Pocono Adventures in Weather


 Late Wednesday night (November 20th) it started to rain.  I woke up and I could hear this noise, which I determined to be a downpour.  I'm not a big fan of rain, but the last time we'd had rain in our corner of the Northeast was September 29th.  That was the weekend that I returned from Walt Disney World, avoiding a hurricane in the process.  That's a long time!  

While I love the sun and warm weather, even I know that we need some rain.  Being in the mountains, I also knew that snow was going to be a thing.  (Or did I?  Was I hiding my head in the sand after living in a pretty much snowless couple of years?)

The point being that we finally got some much needed rain Wednesday night into Thursday.  But we also got a snow warning!  Now I've faced snow in October (2011:  the Halloween that wasn't) as well as November. It happens.

Was I prepared?  Sort of.  In anticipation of the rain, hubby and I went to ShopRite on Wednesday night. This was slightly insane as I had been in the office, gotten a bus back to (NJ) home and then drove the loaded up car (which hubby did while I was at work) home (PA), unload the car and then head to the grocery store.  However, we navigated the store relatively quickly and our cashier (Angela) was sweet (and told us that we could get a senior discount on Tuesdays...not that I want to be called out as over 55, but to save some cash I'll do it.)  Then it was home, a quick dinner and bed.

Thursday it continued to rain on and off.  My husband set up the new receiver he purchased (refurbished) in the family room while I worked.  Midday we decided to go out to the detached garage where I thought there might be a shovel.  (Thought process:  have shovel in a place that is easily accessible will deter snow.)  There was no shovel.  In the storage side of the garage (you have to go back outside and slide open another door to access it), we did find an electric shovel that had been left behind, BUT it needs a special cord to charge and we didn't have it.  It looked like we might be headed to our local hardware store, but then I decided we should check out the shed.  I thought there might be something out there, probably not a snow shovel, but maybe something we could use in a pinch.  I was wrong!  I found several "okay" snow shovels!  Hoorah!  We brought them into the attached garage for easy storage.

It continued to drizzle. 



I discovered more blooming roses in the yard (!) and the new receiver that my husband set up died.  Yes, you read that right, he carefully set it up, enjoyed using it for about 2 hours and it died.  To say he was angry is putting it mildly.  He contacted the company that he purchased it from and then unhooked everything and hooked up the old receiver.  The mood in the house on Thursday night was darker than the overcast night sky.

Friday morning I woke up to snow. 


Not a lot, but there was snow in the yard and on the trees.  The driveway stayed mostly clear and it continued to snow all day long.  Hubby heard from the company from which he had purchased the refurbished item and since they couldn't replace it, they sent a UPS return receipt and will refund his money.  Not what he wanted, but...?

Despite snowing all day (and into the night), our area did not get much snow!  I was checking the news and social media and it seemed like areas not too far from us were getting A LOT of snow.  (Like over a foot.)  I don't know how we lucked out, but we did and it was clear enough for us to go out to the local bar & grille to see our friend perform there.  (He's scheduled for the 4th Friday night of every month.  We've been here almost three months and have gone every time.)  We usually have drinks and a meal (I have a drink; my husband has the meal) and stay for the first set. 

Saturday morning I woke up to see that the skies had cleared.  There was still little to no accumulation.




Seems like we had been in a low snow area.  After breakfast, hubby packed up the receiver and we headed down the road to the UPS Store.  I called the store to make sure they were open, as that area, which is about 8 miles southwest of us, had supposedly gotten more snow.  We more than halfway there when we noticed a difference.  While there had been a dusting to maybe half an inch in our area, there were several inches on snow on the side of the road and piles of snow in the parking lots we passed.  We a difference a few miles makes!

Because we couldn't turn directly into the UPS Store, I made a left at a light down a ways by a shopping plaza. There were several stores there that I would have been happy to check out, but I was drawn by one I had never heard of:  Ollie's Bargain Outlet  (Apparently the DO have stores in NJ, but I never knew!) 


Going in we were greeted by Shavonna, a cashier with a personality that would brighten up anyone's day.  We started to look around and before I knew it, we needed a cart.  It's my kind of place!  A variety of "stuff," most of which I don't really need, but...It brought back memories of the sadly gone Christmas Tree Shops.  (Before the chain was bought up and eventually bankrupted, I would drive to Connecticut from NJ to shop there twice a year because who doesn't love a bargain?)  I have no idea how long we were in the store, but we walked out with 5 bags of "stuff" and my wallet (approximately) $75 lighter.  (Although most of the items we purchased were under $5.)  

While I love the store (and I WILL be back), the real gem of the day was Shavonna.  We had to wait while a customer in front of us ran to the back of the store to get something.  (Although Shavonna told her not to run and hurt herself.)  Shavonna made the wait pleasurable.  She is one of those people that literally lights up a room.  I know when I do go back it will be on a weekend because that's when she works!

We finally headed out and went to the UPS Store, which was extremely efficient.  As we drove home there was less and less snow.  And as I look out the window as I write this, I can barely see any snow...it looks like a sunny autumn day.

As for the upcoming Thanksgiving week, it looks like some rain (where has it been for all these weeks), some sun and some more snow? (Hopefully not when we go pick up our son for his Thanksgiving break.)  Guess there will be lots more adventures in weather as we enter the holiday season.

 


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