let's take a look out the window

A month or so ago. 

Yesterday afternoon. 

It's hard to do it justice. And I didn't go outside today to get better shots. It's just too miserable out there...

I had plans to visit A way out in Western Ukr near the Carpathian mountains. Last night a friend was here for about an hour and was worried she wouldn't be able to get back to her apartment (about a 30 min walk from here). Get off the narrow beaten path and you're in snow to your knees. And the buses? Having serious trouble staying in motion. Traffic accidents and jams and snarls. She wasn't hanging around, thanks very much. I got worried and called A to ask what was happening out by them. It's raining she says. RAIN?! I ask. Yikes. Uh, I think I'll likely not come tomorrow I say. Oh please do come she says. I'll uh see I say. But I'm thinking- this is December, it's in the 20's here (Fahrenheit) and we know good and well that rain won't stay rain. You'll have ice by morning. And I have to leave here at 6 am to catch my train. And they won't have these rapidly-jamming-with-cars-and-snow streets cleared then if they don't have them open now. I mean...this isn't New York City. We just aren't into keeping roads open like that here. Not when the day coming is Sunday and not a work day. 

I went to bed feeling troubled but also scared about getting on a train (the last time I saw the train station- at 1.50 AM Sat- the tracks in the station were blowing closed. And the wind hadn't stopped since then and neither had the snow. I didn't set my alarm knowing that I'd have a hard time not going once I woke up and knowing with my head that it was foolish to get out.

Well- 5 AM on the nose I'm wide awake. Completely. I never knew my body had its own alarm clock. It's never seemed to have that affliction before. Well- I got up and shuffled around, literally and mentally. Looked out the window. Snow. And blowing. And lots of both. What to do? I really need to go back to bed. It's crazy to even consider going. And I do. I go back to bed but I'm restless. 

A is looking forward to this. 

Be quiet and go back to sleep. 

But A....

NO! 

Well, I did go back to sleep but it was restless sleep. Woke up again at 6. Still not too late to peel out of bed and fly for the train. Like really fly. I looked out the window again and reluctantly went back to bed. 

When I came to again the train, thankfully (if it managed to get through at all) was long since gone. I'd missed it and I was here for the day. For good.

Called A later and she said- I was so worried about you. Our rain froze-there's soooo much ice- and now lots of snow on that. The roads are closed and they're telling people to stay home unless it's an emergency. I was afraid you were on the bus. Oh I'm so glad...

That made me feel better! 

So- now you know what it's like here. It's snowy. And wintery. And bad. 

And I've got chicken curry in the crock pot and it smells super! 

:)