SnowtoriousBIG

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SnowtoriousBIG

February 6, 2010 by LizScott

I grew up in Minnesota, which means I am totally that person that rolls their eyes every time it snows in D.C. and mumbles “How cute” in that self-righteous, condescending way that only 15+ years of midwest winter can cultivate.

So, of course, when we starting getting reports of the latest storm to hit D.C., I tsk’ed and clucked my teeth at everyone rushing to the grocery store to stock up on paper towels and eggs and whatever else is needed to get through 24 hours of no road access. And, to be fair, it was a little ridiculous: The Boss called me from Ft. Meyer Thursday night – a full 24 hours before we were even expecting to see a single flake – to tell me that there was Military Police running crowd control at the commissary. Can you imagine the chaos had to have been occurring for the MPs to be called in?

D.C has always been snow-shy, to the point where a prediction of snow is enough for everyone to leave work early (if they come in at all.) I’m fine with this, because while I can drive perfectly fine in snow, I don’t trust my southern brethren even a little. But for all my “snowier than thou” attitude, I have to tell you: this storm is fricken ridiculous. We’ve got two and half feet in about 18 hours. It’s unreal. I don’t think I have ever seen anything like it. And while I know everyone in DC is all “OMG, we’re going to die, this city doesn’t DO snow!”, part of me feels like Capitol Hill is the best type of place to live to weather a storm like this. All day I’ve been getting twitter updates of local businesses that are open; businesses I can walk to and meet all my weekend needs: Corner Store for groceries, 8th Street for restaurants (and dry cleaning!), gym half a block away for exercise. Kids are sledding down Capitol Hill. Dogs are playing the parks. The streets aren’t passable for cars, but we’re getting by just fine using our legs.