Snowmageddon Part II

Before we had even recovered from the first blizzard, the DC area was hit with another one. This one had less snow but more wind. I think it was actually more dangerous than the first storm. At times, I would look outside and could not see anything. Total white out conditions.

The Federal Government has been closed for about a week. It's just nutty. I have a case of total cabin fever.

During my forced confinement, I have done the following:

• Cleaned my entire house
• Watched endless hours of Storm Watch on ABC 7.
• Reorganized my closets and put aside 4 bags of clothes for Goodwill
• Organized all of my household papers (bills, tax info, etc)
• Watched many movies including Sunshine Cleaning, 8 Seconds, The Ballet Shoes, and My Sisters's Keeper.
• Shoveled much much snow.
• Did some work from home.
  
• Read the Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah.
• Talked on the phone for more hours than I ever have in my life.
• Logged much time on Facebook.
• Caught up on my blog.
• Drank lots of coffee and hot chocolate with Bailey's.
• Did some online shopping.
• Watched some episodes of Castle - I'm still about 6 behind though.

These storms were definitely a case of be careful what you wish for. I had been hoping for a random day off to just relax. No plans - just time to chill. Well, I got 7 of them and that's 6 too many.

Oh well, it will be another 15 years before DC sees the same type of storm again. I won't complain too much. In another couple of months, I'll be wishing for one of these lazy snow days.

Grammy Performance

Last week, the Grammys were on TV. At times, I felt like the performers were picked just for me. All of my favorites were on - Bon Jovi, P!nk, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Beyonce, etc.

And of course - Lady Gaga!

However, Lady Gaga's performance, which opened the show, was even better because she sang a duet with Elton John. I adore Elton John and Lady Gaga so I felt like this performance was just for me. It was awesome. Luckily, it was available for purchase on ITunes so I can listen to it whenever I want!

Oscar Snub?

The Oscar nominations came out last week. There were not that many surprises which probably means that the ceremony is going to be boring. But I'm sure I'll watch it anyway.

There are a couple of omissions that people keep griping about. One is the exclusion of 500 Days of Summer from the best picture category. This year, there were 10 slots and many people felt this movie deserved one of them even if it had no chance of winning.

I've blogged about this movie before. I thought that this movie was good and I loved Joseph Gordon-Levitt's performance. If anything from the movie was going to be Oscar nominated it should have been him. My largest complaint about this movie was that while I really felt for the male character I could not stand the female character in the movie. That's a problem when it's a romantic movie and you are supposed to sympathize with both.

However, I did love the musical scene from the movie. It was so cute. But then again, Joseph Gordon-Levitt makes anything adorable.

Color Personality Quiz

Recently, I took a color personality quiz. The results were pretty interesting. My top two categories - creator and organizer fit well with my current job which is basically advertising/public relations.

I guess I picked a good career. . .

Here are the full results:

Best Occupational Category

You're a CREATOR

Keywords

Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive, and Emotional

These original types place a high value on aesthetic qualities and have a great need for self-expression. They enjoy working independently, being creative, using their imagination, and constantly learning something new. Fields of interest are art, drama, music, and writing or places where they can express, assemble, or implement creative ideas.

CREATOR OCCUPATIONS
Suggested careers are Advertising Executive, Architect, Web Designer, Creative Director, Public Relations, Fine or Commercial Artist, Interior Decorator, Lawyer, Librarian, Musician, Reporter, Art Teacher, Broadcaster, Technical Writer, English Teacher, Architect, Photographer, Medical Illustrator, Corporate Trainer, Author, Editor, Landscape Architect, Exhibit Builder, and Package Designer.

CREATOR WORKPLACES
Consider workplaces where you can create and improve beauty and aesthetic qualities. Unstructured, flexible organizations that allow self-expression work best with your free-spirited nature.

Suggested Creator workplaces are advertising, public relations, and interior decorating firms; artistic studios, theaters and concert halls; institutions that teach crafts, universities, music, and dance schools. Other workplaces to consider are art institutes, museums, libraries, and galleries.

