Digging out from Snowmaggedon

Snowmageddon did not bury me in snow. There isn't really any reason as to why I didn't update the blog earlier this week, as I was home for four out of the five work days. Without getting in to a discussion of the snow plowing capabilities of DC versus other, more harden climes, I will say there is a ton of snow. Today was the first day that I went back, and I felt like my life was in danger many times: climbing over mountains of snow to get back to sidewalk, cars (as always) showing their disrespect for pedestrians, and nearly falling on the solid blocks of ice that have accumulated because people haven't shoveled (I propose sending the meter maids out to ticket people who haven't shoveled - because yes, there is a law that says how long you have to shovel).

And in the last week it has seriously felt like the end of the world. Blowing snow, people walking in the middle of major roads, sirens off in the distance, beating their way through 50 mph gusts, the grocery stores wiped out...I am just glad that this is behind us.

Also right now I'm watching the Olympic opening ceremonies, and it seems that all they have in mind is advertising. Bob Costas just flat out said they are going to take like 6 commercial breaks in the next four minutes so that they get their ad dollars in. In the last half hour, the Olympics has been used to hawk everything from Papermate pens and mattresses. And how can the Census afford commercials in both the Super Bowl and the opening ceremony? Sigh. But seriously, love the Olympics...I'm going to print out the TV schedule and post it next to my desk....maybe during my lunch break I can catch some events. I hope one day to attend an actual Olympics....I wish Chicago had gotten the games for 2016!

In other news, some of you may have heard about DC's new bag tax. The deal is this: grocery stores and places that sell food must charge 5 cents for every plastic bag. The money goes toward a nonprofit that is helping to clean up the Anacostia River. Ok, I can definitely get behind this (silence, all you people who think I'm anti-environment! I'm so green now!). Sometimes I forget my reusable bag at home and must pay for the plastic (which I then promptly recycle when I'm done - and by recycle, I mean take my lunch to work and then put the bag in the recycling container). But I cannot fathom why on Earth Barnes and Noble charges me the 5 cents. Yes, they sometimes have a Starbucks and assorted chocolate bars at their register. But I would be willing to be that those areas (especially the chocolate part) account for so little of their bottom line that it just seems ridiculous to charge me the 5 cents.

It's been a while since I posted an ABBA video....and this one is epic. I love Mamma Mia, and I don't care who knows it....and yes, I know Pierce Brosnan wasn't his best but you gotta love him for trying. In this scene from the movie, Meryl Streep's character is expressing her anguish at being passed up for another woman so many years ago. Epic scenery! Blowing wind! Scarves! It's great.

What?!? Queen Elizabeth isn't attending the Opening Cermonies?!?! Outrage. Ok I'm going to watch this...catch you on the flipside.