#snowmageddon 2020

[dinosaurchurch]

I decided to do up a playlist for my most played songs on Spotify. It's not technically an official 'wrapped' since I was still rocking an iPod (does anybody use these things anymore?) at the time.

2020 was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime kind of event with not only 'Snowmageddon' that put my hometown into a lockdown for a week only to turn around roughly two months later and be locked down for the pandemic. It was jarring how quiet the streets were and how un crowded the summer tourist season was thanks to travel restrictions.

My music taste that year definitely reflected the polarization of emotions that I was going through at the time. Between the somber depressive episode and the happy-go-lucky highs I had with getting back to some semblance of normal towards the end of the year (although I discovered for the first time what a panic attack was).

There was a handful of albums I binged on during that year - "Dreamland" by Glass Animals, "Good Faith" by Madeon, "Chromatica" by Lady Gaga, both "Not to Disappear" and "If you leave" by Daughter, and Ex:Re's self titled album. Above all the biggest one which I'd say was the soundtrack of the year was Yeye's "30". The lead single "Shiawase ni naranai" is so fun but it's very melancholic, I still remember all the words.

If there's anything I have to say it's the music slapped during 2020 but I never want to live another year like that again. Fuck the pandemic, fuck that noise.

#Spotify #Spotify wrapped #Wrapped 2020 #playlist #2020 #pandemic #personal #looking back #introspection #self reflection #depression #jpop #electropop #indie music #emotional turmoil

[suspendedinthevalley]

something i’m extremely grateful for this holiday season is that i don’t have an eating disorder anymore because 2020 me would NOT have survived the current snowmageddon. these winds are bonkers

#recovery #recovery is worth it #remember this

[non-stop-alien-days]

That fence is 6.5 feet tall!!! ❄️❄️

#snowmageddon 2020 #nlwx #newfoundland and labrador #newfoundland #snow storm

[1fish2fishh]

Ok so I live in Newfoundland, Canada...

My whole city was shut down and declared a state of emergency earlier this month because of the sheer amount of snowfall we had. The state of emergency lasted 7 days. January 17th -25th it was the most intense week like ever. Google it if you want . " Snowmageddon 2020 NL" It was record breaking snowfall and the longest state of emergency ever declared here.

It majorly sucked ass. But newfoundland had its 15 mins of fame because alot of new stations around the world featured the story of Snowmageddon 2020 lol

There is plenty of videos around of people snowboarding off of buildings downtown and other shit

#newfoundland #canada #snowmageddon 2020 #snow fall #NL #state of emergency #record breaking

[sassyfrassboss]

So the last month has been a little crazy.

Got the COVID first week of January. Today is the first day I feel back to normal somewhat.

Triple vaccinated, got COVID, and was unbelievably ill. Luckily it didn’t move into my lungs but between all of the side effects, fevers, and exhaustion I was beyond miserable.

I have been lurking on here when I feel like it, but between the “COVID Fog” and crashing around 12PM every day…I haven’t been fully up to date on everything.

However, now that I have survived COVID and Snowmageddon (22 inches of snow) I hop on and see that the Sussexes have once again shot dug themselves a giant hole.

@the-empress-7 posted earlier that it sounds like the Sussexes want to be fired so that they don’t have to return the hefty sign-on bonus they received.

Adding on to that:

The deal with Spotify was announced towards the end of 2020, November maybe? After the deal was announced H&M produced one podcast for Christmas 2020. It was less than 40 minutes and H&M talked for about 3 minutes while they had “guests” talk about the challenges and tribulations of 2020. Then of course we had Archie wishing everyone a Happy New Year or some nonsense at the end.

So let’s say that the Spotify deal was hammered out and signed October 2020. Harry & Meghan put out a 40 minute podcast that took them lets say, 6 week to produce.

Then nothing. For over a year.

Now they are claiming that they are working hard to align with Spotify on not spreading misinformation. Basically throwing Spotify under the bus because people are calling for Joe Rogan to be fired.