2nd Best Occupational Category

You're an ORGANIZER

Keywords:

Self-Control, Practical, Self-Contained, Orderly, Systematic, Precise, and Accurate

These conservative appearing, plotting-types enjoy organizing, data systems, accounting, detail, and accuracy. They often enjoy mathematics and data management activities such as accounting and investment management. Persistence and patience allows them to do detailed paperwork, operate office machines, write business reports, and make charts and graphs.

My Sister's Keeper

While I was snowed in this weekend, I was feeling really sad. See, I was snowed in alone because Mike got snowed in at his house in Woodbridge. So we chatted on the phone multiple times a day but it wasn't the same as if he had actually been HERE. But, oh well. S*** happens, right?

So since I was already feeling sad, on Saturday night I curled up on the couch with a glass of wine to watch My Sister's Keeper on TV. This is a movie based on the book of the same name by Jodi Picoult. I read this book several years ago and was emotionally destroyed for a couple days after finishing it. However, I heard that the ending was changed for the movie and that it was "happier."

I'm not sure if I would describe the ending as "happier." It was really just sad in a different way. However, I do think it was a shame that the movie leaves out the twist at the end of the book. That twist was really powerful when I read the book. Without it, the movie becomes very predictable. That's not to say that I did not cry the whole way through - because I totally did. It's still a sad and emotionally charged story.

Mike called right as the movie ended. I was all congested and pathetic sounding because I had been crying for 2 hours. And he was like "Why would you watch this movie if you knew it would make you cry?!"

I guess I'm a glutton for punishement. Next time, I'll choose a nice comedy. . .

Snowmageddon

This weekend the DC area got hit with a MONSTER storm. The city itself received about 20 inches of snow. Where I live - in the Maryland suburbs - I got about 28-30 inches. It was INSANE.

The snow started on Friday. In anticipation, the Federal Government closed 4 hours early and since my company follows the government, we closed early too. I worked from home in the morning and watched the snowfall get more intense.

However, before the snow got too bad, I went on the hunt for a shovel. See when we got the last storm about 2 months ago, my snow shovel broke. And silly me - I forgot to replace it. So starting at 7AM on Friday, I went out to find a shovel. To my surprise, every store was sold out of snow shovels. I tried about 10 stores before I finally gave up. But, when I got home about 2 hours later, I called Home Depot and found out they were expecting another shipment of shovels on Friday afternoon. At about 12:30, I went out to Home Depot and got there just in time. They had a line of people waiting for shovels and they were handing them out behind a barricade. It was crazy. I guess they were expecting a riot if people did not get their shovels. And you know, they weren't that far off. The shovels were gone in about 10 minutes and the people who got their at 10 minutes and 20 seconds were MAD.

Luckily I got my shovel so my mission was accomplished.

Grocery stores were also insane. I have never seen the parking lot at the Bloom by my condo even remotely crowded. And on Thursday and Friday it was PACKED. There were no parking spaces left. It was nutty.

But I braved the store and got some food so I will not starve. That's a plus.

And you know, it was smart to get the shovel and the food because the storm was as bad as people said it would be. When I went to bed on Friday, there was maybe 5 inches of snow. On Saturday morning, I woke up to a Winter Wonderland. It was white as far as you could see. And, the snow was completely undisturbed. Not a footprint or plow in sight.

When the snow started to slow down around 2PM on Saturday, I braved the outside. I wanted to try and dig my car out a bit. Poor Hans - my car - was completely invisible. It took me about an hour and half to dig him out. I can't actually drive him anywhere as the parking lot is still snowfilled but at least I can see the car and get into the car. So, when they do plow - I hopefully will be able to get out.

Now it is Sunday and I am watching my neighbors try and get their cars out of the parking lot. This is hilarious as the parking lot has not been plowed so each car keeps getting stuck in the snow. I'm not sure where these people have to go that they cannot wait for the plow to come. I myself am prepared to be in my condo all of today and possibly tomorrow too. I am not going anywhere until I see that plow.

I figure that I am better off than most people so I might as well stay put. Half of Montgomery County has lost power - but I am luckily in the half that still has power. Yay. Buildings have collpased in DC because of the weight of the snow. The metro is still only operating below ground. The major roadways are still icy and dangerous. With all of this in mind, why would I even try to go anywhere. . .

Life will return to normal soon I suppose. But Snowmageddon 2010 will be a storm to talk about for years.