I’ve been spinning my wheels a lot lately.
It’s because my driveway is nothing but a solid sheet of ice, several inches thick, in the area where I must make a three-point turn to get out from the carport.
Several times, I’ve gone out there, ready to go somewhere, only to find that even if I make a 37-point turn, I ain’t goin’ nowhere. I’m lucky to make it safely back under the carport.
The upper driveway is so icy, I don’t even dare walk down to get my mail and newspaper.
Thus, I was recently trapped in here for six days. Thank heavens, the last trip I was able to make was to Covington for groceries and library books. So, I was good to go. Or actually, good to stay.
Gee: Have we all had enough of these below-freezing temps and ice and snow? I sure have, and you know what a “snow nut” I’ve always been. Nowadays, I find myself longing for April. Sad to say, winter is no longer my favorite season. At least this year.
I have not been able to go for my walk in weeks. My figuring is, if I can’t make it down my own driveway, I am not making it down that icy, snow-crusted wooded lane. I am longing to see the horses. And any other wildlife that may be out there.
But, the wildlife is apparently smarter than I. There’s nary a chipmunk to be seen. The squirrels are squirreled away, munching on the nuts they’ve collected. The bears are snug, snoozing in their dens, having baby bears. I will have to be on the lookout for them soon enough.
While I do love bears, especially the babies, I do not want to see them. If there are babies about, there is a watchful mother close by, protecting them. My theory is, if I see a baby bear, I do not spend time admiring it; I turn around and hie in the other direction.
I don’t know where the deer are. They’re probably all still hiding after hunting season.
So, no walks, no mail, no papers, no trips to Covington. What’s a person to do? Watch TV. Thank heavens there are new seasons of my favorites airing right now.
I guess my very favorite – I could watch 97 episodes, if they were available – is “All Creatures Great and Small.” I simply love it. I adore all the characters, even the oft-irksome ones, like Tristan. The only drawback is, some of the farm animals and dogs and cats and parakeets the vets treat don’t always make it. I hate it when that happens. If I can tell it’s coming, I look away or zip past it with the DVR.
Also back is another fave: “The Amazing Race.” Sometimes, it’s difficult to find a team to root for; and, when I do, it’s usually that team that goes home that week. Oh well; at least I get to see some of the world.
I never liked the chef Gordon Ramsay, who screamed and ranted at inexperienced chefs in “Hell’s Kitchen.” But I like him very much now. In his new series, he’s on the road throughout the world, finding and cooking weird, wonderful things. He actually laughs now. He’s really quite funny.
But, a person can only watch so much TV. That’s why I am grateful for books. Lots and lots of books. I’ve always got one going, and a stack to get through after that. Shoot – right now, I am reading a book I realized I’d already read. I started to put it in the “return” stack, but then couldn’t recall how it ended. So, re-reading it. So what?
Thank heavens for books, for enough food, and exciting new TV shows … these winter days, I gotta love ‘em!
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