Thank goodness we're not lemmings

About 63 inches of snow has hit us here since the beginning of the year.

See why people are leaping off their roofs?

Even the well-coifed governor today left the relatively balmy "West Side" (everthing west of the Cascades) to visit snow-clogged Spokane.

We're in a state of emergency, she said at a news conference.

That's how tens of thousands of parents -- whose kids have been home from school all week -- must feel.

Still, I think my temporarily tongue-tied husband summed it up best when he said: "This is the most show I've ever snoveled."

Photo: Krem.com

Crash course

TV broadcasters have dubbed it the "Storm of the Decade." It's shuttered colleges, businesses and even Spokane City Hall.

What to do? Go sledding.

I picked up the 'sport' when sleds were just wooden slats, red metal runners and a steering yokes-- that always turned in the most dangerous direction.

That meant my childhood runs down Harney Hill could have ended in the icy Illinois River (there but for the grace of God).

I remembered that today as I hijacked a neighbor kid's new- fangled, foam slider for a zip down a snow-padded hill.

For five joyous seconds, I was 10 again. Laughing uncontrollably. Veering off course.

Life is so much more fun when you're not afraid to look stupid.

Photo: www.viewimages.com

When Hell freezes over

That's me, headed to the mailbox.

Ha, ha, ha.

But seriously, my inner snow bunny is up to her armpits in white stuff. And it's wearing me down.

Six inches of snow here. An inch of freezing rain there. And now the whammie: A weekend-long 'snow event' now 17 hours old -- and no signs of letting up.

Thanks to La Nina, there's more come. All week long.

If I had a nickel for every snowflake, I'd be sipping mojitas in Key West.

But granny's adage breaks the reverie: "Spit in one hand and wish in the other... and see what you get the most of!"

Guess I'd better get back to shoveling.

Photo: climber.org

Clothes make the man

That early South Pole explorer Ernest Shackleton saved himself and his 27 -man crew is a testament to human perserverance.
The 1907 expedition was stranded for 22 months in Antartica after their ship broke apart in thick ice. They all survived, thanks to Shackleton. He gutsily shoved off in a life boat for a far-away island-- the home of whalers who would rescue the team.

At the turn-of-the century, even well-appointed adventurers had only ordinary wool shirts, felt jackets and leather boots. And their clothing eventually got wet and froze.

Insulated gloves, a down-filled parka, Thinsulate-lined boots and optically-superior Oakley sunglasses cover me in winter.

Bet those guys would have killed for my gear.

Ernest: If you get another life, go for the GORE-TEX endorsement.

Photo: http://www.thegeminiweb.com

Head in the clouds

Four inches of fresh snow coated the pines (and everthing else) today. And after watching a big bird land atop a powdery pine, I think I finally may have figured out why male bald eagles have white heads: To blend into the snow-steeped landscapes, especially trees.

From tree-top perches, their dark bodies are indistinguishable from the shadows while their white feather headresses look just like poufs of snow.

Just a theory.

Photos, left to right: fantom-xp.com; members.aol.com

Blue spruce

The Eskimo people, I've read, have 100 different names for snow.

Now I know why.

Here, it may fall as tiny, white pellets. Or giant wet flakes. And of course there's fine dry powder that's great for skiing.

Most surprising to me, though, is ice fog.

Yep. Fog freezes, dusting everything in crystal frost. Like this colorized take on icy pine needles.

That leaves about 96 varieties of white stuff still to come.

Photo: Paula Davenport, cell phone

Hardly Margaritaville

Unless you're on the slopes, bundling up to brave winter weather must be something only older folks do.

In Eastern Washington--where it snows a lot -- a handful of carefree teens and coeds won't concede to winter.

"Oh no," they seem to be saying.

"It's not that cold. See? I'm still wearing flip-flops," their unfettered feet seem to say, shushing through malls and restaurants.

Makes me smile. And for a moment...it almost seems like Spring.