A WEEK IN THE LIFE - NORTH DAKOTA STYLE

Photo by Charlotte Kahrs at Scranton, ND

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Bismarck, ND

Sunday, Nov. 2: A beautiful 70 degree, Indian summer day, shirt sleeve weather.

Monday: Lovely day, temp in the 60s. There's talk of a big storm coming in from the west.

Tuesday: Election day and another lovely day in the 60s. They're predicting a nasty snowstorm later on this week.

Wednesday: The SW portion of the state is getting snow but then again they always get the nasty weather. They've already had snow this fall. But in Bismarck, it was 50 degrees when I went to work this morning! There was a bit of light rain but nothing major. However, blizzard warnings are posted!

Thursday morning: Oh my god, what a night we had last night. I woke to sleet/ice hitting the north-facing windows about 3:00 a.m. and then came the lightning and thunder. Followed immediately by scared dogs tearing into our bedroom and refusing to leave. After a major tussle we finally get them out.

The radio reports that the blizzard is on its way and is playing havoc in other towns, with some having a foot of snow already. They're also saying that our streets are slippery due to all that sleet/ice last night. However, as I drive to work the streets are just wet, and there's a bit of snow at the edges of the streets and on the lawns. But, it is really cold and the wind is howling like a banshee.

Driving by the municipal golf course, I see two medium size dogs, one brown and one white, trotting happily in tandem down the sidewalk, a popular path for joggers, walkers and dog walkers. There were no owners in sight. I had to chuckle at the dogs' merry aspects (We're free! We're free!) and wondered at what great adventure they thought they were embarking upon. (I also hope they were re-captured and brought home before the storm.)

Noon: No action yet, but I'm glad I brought my lunch anyway. Brrr.

2:00 p.m. Yish, we can't see beyond the parking lot. The snow is blowing sideways.

3:00 p.m. One of my co-workers couldn't make it up the hill on the street that runs in front of our building. People are getting antsy and nervous.

4:00 p.m. The P.A. system announces that Bismarck State College is closing. Fortunately, they've just sanded the many hills that make up the BSC campus so all the stuck people are able to get moving again. I creep home, making it back in 30 minutes as opposed to the usual 7 minute drive.

8:00 p.m. Dan gets stuck on his way home from work.

10:00 p.m. No travel is advised in the western 2/3 of the state and roads in the SW are closed. The local news is all agog that a national weather channel has sent a representative out here for the first big blizzard of the winter of 2008-2009.

Friday, 6:45 a.m. The radio announces a bunch of school closings, including BSC. But wait, they're saying BSC classes. What about the offices? Shall I get up or not? I'll snuggle down and wait a few minutes more. Oh, here's an amendment - BSC classes are canceled and its offices are closed. I have an unexpected day off.

8:00 a.m. I'm at loose ends. I guess I'll start by writing a post. Penny is enjoying this weather. Instead of being the big red dog, today she is the big white dog. She could lie down in a snow drift and not mind it a bit. Gracie...not so much. The neighbor kids are already outside playing in the snow. The neighbor is blowing out all our driveways and sidewalks. I'm going to have a cup of hot chocolate and chill out (I mean, snuggle up.)

Photo by Amanda at Bowman, ND

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Photo by Paulette Haar at Hettinger, ND

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Photo by Harvey Oase at Reeder, ND

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P.S. Is it just me, or do you see those two ghostly snow people dancing at the right side of the photo at the very top of this post?