Tuesday, January 25, 2011

HASTA LA VISTA, BABY

If all has gone as planned--at this moment DH and I are sitting in the shade of a palm tree on a beach on the edge of the Yucatan.  Try not to hate us.  We've gone to find the sun.  If we're successful we'll do our best to bring some back with us when we return around the first of February.

Just so you won't forget me; here is a repeat of a post from last year.

SNOW IS A FOUR LETTER WORD

It has been said that the Inuit have over a thousand words for snow.  Around here we use several words for snow.  At this time of year most of them are not fit to print.  But I will tell you about several different kinds of snow.

FIRST SNOW:  Arrives in the night, but you know it is there even before you get up by the soft light in the bedroom and the silence outside.  Gently stacks itself on fence posts and snuggles in the arms of trees. Covers dark dead leaves and dry grass.
FEATHER SNOW:  Floats and swirls in big downy flakes.  If you listen carefully you can hear the children’s chorus and the “Song of the Dancing Snowflakes“ from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite.

FOG SNOW:  It doesn’t fall, it grows.  Through a foggy night long white crystals form on every possible surface.  Lacy delicate patterns turn even the unsightly into a thing of beauty.
CHRISTMAS SNOW:  Brings brightness to the darkest part of the winter.  Enhances holiday decorations by reflecting colored lights.  Hangs icicles from eves, and frosts the evergreens.

SNOWMAN SNOW:  Falls in thick, wet flakes.  Closes school.  Perfect for packing into snowballs, making snowmen and for sledding.
POWDER SNOW:  Cold and dry with fine crystals.  Fills pockets in the high places of ski resorts.  Causes insanity among skiers and snowboarders to the point that they joyfully fling themselves off cliffs.
STINGING SNOW:  Icy with hard, sharp edges.  Flies horizontally with extreme speed.  Freezes exposed skin and makes its way through the warmest of coats.
BLIZZARD SNOW:  Comes down so thick it is impossible to see across the yard.  The wind heaps it into drifts.  Snowplows work around the clock to keep roads open.  Driving in it at night feels like going into warp speed on the Millennial Falcon.
BLEAK SNOW:  Covers the landscape like a cloth over a dead body.  The world seems like an old gray photograph.  No sunlight for weeks.  If you listen carefully you can hear “Laura’s Theme” from Dr. Zhivago.
SLUSH SNOW:  Wet ice that clings to windshield wipers.  Slows traffic to a crawl.  Collects on surfaces until branches and electrical lines break and, in extreme cases, collapses buildings.
VAGRANT SNOW:  Crusty, gray stuff covered with dirt.  Sleeps in the gutter and under trees in the park.  Hangs around in the corner of parking lots long after the rest of the snow realizes it has overstayed its welcome.

PELLET SNOW:  Little round white bits that tumble out of sweeping dark clouds in early spring.  Beats down daffodils and crocus blossoms.  Causes frustration and intensifies depression. Then quickly melts.
DUFUS SNOW:  Comes out of nowhere after winter is supposed to be over.  Kills tender plants.  Sets gardeners into a rage and weighs down leafy trees until their branches rip off.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
See you in February.  If we find an internet cafe I may even leave a few comments on your blogs.

15 comments:

The Weaver of Grass said...

Have a lovely holiday.

Carla said...

Very inventive snow definitions.
I hope you're enjoying your stay.
Question: Were you a bit afraid go to Mexico?

TALON said...

So glad you and DH are having a fabulous time, Leenie. I'm not jealous, but I'm envious as hell! ;)

I think I've come up with a few of my own words for snow, but none of them are polite - lol!

Leenie said...

YES! We are having fun. We're just out of Akumal and away from the tourist hoards. No, not worried about this part of Mexico. Good security and very friendly people.

Unknown said...

.....thinking of several words for snow as my toes yearn for the warm sand and sun of Mexico! I guess I can gaze out the window and pretend my front yard is a beach and all the white stuff is sands from the gulf?? Until I venture out there barefoot to enjoy it and then.... here comes those words for snow again! HAVE SOOOOO MUCH FUN FOR ME!!! (and you) lots of love from the frozen chosen.

Sarah said...

great descriptions! I especially like dufus snow. I had a conversation with a Canadian at work about different types of snow, before she went on to laugh at our snow and the way it shuts everything down!
I hope you have a lovely time on your holiday in the sun!

Regina said...

Wow..no, don't forget me! (lol)I'm sure you'll have some terrific photos to share!
Dr. Zhivago, the Nutcracker Suite- feather, fog and Christmas snow sound beautiful to me..but ya, I'm not dumb enough to argue with you on this subject! Too much of a good thing!
Well, enjoy your wonderful get-away!
My best-

Flea said...

We don't get most of those. And as much as I love snow, you've reminded me of the one aspect which drives me insane: snow means not sleeping, since the ground and sky are white, making my bedroom look like morning light all night long. I love darkness for sleep.

Hope you're having a GREAT time soaking up the sun and sipping something fruity!

Unknown said...

I have a few words for snow, as well, mostly the result of having to get out the shovel and use it for something besides a handy prop to hold the shed door open. With my bad back and legs each shovelful of the vile stuff adds a new, equally vile word to my vocabulary.

Enjoy your vacation and please take pictures. I have it on good authority that the sun no longer exists and would love to see photographic proof to the contrary.

Oh, that's a good sign! The word verification for my comment reads unded. Does this mean snow zombies are next?

Anonymous said...

Here in the state of South Australia,I have only two descriptions for snow - interstate snow and overseas snow! Have a wonderful time!

Elizabeth said...

I refused to read your descriptions of SNOW!
I have lost interest in it........
do hope you are in a happy-snowless-zone
greetings from frozen NY

lizziviggi said...

Oh, I love Calvin! He reminds me of my daughter... which isn't always a good thing. I hope you're enjoying lots of warm-weather four-letter "S" words-- like "sand" and "surf"!

Anairam said...

I love your list of types of snow. And I love a woman who makes a plan - if you can't beat'em, pack a bag and go have a holiday on the beach away from 'em!

BB said...

Loving your snow terms... and imagining the unprinted ones!

Have a great holiday!
:-)
BB

Pearl said...

GREAT definitions.

And here I'd almost forgotten about Dufus Snow. :-)

Pearl