Snowmageddon’s last hurrah!

Yes, rumor has it that Snowmageddon is coming to an end. I got about 20” of snow over the last couple of days, but nothing like the 5’ some people forecasted. There is a side of me that is sad I didn’t get the dump of a lifetime, but as an old man in horrible condition, it is best!

But it is beautiful!

And the driveway is plowed and clear! My plower is great! He even shoveled my walkway for me when he saw I was struggling, and refused to charge me!

Two super big NCAA Women’s Basketball games today!

First, Oregon hosted USC! You all know the Ducks are my favorite team. And well, let’s just say the Trojans are pretty much at the bottom!

Oregon 96, Southern California 78!

Warms your hearts, doesn’t it? Erin Boley had a career high 32 points, while Sabrina Ionescu had the 17^th triple double of her career, shattering the former record (for both men and women) of 13!

Second, South Dakota State hosted South Dakota on their home court in Brookings, SD. The first game between the two was in Vermillion, where the host Coyotes won in double overtime, 105-98.

I was torn as to who to cheer for: my long time adopted team, or the upstart who is piquing my interest. I went for the Jacks! It only required one over time this time around.

South Dakota State 82, South Dakota 78!

Oh, and Snowmageddon, Act 2 has been downgraded. I got about 9” of snow last night and supposed to get another foot tonight. And then it passes. Crisis averted!

Snowmageddon, Act 2: Scene 1

Actually, I think today is really Scene 0 and yesterday should have been Scene -1.  Snowmageddon, Act 2 isn’t due to start until tonight. And with a mild flurry. It doesn’t go f’n nuts until Sunday.

The current 9 day forecast for the Upper Valley calls for between 41” and 61” of the fresh white stuff. (I am using 9 days now, so that apples can be compared to apples with my 10 day forecast from yesterday. But spoiler alert, it doesn’t stop snowing on day 9!)

Okay, I’m not sure how 41 inches translates into Euros, but I am sure it is more than I have! And 61” is just a little bit over the top. Keep in mind, I still have a foot+ of snow on the ground!

Yes, I will see you all in spring, but it may be a late spring. How does June sound?

Snowmageddon, Act 2

The 10 day forecast for the Upper Hood River Valley calls for between 28 and 49 inches of snow. It is supposed to start snowing tomorrow evening, and apparently never stop!

Guess I better do a provisions run while I still can!

See you all in spring!

5 years ago

The world lost Richard James Parker.

This is the last (or at least about the last) picture I ever took of Richard.

I have to be quick as my computer keeps dying. Please light a candle and think of Richard! If you pray, feel free to say a prayer for Richard. He would like that!

QUACK, QUACK, QUACK!!!!!!!

#3 Oregon 77, #9 Oregon State 68!

Let’s all stand and sing a rousing rendition of “Mighty Oregon”!!!

The Oregon Women’s Basketball team is amazing!!!

Oh, and it was a sell out crowd at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene! That would be 12,364 people came out the cheer on the Ducks!

Just a totally radical idea for the next sib trip!

Imagine New York City; June 28^th, 2019. The 50^th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

First a bit of background, Richard and I always said we would go to NYC for Stonewall’s 50^th. He had the audacity to die early. I still want to go. I want to join in the celebration.

Right now, flight from Portland are cheap (under $300 round-trip) and hotels are expensive (by my calculations), but reasonable by New York standards ($150 per night for one bed, $200 for two).

Anyone else interested?

And just because you ain’t a sib doesn’t mean you can’t join!

Another day of Snowmageddon!

There is a lull today. It even warmed up to 36°, there was some melting. Tomorrow, Snowmageddon is supposed to return, but only with five to eight inches of snow! No big deal! And then the event will end, fading into our collective memories!

I actually left home today. I didn’t really need to, but I couldn’t resist. I haven’t been off the homestead since last Friday. I decided to drive into Odell and pick up my mail from the post office. It was an easy trip into Odell, but Atkinson Drive, the alley-like street that the post office is on looked like a war zone. I opted to go to Mid Valley Market and pick up a couple of things I didn’t really need. I hated to drive that far and return home empty handed.

So, all is well in the Upper Valley. Snowmageddon has all but ended. I seem to have survived, and I’m not sure Billie Jean even noticed!

Snowmageddon: Day whatever the fuck day it is!

The Upper Valley got approximately 18” of snow yesterday and overnight, so 5 more inches since my last report. Okay, it is getting hard to figure out snow depth, having shoveled the walk way and having the driveway plowed, but that is my best estimate.

