Snow drifts call for supplemental airport support

Sunday morning. Mom and I woke up, late of course, and had to rush to get ready for church. She told me I didn't need to wash my hair...not something I agreed with but, c'est la vie. I scarfed down some Puffins (my absolute favorite Whole Foods cereal) smeared on some mascara and threw on my sweater. After bundling up in my down coat, scarf and gloves I was ready for the snow boots. Mom was running down the stairs and we were off, Church here we come!

Dad had suggested that when we back out of the driveway we try to hit the tracks of his truck so that it would be easier for us to get out in Mom's 2WD Toyota Rav4. Why anyone would get a 2WD SUV is beyond me, but to each his own. With the blizzard that we have been experiencing for the last week it is quite difficult, suffice to say, to recognize exactly where the snow drifts start and how high they really are. Unfortunately, we didn't see the 3 ft high tightly packed drift looming in our future pathway. We gunned it down the driveway and "Whomp!" Stuck. Not moving. Tired spinning. Yep, we were high-centered. In a fit of laughter we hopped out of the car and called Dad to come outside and help.

Now is when you should be ready to really laugh. My dad, the glorious and hilarious man that he is loooooves getting a reaction from people. He struts outside wearing his long underwear (he pointed out that they are navy blue with pockets) sweatshirt, hat and gloves, with his cowboy boots and the Pièce de résistance, my grandmother's fur coat! He sure thought he was the cat's meow.

After some neighbors stopped to help us once followed by us getting ourselves stuck again, then, rocking back and forth, putting a board under the front tire and scooping all around the tires, we had to call in the big guns. The neighbor boys. It took four grown men and me behind the wheel to get our car out of the driveway.

By that time, we were already 15 minutes late to church and by the time we got there we would be almost a half an hour unfashionably late. Dad needed time to snowblow and scoop the driveway so we took a nice tour around the neighborhood to check out the rest of the winter wonderland. There were some drifts that were so big that even the city snow plows avoided them. Chickens, I'd say. People were strewn all over the streets shoveling and scooping hoping to make enough of an indent to allow them to leave their homes after suffering a long bout of cabin fever.

As I phoned Dad to tell him we were on our way back he said to make sure we come from the east because he had a path ready and he would direct us in. He's all about directing. As we turn down 34th Street (yep, we live on 34th Street just like the movie, that was one of my most bragged about things as a child) I saw a tall lanky figure in the distance. As we got closer I could make out that the figure was wearing a woman's winter fedora and familiar "signature" cowboy boots while holding a flashlight in one hand and a kitchen scrubber brush in the other. Good Lord, it was my father. He was literally an air traffic controller guiding us safely into the garage. For even more convenience and ease he had set up "runway lights." Blue, red and yellow shovels lined our path into the driveway as he motioned and directed us home. I was laughing so hard that I almost missed the clearly marked runway. I could not help but exert all of my energy into my abundant laughter, this was certainly a sight to see.

Inbetweenie

Well, I have been on hiatus for over a month and have found a new direction! In the words of Lucy from Charlie Brown's Christmas, "You've got to have DIRECTION!!" I have found a new direction and am excited to start the journey down this new road. Although there are undoubtedly twists and curves in the road, there are a few sure-fire exceptions. I am moving home. That's right. After 4 1/2 years of living either in a gorgeous spanish tile roof historic house full of 72 girls (unlimited closets and abundant social engagements), a conveniently-close-to-the-bars downtown apartment with two of my best friends or in complete solace and bliss in my very own beautiful 916 square ft apartment decorated to my exact wishing....I am back in the basement of my childhood home with a pair of somewhat older and kookier roommates to boot!

After a series of knock-on-the-door "can I have a job?" attempts, applications, interviews and thank you notes with no thank you in return, I am mixing up some new ingredients consisting of early add-ins of a para position in my elementary school followed by graduate school, I am looking forward to a superb end product!

I have a tendency to get ahead of myself and forget the ever important "inbetweenie" stuff. This is the stuff that will be a challenge, cause headaches, test my patience but also make me laugh until my stomach aches and my eyes water. This has already started and I am not even home yet! Case in point:

The rumor mill in Columbus runs a little rampant at times, especially when a long-gone graduate looking for a new bright and shiny world returns home. Obviously, she is getting married. Right? Wrong. It seems that people tend to be of the opinion that I need to either a. be getting married...and soon; or b. dating someone very seriously and am just living at home until we move in together. If anyone is of the opinion of either of those, you may now leave. I am NOT getting married nor am I dating anyone. Although, some of my friends did suggest that I tell these rumor-spreaders that I am registered. When I say registered I am talking stores like DSW shoes, J.Crew, Banana Republic, and Anthropologie. I suggested Manolo Blahnik but my mom reminded me that not everyone from Columbus would know what that was, in other words, they haven't seen Sex and the City, which is just wrong! Then, when people ask, "Do they have household appliances there?" I will simply reply, "Why no, what do you think I am registering for? I really need to restock my closet." Hahaha, I can't wait for their reaction; the reaction is really the part that I am excited for.

So, I will be using this blog as a basis for living back in my hometown and all of the funny and quirky people, events, stories and situations that I come into. Entertainment factor will be over and beyond what anyone is expecting, I am sure. I mean, living with my parents has already given me a TON of material.

I hope you are ready for it...I know I'm not.