Issued by The National Weather Service
Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
11:05 pm EST, Wed., Jan. 6, 2010

… WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON THURSDAY TO MIDNIGHT EST SATURDAY NIGHT…

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON THURSDAY TO MIDNIGHT EST SATURDAY NIGHT.

A COLD FRONT WILL BRING ANOTHER ROUND OF MOISTURE AND SNOW TO THE MOUNTAINS THURSDAY. NORTHWEST FLOW MOISTURE IN THE COLD AIR BEHIND THE SYSTEM WILL THEN DEVELOP BY DAYBREAK FRIDAY… WITH SNOW SHOWERS CONTINUING INTO SATURDAY EVENING. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES… WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS… WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS DOWN ALONG THE TENNESSEE BORDER THROUGH THE SMOKIES.

NORTHWEST WINDS MAY GUST TO BETWEEN 30 AND 50 MPH AT TIMES THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY… AND VERY COLD WIND CHILL VALUES OF 5 TO 10 BELOW ZERO ARE EXPECTED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL… KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT… FOOD… AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

As the year draws to a close I want to comment on what I consider to be the biggest news story of the past year. No, it’s not Michael Jackson, Afghanistan, Levi Johnston or Swine Flu.

In June, I stopped biting my fingernails! I know that might not seem like a big deal … but after 30+ years of constant chewing it’s a pretty big deal to me. Viva, fingernails!

It appears that what is sure to be term “The Blizzard of ’09” is mostly done … even though we *might* get some more snow this evening. It has clouded back over after a mostly sunny day and supposedly:

SNOW SHOWERS WILL INCREASE IN NUMBER AND INTENSITY THIS EVENING ON STRENGTHENING NORTHWEST WINDS. ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL OF 1 TO 3 INCHES IS LIKELY TONIGHT… WITH ADDITIONAL 4 INCH AMOUNTS POSSIBLE ALONG THE IMMEDIATE TENNESSEE BORDER AND AT THE HIGHER RIDGE TOPS THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. THE WARNING MAY NEED TO BE EXTENDED AS THE SNOW MIGHT NOT TAPER OFF UNTIL THE MIDDLE PART OF THE DAY ON SUNDAY.

Last night, the power kept cutting in and out but didn’t ever stay out for too long.

By mid-day here the road in front of the house was mostly clear. The sun did some of the work … but also, snow plows! In the eight years I have lived in this house I don’t think I have ever seen a snow plow go up the road. Today it has been a pretty regular sight. It’s kinda cool to know that my tax dollars really do work.

On the reverse side, it hasn’t done me any good since the Bug wouldn’t make it out of town yesterday. I waited a wee bit too long to leave work and that first hill was the killer. So, we have clear roads but I have no car with which to travel them. Hopefully I will be able to reclaim the Bug tomorrow.

Final snowfall total as measured on the back deck this morning … approximately 13 inches!

It’s been snowing here since 7:00-ish this morning and I can now report there is 10″ of white powdery fun on my deck.

That’s snow, people … not cocaine.

My mood is slowly improving … which is good. It probably helps that I have finally acquired something that I have wanted for years. Thank you very much, eBay.

Meanwhile, it’s been three strikes with Netflix.

These three movies equal six wasted hours. Ugh.
“My Beautiful Laundrette”
“Hancock”
“Deception”

Avoid these and your life with be six hours longer.

Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. Rumors of my depression and anger, however, have not been.

Work has been super stressful and angering. There are some changes happening that have put some things up in the air. And my boss has been acting crazier and meaner than usual. Last week was one of those where I dreaded going to work every day. I haven’t been like that about work since 1991. Friday morning I was so angry I almost walked out. Today seemed to be a little calmer, at least.

Having been accused of being passive aggressive on Facebook, the accuser passively and aggressively bitch-slapped me about a week and half ago. Part of me expected something more responsible from this person. Part of me wonders if he even realizes just how bummed and upset I have been by his actions. Probably not. I haven’t worked up the nerve to call and talk to him because I am, at heart, a big non-confrontational weenie.

Hell, I’ll probably be accused of being passive aggressive again for posting that last paragraph.

I do need to get my head in a good space as I have had three nearly “panic-y” days in as many weeks.

Good thing is this is the last full work week of the year. Two four-day weeks and two three-day weekends await.