Okay, shoveling the walk nearly killed me. I was panting and exhausted when I came back inside. And clearing off the car so I could move it was just as bad. Maybe I am getting to old for this shit.

But it is so beautiful, it opens my mind. Although it is a hassle, I still love snow.

Snowmageddon: Day 3

The view out my downstairs office window!

Well, last night was a real bust, one to two inches of snow at the most. But today is living up to its hype. I am estimating 13 inches of new snow. And it is only 2PM. And the temperature is dropping

YEE HAW!!!!.

Okay, let’s talk collegiate women’s basketball.

You all know I love my Ducks!!!

Maite and Ruthy and Erin and Sabrina and Satou are amazing. They are currently 23-1 on the season, first in the Pac-12 and ranked #3 in the nation! That is tied for their highest ranking in program history. This may be the year of the Duck!!!

And everyone knows that a few years back I adopted the South Dakota State Jackrabbits!

SDSU is having a good year. They are 18-6 on the season, and 1^st place (tie) in the Summit Conference. Predictions are that they will make it to the Big Dance again this year! GO JACKS!!!

And introducing my new love: the South Dakota Coyotes!

Now I hear you all groaning and muttering, “This is geographically centered adoration. Someone call Mac a shrink.” There is a geographical connect, I admit. But only because the Jacks and the Coyotes are in the same conference (where they share first place) and their school names are similar. I accidentally clicked on USD instead of SDSU earlier this season and read where they had beaten Iowa State at home. It was the first time they had every beaten a ranked team. Piqued my interest. I love it when an underdog does the unheard of! Then a little over a week later, they beat Missouri on the road. It was the first time they beat a ranked team on the road. And this week, for the first time in program history they are ranked, albeit #25. They are 22-3 on the season. If you aren’t cheering for the Coyotes this year, you have a cold heart!

View of Snowmageddon: Day 2!

Little new snow since I last reported from the Upper Valley; at the most, maybe an inch between last night and today.

Tonight and tomorrow is when it is supposed to get ugly: between 5 and 7 inches of snow tonight, and between 8 and 20 inches of snow tomorrow. There is a chance it will warm above freezing tomorrow afternoon and rain for a while (hence the 8”), or it may just stay cold enough to continue snowing all day (hence the 20”)!

I am on pins and needles!

The Fields of Snowmageddon: Day 1!

What a difference a day and nine inches of snow make!

Snowmaggedon is, so far, living up to its hype! It is right on as far as quantities, but a little late on timing. The current 10 day forecast call for 5’ of snow. Add that to the 13” I have on the ground, and... the math is above me. Let’s just call it deep!

Thankfully, it is light and fluffy snow!

Last minute preparations for Snowmageddon!

First let me share for you a graphic of predicted snow for the Upper Valley:

  

I have done the math; between 40 and 59 inches of snow in the next 10 days. That is an accumulation of between 3’8” and 4’11” of snow. And you may notice it never pops above freezing in those 10 days. Add to that, I got 6” of snow earlier in the week (which has compressed/melted to about 4” of snow) and this could be epic!

So anyway, I went into Hood River this morning to prepare for Snowmageddon (which is scheduled to begin at approx. 6:07PM tonight, Hood River time). I was going to go yesterday, but realized I only had a six day supply of one of my meds, so I put off the big run to town until today. I did go to Odell yesterday, and got the two items that Hood River always runs out of in a storm: milk and toilet paper!

But this morning I was not alone in my sojourn.

Everyone in the county was in Rosauers this morning. I had to circle the lot to find a parking place (shades of Black Friday in Seattle!) I had to wait for a shopping cart. I bounced off more strangers and ran into more friends than I have in ages. Everyone was in a great mood, looking forward to Snowmageddon! For as much fun as it was, a two hour trip turned into four and a half hours! Billie Jean was frantically worried when I got home!

 The Fields of Snowmageddon: Day 0!

Can you spell “Snowmageddon”?

Neither can I.

The Upper Hood River Valley’s coming future is white! I started checking weather forecasts yesterday. They were all over the place from 2’ to 4’ of snow in the next 10 days, depending on who you read.

This morning, WeatherUnderground said 4 to 5 feet of snow for the Upper Valley. Fortunately they have reduced their projection to 3 to 4.5 feet.

Whew, am I relieved. I was afraid there would be more snow than I could handle! But if it’s only three and a half feet of the white stuff, child’s play! They don’t call me Yukon Mac for nothing!

(Actually, no one has ever called me “Yukon Mac” before, but I thought it was so witty.)

My beloved snow shovel stands at attention, waiting for his frigid duty!