Kudos, Snuf ...

It's warm out there this morning ...

What a difference a couple of days can make ...

Awesome, Snuff! Very impressive! Most impressive is how much he is appreciated as a fine young man in general, too. I know you're very, very proud!

Bravo.

Warmish and calm out there this morning ...

Slowly, slowly, spring approaches ...

Thank you all for the kudos and comments. I had heard about the article when I arrrived at the Williams Inn from the staff there on Friday afternoon, but had not seen it before it was given to me at the game Friday night by the President of Williams College. Talk about shock and awe. I asked my son about it after the game - and said I see that you met with a reporter last Wednesday, and did he know the article was coming. He said he met with the reporter at the request of his coach to talk about the team, stats, team standings etc. and had no idea that this article was going to be about him. Saturday night was Senior NIght for the basektball team, and by that time, most of my parent friends knew about the article. In some ways, Senior Night was sad for me. I wish that my late husband had been alive to see it. He too would be terribly proud.

A haze around the moon this morning ....

And it is nippy out there right now, temperature-wise ....

But it was warm yesterday, up into the 30's, anyway ....

And it is supposed to be warm again today ...

And so ...

A warm morning out there this morning ...

Up in the 30's, it feels like ....

And so ...

Oh, my goodness......it's supposed to get up to 50 degrees today! What will I wear??

You should be proud, Snuff! Congrats to your son AND to you!

A bikini? Maybe not quite warm enough,yet......

50s here today, as well.....the ice is finally melting.....

I hope the weather holds up. I'm driving to Pawling tomorrow for games at Amherst Friday night and Trinity on Saturday

afternoon. It would be nice not to see ice, nevermind not having to walk on it. But that just means I will have to get

ready for mud season. And it will be muddy when the ground thaws.

It's beautiful out there today ....

Nice and warm ....

Rain is supposed to come in tonight, Snuf, and I think that it will be warm through to the weekend, anyway ....

And so ...

"Rain, warm temperatures raise fear of flooding"

By DAVID FILKINS, Staff writer, Albany, New York Times Union

Last updated: 8:44 a.m., Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Rivers and streams could flood over the next day as temperatures rise and rain falls.

National Weather Service meteorologist Evan Heller said the high temperature today should reach the low 50s, causing snow and ice to melt.

Then, overnight, at least a half inch of rain is expected to fall.

"That's when we could see flooding," Heller said.

When ice on rivers and streams melts, it can cause an ice jam, which stops the flow of water and causes banks to overflow.

This often happens in places like the Stockade near the Mohawk River in Schenectady.

"We'll be monitoring it," Schenectady Fire Chief Bob Farstad said.

"If there is an ice jam, you'll be able to see the progression foot by foot up the banks.

Ice jams usually cause flash floods, Farstad said, because the ice breaks within the day, water starts flowing again and the floodwater quickly recedes.

Heller said a flood watch is in effect beginning today and likely ending tomorrow afternoon.

To declare a flood watch, meteorologists analyze a number of different factors including snow on the ground, temperature, water levels, groundwater and wind.

A flood warning would be declared if banks begin to overflow.

Foggy out there this morning ...

Hard to see the road in places ...

But it is mild ....

Not cold ...

And so ...

It is really windy like anything out there early this morning

Very warm.

Yesterday almost 65 in places. I was wearing shorts.

Today we too have flood alerts from the melting snow.

This is going to mess up the bulbs again, I bet...last year they came up way too early and immediately died and never came back. What a waste...hope that doesn't happen again this year, but its not suppose to be freezing for a while(while that itself is a good thing, so I am not complaining only for the flowers sake do I mention them).

Interesting, graham ....

Up here, we have no wind ...

Just the fog ...

And so ...

I just heard on the radio that as the day progresses up here, the wind is supposed to come up with gusts up to 50 mph, and the temperature is going to be falling with snow on the way ....

Cold tonight, cold tomarrow ....

Moderating on Saturday a bit, up into the 30's ...

And so ...

I understand "mud".....I have knee high and slip on mud shoes that come in real handy when we get the thaw and the rains which we're seeing at this time.
My dog's muddy paws in the house and cars..... you would know a thing or two about that , Snuff.....

