Speaking of the hood....Since my last post, the neighborhood has changed a bit. Darlin' Nikki has returned (again). First it was a few days here and there and then she was just back. We lost two members of the hood -- the old stripper down the street and Pal's mom on the corner. We had a rocking block party where we got to meet more of the neighborhood and I was reminded how much I love this place. Plus the neighbor made me both venison and perch. The crazy guy and his mom still fight in the street and yet both are still alive and out of jail. This is the way it goes and this is the way I like it.
Most recently, the universe decided to to dump a shit ton of snow on us followed by temperatures bottoming out at -17 before the windchill, and now rain. I am not a fan of said universe right now.
Shocking as it may be, I did actually heed the warnings of the weathermen and women before the snow hit. I am not really a planner in my personal life but did manage to get to the Andersons for some supplies -- a few meals, dog food, wine, and a cream puff. This is actually quite an improvement from the last "blizzard" where I ventured out in a Bretta during the storm and put the milk back so I could buy cigarettes. I am going to give Eric credit for this "growth."
Anyway, at least there was food in the house when the snow started Sunday so we could calmly watch as the greater Toledo area shut down.
Toledo declared it was going to go to a level 3 snow emergency several hours before it happened predicting we'd stay there until noon Monday. One by one schools shut down for Monday, the colleges and universities, then businesses, and then pretty much everything but hospitals, police stations, firehouses, and snow removal. Somewhere in there even Owens closed (happy dance).
From the porch doors I was able to watch how the neighborhood reacted to the city shut down. they were far from sad. I think the party it started out as shoveling, but it quickly turned. By the end, there'd been a snowball fight, snow angels, and a DJ. Now that everything is melting I wonder if we'll see a pool party in the street later this week. I am hoping it isn't centered in my basement.
