December 5, 2011

White Dog, actually all of us, started to full wakefulness when the phone rang at 5am! "What, the..." Steve said, snaking an arm out of the warm blankets to grab the phone on the headboard. It was the automated calling system letting us know that Michael's school was on two-hour delay because of the frigid weather. This was HOURS before Michael had to leave for school but we made a mental note to be sure and let him know and tried to get back to sleep.

There was only a dusting of snow in our neighborhood, when Steve and Quinn and Nuka got up to tell Michael the news that he could sleep in a little longer. But the temperature was only 11 degrees F. Michael was glad for the opportunity to scurry back to his warm bed; the White Ones made quick time of their "necessary" breaks and also returned to huddle in warm spots.

This was the start of the new quarter for Steve but his school too had a two-hour delayed start. The White Dog Army excitedly thought that meant a trip to the Park but were outvoted due to the cold. Just as they started to whine about their fate being tied to the cursed weather, Michael got the whooping happy news (for him) that schools across the city had been cancelled for the day due to the record-setting cold. Steve set out for school late morning only to be sent home right after lunch when the college cancelled classes and shutdown for the rest of the day. The City was having trouble with the cold and snow creating icy conditions on the roads; the utilities were asking for voluntary closures because of fears of over demand for heating.

When Steve walked in the WDA, of course, went wild yipping suggestions and plans for how to spend the day. Steve invited them to go with him out to the car to bring in some groceries he had picked up. WD, Puff, Nuka, YoYoMa and Quinn all pushed their way out...and quickly danced back inside where they waited on the dry carpet where it was warm. The outside activity discussion was tabled for another day.

They all settled in positions of dejected napping and sighed. "The weather is RUINING our lives," Nuka moaned. "Winds, Fog, Snow and now North Pole Temperatures," White Dog listed out, "all we are missing are sand storms and bowling ball sized hail!"

Her words were met with 4 pairs of Eskie eyes turning to her in horror as Quinn said, "Careful what you entice to visit us! Let's just focus on bright blue skies and our normal 40 degree F days." "Amen," murmured the others.