So in the past year, they haven’t produced a single podcast because Spotify allows people to “spread misinformation” and the Sussexes are vehemently against that?

Before they signed on the dotted line, perhaps they should have looked into Spotify’s business platform a little better right?

I find the timing extremely convenient. They haven’t produced a single podcast in over a year. They accepted payment for future services and those services have never happened. So now we hear that Spotify is done with the BS that H&M have been feeding them and they are going to force them to hold up their end of the contract.

We all know that H&M hate nothing more than hard work. They prefer that others do it all and they walk in at the end and take all the credit.

They do not have the initiative or stamina to see a project through 100%.

Now that it is coming out Spotify is PISSED and taking over production, well it doesn’t make H&M look too good does it?

So what better way to spin why they never put out any content?

The timeline they can now claim is that out of respect for the BRF and the 12 month review, H&M decided not to do a podcast until April 1, 2021. Then, PP died, so their of course are grieving. Then Meghan had Lily, so of course 6 months of maternity/paternity leave.

If we round up because of the Holidays, Meghan and Harry can now jump on the excuse that Spotify is encouraging misinformation and that is against who they are.

Basically, M&H can justify why they have yet to produce a single podcast since January 2021.

Plus, in my opinion, I cannot see Spotify parting ways with Joe Rogan. He is their cash cow. Yeah people on Twitter are calling for him to be fired, but Twitter is less than 10% of the world population. Most people who listen to him are not on Twitter.

I have listened to a few of his podcasts. He believes in aliens, conspiracy theories, and all that jazz.

Also, he is good friends with Elon Musk. I don’t see him going anywhere. Which Meghan & Harry probably assume as well so this way if they “leave” aka get fired, they can say it was due to the moral high ground.

[qqkatie]

Snowmageddon Dragon 2020

#Snowmageddon Dragon 2020

[rivka-kopelman]

food line during snowmageddon in NL january 2020

#snowmageddon #st. john's #newfoundland #winter

[galtx]

Your Invitation To Join GALT’s 20th Anniversary All-Stars!

In 2020, we celebrated North Texas Giving Day in full pandemic mode. We put out a call to our supporters to join GALT’s 2020 All-Stars by pledging matching funds to double our North Texas Giving Day fundraising and our team stepped up by pledging $25,000 in just a few weeks. Together, our 2020 All-Stars matching funds and North Texas Giving Day donations added up to more than $50,000 hound helping dollars! 

In 2021, North Texas Giving Day finds us still reeling from the extended pandemic, snowmageddon, and the end of racing in Florida. We are still trying to get back on our feet and to stay on track to help the hounds. In addition to the steady stream of strays, we continue to support retiring racers. Indeed, we welcomed 28 Greyhounds from the racing industry in just one large intake in late June. We are also anticipating the arrival of more retired racers on August 9th. The vet bills add up fast and we are calling on key supporters like you to once again help us raise matching funds to double our North Texas Giving Day donations. 

The Brockhoff Family Fund has generously kicked off GALT’s 20th Anniversary All-Stars effort by donating $5,000 in matching funds! Please consider joining the team with a donation of $1,000 or more to help us reach our 2021 matching funds goal of $25,000! North Texas Giving Day is on September 23rd, and we are asking for our matching fund pledges to be submitted on or before September 16th and the payments to be made by September 23rd. Click here to make your pledge today. Be sure to let us know whether we can mention your donation on our recognition web page like we did last year or if you prefer to remain anonymous. Email Susie at [email protected] or Barbara at [email protected] if you have any questions.

We know that this request is substantial and that not everyone’s budget will support it. If it isn’t for you this year, we understand and hope we can still count on your North Texas Giving Day donation of any amount! Thank you!

