4:45am – I’m awakened by the rhythmic sound of blowing sleet hitting the roof, windows. I suspect I have a long day ahead of me.

7:35am – I hear the unmistakable sound of the plow truck passing outside. School is cancelled for the day.

9:00am - My neighbor has been driving his ATV (with a small plow attached to the front of it) for the past hour. He’s finally stops, but the noise gave me such a splitting headache that I can’t go back to sleep. Out of curiosity, I go outside with a ruler and measure 2” of snow in front of my building (so much for “4-6 inches overnight”).

11:15am – The snow has intensified, so I head outside with the biggest shovel I can find. The snow is heavy, but the bitterly cold wind keeps blowing it around making the job much more difficult.

Noon – The presidential news conference is pre-empting the local newscasts, but The Weather Channel says the storm is almost over.