Blizzard Benefits

Today was a snow day for most of West Michigan and beyond. "Snow day" meaning schools and some businesses were canceled because the snow made it impossible to move beyond your front door.

It was absolutely delightful. At 22.00 (10pm) yesterday evening, we were informed that Calvin (who never closes) had shut its doors for Wednesday and thus began my 'Friday night' planning to stay up late, sleep in (but not too much to miss enjoying a day off) and enjoy my free mid-week Saturday.

It was successful planning. During this day away from the office I:

~sorted out a few work e-mails to lighten the load for Thursday's return to the office. I'm convinced that if Calvin incorporated one day a week in which staff could stay home, do e-mails in cozy clothes with a cup of hot chocolate at hand and a dog at their feet, productivity and staff morale would be through the roof.

~learned this greyhound loves to play in the snow. I so wish I could have videoed him diving over huge snow piles which I was hiding behind, bounding through snowdrifts and digging into the fluffy white stuff with fervor. I know I'm not supposed to let him off his leash, but it was so much fun and so far whenever I've hollered, "Silas, come here, I have a treat." without hesitation he comes racing in my direction - which can be slightly unsettling because a greyhound doesn't really stop too well on ice.

~visited the gym which is only a 5 minute walk from my apartment and nearly empty today. I ran five miles whilst watching some incredibly poorly scripted and acted daytime TV dramas. This was followed by resting in their leather couches, drinking their free, freshly brewed coffee and munching on cornbread I carried along for a treat.

~invited my parents over with shovels in hand to help un-snow my little Honda which had disappeared in the blizzard. At this point I was very thankful for a small car and apartment complex who cleared the lot and I just needed to release my car from the snow piles surrounding it.

~ate and drank some tasty morsels in my freezer and cupboard whilst sorting through a few more e-mails and watching some a bit better quality TV dramas via the internet and snooping through friends' blogs and Facebook pages.

~finished the evening with a warming drink and the company of Robert Louis Stevenson.

All in all, I enjoyed today to its fullest knowing the rarity that such a day will come again. Thank you, VPA of CTS for making the long cold days of our Michigan winter that much more bearable.