Snow, snow, snow
For the past two days I've gotten up around 4:30 and have left for work at 5 AM. My commute took an hour and forty minutes on Monday and an hour and thirty minutes on Tuesday. I don't know about you, but I think that's way too damn far to come so I can sit at school and listen to my students complain about how their bus was late this morning.
Yesterday afternoon I was anxiously watching the weather outside. Chicago was under blizzard conditions, and although the snow was lighter north of the city it was still pretty rough out there. Plus there was lake-effect snow and wind, which is unfortunate since most of my commute is along the lake. I headed home early, but after an hour of driving had only gotten about a third of the way home. The weather was worsening and I didn't think I'd be able to make it. With a sigh I resigned myself to staying in a hotel.
I called Mike and then stopped at Target for provisions...travel sizes of shampoo and soap, some basic cosmetics, another shirt to wear the next day, dinner, a magazine, and a few extras. As I shopped I began to get excited. I had recently complained to Mike that I felt like I was taking on too much responsibility around our house...what could be better than a one-night mini-vacation? Just myself, my magazine, the remote, and peace and quiet. Besides, Mike and I spend a lot of time together in our tiny apartment...it wouldn't hurt to let him miss me a bit.
Unfortunately I didn't realize how much I'd gotten used to sharing my living space with six other beings. I had purchased a calling card, and I called Mike around 6 PM and talked for 40 minutes. I had told him that I probably wouldn't call anyone else that night, but after I hung up the quiet got to me, and I picked up the phone again and talked to my dad for another half an hour. I turned on the TV to get some noise, which was nice, but the bed still felt empty without a bunch of cats sharing it.
I flipped through my Cosmo, but it wasn't as entertaining when I wasn't able to laugh with Mike about the absurd titles and articles. Eventully I just took a bath - I was disappointed that the deep bathtub didn't seem to want to fill, so I just splashed in the four inches of water on the bottom - and went to sleep. Even though I was able to stretch my limbs as far as I wanted, it still didn't seem as comfortable as being scrunched between Mike and the cats.
So much for Mike missing me - I guess I probably missed him more.
This afternoon the roads were clear and I was able to go home. I've never been so happy to pull up in front of our little apartment.
In retrospect, the mini-vacation was good for me. It didn't really give me time to relax, but it did make me feel more grateful about what I have.
Yesterday afternoon I was anxiously watching the weather outside. Chicago was under blizzard conditions, and although the snow was lighter north of the city it was still pretty rough out there. Plus there was lake-effect snow and wind, which is unfortunate since most of my commute is along the lake. I headed home early, but after an hour of driving had only gotten about a third of the way home. The weather was worsening and I didn't think I'd be able to make it. With a sigh I resigned myself to staying in a hotel.
I called Mike and then stopped at Target for provisions...travel sizes of shampoo and soap, some basic cosmetics, another shirt to wear the next day, dinner, a magazine, and a few extras. As I shopped I began to get excited. I had recently complained to Mike that I felt like I was taking on too much responsibility around our house...what could be better than a one-night mini-vacation? Just myself, my magazine, the remote, and peace and quiet. Besides, Mike and I spend a lot of time together in our tiny apartment...it wouldn't hurt to let him miss me a bit.
Unfortunately I didn't realize how much I'd gotten used to sharing my living space with six other beings. I had purchased a calling card, and I called Mike around 6 PM and talked for 40 minutes. I had told him that I probably wouldn't call anyone else that night, but after I hung up the quiet got to me, and I picked up the phone again and talked to my dad for another half an hour. I turned on the TV to get some noise, which was nice, but the bed still felt empty without a bunch of cats sharing it.
I flipped through my Cosmo, but it wasn't as entertaining when I wasn't able to laugh with Mike about the absurd titles and articles. Eventully I just took a bath - I was disappointed that the deep bathtub didn't seem to want to fill, so I just splashed in the four inches of water on the bottom - and went to sleep. Even though I was able to stretch my limbs as far as I wanted, it still didn't seem as comfortable as being scrunched between Mike and the cats.
So much for Mike missing me - I guess I probably missed him more.
This afternoon the roads were clear and I was able to go home. I've never been so happy to pull up in front of our little apartment.
In retrospect, the mini-vacation was good for me. It didn't really give me time to relax, but it did make me feel more grateful about what I have.
posted by Danulai at
4:56 PM
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4 Comments:
It was just as bad down here. It took me a solid hour to get to the office, all of 7.1 miles, and that was after 45 minutes of snowblower time to clear my driveway. The office closed at 3pm, since only 5 people showed up for work, and I got home at 5:15. Another 45 minutes of snowblowing and shoveling we required before my car could even make it to the driveway. This morning, it was all about clobbering the snow that had blown onto the drive, another 30 minutes of shoveling (my snowblower is loud and obnoxious at 7am), and another half hour of shoveling and snowblowing at lunch before I had a clear driveway and sidewalks. Thankfully I didn't have to spend a night in a hotel, but I can see how someone with a much longer commute up 41 (like you) would.
Isn't it funny how sometimes, when we try to get away from something, the only thing that happens is that we want it even more? There's a word for that... ;-)
By
dpaton, At
9:10 PM
Ugh. I hate winter driving. Hopefully the end of it is near. Be safe!
By
Kathy, At
11:02 PM
4:30AM?! Good god. That's two hours after I usually go to sleep.
By
Fear and Loathing in Wisconsin, At
1:44 AM
I had the same experience when I spent those 3 days by myself in a hotel in Atlanta last year. I read the same People magazine over and over, flipped through the same 15 tv channels over and over, and was basically bored out of my mind. I missed my kitties (and doggies) too. Not so sure about the family though. :-)
By
ftw, At
6:27 PM
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