Snow Day

Gotta love winter.
All of a sudden Mother Nature dumps a batch of snow or freezing rain on us and the world stands still, and I get a day, maybe even two, off. Now that's a Winter Wonderland.
Thursday, I didn't even expect it or see it coming. From what I'd heard the weather was coming in Thursday night. Maybe it would effect Friday, but I was counting on covering the basketball game I was assigned Thursday evening. I just happened to watch the noon news and discovered that schools were cancelling left and right. I made a quick call and my game was off. Woo Hoo!!
And, it seems unlikely many games will get played today. Another day off.
Now keep in mind, I'll end up covering a game, maybe two, on Saturday when they all get made up. So, I just end up switching days off. Still, I like the idea where suddenly, I have the day off and don't have to go anywhere or do anything. And, since the weather is so bad, I can just hunker down at home.
Of course, I'll grumble when I have to clear off my car. I won't like it when there's a snow storm and schools don't cancel games, meaning I'll have to drive through the slop to get to and from the game. I'll have to shovel some snow and trudge through the mess and slop that winter leaves. All that probably outweighs having a day off, but I'll take the gift of a snow day.
It is still like when I was a kid in school. There'd be a threat of bad weather. I'd forgo doing the homework or studying for a test, hoping Mother Nature would cut me a break. I'd be delivering papers in the morning just waiting for the fire horn signal or some sign that school was cancelled. It would be the ultimate thrill when I'd hear the blessed news. Of course, it was quite a downer if I discovered school was on as planned. That's when it might be time to strike up the fake cough and fever, which usually never worked.
Of course, the snow day would come and go and I still wouldn't bother and get my homework done or study for the test I got a reprieve for.
We have weather days other times of the year. We'll have rain outs in the fall or spring. Those just don't seem to be the same. The rain will flood the fields and make them unplayable but the rest of life goes on.
On a snow day, you try and avoid going anywhere. It's like the world just stops.
The closest I can come to something like this is during the summer when I'm on the coast. If we get a rain day there and we're fogged in, that nixes most plans. There will be no boat trips, no bike trips and probably even a walk on the beach isn't worth the effort. So, the bad weather gives the go ahead to just sit back and read and do nothing or waste a day to go into town and do errands.
Still, the snow day can't be beat. It's like getting a gift from Mother Nature. The weather is saying, "Here, take the day off. Do nothing. Enjoy."
Thank you. I think I will.

Idle Minds Want to Know.

Now what?
The election is over. The Red Sox season is long done. The Patriots, well my hopes for them disappeared when Sammy Morris forgot he was supposed to block and watched his defender take out Tom Brady's knee. Oops. Sorry dude. My bad.
So, now I'm not sure what to do with myself. And that can't be good. Idle minds cause trouble. Just imagine what my idle mind can come up with? I fear to think of it myself.
All I need to do is open a folder on my computer. It's called the "Best of Squig". It has all the things I've created when the wheels in my mind are set in motion. There's the rewritten Night Before Christmas, a rewritten Jingle Bells, there's a number of phony stories and press releases I made up and sent to friends. I've got photos I've doctored. Heck, I've got a new version of the 12 Days of Christmas half written in my head right now.
The last month has seen a perfect storm of sorts that has left poor Squiggy with too much time on his hands and too few things of interest to focus his attention. If I didn't have that work thing to waste my time, I'd likely be going stir crazy - as opposed to just plain regular crazy. I've always said my mind was like one of those little gerbils running endlessly on the wheel. Well, Squig's wheel is spinning but finding little to fuel it.
I followed the election on a day-to-day basis for the better part of two years. I'm still interested in the political world but watching those shows just aren't the same. First of all, they're mostly talking about economics these days. If I knew anything about economics I likely wouldn't have been a sportswriter. I might have found a way to use my skills for some real coin. But, then again, maybe my skills only warrant the paltry sum of pennies I receive every two weeks.
The political campaigns also moved much faster than the political news now. They spent a good part of two weeks talking about Barack Obama's cabinet, especially Hillary Clinton. There are times I actually turn off the political stuff because it's too boring. The news cycle is too slow. They're talking about the same old stuff day after day.
Now the baseball season ended long ago, but all summer long, I've had the Red Sox to keep track of. Just like the election, I'd monitor the Sox status on a daily basis. Here in New England, we've gotten pretty spoiled where we simply await the next championship. The Sox came close but fell just short.
Typically, that'd be okay. They can't win it every year. Every other year suits me just fine. But, in other years, the Patriots would just pick up when the Sox season ended. But, with Brady's injury and everybody elses injury, and the fact that they have no defense, the Patsies have been too hard to watch. I long for the days when they'd blow out teams by 50 points. It was a relaxing afternoon of enjoying a little ass kicking. Now watching the Patriots takes patience, and I don't have patience. They actually seem to do better when I try not to show any interest.
It is obvious that the Pats may not make the playoffs, and even if they do, they won't go far. What is worse is that all the teams that are likely contenders for the Super Bowl are teams I can't stand. I may not be able to stomach any of the NFL postseason. I fear I might have to resort to watching the WNBA or rodeo's.
I do have the Boston Celtics, but their real season doesn't begin until April, when the playoffs start. So, it's hard to get too excited about them or follow them. Sames goes for the Bruins.
On top of all that, I just closed up our place on the coast and may not be back there for months.
So, with no election, no Sox, no Patriots, no seaside getaway to hold my interest, SquigNation is a bit unsure of what to do.
The local basketball season starts up tomorrow. That's a good sign, but I'm not sure if it is enough to keep me focused and out of mischief. We can only hope.
Now, what can I use for the 8th Day of Christmas?