It seems like everyone in the country was warned about today's storm - La Crosse, WI was forecasted to get up to 18 inches of snowfall and have blizzardy (is that a word?) conditions. Residents were encouraged to stock up on food, water, batteries, etc., and to stay indoors for the length of the storm. What!? I'll admit, I felt a twinge of child-like excitement. Snowpocolypse was coming...and just in time for the predicted end of the world tomorrow!
So...why was I excited for the storm of the century? I attribute that feeling to a book I read in elementary school: My Side of the Mountain (by Jean Craighead George). It was about a boy who runs away from home and has to learn to survive in the wild. I have read that book so many times that I'm sure I could survive through anything. Plus, I've seen "Survivorman," so I'm basically a extreme survival expert...right?
I don't read books too often these days, and with the new baby, my DVR is set to record my favorite shows so I have something to watch when I am up with her in the middle of the night. One show in particular that I like is "Doomsday Preppers." Those people are nuts. There, I said it, and it's the truth! BUT, I can see the validity in having some supplies stored up.
In August 2007, La Crosse had a HUGE storm in the summer, to the tune of 7-12 inches of rain. Just think if that would have been snow. I wonder how many feet of snow that would have been? Roofs wouldn't have been able to support the weight of the snow, and if the building you were in was still intact, you would have been trapped inside. Even if you tried to shovel your way out, there wouldn't be anywhere to put the snow. I figured the storm we were getting today would be something like that.
Finally, my survival skills would come in handy! Throughout the day yesterday, I caught myself thinking about prepping ideas that would help my family survive in this terrible storm. I could buy some bottled water. I could round up all of the candles, matches, and flashlights. I could put extra clothes and blankets in the minivan. I could get shelf-stable food ready to eat. Above all else, the Trailer family would survive!
What I actually did yesterday (beyond taking care of my 2-yr old and my 2-mo old) was take a nap. I think I might have also washed a sinkful of dishes and finished a load of laundry. I didn't even take a shower until 4:30pm when I decided that I better start getting ready for Wednesday night church. It was a darn good thing we only got 5-6 inches of snow.
Looking back, the best thing I could have prepped for was buying a pair of snow boots. I don't remember the last time I wore boots. I'm not a "boot" person. Nothing fits right and nothing looks good. I'm my own worst critic. I got desperate today and took Mia and Maddie out to Farm & Barn and I finally bought some boots. The next thing I need is a hat and gloves, and maybe a scarf. I'll put that on my five-year plan. Wow, my mind is all over the place tonight. Anyway, I got the boots, but it took around 45 minutes to get myself and the girls ready to leave the house, and by the time I was done shopping (and we picked up Titus from daycare), my pant legs were soaked, my hair was a holy nightmare, I almost lost the girls in a runaway cart in the store parking lot (thanks a lot, 50-mph wind!), and my patience was gone.
It's late in the evening now, and I've had time to calm down after my outing, so I'll leave you with this picture of my Aunt Annie that my mom took in 1972. This picture has been ingrained in my mind since the first time I saw it. It's what I imagine the most wonderful snowfall to be. Peaceful, relaxed, big lazy flakes...and a giant birdhouse. :)
