Crappy weather in Iowa...again

Today was rather miserable... weather wise. Overnight we had rain, then some snow today. I worked the evening at the library and almost everyone in town showed remarkable sense...they stayed home. I think maybe 5 people came in to use the library tonight.

Oh well. I was there if I was needed. Given this dreadful economy, I'm grateful to have steady employment.

Even with the lousy weather, I'm still excited about my book's upcoming release!

30 days until release - January 7, 2009!

March came in like a lion!!!

The bad news? Well, we got the blizzard they were predicting. Interstate 80 was closed from like Omaha to Davenport on Thursday night into Friday morning (BTW, that's across the entire state of Iowa, kids). The good news? I didn't lose my power! After last week, I was thrilled out of my tiny mind about that! Believe me!!

The library closed early Thursday night so I went across the street to buy some groceries before I went home. It wasn't too bad at 6 p.m. By the time I was done at the store about half an hour later, the wind was blowing horizontally. I kid you not!

I was SO happy I wasn't scheduled to work on Friday. I would have been, but this was my weekend to work. The roads and such were much better by the time I had to emerge from hibernation to work on Saturday. I work this afternoon from 1-4 pm, then I'll go home and crash. Sleeping sounds pretty darn good right now.

Can we say... I spoke too soon? Hmmmm?

Oh my God... I just had to ask what else could happen? The good news.... I survived the ice storm. Yaaay. The bad news is my power went out at 2:30 pm on Saturday and didn't come back on until Monday morning some time (I'm not sure exactly when because I was at work at the library). But thankfully, I'm not one of those people who are STILL without power, and there are a few.

I stayed in a motel Sunday night because the cold started to get to me, and I had to go to work on Monday. If I had to work, I wanted to get a good night sleep someplace warm. Now, granted, it was only in the 50s inside the house Sunday afternoon, but BRRRRRR that's cold.

Not only that, but it was torture to be without power. No TV. No computer...talk about withdrawal. The lack of information sucked!!! I'm a librarian, but my only way to get info was calling friends in town to find out if they had power. "Have you been watching TV? Do they say when power might come back?" No one knew. I tried to get batteries to put in a boombox I had - I got the batteries but the boombox wouldn't work. Damn! Never again. With the predictions for a blizzard in Iowa later this week (AFTER the ice last week) I've gone out to buy a small radio and AA batteries to use with it. I just hope I don't need the radio.

Some friends brought me food Sunday afternoon, and I finally caved and made room reservations at a local motel. Fortunately, there were rooms available. After a toasty warm Sunday evening during which I ignored the Oscars, I debated making reservations on Monday. I took an early lunch break at 11am and checked the house again - Power...blessed power! I went to the motel, got my stuff, got my cat, and came home. I love electricity.

I'll let you know how the upcoming blizzard weekend goes.... Keep your fingers crossed the power stays on. I sure will!