8/6/2021

#Greyhounds #North Texas Giving Day #matching funds #GALT's 20th Anniversary All-Stars #snootblr #dogblr #greyblr #greyhound adoption

[chewedcorn]

Snowmageddon Dragon 2020

#funny #lol #lmfao #meme #laugh #memes #fun #friends #photooftheday #friend #wacky #crazy #silly #wit

[omghotmemes]

Snowmageddon Dragon 2020

#Funny #meme #dankmeme #lol #omghotmemes

[whatsdifferentincanada]

[raleighliving]

Snowmageddon: A Defense

If you’ve lived in the south during the winter months at any point you’ve probably heard all the jokes and jabs already about how well we tend to handle snow. At the first flake falling, you’ll hear cries of “Shut down the schools” and “Buy bread and milk NOW!” from everyone; northern transplants especially.

Southerners panic at even the hint of snow, clearing store shelves to hoard a years’ worth of groceries and filling jerry cans with enough fuel to cross the Atlantic because the news predicted a half inch dusting overnight. It’s not as prolific or hurtful as other stereotypes but if you’ve grown up hearing it you’re probably tired of the same five jokes like I am.

Not to say it’s completely unwarranted. I’m sure you’ve gone to the grocery store during a particularly cold night and seen gaps in the inventory of various necessities, and fellow North Carolinians forming lines at the gas station to top off before the snow hits.

Even if you’re not from North Carolina, you’ve probably seen the below image of our very own Glenwood avenue from a few years back. Meme’d to hell and back with various edits including references to Star Wars, Ghostbusters, and various post-apocalyptic scenarios.  

Glenwood Ave, credit WRAL

So of course, a question I’ve been asked rhetorically from friends across the country is “why?” With a recent snow day passed and another possibly on the horizon, I figured now would be as good a time as any to write about what Raleigh’s deal with snow is and why so many of us dread the icy doom it brings.

Not to say this article excuses the Glenwood Incident or any over obsessive individuals you may run into throughout Raleigh; but instead, I hope to at least provide an explanation for why things are like this. Provide insight for school closures and concerns so that my fellow Raleigh citizenry might seem at least a little less crazy the next time the sky goes gray on a cold Winter’s day.

To understand the issues with Raleigh and snow we need to understand two important aspects of the problem: city maintenance and city planning. While there are many small issues that pervade North Carolina, and especially the city of Raleigh, these two form the crux of our problem.

As you can imagine, any city’s road conditions are linked at least partially to their Department of Transportation’s (DOT) budget. Repairs, litter control, and much more are all accounted for in the state DOT budget; and while North Carolina might not be as small as her neighbors like Georgia she still has to budget accordingly.

How much money is spent on inclement weather for a state that might see snow once every two years is weighed against contracts for road repairs, the much more frequent summer/fall tropical storms, and other projects that need it more.  

Of the $5.3 billion 2020 budget, it’s estimated by the NCDOT that we spent 32% of that on road maintenance (and a fraction of that goes towards inclement weather solutions). So a fraction of a fraction of the budget goes towards preparing the roads with brine and equipping plows with a salt/sand traction mix.

Of course, this means we only have so many snow plows and so much brine to spread around the roads.  If you get any pre-snow road treatment, you’re likely in more urban areas like Raleigh or you’re by a military base like Fayetteville. Even in those areas, however, pre-snow road treatment and subsequent plowing are usually only afforded to major roads and high traffic areas.

Live in a subdivision or a back road? Then may fortune be ever in your favor, because there’s a good chance that the most you’ll get is somebody laying out InstaMelt from the HOA (if you even get that much). There’s a chance you could drive on Leesville or Glenwood if you can get to them, but that’s IF you can get to them.

The neighborhood where I grew up you couldn’t get out if there was too much snow/ice because all three exits sat atop fairly steep grade hills. Don’t have a heavy enough vehicle or specialized tires? You’re probably going to slide back down or get stuck in a snow drift.

Of course, that’s just my old stomping grounds. But Raleigh is full of various neighborhoods; ranging from cookie cutter suburbs to nightmare hellscapes crafted with form over function kept firmly in mind.  For every Longlake or Dominion Park, there’s a road like Sendero Road.

