Updatia and So Forth

Couldn't pull the snowblower out today (for the first time!) due to freezing rain - thus, I am on a personal holiday today. We've got drifts over two feet, but allegedly only 4 inches overall... still, that's about four times our total for the season-to-date. I imagine the numbers are now higher as it has switched back to light and fluffy snow and left the freezing rain behind. As soon as things settle down, I'll get out there with the snowblower. Not that we can go anywhere - they declared the county in a state of emergency, and only emergency vehicles are allowed out on the roads; some of which are closed (209 between Lehighton and Jim Thorpe.)

I was up in the attic earlier and have determined without a shadow of a doubt exactly why our closet and bathrooms upstairs are so cold: the blown in insulation is about a foot deep, covering everything up there with a floor. Unfortunately, there are a few spots without a floor, leaving large gaps around the showers, between the closet and the bathroom. The holes drop down to the second story's floor, and the walls between areas are visibly uninsulated and directly exposed to whatever temperature the attic is - making it impossible to warm the rooms in winter and cool them in summer. Doh.

There is also a very large open area near Brandon's closet and - I think - over the stairs between first and second floor. I didn't move boards around to look down and see what the situation is there - it might fare somewhat better, but Brandon's closet likely suffers.

The guys are almost done with Justin's room - they were going to be back for a second coat of paint and finishing up today, but I asked them to hold off due to weather. Not sure if they got the message, or held off anyway, but they haven't shown up yet. After that, all we need is to get the rug installed, and he can move his stuff.

Rachel has developed a plan to help ease Brandon into his room - she doesn't think we should just toss him in there, but should set it up for him to play in during the day, and maybe take some naps on his Big Boy Bed, but still have him sleep in the crib for a short time before moving him in to his own room. This will probably be even more important, as, over the last week or so, Mr. B has really come into the Terrible Twos (instead of waiting for three, like the other two did! =)

Me Battle the Snow

The snow won.

At least for tonight.

Someone - who shall remain nameless, but who I can see every single time I look in a mirror - forgot to buy more gas. Two hours of gas - for mowing or plowing - goes almost that far on layers of thick icy snow, packed tight, and that's not enough to clear our driveway. Took most of a half a tank just to clear a path down to the street and back, in about 4 passes, because it kept riding up on the ice layer. Finally, I let it do so, made it down, then continued back up, wash, rinse, repeat, and it was pretty clear. After that, I took half a cut in each direction and it did okay. Right now the driveway is about half-way clear, which, in some parts is probably enough to fit the Subaru down to go get gas in the morning.

Then, after it has time to settle down, and after we've packed down two tire tracks worth, I'll finish clearing it.

Oh, I used a cheap dust mask to help keep the air warm (if somewhat recycled) and that worked reasonably well, so I didn't have any of the major breathing difficulties cold air seems to give me these days.