I Finally Found What I'd Been Looking For

@Musicman

It was 15 degrees this morning!

@JoyfulSilence We were warmer here this morning. It was almost 50 degrees. The other morning it was only 36 degrees. We are in the low 70's right now and tomorrow through Monday we will be in the low 80's. Then we drop back into the 60's.

@Musicman

We are supposed to get 6 to 10 inches of snow on Sunday. And it will be cold!

@JoyfulSilence I talked to a couple of friends from Virginia today. One said 10 inches and the other said 26 inches. Either way that is a lot more snow than DC is use to.

@Musicman

Yeah. I am not looking forward to having to shovel it and then drive in it.

But if it shuts down everything they will likely permit telework on Monday. So I probably should bring my laptop home on Friday.

@JoyfulSilence That sounds like a smart idea. Are there any restaurants close enough for you to walk to?

@Musicman

Maybe a mile away. But I really would not even want to do that in nice weather. Doing it on cold day in thick snow would be crazy, and dangerous since few people plough sidewalks around here, and street ploughs make thick berms impeding walking. So if I cannot drive, I am stuck. But the streets are usually passable, and this is not too much snow. It's been worse.

The most annoying thing is having to shovel out my car. Yet 6 inches is not bad. Still, it has to go somewhere so there are huge berna in the way, pushed up by ploughs and shovels, and taking up parking spaces. I leave my shovel in my trunk to clear out parking spaces before I park! It is sort of eroded. I should get a new one!

@JoyfulSilence Yes you should and before it snows and everyone else is out buying them.

I definitely wouldn't walk a mile in that mess either. Are you all stocked up on good stuff to eat?

@Musicman

I have food.

And I grew up in NE Ohio so was used to snow in winter. Of course back then I never had to drive much in it, since I was too young to drive. Yet I sure did a lot of shoveling! Occasionally I would join the neighborhood kids and wander around asking folks if they would pay us to have their driveway and walks shoveled. A few said yes and we made a few bucks. A lot of work for little money. It is not like we had a union! I bet it was far less than minimum wage, too!

I will get out as soon as I can and the roads are passable. Most places will be open, I presume. It is not too much snow.

I had no car in college and my first two years in the DC area. I walked everywhere or took buses or the subway. And when I got a car I was used to shoveling it out.

But I suspect they will allow us to telework. I am able to because I did it for a few years during the pandemic, and after. So I know it works. I am also officially eligible during such emergencies. They are telling everybody who is eligible to bring home our laptops today.

After the pandemic, Biden urged all agencies to start bringing people back at least 2 days a week, I think. But if you did less than 2 a week you had to share a workspace (they called it "hotelling"). Then we were delayed because we were moving to a new office, which was under renovation. They allowed people to go to the old office if they wanted, but few did. I cleared out my cube.

Then Biden wanted everybody to come in at least half of the days. But our new office was not yet ready, so my agency was still delayed. Then Trump won and cancelled all telework, other than for hardship, or if people were far from the office and remote work had been part of their hiring offer.

So when we got to our new place, everybody came in, except for folks who lived far away. They are grandfathered in and allowed to work remotely, rather than be forced to move or quit. Yet I think they still have to go to a federal office if there is one close. These satellite offices house many agencies. So I still work with some people on video calls and e-mail. Yet being in person is so much more efficient. Conversations are so much better in person.

@JoyfulSilence I completely agree with you. I would rather talk with people face to face then over the phone.

Coming from snow country definitely helps you prepare for snow. Being in town like you are you should get plowed first. You should be able to go out for breakfast or brunch.

That was smart telling everyone to bring their laptops home. An ounce of protection is worth more than a pound of cure.

@Musicman

It makes sense for them. Before telework they would shut down and give us administrative leave.

Then about a decade ago they allowed limited telework, a few days a month, and gave laptops. Yet in return those people had to work on snow days, from home, unless they had not anticipated it. Later, we all got laptops but telework was optional. I only signed up for it when the pandemic hit, because I had no other choice. A lot of people grumbled when we had to come back.

It is good and bad. Good to be in one place: less e-mail and more chatting face-to-face, like life was meant to be lived. Bad to have to commute, and I miss the restaurants near me when I worked from home. Yet my old office had good restaurants within walking distance, which I miss now. My current office is in a lower class hood with only fast food. Nobody leaves the building, yet we have a decent cafeteria, snack shop, cafe, and even vendors who visit and bring prepare food. It is a large campus.

@JoyfulSilence Has the storm started yet? Did you go out for breakfast today?

@Musicman

Not yet. The storm is later.

It is 1pm and I got out. It is clear yet 16 degrees. I got gas and froze my balls off. Now U am at IHOP drinking coffee. I ordered chicken and waffles.

Then I need to go to CVS to pick up drugs.

My Gatorade in my car was frozen solid!

I think I will go home after. The snow will start overnight. The cold is worse!

@JoyfulSilence I love chicken and waffles 😋😋😋😋😋😋 At least you are getting prepared before the storm. I have had frozen drinks in my work van when I lived in Virginia. Fortunately that has never happened in Florida.

@Musicman

You do not need a drink in Florida. I bet you can just pick an orange or grapefruit off a nearby tree!

🤪

@JoyfulSilence Yes I can 😊

@Musicman

I stopped eating and drinking those due to diabetes. Also, the acid gives me heartburn. And one of my medications has a note saying do not consume grapefruit!

@JoyfulSilence I haven't had a grapefruit in years. I haven't had an orange in a couple of years either. The grapefruit is just too much for me and my blood sugar keeps me away from the oranges.

@Musicman oranges are my go to when I break down
I am not really the type who likes medication but each time I break down to the point of not being to keep up I just try to get oranges and I am gonna be fine and least have something in my stomach because I am sure not gonna be able to eat when I am sick

@OluwoleFemiJacob That's great! When I was a kid if I ate an orange I would get a rash. There is just too much acid in them for me. My favorite fruit is grapes. 😋