The wind has already arrived in DC. I'm rushing madly about to get out of here to head

north. Guess I will be bringing the wind with me.

Gray skies up this way, Snuf ....

And the wind is coming with you, it seems ...

And so ...

A strong wind is blowing out there this morning ...

But no rain or snow ...

No kidding about that strong wind. Gusts up to 70mph traveling north yesterday up 95 from DC with wind advisories all

over the place. Forget the Garden State Parkway yesterday - so many road closures due to fallen electric poles,

telephone lines, trees etc, as well as the cars blown off the road in some places. Two hands on the wheel mandatory

most of the drive.

Heading to Brimfield, Ma. today before the Amherst game tonight. Hope its less windy.

Still a strong wind blowing up here, Snuf ...

Got some cut to it ....

And so ...

Chilly out there this morning ....

The smell of spring is in the air ...

Slowly, the grip of winter lessens ....

One day, it will be gone ...

And so ...

Blue sky, white clouds and a chilly wind is blowing ...

Happy President's Day to everyone ...

A little less chilly out there this morning ....

Chipmunks were out yesterday ....

The smell of spring is in the air again this morning ...

New life stirs ...

And so ...

In the high teens out there this morning ....

Rain and snow are supposed to be on the way ....

Along with a warm-up into the 30's ....

And so ..

Well, I guess I've been spoiled by several days of sunshine and moderate temps.

Snow is on it's way, though. It's not that I don't like winter.....I really do. Otherwise I would not have moved north. However, I'm a 4-season lover, and the promise of pending spring is too enticing.

I'm willing to wait, though......as if I have a choice!

We got gray skies, a stiff wind and snow right now ...

Although it is not real cold ...

And so ...

An ATF officer stops at a ranch in North Dakota, and talks with an old rancher.

He tells the rancher, "I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs."

The old rancher says, "Okay, but do not go in that field over there."

The ATF officer verbally explodes saying, "Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me."

Reaching into his rear pants pocket, he removes his badge and proudly displays it to the farmer.

"See this badge?"

"This badge means I am allowed to go wherever I wish...on any land."

"No questions asked or answers given."

"Have I made myself clear?"

"Do you understand?"

The old rancher nods politely, apologizes, and goes about his chores.

A short time later, the old rancher hears loud screams and sees the ATF officer running for his life chased close behind by the rancher's prize bull.

With every step the bull is gaining ground on the officer, and it seems likely that he'll get "horned" before he reaches safety.

The officer is clearly terrified.

The old rancher throws down his tools, runs to the fence and yells at the top of his lungs.....

"Your badge!"

"Show him your badge!"

Rain out there this morning ...

34 degrees with a steady snow/rain mix creating a lovely slush. Yummy!

Looks like I'll be driving in it again today. Heading north for the quarter final playoffs this weekend at Williams.

Rainy and gloomy in DC.

Slush or black ice ....

I hit some this morning ....

Then I hit a tree ....

Now I don't have a vehicle no more ....

And so ...

Are you okay?
I don't see you posting this morning? You are usually up and about by this time...
Please let us know

I'm here, graham ....

Thanks for asking ...

I'm alright, myself ...

Just banged up my one knee is all ...

My vehicle is wrecked, however, which kind of puts a crimp in my mobility ...

And so ...

I'm glag YOU are O.K. Livyjr.

I'm not trying to diminish your loss, but you are far more important than a truck or car.

A.B.

Amen to that statement, Mr. A.B.!

Glad to see you back, too!

GREAT to see you back, Mr. A.B. ...

And yes, you are correct ....

Still, that little truck was like my horse, and I feel bad that it got wrecked like that ....

A little Toyota 4-wheel drive, which you need out here in the countryside ....

It's hard to find them without that extended cab and automatic transmissions ....

But that is the way it goes ....

I was just down to the bone yard getting my stuff out of my truck, and the owner was showing me other casualties from that same morning, including a couple of roll-overs ....

And the woman at the insurance call center told me that they had been swamped with calls from New York that same morning ....

And so ...

When I hit that tree, it must have triggered the air bag ....

