bargain, frozen turkey I was saving for Easter time became partially thawed, so I decided to thaw it the rest of the way, n am eating it this week, all week instead. By Day Off I should be at the make soup stage.

After finally building up my freezer supply again since Hurricane Irene, I now have to go thru it all n try to find the still edible n safe stuff to salvage. It'll take me awhile.

Then I lost hours on two different paychecks which messes up my finances, nullifying the catch up I needed to do with my tax return funds. Many things are waiting again.

After returning to work, the Valentine's holiday orders exhausted the little energy I had left after three days of snow-shoveling. I had fewer days for the week, n longer shifts than usual. Only got one Day Off to get ready for the next five workdays, which I'm in the middle of now.

I'm still run-down n exhausted from not being able to sleep long in the cold conditions. I slept in so many layers of clothes n blankets I could barely move! I kept the comforter all the way over my head to hold in my breath exhaust heat. Poor Mischief had a trouble staying warm too. Three hot bottles were just for her.

Without those Hot Water bottles, I wouldn't have been able to deal with the cold at all. But I had to constantly work at keeping warm enough. Just sitting wasn't comfortable enough for reading very long.

Luckily, the past year I'd invested in tons of cheap (Dollar Tree) lights, little Flashlights, battery candles, book lamps, plus batteries. I used my trusty, glowing, glass snowman, n the battery powered ghost candle.
When running up n down for hot water, I found the strap-on "Head Lamp" found for $5 at Target this fall was great for hands-free light.

The other "must have" for days without power is the 12-volt car battery jumper with an AC port to recharge my cell phone with. I could've plugged in a light, but decided the phone was more inportant when uncertain how many days I'd be waiting.

The long nights wide awake were the toughest part for me. I mostly listened to radio while reading. I played guitar several times, but the instrument was too cold to hold for long. I had to stop n warm up my hands on hot water bottles, then do another song until fingers got too achy-cold again. That was tough!

Mostly I missed blogging n watching tv in tandem per usual. I felt very alone except for a few "Are you ok?" texts each day. I missed feeling connected. No one else here could afford to waste phone juice. Some folks cell phones weren't connecting at all, either.

Hearing in the news we might have to wait until after Tuesday or Thursday for power in town was difficult to fathom how to endure it-
The worst part tho were the few repeated times the power flickered, raising hopes, n then went out a long time again. That happened Sunday evening several times. I noticed out the window that lights were on across the cove, but mine stayed out all night, seemed like an eternity- until power was finally running "On" for a few minutes before noon on Monday.Whew!

Image by SnaggleTooth Feb 2012

I'm so grateful to have the power back again. That was the first freezing temps, winter, days duration, Power Out I've ever gone thru. The other occasions were all in more tolerable temps or only a short while. I'm really not recovered yet, as evidenced by fatigue, n generally not feeling good. I hope to never do that again!

NOTE: Sorry I've been unable to blog read much this week. My computer keeps crashing. In many cases I went n read, but lost Windows n the connection before commenting. Then other times, I just fell asleep while reading... Maybe next week...

Friday, February 15, 2013

Cold Wait

Photo by SnaggleTooth Feb 9 2013


Ice Frozen. windblown Fury
Darkness falling. pitched
Locate the light tools.
Finish what was started.
Abandon the undo-able plans.

Photo by SnaggleTooth Feb 9 2013
Not going to do so much now-
Wasting time on Nitty Gritty
Don't waste light, make it last
Wait again until daylight
So dim, so cold after two days

Feeling forgotten, forlorn
Too much waiting: No warmth,
Radio, reading, jogging,
Endless dark evenings.
Blizzard Power Out

Photo by SnaggleTooth Feb 9 2013
So spoiled with TV
Internet, heat, hot water,
Bright light all night long,
Warm toes, hot food,
Less work keeping warm...

Still Waiting

.....................................................
Written in a notebook by SnaggleTooth Feb 9 2013

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Happy Blizzard!

Photo by SnaggleTooth Feb 8 2013


This post title is my bad joke only the sarcastic can laugh at...

The power went out about 8:30 pm Friday n just came back on Monday at 11:50 am. Then I had to head to work less than an hour later.

Now after getting improperly shut down by the out-age, my machine is acting weird,. Planned other pics but it won't upload, n after hours of trying - I'm so tired the rest of the story will have to wait...

Image by SnaggleTooth Feb 12 2013


I survived . Will post more after work again later. Thanks for your well wishes folks.
Pic is the view of the front corner of my yard.

Friday, February 08, 2013

Snow Blowin'

 Image by SnaggleTooth Feb 2013


A blizzard is forecast. The airport announced early it will be closed.



The Governor went on the evening news n requested all schools close n all drivers to get off the road by noon. The MBTA will close down at 3:30, a rare event, only staying open to help hospital employee second-shifts get to work. Also he urged private employers to close, n he closed work for all non-essential state employees. Utilities are calling for a level 5 (highest) alert for repair crews.


Photo by SnaggleTooth Feb 2013

Of the hundreds of closings across the state, as seen all evening on the bottom of the tv screen, my town has opted for an early dismissal school day... n Work wants us there to begin by 1pm, which to me is a lost day of sleep.


Image by SnaggleTooth Feb 2013


Today I'm a bit apprehensive, trying to figure out how I'll get home (or be stuck at work) as we'll be done at the height of the storm, which is also expected to kick-up high winds on the Cape, n may cause coastal flooding. Granted it should be warmer here most of the  day, n not accumulate as much as inland.


 Image by SnaggleTooth Feb 2013



I'm sure most folks wouldn't even consider going in, but we are expected to. We will get no paid time off, n even may lose the job for not showing up. The eateries we sell too never close, n folks still go get coffee n grab a bite in any weather.

Wish me luck!




 Photo by SnaggleTooth Feb 2013

Here are pics (plus altered cousins) of my flowering house plants brightening up my winter, n also my doggie planter, like the ones recently seen on Good Things Happened. My sister bought it at a yard sale for my B-day present when we were kids.The planter section of it is a trunk. I wonder if there was a matching kitty one...


I've recently mentioned these things at my home in recent comments on other blogs. I do like seeing other folks stuff, so here's a bit of mine...
....................................................................

UPDATE: After working only a couple hours we are done for the day n I'm back home already! Luckily the Governor has declared a State of Emergency plus a Driving Ban beginning at 4 pm. 
I'm certain getting to work for Saturday night will be difficult too, if possible.

The roads aren't even bad out here yet- just a little slushy. Awaiting a temp drop of about 10 degrees F before the stronger winds kick in tonight.
So Far so good!

Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Worlds Apart

Image by SnaggleTooth Feb 2013


Unbeknownst to my readers, I've known how to make planets in Paint Shop Pro from photos for awhile now... It took some time for it to occur to me to apply the Curly Q effect to one tho- This was today's result.



Image by SnaggleTooth Feb 2013


Here is the color n texture changed version, with a rotating mirror applied.
I rotated it 180 degrees before making the circle out of it.




Image by SnaggleTooth Feb 2013
I've never seen this effect appear so warped-round due to the colors before. When I say I write Sci-Fi n invent whole new worlds to describe, I'm not kidding- these give my imagination quite a boost... The possibilities are endless. Then again, maybe it could be a new bowling ball design...

 In reality, it is a pic of the short pier taken from the main pier at the village harbor during a less colorful sunset on my last Day Off. The windchill must've been -20F, so I hid behind the leeward side of Harbor-Master shack to bear the chill for a few minutes. The water was pretty choppy around the planks.


It formed a pretty wavy planet too!