adventures in winter wonderland ;)

[floatingleaf]

So here's the latest scoop: the blizzard quieted down sometime last night, but it kept snowing steadily throughout the morning. In the early afternoon the sky cleared and a little bit of sun peaked out... so I decided to venture outside and gauge the situation. Well... the first thing I encountered was a HUMONGOUS pile of snow right outside the door. I mean, at about knee level against the door itself, and then rising up to about my shoulder at the end of the walkway (my front door is the last one in line, farthest away from the street). My first thought was, OMG I'm trapped in the building. But then I pushed on the door and it opened. The snow was fresh and fluffy, after all. So I trudged, knee-deep, through the walkway and onto the street, which didn't look much better. Several people were shoveling fiercely around their cars, piling even more snow onto the sidewalk. I had parked a little further along the road... as it turns out, right in the middle of a nice big snowdrift.:/ My left front wheel is COMPLETELY covered in snow. As in, all the way to the top. I did manage to get into the car, start it and remove the snow from the windows - though I am not quite sure why I bothered. It's not like I'll be driving anywhere anytime soon. I can't shovel that much snow away by myself... and if they actually plow the street, the pile will only get bigger. I guess I'm stuck until some of it melts (which, for all I know, might not happen till March). Hopefully the main roads look better, so I can take the bus to work tomorrow. Btw, I just got another automated voicemail from the office, notifying employees that we have a late start due to bad driving conditions. 10 a.m. Which is fine - though I will have to get there a little early, because there is a bus at 9:30, and then nothing until 10:50 or so. That's the suburban route bus that I have to take for the last, briefest part of my commute. It only runs frequently during rush hour. Btw, I just checked its Saturday schedule, since I had originally planned to do overtime this week. And... BUMMER. There is one at 8:00 a.m.... and then the next one is at 12:45 p.m. Seriously. So if I want to work on Saturday, I have to drag my ass out of bed at 5:30 and leave the house around seven. Otherwise, I might miss that 8 a.m. bus.:( Can I just say how much that SUCKS??? The question is, am I desperate enough? Is it worth an extra fifty bucks or so? For most people, it probably is. But I don't know. *tortured sigh*

Yes, the logistics of a vehicle-less existence in Chicago are a little bit challenging. But I'd better get used to it, since I'm planning on getting rid of the car anyway. This weekend, I will practice car-less grocery shopping. I can only hope someone will shovel the neighborhood sidewalks by then. It will not be fun, lugging shopping bags back and forth while knee-deep in snow. *bites lip* On the other hand, that's exercise, and I just might lose some weight.;)

Oh, life. You're being so interesting lately.:| But I think I have developed a sort of resigned/unfazed attitude towards it all. I am not expecting much by way of good things, so any tiny little good thing is a nice surprise - and if something not-so-good happens, then I just sort of shrug and go, whatever. Maybe that's the recession attitude. Maybe I am adjusting to the world around me. There is some sort of emotional numbness involved in that, but right now it's probably a good thing. I am surviving. Which, strangely enough, reminds me of that scene from The Road, where Viggo's character is telling his wife (Charlize Theron) that they are going to survive somehow - and she just looks at him with tear-filled eyes and whispers: But don't you get it?... I don't wanna just "survive". I don't wanna... I've always thought I could understand her much better than I could understand him in that moment. Why care about survival, when all the beautiful and good things in life are gone? But that, of course, is a question of perspective. How much must you be deprived of before you just stop caring?... The answer is different for everyone. Again, I am reminded of that famous quote (from a psychologist whose name I've forgotten): "The key to happiness is low expectations". I find that very true. Especially right now. I think I am subconsciously adjusting my expectations. Trying to take less and less for granted. Feeling more and more grateful and appreciative of the little, insignificant things. I don't know, maybe it's a sign of getting old. Maybe it's disillusionment... or maybe just searching for some sort of inner balance. Whatever it is, it gets me through each day somehow. Is it being strong and resilient, or weak and defeated? I don't really know. That, again, is a question of perspective. And either way, it doesn't seem to matter much in the end.

Comments

[dissonant-dream.livejournal.com]

I've always thought I could understand her much better than I could understand him in that moment. Why care about survival, when all the beautiful and good things in life are gone? But that, of course, is a question of perspective. How much must you be deprived of before you just stop caring?... The answer is different for everyone

This is something I think about a lot. Actually, I think a lot about all of the things you're thinking about at the moment. I'm not sure where it gets me, but yeah. ;)

*hugs*

[floatingleaf.livejournal.com]

I think a lot about all of the things you're thinking about at the moment.

This could be a sign of growing up. Extremely belated in my case, but there you go.;) *hugs back*

[dissonant-dream.livejournal.com]

Or we just think too much? ;) *hugs*

[floatingleaf.livejournal.com]

Could be that too.:P