Hunkering down

It's official: We are in "hunker down" mode here this weekend.

"Hunker down." Is that term in the dictionary? Let's see. My collegiate dictionary defines "hunker" as "to settle down on one's haunches; squat or crouch; often with down."

Hmmmm. Don't think that quite covers it.

It's like when you're lying low (is that term in the dictionary?), waiting for something unpleasant to pass by. Somebody or something you don't want to encounter. Your boss. A unpleasant neighbor. A snarling dog. A snarling storm.

In this case, we are waiting out the first major snowstorm of winter. It started early Saturday morning when light snow began. So far, we have 2 or 3 inches. The roads are a little slick and snowy, but not too bad.

But that's just the opening act. It's going to snow all day and night and get more intense as time moves on. Also, the wind (which was practically calm this morning) will be roaring out of the northeast. The snow is fairly dry, which means plenty of blowing and drifting can be expected, and road conditions will become worse than terrible late tonight.

The Weather Service warning says ...

* EXPECT WIDESPREAD SNOW TO DEVELOP TODAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH
TONIGHT.

* PLAN ON STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THROUGH SUNDAY OF 9 TO 15
INCHES. THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS MOST LIKELY OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF OF
MENOMINEE COUNTY.

* NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS GUSTING FROM 30 MPH TO AS HIGH 40 TO 45
MPH NEAR THE BAY OF GREEN BAY WILL CREATE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND
DRIFTING SNOW INTO SUNDAY. NEAR WHITEOUT CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY...
ESPECIALLY NEAR THE BAY OF GREEN BAY.

In other words, we will get it bad, but areas to the southeast of us (Menominee County, near Green Bay and Lake Michigan) will get it worse. We are inland from the Great Lakes; areas right on the bay or close to Lake Michigan will have to deal with the whiteout.

(The "bay of Green Bay" is that body of water just north of Green Bay, Wis. Does that mean the Green Bay Packers will be playing in a blizzard on Sunday? Alas, no: They are indoors at Detroit.)

The snow is supposed to end early Sunday, but the winds will continue well into Monday, and it will be cold. Did I mention that temperatures are going to take a plunge? Well, they are. By Monday, we'll have highs just above zero. And that's Fahrenheit. Maybe like -16C. Wind chills will be icy. Frigid. Arctic.

So it's good weekend for my wife and I to hunker down and amuse ourselves at home. Once the snow ends, I will be grabbing the shovel and trying to free my car (just back from the repair shop, where the deer damage was repaired) from the snowbanks so I can drive it again and also so Plow Man can clear the parking area with his big truck.

Incidentally, the daughter of a woman I used to work is getting married today, with the reception in the late afternoon and tonight. Right in the middle of the storm. But I wasn't invited. Just as well.

****

Otherwise, I am making my final plans for the holidays. My wife and I aren't planning to go anywhere, especially since this is turning out to be a stormy, cold December. I hope to visit N just before Christmas and S and T just before New Year's, but the weather and my schedule will have the final say about that.

I sent B her gifts (this year, it's all yummies) a few days ago. I'll be sending N a card next week, with a little something to help with the food budget for her rescue dogs. (She adopted another keeshond recently; I think she has eight now. Nine?) I sent S and T a check in November because an emergency came up, and they needed some cash right away.

We are going to send my older son and his girlfriend a check, too. They are doing OK, but they live in the city, and we know what the cost of living is--a lot more than out here in the boonies. Also, as I may have said before, they may want to look at finding a bigger apartment; the check should give them a hand with that. My other son doesn't need money. We are coming up with another idea for him.

I have found some gifts for my wife, too. A few years ago, we decided not to give each other gifts any longer--it's hard to come up with ideas. But still, it's Christmas. So hiding in my car's trunk are: a funny cat calendar ("Bad Cat"), some dark chocolate treats and a AM-FM radio that is also an Ipod player/charger.

My wife's problem is that she is ... well, how do I say this in a nice way? She is cheap. She would rather go for something inexpensive than something she probably would enjoy more. She has this ***-Mart mindset. For calendars, she goes to the local dollar store or gets them from local stores. For chocolate, she doesn't want to get tempted. And as for the radio ... she likes that Ipod player but is really hesitant to get it because it costs a little money. How do I say this nicely? She squeezes nickles, even though she doesn't have to.

As for me, I'm a generous guy. I think I am, at least. By nature I'm frugal, but different rules apply for the people or things I love. Like my wife. My kids. My girlfriends. I just like to make them happy or help them out.

I have to be careful with N. She is a widow and is very proud and independent. But she is close to retiring, and I don't think she has a lot of money. Enough, yes.

B works for a university, and her husband is retired military. Nuff said.

S and T don't have much money. They don't need much, either, but sometimes they do. Neither is working in this bad economy, so they need a hand at times. My hand is there for them. And that's how it's been since I met S five years ago.

I have a few other checks to send out, too. The local shelters: the animal shelter and the homeless shelter. The St. Vinny's food pantry. Those are the main ones, and they're all local, serving my neighbors. I know my Creator has richly blessed me, and good karma says I need to pass it along. What is money for if not for that?