Crazy, Colorful Colorado - Snow Day!

Ever since I left North Carolina back in 1997, I’ve been dreaming about the snow days of my childhood! It was similar in DC - it didn’t snow or sleet often, but when it did, schools were likely to close; but I found out that work went on for the most part or you had to take a personal day if you took a “snow day” off. It was even worse in Chicago and Cleveland. Those people kept going no matter what the weather threw at them! It could snow 10 inches over night and people were out shoveling their cars at the crack of dawn so they wouldn’t be late for work - I thought they were all crazy! I mean, when it snows or sleets one inch in NC schools were closed and you could often get by with not going to work - I loved it!

In both Chicago and Cleveland it would get cold (bitterly cold because of the wind off the lake) and it would begin to snow by November - December for sure. Then, the worst part, the snow would never melt (because it was too cold!) and it would just pile up and pile up and get plowed into big mountains on the side of the road and in parking lots and it would get brown and nasty, and it was just the worst! I literally hated it. ... Especially the gray skies.

But, contrary to popular belief, we don’t have to deal with that here in Colorado. It might snow often (or not, depending on the year), but more often than not it will snow and the next day the sun will come out and the snow will melt - it’s awesome! There was last year though, the winter of ‘06-’07 when it snowed several feet and people got stranded in their homes and there was a mess at the airport (and Matt’s family barely made it for Christmas) and the National Guard was called in to help clear the roads and rescue stranded motorists. Apparently that type of snowfall used to be more common in Colorado, but, whether due to global warming or whatever, drastic snowfall in Denver is rare now - although that is still a different story in the mountains. They can get several feet and we will only get a few inches.

One thing I can’t get used to though is it snowing in the spring - just like today - and they say there is always a chance of snow through May here. In NC and DC, I was used to spring really starting in March, with the daffodils and crocus and tulips started to bloom and the trees starting to bud and there being no hint of snow or sleet whatsoever for another year. But Denver’s not so bad. It’s not like Chicago or Cleveland where it gets cold and stays cold. It was 60 and sunny yesterday. It snowed today. And it’s supposed to get up to 70 this weekend; so I can’t complain! And I did take a “snow day!” It’s a good thing I work at home!

It’s a snow day today in crazy, colorful Colorado, but tomorrow will bring spring and I can’t wait. Have a good one. Amy

Oh, by the way, Colorado’s nickname is the Centennial State, but it is also called “Colorful Colorado” because of it's magnificent scenery of mountains, rivers and plains - see more at: http://www.colorful-colorado.com/ - and check out the great photography of John Fielder (mine is top & right (below) - I wouldn’t call that great!). But I did post a gallery of photos from our trip to Vail. You can see those at www.gallery.mac.com/amyrsinn. Enjoy!