Winter Storm

It was predicted that we would have very cold weather with the potential for snow or more likely, freezing rain.  It was grey when I drove to work this morning, and cold, with a very strong north wind blowing that front in.  It was starting to mist.  By the time the second shift nurses arrived before 2 PM, they were reporting very dangerous, icy road conditions.  Texas Tech sent non-essential people home at 3 PM.  I had a lot I wanted to do, still, so I spent about 45 minutes more wrapping things up.  Still left a lot undone.  We have several people out, and I discovered that my co-workers who were doing coverage were not checking phone calls.  I did those I could, and hopefully can finish up Friday.

It took me about twenty minutes to scrape off the car  well enough to drive safely.  It took me about 30 minutes to get home (when there is minimal traffic, it takes 12 minutes.) I debated  between taking a totally land street route home, vs the Loop.  The totally land street route has about a .5 mile section of infrequently travelled road, and I opted for better travelled.  The news keeps saying the TxDOT trucks are out on the streets treating them, but I saw none.  I saw two city trucks.  But, driving slow, the streets were passable.

But I did arrive home safely.   The cats were very excited and skittish when I got home.  I think it was the combination of my earlier than usual arrival, and the cold/weather change. They get excited any time we have a storm.  During a wind storm, they are especially skittish and bitchy.  I think it is the negative ions from the wind creating static electricity on their fur:  it is sometimes a shocking event to pick up a cat in a wind storm (it does not hurt me, and I do not think it hurts them, but it is a crackling sensation.)    I bumped up the day time temperature of the thermostat to the nighttime temperature of 68°.

I have a list of chores that I had planned to do on the 31^st. several of which involve driving to locations.  None are urgent.  I have a 7 day library book due tomorrow, and if I cannot renew it online, I will owe a fine. At $.05  a day, it is not worth the trip unless the roads drastically clear tomorrow.   Many of the chores are those I can do at home.  My biggest concern is if I lose power due to ice on the electric lines somewhere.   I do not NEED to go anywhere on the 31^st.

I had thought to go to the Lady Raider Basketball game tonight, but I am not that dedicated.  If I cannot watch it on TV, I will try to listen to it on the radio.  The admission is free, if anyone wants to go to the game.

Hope everyone is safe, and is prepared to enter into the New Year.