Take-Out or Bust

http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2012/01/18/more-accustomed-to-rain-seattle-braces-for-snow/

Last week was a lot of fun, most of the time. But, some of the time, I felt a little claustrophobic. Just for fun, let's entertain claustrophia:

Claustrophobia (from Latin claustrum "a shut in place" and Greek φόβος, phóbos, "fear") is the fear of having no escape and being closed in small spaces or rooms (opposite: claustrophilia). (I am officially adding "neighborhoods") It is typically classified as an anxiety disorder and often results in panic attack, and can be the result of many situations or stimuli, including elevators crowded to capacity, windowless rooms, and even tight-necked clothing.^[1] (or perhaps small children and wet clothing) The onset of claustrophobia has been attributed to many factors, including a reduction in the size of the amygdala, classical conditioning, or a genetic predisposition to fear small spaces. (Or for some of my friends and family - no electricity).

Thanks to the all-knowing wikipedia, we can diagnose ourselves at will and so I hereby diagnose my friends, acquaintences and self as being just a tad claustrophbic last week during the infamous Seattle snowstorm of 2012. I'm not sure if it was that my kids were in school for a total of 3 hours instead of a regular 30+ for a week or if it was that the city shuts down at the first sight of a snowflake, but by the end of the week, I too, responded accordingly to a text message:

Friend:  I dug out of my driveway and made it up the hill. I'm headed to the store. Do you need anything?

Me:  Can I come?

My Husband: Does she have four-wheel drive?

Me: Nope :-)

We proceeded to go to the grocery store and were kind of like frenzied little worker ants, storing up our goods for the next storm :-). My friend, in her rush to "get out", apparently lost all sense of fashion because she was wearing yoga capris with knee-high softball socks and winter boots, oh and our elementary school hoodie. The new definition of cool.

My cart was so full and heavy, I couldn't see over the top, ok - that is a bit of exaggeration, but it was heavy. I did my usual speed walking out to her slush-blasting van. It was pouring rain by this time, so I was really rushing and was halfway across the road before she yelled my name from the parking lot. It was too late. I hit the ice berg in the pavement and it was an iceberg. That sucker stopped me, my cart, and something like 100 pounds :-) of groceries. I swear I caught some air. And, I have a bruise on my shins to prove that my cart was stopped and I was not. She hit the same iceberg, you'd never have been able to distinguish it from just regular Seattle slush. Serious.

Another friend told me how treacherous his cul-de-sac was, even with four-wheel drive. But, in the same breath, he told me "he had to get out" so he went for Take-Out.

That's what we do. We get confined to a space and our insides quietly go crazy until, against all reason and sanity, we "bust outta here".

Thankfully, no one that I know was hurt, except for my aching shins. In a few days, I will have a wicked bruise to sport, so that will be exciting.



https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150484814400423
Now, for a few of the fun pictures.

My little divas

I was so excited to ski for free!

Right in the middle of the road - love it