Arctic Blast 2008!!!

Gosh it has been a while since I have posted.

Things have been busy with caregiving of Patrick and his post-surgeried foot with big, thumping cast. He has terrible balance to start with, so hopping around is not really a safe option. Hence two crutches at all times if he is to get around anywhere. So he's pretty much out of commission, and now I am realizing just how equitable our division of labor had been! Patrick says he has had a hard time accepting the generosity that his injury has required, but my experience is that he has been quite gracious.
THEN we are having what the Portland area news calls the "Arctic Blast." It has been mostly a lot of TV news bombast and drama-mongering, predicting a mix of snow, rain, and freezing rain, freezing on the roads in the mornings or the afternoon drive times. They've been saying this for the past four days. Now if it had actually happened, it would have been quite an event. It did happen one time four years ago, catching all the weather people completely off guard and shut Portland down in a solid sheet of ice for three full days. But it really hasn't happened this time. Just some gentle snow that gets a little melty in the afternoon.

The breathless predictions did result in my agency's E.D.'s decision to cancel THE ENTIRE WEEK of work. Yes, the entire week. I am giddy with this sudden powerball jackpot of at-home vacation time. Somebody said it was crazy for him to cancel so much in advance. To which I replied, "If by crazy, you mean COMPLETELY AWESOME, then yes!"


I was able to get out and do a big grocery shop, and even got my hair cut. I have been able to get to so many projects that have been languishing. I have done so many things of the rearranging-the-spice-rack caliber. And I've been making a nice breakfast lunch and dinner for us every day, keeping the house clean, and really enjoying the caregiving because I'm not worn out coming home from a full day of providing care elsewhere. I have also obtained and decorated the holiday tree, did the holiday cards (which turned out smashingly well I might add), and many other items of fabulousness.
So I like to say I am personally having an Arctic Blast. My friend Kayci says it's been anti-climatic. This will surely go down in agency lore -- Luxury Week 2008 -- or something like that. I have been enjoying it so much that I was starting to feel guilty about it. I had to talk that out. So now it's right back to awesome.

So here's a taste of Arctic Blast 2008!!! from my backyard. Enjoy: