Also, because we're fairly temperate, winter storms often involve snow, freeing rain, and rain, which causes some kind of slushy, icy hell that's heavy to shovel and hard to get around it.

We had that the other morning. I'll take three degrees and real snow any day.

Remind me I said that tomorrow morning.

I can appreciate Tim's dad's situation as someone who needs a lot of help to do...whatever. But, really that does mean that I don't get elaborate decorations or to throw impromptu debate-watching parties and so forth. Because it really is making work for others for me to say "Six dozen sugar cookies? No problem!" even if it would make me feel good about myself to do it.(I do sometimes wish that Mom wasn't such a homebody so she'd get it more when I'm all "I need to talk to somebody who hasn't known me since birth, stat!") But who freaks out about two days over on decorations? I mean, they call it a season for a reason, unless he's got an HOA, which is unholy, as I've said before.

I told him that the only punctuation mark I feel that strongly about is the Oxford comma, and I'm not sure how to designate its Oxfordiness.

My best friend got an Oxford comma tattoo last year! It's a comma and an ampersand and it is awesome.

My best friend got an Oxford comma tattoo last year! It's a comma and an ampersand and it is awesome.

I love that this has already been figured out!

Dammit, American. I had just fallen asleep, and you call to tell me that my flight that is in 6 hours has been cancelled, and I've been booked on the one in 30 hours? After I called you 6 hours ago to suggest that perhaps you should let me rebook since it looked like there was going to be exciting weather and you told me that there is no travel advisory, so it would be $200.

Now waiting for the "you will not lose your place in line" callback.

It looks like, if we drive 2 hours, we'll not only get there today, but earlier than scheduled.

Travel~ma Debet.

Tomorrow, 1-2 inches of snow. No talk of shut-down yet, but I'm betting it's coming.

The federal government is on unscheduled leave/telework. I started my commute slightly late (5 minutes or so) with maybe half an inch of snow on the ground. I arrived about 40 minutes late, thanks to a freeway that had a lot in common with a parking lot plus two Metro trains breaking down. Luckily for me, the breakdowns happened in front of the train I was on, so at least I didn't get offloaded.

Yeah, NC reacts to a forecast of 1" of snow by buying out all the bread, eggs, and milk (appease the snow gods with French toast!) and shutting down completely. Plus, the day before snow's expected most work grinds to a halt as everyone spends their time refreshing their weather apps and asking one another "Do you think we'll really get snow? How much? Remember the last time we had snow? Have you been to the grocery store? Was there any milk left?" Then the day after the snow's gone everyone spends half the day sharing stories about driving in snow, dealing with other people trying (and failing) to drive in snow, the effect of snow on their property, and adventures in school closings. Good times.

sharing stories about driving in snow, dealing with other people trying (and failing) to drive in snow

In which naturally WE are perfectly safe and sensible drivers in snow: it's all those OTHER fools who cause the problems.