Sendero is a back road attached to a back road with narrow, one-way roads twisting around steep gorges filled with trees and water at various points. The upper-middle class neighborhood is cut in half by a river with an old wooden bridge, and the only reliable turn around point is at the very end of this anxiety coaster.

For schools you have the school buses, which break down super frequently already, with no seat belts transporting kids across the city to school and parents trying to get out of their neighborhoods and dealing with other drivers.  

If something gets damaged or someone gets hurt or stranded, all because you had the option to close down but didn’t, then that’s consequences and problems laid at the foot of the school board and superintendent. Parent complaints, insurance rates, and potential lawsuits versus a few days of missed education and a few jokes on twitter; it’s easy to see which bet anyone would take when the sky starts spewing ice crystals.

It’s true, not every neighborhood in Raleigh (and many other southern cities) is a poorly designed nest of streets placed at random using dice; but enough exist throughout that it’s an important consideration for many schools, businesses, and families when they’re preparing for possible winter storms.  

Do we shut down schools, or hope the weatherman is right and that the light dusting clears by midday? Do we go and stock up on supplies in case the freezer goes out, or hope that the 2005 ice storm just doesn’t happen ever again? It’s these questions, and previous experiences like the 2005 ice storm that fuel a lot of the paranoia that happens surrounding snow storms.

I don’t expect to change any minds writing this, but hopefully you’ll at least come away with a better understanding of southern snowphobia when you see schools start closing left and right at the first flake, or when you see someone load their cart up with bread and milk.  

PS:  Apparently, it’s always bread and milk because bread provides energy, nutrition, and doesn’t need to be refrigerated; and milk because you can keep it fresh with snow/outdoor coolers if your fridge dies.

#NC #North Carolina #northcarolina #Raleigh #NCSU #NC State University #Glenwood #Glenwood Ave #Snow #snowday #city planning #Ice #icestorm #icestorm2005 #gifs

[oldsaltychipp]

I don't write much about me personally and my thoughts but I need an outlet so keep scrolling if you'd want. I'm just getting this all out here as I don't really have any other outlet. Bottom line is 2020 has been shit since day 1. Here's the last 20 months

Late summer 2018 a position I've been striving for opened up with my company, 1 catch I had to pick up and move away from everything I've known the last 45 years. I talked to my boys, my ex and family and they all supported this decision. Bottom line though was I needed a fresh start as I just felt like life had become groundhog day. So with that support I picked up my life and moved 900km away, oh and am 8 hour ferry ride in there as well. Thanksgiving day 2018 I got off the ferry at 7am to sunshine and great views as I traveled the rest of the way to my new life.

I had been seeing someone before I left and it was known we would be ending it. They actually did some work in my new city and came to visit for a week the week after i arrived. It was my birthday weekend and she left that Sunday morning. I wanted to meet people so I decided to go the dating route to help thinking it will be a while before i met someone i was truly interested in. I was wrong. I swiped on someone thinking they were out of my league, so beautiful and seemingly similar interests.

I was shocked she swiped right on me that same day. From our first conversation there was an automatic chemistry. We met that Friday night for appies and first quick kiss. We met twice more over the wkend. That Tuesday she had to go away for work and a planned vacation. We actually missed each other like crazy already. I had to go home to get more stuff and it went by where she was on vacation so she ended her vacation early to travel back with me. Chemistry was off the charts in every way.

She had ghosts from her past, her ex had committed suicide a few months after they got married. They were only together a total of 18 months. He gave her the life she was looking for. Her and her teenage son had found him. I can't imagine the trauma for them both. We met 2.5 years later and it was a constant in our relationship the love she had for him. I can't fault her for that. I loved her unconditionally. I had never loved like that before. She still lived in their house in the town she's lived most of her life. The ghosts were constant. Around Christmas she got a job offer in her field 700km across the island. We were only 2-3 months in. I was in no position to ask her to stay, i supported her. By March she was moved, she wanted to split but we agreed to try to make it work long distance. We truly loved each other and our times together was great. Only struggle was I'm a bit more introverted and she wasn't. Crowds and parties at times were a struggle for me and i didn't always handle them well.

