Geeky Cat Miusings

Snow can be beautiful to look at, particularly when you are inside somewhere cozy and warm and are looking out the window and the snow drifts. But in general it is a nuisance: It takes longer to get ready for work, the unevenness of the snow covered sidewalks hurts my toe, it is messy (especially when vehicles speed through puddles, spraying dirty slush on innocent pedestrians), the coldness is uncomfortable, it causes traffic issues and thereby extending my already very long commute to work, and it does not lend very well to my sitting outside and enjoying a zen-like frame of mind.

However, there are some pleasures to be had by a fresh scattering of snow, and since we have had much snow over the past week, I had the chance to enjoy that pleasure every day. Since I take the same route to work five days a week, I find I get bored with the scenery and have stopped looking out the window on my daily trek. We have had 30cm (1ft) accumulation, of snow and that has dramatically changes the landscape. Where once there was a brown patch of grass on front lawns, there is now a white patch of crystalline snow that is ready for the creation of snow angels, snow men, or snow cats. Where there was once a porch surrounded by empty flower pots, there is now an enchanted type of garden with flower pots sprouting fluffy ice cream balls. Where once cars were parked close to the curb, mini-ski hills have taken hold and now the cars must park near the middle of the road. Where once there were plain black shingles covering the roofs of houses, there is now sparkling white blanket covering the house from side to side with icicles glistening along the eaves to complete the fairy-tale look. Even the ugliest chain fence was made pretty with little triangular piles of snow nestled in the bottom of the diamond shape. The transformation did not end with inanimate objects - even people had snowflake decorations in their hair which melted to white diamonds as the entered the warm bus. So, I am happy to say that the snowfall has redecorated the city, making it once again an interesting and lovely place to look at, even though I have seen it countless times before.