snowmageddon 2012

conversations i've had w/ our swim coach from cincinnati (where it gets colder & snowier than here in ketch) this past week, mostly in regards to the massive dumpings and frozen roads we've had in the past week:

"i just cancelled [practice] tonight. i walked down my driveway to check my hill and fell so i was like screw that." -->"ouch, be careful!" -->"there was like 5 inches of snow to soften my fall don't worry."

"thoughts on practice. and i will be honest i really doubt i will even try.  my landlord just texted some nonsense about sand. it's too cold to have a hawaiian party." -->"sand for the hill & traction, smart one :)" -->"that just makes me more nervous to drive.  i might not be out of my aparment till may. good thing i stocke dup on mt dews and oven baked pizzas on thursday."

"you gotta understand this much snow shuts down cincinnati for a day.  school would have beeen cancelled in anticipation and we would have cancelled tomorrow too. i am trying to be understanding here." -->"well, toto, we're not in ohio anymore...alaskans are hardcore, badass, & tougher than snow storms! you can be as understanding as you want, i will still laugh :D" -->"did you just reference wizard of oz making fun of me?" -->"yes :) you can't judge me if you know the reference!"

[after determining that saturday morning swim practice was a go & i was to cover since he wasn't even going to TRY to drive into town...] "and i will make it up and run pre-comp [my squad] once next week. and i will be nice all week" -->"uh huh, i don't think you can last more than a day :P" -->"just watch" -->"is this your definition of nice then, or mine?? yours, you could probably make it. mine, not so much." -->"mine." -->"yeahhhhh you have a lot to learn then!  but i'll give you a shot, it's the least i can do i guess..." -->"just wait. i might impress you. my mom didn't raise a jerk." -->"didn't say she did! far from it, but i have waaay high standards so you gott be up for a challenge if you want to prove me wrong" -->"we will see then."

[after i covered practices, from 7-11 am] "how is practice. i have been shoveling for 3 straight hours.  i see street down the hill. this is very exciting for me. and not ice street. but black top." -->"it's the small things in life that bring the greatest pleasure!" -->"thanks a bunch for taking care of that. i will have a surprise for you on tuesday."

"they [the roads] sucked horrible last week. hopefully warm weather means they get cleaned up." -->"be careful what you wish for. warm weather means rain & slush & sliding..." -->"anything is better than an inch of solid ice." -->"ok ok ok but still be careful!" -->"alright mom" -->"oh shut up :P you're supposed to be nice to me, remember!!" -->"i said next week. it's saturday." -->"crap..."

this may seem ridiculous, but this is how our conversations go. he makes fun of me, i give him crap back, and on it goes.  (ok, so MAYBE part of it is spurred on by me as playful flirting. if i'm going to be honest about it, anyways. MAYBE.)

but it's very true, life in SE AK is very different than anywhere else in the world. and no, you can't expect for what happens in ohio to happen the same way here.  no, the state DOT didn't take care of the roads like they should have, & they iced up badly, but what can you do about it?  besides keep shoveling, keep moving, & continue to be careful on the roads. 

so i ended up covering practices, and it's supposed to made up to me next week - which i'm not entirely sure how that's going to go.  him being "nice" will be interesting and probably strange or unnerving (not that he's mean normally, just teases & makes fun a lot).  not that i need to be rewarded for doing my job - especially when i pretty much offered to do it - but if he's up to treating me, i'm game :)