As summer went on I traveled the island often to camp and hang out. My kids came for the summer, that added a bit of stress but managed it. So many times we shared how great and perfect we were for each other but the distance was the obstacle.. I had just made a major life move and wasn't in a position to rush into another one to be closer. She had bought a house there so this was a more permanent move for her as well. If she had known how strong our feelings would be i think she would've slowed the move down but I can't fault her for the excitement of a new place. I just did the same thing. I offered to move in a specific timeline but needed the commitment to move in rather than move and live in a more expensive place for me. 10 years with this company, it was too much risk as I'm trying yo get ahead in life and not always chasing mistakes.

Fast forward to fall, another gathering that I removed myself from to avoid conflict and it just caused more. It was my birthday and my present was a wkend getaway. We ended up canceling it. Then she began ending us. I didn't see her again until after xmas for a couple hours. We still talked often but we missed each other, she was eating her feelings. Menopause was in full effect, her father whom they had put in a home due to alzheimers was also a huge stress on her. We tried being friends, I went to help in that area during snowmageddon. I stayed the week with her and it was an amazing week for the most part. We got drunk one night and all the emotions came out, she confessed how much she loved me. I would do anything for her. I was supposed to come back for another week 2 week's later. On my drive home she said it was over and don't come back. It crushed me that i was trying to give her space to deal with it all but reminding her how I felt, always trying to support and encourage everything going on on her life. I held out hope she would miss me so much I'd be worth fighting for. It's never come, and now we don't talk. I'm crushed.

Ive tried to move on, date a bit but my heart just can't. My dating has been focused on activity like hiking and hanging out. Not about sex and such. I miss my best friend, the person i connected with better than anyone in my life. I'm trying to make friends here but it's a struggle for someone that doesn't really have great social skills. I engage people daily for work but for some reason people don't want to bring me in as a friend. Covid hasn't helped any of this and there's days the loneliness is crushing and i just want to hide when i can. I'm forcing myself to get out for hikes with a group but timing has meant it's been solo trips.

It took me all my life to find the connection i had with her I won't settle for anything less. Dating is a bitch right now. I love where i live but it's just lonely. I really don't know what the best move is for me at this point.

Thanks for letting me put my jumbled thoughts. There's so much i didn't write but i can't erase the thoughts, memories and feelings. They're too strong. I'll find my way but why can't life just throw me a bone and let me live a happiness i had found. Fuck i miss her, i shouldn't still feel that way but the energy of every day we were together was just magic to me.

[non-stop-alien-days]

We’re onto day seven (7!!!) of the State of Emergency and I’m back to work today to help bring people home!

Last night, the mayor said the SOE would be continuing until at least Saturday morning

#snowmageddon 2020 #flight attendant journey #nlwx #me #my face #aviation #newfoundland and labrador #newfoundland

[teacherintransition]

Spring... the Natural Transition

For as long as I can remember, spring has been my favorite season for all the reasons you’d expect: warming temperatures, nature coming to life .... baseball

Last year, spring was a season of uncertainty, its time to reconnect!

The sun is at the ten o’clock position, a cooling breeze wafts across my brow, my plants are blooming nicely and I’m sitting in my swing with my dogs listening to Bach and Vivaldi’s “La Primavera” from Le Quattro Stagioni... spring has sprung. As clearly as winter is a time for drawing inward and self reflection, spring is a time for reveling in nature reborn while our spirits are rejuvenated as well. The birds make a chorus that is filled with melodies no human could recreate. For the retiree, it’s time to test the waters of new goals and experiences. As mentioned is an earlier piece, in class instruction ended last year in early March due to the pandemic and educators changed the education landscape by adapting curriculum to an online delivery system.