Anyway, when I finally got stopped, I realized that I was sitting in a fog of fumes, and they were still pouring out of the steering column from where the air bag came out ....

Whatever they are, they sure are nasty ....

Like smelling the barrel smoke of a shotgun right after it is fired ...

I couldn't get the window down quick enough to get some fresh air ....

I can't imagine being incapacitiated in there and having to breathe those fumes ...

And so ...

Well, it's a touch warmer out there this morning ....

More of a hint of spring smell in the air ....

More snow is coming tonight, however ...

Or so they say ...

And so ...

Very bright and sunny out there today. I'll take it and take advantage of it, too. I'm opting to take my weekend journey north today to avoid the promised snow of tomorrow....expected up to 8 inches very quickly during prime driving hours, so I'll enjoy the pleasant sunshine today.

It's still cold, though, and not all the road snow/ice cover will be gone, especially in the rural area where I'm headed. I always remember one of the driving tips my dad gave me as a teen --- in the winter, don't drive in shadows. So, Livy....I'll definitely be looking out for black ice.

Safe travels out there, canjcat ....

And I would say that your father taught you wisely ....

My accident the other day was on the north side of a hill, where it is always shaded ...

My post that morning, before I hit the tree, was that it was raining out there ...

When I came outside that morning and felt the rain, I immediately felt around for ice, but there wasn't any where I was ....

But as with there where you are, terrain and elevation make all the difference in the world ...

Go up or down a hill, and the whole world can change in an instant ...

This is that time of the year, as well, especially with all of the snow cover that we have had, where the snow banks melt during the day, and because the snow is in the ditches and gutters, that water has to flow across the roads ....

If that is in a shadowed area, or when the sun goes down, that flow water turns to a thin layer of ice and becomes treacherous ...

Traditionally, black ice used to be that ice that was caused by condensation of water from humid air onto a freezing pavement, like a bridge ...

Now, the term is used more universally, perhaps ...

Whatever, ice is a dangerous surface to have to drive on ....

So once again, good luck and God speed out there ....

And so ...

Williams hosted and won its game in the NESCAC Quarter final Playoffs against Bates. It was a nice way to end

my son's last home game in the Williams gym. And so, its now on to Middlebury next weekend for the semi finals

on Saturday: Williams vs. Amherst and Middlebury vs. Bowdoin. Winners of the semi-finals will play the finals

on Sunday. I drive back to Washington in a few hours for a few days before hitting the roads again and another

1,000 miles of driving next weekend. Naturally as a proud parent, I'm hoping the Williams team gets an

invitation to the NCAA's Div III tournament - and that will get decided with this next round of play.


And Liv, I will be on the look-out for ice. The Groundhog said there would be six more weeks of winter.

I think the Groundhog is right. I'm just extremely thankful that folks up North have a pretty good handle

on how to take care of their roads during inclement weather, something the Banana Republic of DC has yet

to figure out when it gets its dusting share of snow. You Northerners even know how to treat roads in

anticipation of ice - just a shame they can't get everywhere - and Black Ice is the worst. Can't do

much with that except expect it after everything refreezes at night.

Well, Snuf, as always, take care out there on life's highway ....

You sure are an adventurer .....

That is a lot of driving that you do, and on some roads that I wouldn't drive on, like those freeways in NJ and the loop or beltway down around DC ....

And good luck to your son and his team in the upcoming contest ....

This is the stuff that memories are made of, for both you and he ....

And so ...

It's a bit on the mild side out there this morning, temperature-wise, anyway ....

No snow yet ....

The wind is blowing which puts some bite to things ....

And so ...

I've got to drive back in this whatever it is. It is snowing in Williamstown - more like flurries, but the Weather Channel is talking

about a blizzard in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. All to be compounded by the Noreaster coming up the coast. Makes picking

the route home somewhat complicated. This is going to get interesting. Liv, you stay safe and don't go out. You may be housebound

for a couple of days.

Life sure is a highway. And I seem to have been putting about 1,000 miles on

it every weekend since Christmas. Its not over until the fat lady sings. In

the meantime, the memories I will treasure - for always.