Where a Day Off Turns into an Opportunity to Snow Drive
I can't say this enough, and I don't want to seem braggadocious, but there are some really nice perks to working in higher education. One of the best - snow days!
Both Nancy and I had the day off yesterday. An unplanned day to do whatever it was that we felt like. It was an extra weekend day, nevermind that it came in the early part of the week, and for me sorely needed. I'm currently teaching at the college on the weekends during the month of February so my time to get normal weekend things accomplished has been reduced down to one day a week.
So how'd we make the most of our get off work free day? We both spent most of it working around the house. Me doing my chores and Nancy de-cluttering areas of the house in preparation for our first visit from our new cleaning service. That sounds so uppity to me...
Nancy had a dentist appointment later in the afternoon and with it still so snowing, I convinced her I would drive her there. With some reluctance she agreed. As we proceeded down the freshly snow blown drive (thanks Rich!), I glanced in her direction and could see the apprehension beginning to build.
At the first intersection in our subdivision, I decided to put her fears to rest and demonstrate my master technique of snow driving. I entered the intersection turning left as the rearend of my truck attempted to come around from the right. A slight counter steer kept the truck going straight. Just seconds into my maneuver, Nancy said, "Why do you to that?".
"Why do I do what?", I replied innocently.
"Drive fast so your truck goes sliding around the corners", she said with some level of frustration.
The counter steer took effect and the truck straightened out as we pulled up to another intersection.
I explain to her how it's good practice for driving on snow, the fact that some of it is caused by my truck being rear wheel drive, and countless other reasons that she just ain't buying.
I make another left - same technique, same result, same conversation with the added comment from her about having driven on snow countless times this year and the fact that the rearend of her van never goes sliding around ... She turns away and I feel her virtual elbow send a blow to my ribs. Message receieved.
The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful. Once in awhile I give it a little extra gas going around a corner but for the most part I behaved myself keeping the virtual elbow at bay.
Later we stopped by the grocery, then ate an impromptu dinner out, and finally stopped by my local comic book store to pick-up my monthly selections.
It was a real nice way to spend a day off and I think because of the lack of planning was probably also one of our, well at least for me, more productive days.