I Might Actually Make It!

Well they're predicting more snow in Denver. Woo frickin hoo. I freaked out this morning about not being able to get out of Denver again. The snow forecast was getting worse and worse and I finally got a flight out tomorrow instead of on Friday. Yay! So I'm hoping to make it out.

I have to pack. And I'm exhausted instead. Hope I'll get it done soon!

More than just a Shovel

I'm getting ready to have Christmas Eve dinner and then later take in a Christmas Eve church service. I took a break to take pictures of the snow that has started to fall again in Denver and there was a knock on the door. It was a neighbor - a neighbor I know a teeny bit about because the door to his place is near our porch and so I see him come and go a lot when hanging out on the porch. In any case - he asked to borrow my shovel because I had it set out in the hall so not to get all the slushy snowy wetness in the apartment. I was more than happy to loan the shovel mainly because it's not even my shovel to begin with - a very very nice girl whom I like to call Jenny from the Block - loaned it to me on Friday morning and I have yet to bring it back...oots! In any case what Jenny from the Block doesn't know is that by loaning it to me she's so far (that I know of) loaned it also to Nick & Wendy and two of my neighbors.

It made me think actually in this Christmas season of something I was taught on a number of occasions in the past 2 years - first at Mars Hill and then here in Denver - that it's not good news unless it's good news for everybody. It's a stretch I know - and bear with me. I've been thinking a lot today about God the Father and his love for the world and I've been struck with this sense that if it's not good news for everybody then it's not really good news. I guess all I'm trying to say is that in this Christmas season I want to live my life in such a way that I'm good news for everyone. Good for me. Good for you. And good for the World.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
Love, mgd

Asking for Trouble

There was a story on the local news website about the officials at Invesco Field working hard to prepare for the Bronco's game tomorrow. There will be limited parking and since the stadium is not a dome they had to clear the field and the stands. Pretty standard story here in Denver (which is in itself crazy) until I got to the last line of the article:

"The Broncos also want to remind fans that the throwing of snowballs at any time is prohibited."

Seriously - I'm positive that snowballs will be thrown. Especially now that they've given people the idea. Is this really funny to anyone else - or just me?

Wendy and I went all the way to Stapleton this morning to Target to beat the last Saturday before Christmas rush. It felt so good to get out of the neighborhood! I'm so glad that the repercussions of this storm are starting to let up.

Pooped...I am Pooped

I just got done shovelling my car out of this spot. It doesn't look too bad from this angle - look on the other side of the street though to imagine the plowing in that's on the street side of the car. I'm supposed to be trying to make it into work. I'm trying alright. After I got the car out I was driving it around for a bit trying to find somewhere else to put it. I got stuck, some very nice people helped me get unstuck and then Vivian helped me put it right back into this spot because there's no place else to put it.

I'm done fighting with this storm. I'd like to be laid back and take things as they come - it's a way I prefer to live my life. However - I don't feel well, I'm not going to go home for Christmas, and I feel fairly trapped here in Capital Hill. I'm not in it alone and yet I'm done. I want to go home. I'm tired. I'm angry that the storm disrupted my plans. Is that so bad? It's off to the shower for me now. We'll see what the rest of the day brings.

Damn Blizzard

Shortly after the last post officials decided to close DIA until noon tomorrow - effectively cancelling my flight. Now I'm trying not to be self-centered about this. On Wednesday morning the newscasters were saying that over a million people were scheduled to fly in, out or through DIA this weekend. I'm certainly not the only person affected by this.

In any case - I'm going to be spending Christmas in Denver. There are beautiful people I love to spend it with and I do not want to negate that. People who have already invited me to join the party. I'm still however disappointed, sad and even a bit angry that I won't be spending Christmas in GR with my family. I'll make it. And it's gonna take a minute - or more.

Let it Snow

I only say let it snow because there's not anything I can do about it! Denver is going to have a white Christmas - there's no doubt! If you've been watching the news at all you may know that we've gotten (as of 7:15 this morning MST) 22 inches of snow since yesterday morning and it's still coming down!

When I got up yesterday around 5:30 it had just started to snow so I went into work and it got quickly worse and worse and worse. We were sent home around lunch time after a brand new Dodge diesel pick-up truck and a big box truck got stuck in our parking lot. At that point I thought we may be stuck in the building over night and I was not happy about that. I did make it home safely, parked my car on the street in what seemed like a foot of snow because the snow drift in the entrance to our alley was above my tires and I did NOT want to get stuck there! Then I spent the rest of the afternoon here with Sheralee and Vivian who works just a block from our house. She ended up staying the night because she didn't want to walk home in the blizzard (she doesn't have a car and wouldn't have wanted to drive either).

This morning even the post office is closed and we're being told not to go into work at all. The airport and the road to it - which is a 10 mile road - were closed yesterday around 3 and there are thousands of people still stranded out there. Right now they're saying it's closed until further notice. My flight leaves at 6:30 tomorrow morning - even if it does leave on time it is going to be a zoo!!

So for today I'm going to try and enjoy the snow day and pray very hard that the airport and the roads that get there are cleared up by this evening or tomorrow morning at the latest.

Oh Holy Snowballs Batman

It is snowing like crazy here! Supposed to have 16 - 24 inches by noon tomorrow. I watched it get worse while I was getting ready and at this point I'm just praying that we get sent home early and that I can get back to Michigan on Friday!