Weather Dork Report

I’ll admit that I am a weather dork. I enjoy watching the Weather Channel and monitoring an impending snow storm. I even report on it on my Facebook status with my Weather Dork Report.  My friends depend on me. They do. Really. I wish I had this when I was younger.

I used to sit and watch the weather man on WTAE Pittsburgh.  We only got three channels back then. Can you imagine? We had ABC, NBC, and CBS. That was it. As my dad read the paper for what seemed like hours, sometimes with a pipe coming out of his mouth, I would listen to the weatherman. I would then turn around on the couch, on my knees, push back the curtains and watch for the first snowflakes to fall.

I learned early on that most storms came from the west, and I knew where to look for the storms. I was so excited to see the first snow fall. It’s funny, because I hated to go outside in the snow. I hated to be cold. Still do. I’d get all bundled up to go outside, and my lips would turn blue immediately after being outside for just a short time. I earned the nickname “Bluey” because it really looked like I applied bluish purple lipstick to my mouth. I would shiver, get on the sled a couple of times, and then head to the house.

Back then you would only find out about the weather at 6:00p.m. and 11:00p.m. newscast. Since I was young, and a bit hyper, I was put to bed early. Oh, but that didn’t keep me from finding out about the weather. I  would sneak out into the living room when my parents were sitting in the kitchen, and stand behind the ugly white and gold curtains that ran to the ground. I was tiny, so I could stand right in front of the huge picture window and watch the snow come without being noticed. “Don’t pay attention to that child behind the curtain.” I do remember a neighbor, Joe Minco, driving by slowly, waving at me as he entered his garage. I watch for the snow, and then turn around to see if the 11:00 weather man was getting ready to talk again. It’s a wonder I got up in the morning for school. I never slept. I guess hyper kids don’t need sleep.

It didn’t seem like we had many snow days off school back then. Then again, I don’t really remember for sure. I do remember that after we would have a big snowfall that we could built a snow fort and it would last for a very long time. It was cold. But, the main thing I remember  is that my mom would make homemade bread or refrigerator cookies when we didn’t have school. I ate cookies and watched for more snow all damn day.

“Vickie!!! Vickie, get in here………….Why are there so many cookie crumbs here?” (Pulling aside the curtain in front of the picture window)

There were crumbs all over the floor. Well, refrigerator cookies broke off a lot. My dog, Susie, didn’t particularly care for them. So, they sat where they dropped. Little kids don’t bend over to pick up cookies. Why would they?

Fastforward many years. We now have internet and many channels to get our weather information from. And that brings me to the Weather Channel. I could leave the Weather Channel on in the background all day long. Oh, and believe me, I have. I get excited when I know there is a snow storm coming. I’m a teacher, so we love snow days. Some of my friends on Facebook tell everyone to wear their pajamas on inside out and do a snow dance. I don’t know where the inside-out pajama ritual came from, but I guess if you wear them inside out and dance, snow will come and there won’t be any school. Yeehaw! I love feeling like I’m getting away with something. I have a friend, Suzanne, who is the ultimate snow momma. She would love it to snow every day of the year. I tease her, but understand her love of snow.

When my kids were little and I was a stay-at-home phenom, the kids would watch tv for the Snowbird Report on WBOY tv, channel 12. There was a jingle that would come on first, and my kids would run to the tv to see if Marion County schools were canceled that day. It would just make me smile.

And then I would make cookies.

So, yeah, I’m a weather dork. I watch and report the weather, especially when the snow flies.

I’m 55 years old going on 7. Like a giddy little kid, I still enjoy sitting on the couch, cookie in hand, waiting for the first snow flakes to fall.

I may have the internet for precise information, and Jim Cantore from the Weather channel broadcasting live from the epicenter of heavy snowfall prediction, but nothing beats quietly looking out the window, and smiling when it begins.

About these ads