All of us were presented with the aforementioned challenge and a chance to spend spring at home, presenting us with a very personal opportunity to experience spring outside of the classroom. An exciting, up close spring season was what I’d hoped for... spring of 2020 wasn’t the real deal. Yes, the weather was fantastic; yes, the gardens were planted; and yes, we spent a lot of time out doors. There was no hiking the Azalea Trail, there was no baseball, there were no chances to be out to marvel at the Texas wild flowers while back roading. We were relegated to a stay at home order to stop Covid spread. So while we had a chance to be able to physically immerse oneself in the season of rebirth, the shadows of fear overcast us with anxiety, doubts of the future and restrictions that we have never experienced. It was a very dismal spring. And, as far as transitioning into a retirement lifestyle, I had not yet made the choice of what would come next... limbo spring 2020.

This spring is what I consider my first retirement spring. Baseball has returned, I don’t feel comfortable enough to see a game in person but it’s on the tv and that is better than nothing. My gardening efforts are in full bloom and the beautiful weather takes on added significance due to our surviving “SNOWMAGEDDON 2021.” So, I consider this to be my first spring of my retirement years. Transition... no doubt and rebirth, without question. Everything is in place for great spring season, but this time my mindset is of a retired teacher and what are my tools to make the change from work a day guy to retired guy?

Just the right mix of spontaneity with structure and goals and free spiritedness is what is called for at this point. Be aware of all things you’ve done before but now have more time to do: reading, walking/hiking, working in the yard and watching those spring time sports. Put watching low on the priority list is my advice as it is a very passive activity. As the Covid vaccines increase, taking a road trip to catch a Rangers game or a local high school game will be doable. As mentioned, watching sports on TV is passive, I highly recommend doing as much of the planned activities and others outside to the degree possible. To draw a clear positive distinction between being in the classroom and “living the good life” let the freshness of the season, the cool air and warm sun and the vibrancy of nature occupy your being continuously. This first spring in retirement has to set the stage for for how you adapt to these gigantic changes occurring in your life; so being in the sun is a great change. The sun, by voluminous amounts of research, helps creative an active positive mindset and contribute to a positive mood and a healthier feel. Just remember, nothing got a classroom of students more excited than having class outside during spring. Now, you can do that every day and make those countless days spent inside while the “weather was beautiful” a distant memory.

You want to read? Read outside. You want to hang out with the dogs. Play with them in the yard. You enjoy cooking? Grill out baby.... because we all know grilling out in the summer can get very hot. Your mother used always tell you to play outside, guess what? Mom was right, get out there. As I’ve advised previously, don’t over regiment your time, be playful but balance it some clear goals you would like to accomplish. Painting on Tuesday, five mile hike on Wednesday, work in the garden on Thursday and maybe play a little golfon the weekend. These were the things you used to try to cram together all in one weekend that made those precious two days off feel like you’d been in a tornado. You mean I can go fishing in the middle of the week? Absolutely! Throw in a few naps and a few extra sojourns in nature and you’ve got a plan! Be outdoors in the glorious weather as much as possible (yes, use your sunscreen) and you’ll find your spring retirement adventures a marvelous start to life on your terms.

This is just food for thought advice, you find your own thing... it’s your retirement. If some of your planning is off feeling a bit, no sweat. Finding out about yourself and your likes and goals are the motivation for a life in repose. This is not a time of failure in your life ... the stresses were left on the job, this is joyful experimentation to find out who you really are free from workplace constraints. Remember, structure but with just enough playful impulsiveness... rigidity isn’t in the course description. Outline the season with some broad general goals to reinforce that your the boss of this period in your life. LA DOLCE VITA!

http://labibliotecacoffee.com/

#retirement #coffetime #open mind #stress #change #teacher #health #education #writing #spring #la dolce vita #self actualization #self healing #self discovery #self improvement #life lessons #lifeisbeautiful #hiking #reading #read in 2021 #europe #outside #seasons #serendipity #fishing #pace yourself #its fine #it’s my time to shine #it’s my life #carpe deim

[loloftheday]

Snowmageddon Dragon 2020

#humor #laughing #picture #wtf #memesdaily