Let It Snow!

The first snowfall of the year is upon us here in the Nation's Capital. Yes, I got to go home early today. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, but I find it a little ridiculous that half of my office had to leave to get home to the suburbs before "it gets worse.".

I find all this snow talk rather humorous. Every year this city goes through the same drill and freaks out when the winter weather rolls in. This year, the discussions started on the weekend. All that coverage of the midwest snow storms and how they were "coming our way." I guess that Boston got slammed and we just missed it. I did see a few flakes while watching the Patriots/Ravens game the other night. What was that all about? The Ravens need to tame some of their players and the short tempers. But, this blog is not about sports, so I should not digress.

So it is snowing and I am sitting comfortably on my couch having coffee and watching the History Channel. No, I am not scrambling to get milk, or bread or even salt for that matter. This yearly snow panic that comes over the city just makes me scratch my head. I lived in New England for years, and even lived in Europe, near the Alps...they never shut down due to snow. I mean if a post-communist, former Soviet Bloc country can clear their roads without fail then why do we have such a hard time doing it in the Capital of the "most powerful country in the world?"

I understand the danger aspect of everyone's commute. I think the danger comes from the fact that our terrible drivers in the metropolitan area become insane drivers when it snows. I am glad that I don't have to face those dangers on the road. My biggest fear is slipping on the metro platform tiles while in my snow covered Bostonians. No, I don't wear boots. I know it is silly, but I think they look ridiculous while wearing a suit. So, I would much rather risk frostbite and look presentable than run into a client or colleague in Lands End Boots and my Armani suit pants scrunched up on top of them. It just screams bureaucrat.

So my commute home wasn't that bad. I took both bus and metro, neither of which seemed to have a problem with the snow. Granted, I am a little cold and wet when I finally get home, but it is nothing a cup of joe and a hot shower can't fix. Now, we just wait for the news reports and the school closures to start - the official sign that winter has come to Washington.