We just got hit with some snow last night, and it only ended up being roughly 4 inches, if that.  It was lovely, actually.  We all know I hate (HATESTABBYHATE) snow, but this wasn’t too bad because it wasn’t terribly cold, and the snow stuck to the trees to make everything quite pretty:

And then I got this  today:

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Issued by The National Weather Service
Baltimore/Washington, MD
2:45 pm EST, Wed., Feb. 3, 2010

… WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH… WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING.

* PRECIPITATION TYPE… SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS… THIS STORM IS LIKELY TO PRODUCE 12 OR MORE INCHES OF SNOW IN THE WATCH AREA… WITH A GOOD CHANCE FOR LOCALIZED AMOUNTS OVER 20 INCHES.

* TIMING… SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATE MORNING FRIDAY… CONTINUING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING.

* TEMPERATURES… HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MID 30S FRIDAY. FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY… TEMPERATURES WILL BE 25 TO 30 DEGREES.

* WINDS… EAST 5 TO 10 MPH FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT… BECOMING NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH SATURDAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE SIMILAR TO THE DECEMBER 19TH STORM. PLAN FOR SUBSTANTIAL DISRUPTIONS TO TRAVEL FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

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UPDATE (2/4/10, 9:58 AM): The snow accumulation totals have been raised to 18-26 inches.  Visibility expected to be less than a quarter of a mile with dangerous blowing winds reaching 30mph.

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UPDATE (2/5/10; 9:04 AM):  STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 20 TO 28 INCHES EXPECTED.

Tags: Baltimore, FML, Snow, Snowpocalypse, SONUVA..., This Weather Is Absurd

January was full of suck.  There.  I said it.  It was full of unexpected deaths of family and friends, and full of travels both figurative and literal to pay homage to those lost.

It was full of nasty weather and illness.  Allergies and physical issues for humans and felines.

It was full of deadlines that seemed to play peek-a-bo with my calendar, appearing and disappearing, only to reappear just before the clock struck midnight for each.

It was full of anxiety and frustration.

And yet….

And yet, there were moments of brightness that helped draw hope from the wellspring of good faith and karma.  There have been some journeys that have reaffirmed what it means to be a part of a family and be in a relationship with a love, family, and friends.  Some soul searching and touch-point moments are best left to those who experience them, and I think that the entire month of January served that purpose for me.  One day I might be able to share fractions of those moments, but not yet.

This months NaBloPoMo topic is “Ties,” and though I can’t promise that I’ll be able to take on another challenge (the smoking cessation is going much better than the diet and exercise, though I have been able to count calories during the work week.  Weekends are harder), I plan to try. 

So think along with me, y’all… I already have some fun ideas for this month’s topic!

Oh…. and thank you.  For everything.

Tags: bring it on February, challenges, NaBloPoMo

it was just a matter of time before I started posting about comic books again, and what a day to start!  Blackest Night Wonder Woman #2 came out last week, and Blackest Night #6 the week before that, and since we know I shamelessly adore all things Wonder Woman, I’ll be writing a review of Blackest Night Wonder Woman to post asap, likely over at Dynamic Forces, so keep your eyes peeled!  For now, how about some major Comic Book news?

Brightest Day Preview

Am I excited?  Considering the fact that I love what Geoff Johns has done with characters outside of the “big three” or “trinity” in the DC Universe, I’m elated!  Not only will it be another DC Universe scoping arc, it will be a 26 issue, bi-weekly series, and have tie in runs with the Brightest Day banner attached just like Blackest Night did.  And I’m not the only one excited about this news:

• DCU in 2010: Kick Off Your Monday With Some Major News
• DC Announces Blackest Night follow-up: Brightest Day
• DC Reveals the Brightest Day
• DC Announces The Brightest Day
• DCU in 2010: More on Brightest Day: The Flash
• DCU in 2010: More on Brightest Day: Titans
• DCU in 2010: More on Brightest Day: Justice League of America
• Justice League to get new members under Brightest Day banner

So if you haven’t caught up on your Blackest Night reading, you might want to do so before the April launch of Brightest Day!  I’ve avoided reviewing or discussing the individual issues of Blackest Night thus far, but know that one of the wonderful aspects of the Blackest Night arc that Geoff Johns is writing is that you can read only the main books (Blackest Nights 1-8) and understand the crux of the arc, the main histories for the different Corps, and get a general sense of how the event is shaking up the entire DC Universe.  Trust me, though, you won’t be disappointed if you pick up the numerous tie ins that have been released alongside the main books.  They’re worth it, if not for the more detailed, nuanced examinations of characters and groups and how they are effected by the event, then for the sheer craving to keep the story going beyond the central book.

Tags: Blackest Night, Comic Book News, Comic Books, DC Comics, Wonder Woman