I looked out my window at 5:15 this evening and the view was uneventful. Everything was a dull sodden gold or brown, with only small patches of snow after a recent thaw. Boring. I plunked myself down in front of the television for two hours of my personal guilty pleasures- Angel and Charmed. Angel has now progressed to a point where I have seen all the episodes being aired. But as I have now seen a season or two that I missed I don't mind watching these over again. This time I understand some things that went over my hairdo before because I was missing vital Angel clues from the past. But no more! Now I know. As for Charmed, though I know it's been around forever I only started watching the reruns a couple of months ago.
But this entry is not about my- some might say- questionable taste in television viewing. I mention this only to point out that I was oblivious to the world for two hours as only those immersed in television can be. If you looked at me I suspect I would have been slack-jawed with glazed eyes.
I emerged from this quasi-hypnotized state to grab some things together to head to my meeting. I got to the end of my breezeway and stopped dead. There in the darkness sat my car under a thick layer of snow! I muttered vile things under my breath as I went back into the house to change into a more appropriate coat. Then I went back out and cleared off my car, spitting snow as I went along because it came down so hard. I jumped in my car and proceeded to drive on what I hope was the road. Could have been my neighbor's yard though for all the visibility I had. Good thing they've moved and the house is for sale...
About a quarter of a mile from my house I wondered why I was doing this to myself. Then I remembered that I am the group's treasurer and tonight I was supposed to give my treasury report. It was too late to call and cancel. I had to go. I continued on. Despite poor visibility I didn't think much snow had accumulated on the roads so I headed for my usual shortcut. This was not one of my wisest decisions. Perhaps my brain was going soft from two hours in front of the tv? Anyway, it was my decision and I own it. I chose the shortcut.
Over a steep, narrow, winding mountain road. Brilliant, eh?
So I got about three-quarters of the way up when my car sat me down and had a little heart-to-heart with me by skittering towards the ditch on a steep upgrade. We reached the mutually satisfactory conclusion that I should turn the car around and go back down the mountain. As I did so, however, my car became overzealous to leave this benighted place. It lurched forward, slipped on the ice and went up a snow bank on the other side of the road! I was frantic because there's a curve just above where I landed, and my car stuck out across the road. I did mention the road is narrow, right? If someone came sliding down the mountain from the other direction, well, let's just say I wouldn't have to worry about whether Leo and Piper ever get back together again on Charmed.
Fortunately it would seem the mountain was no more eager to visit with us than we were to linger. My tires quickly found traction and I was able to get the car back on the road properly, this time facing down. I threw the car into low gear and crept back down the slope. If my car had a tail it would have been between its legs. If it had legs, that is.
I went back to the main road and took the long way to my meeting, which I left early so as to avoid ever-worsening roads. See? Sometimes I learn from my mistakes.
P.S. John, I told you that if I made it home you would know by my blog. And here I am. Now I'm hoping that you made it home safely, too.