Preparing For Snow Is So Much More Fun Than Snow Itself

Snow is imminent. Blizzard warning for our county. That usually means we'll get 2 inches. But we are not going to chance it, no way. We ran to the store and bought:

• chips
• dip
• hot dogs
• sauerkraut
• baked beans
• hamburgers
• pizza dough
• large bar of Lindt bittersweet chocolate
• M&Ms
• Devil Dogs (for The Teen)
• milk
• Doritos

I have no idea why snow falling all day requires us to eat like we are on a summer picnic, but it does. Actually, tomorrow I am making spare ribs in the crockpot with Baby Ray's honey sauce, steamed artichokes, and maybe chicken soup if I remember to defrost the chicken.  And i can eat anything I want tomorrow because it is my birthday.

Today I went to Cafe Mozart with my sisters and my friend Rae. I had eggs Benedict with smoked salmon and a cappuccino. Sisters had raisin bread french toast, goat cheese omelette, and pancakes. We were too full for desert which is practically unheard of in our family. Then we walked down to the little quilt store where we bought Midori silk ribbons, ribbons printed like marking tape, black satin ribbon with silver hooks (very s&m, Maria bought that - what does that tell you??), and some cotton perl in Santa Fe colors.

I watched a movie called Off the Map with Joan Allen and Sam Elliot. It is a small, independent film about a family who moves off the grid in northern New Mexico. At the heart of the story is the awakening of a young man through art. It is a gorgeous movie and now I am longing to visit New Mexico. We have Cinderella Man and Wedding Crashers (quite a combo) to watch while it snows and I am just starting a new painting from old family photos.

I've decided I am going to take a painting class, but I see that I've missed the beginning of the Spring semester at most places. I am going to sign up for an evening class at Cooper Union for the summer. I think it'll be neat to drive into the city and come out in the soft summer night after an evening of painting.

This coming birthday blizzard is bringing all sorts of dreams and a feeling of weightlessness. It must be a portent to have a blizzard on your birthday. The last time was when I turned 13. We built snow forts and caves in our front yard and iced them with the hose and sledded on our own moguls. Tomorrow is a little crack in time back to my childhood. Portents and prophecies. In a snowglobe.