First Actual Snowfall

So far since I've lived in Fargo, it's snowed a few times, but it's been too warm to stick. Well, this past week has been consistently in the 40's or lower. And tonight it snowed. And it's sticking. We've got a half inch on the ground so far, and before tonight's over we could see up to a full inch.

And I was supposed to work until 10 tonight! Thank GOODNESS our labor percentage was too high and I got sent home early, otherwise I'd have to be driving in this and I would seriously turn a ten minute drive into a half hour drive, because I'd be doing 15mph, tops.

Anyway, the main purpose of this post is a selfish one; I want to be able to look back and remember my first actual snowfall in Fargo. 10PM, Friday October 27th, 2012.



Oh wait, sorry!

I just checked www.weather.com. And we could see up to TWO inches. Here... See for yourself!

Next 6 hours

A steady snow will continue to fall through the overnight hours. Cloudy with temperatures steady in the upper 20s. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 95%. Additional snowfall of 1 to 2 inches through 3:30am.

If you'll excuse me, I need to call my little brother and tell him! He'll be so excited, and hopefully he likes the pictures I took. :)

Hypocardriac

When I was in middle school and thought I was just so cool, I subscribed to a website called Urban Dictionary. Every day, I was emailed a new "word" and it's definition. Usually the words are a compound of two or more English words, to create a new word. Sometimes the words were slang, and sometimes they were English words redefined. One example of this would be Girl. Noun. Origin: unknown. A loud, gossipy, humanoid. Avoid at all costs.

Definitely not a website to take seriously, but amusing nonetheless. In my laziness, I never bothered to unsubscribe. Instead, I now glance at the subject lines of the daily emails and if it looks interesting, or funny, I'll open it up. Otherwise, the email gets deleted without a second thought and I go on my merry little way.

One word, though, has stuck with me in the back of my mind, and that word is hypocardriac. The website's definition can be found here, but I'll sum it up anyway: it's a portmanteau of hypochondriac and car. It's basically defined as someone who constantly thinks something is wrong with their car, or something is going to go wrong with their car.

If the driver owns a 1977 Toyota, yeah, I'd say they're pretty justified in fearing for the well being of their vehicle.

But I own a 2012 Mazda3, which I have to remind myself is a top safety pick by the (insert acronym of several letters, mostly vowels, here.) NATIONAL HIGHWAY DUDES. <-- super technically legitimate term right there. You know who I'm talking about. The IIHC or whatever. The ABCDEF. The infamous "them". Yeah, those guys. If I recall correctly, Mazda proudly sports several models that are top safety picks. I wouldn't drive anything that wasn't!

Isn't she goooorgeous?

My Zoom-Zoom, as I call it, had an owner before me, although it's less than a year old. The guy bought it brand new and owned it for a little more than 6 months before he decided he wanted something bigger. Idiot. I paid used price for a basically new vehicle. It had a lot of miles for only being owned for about 7-8 months (12k!) but she is in otherwise perfect condition. Or so I keep telling myself.

See, on Labor Day of this year I was driving through Dallas, which is undergoing a MAJOR reconstruction of their ENTIRE highway system. Every orange cone in the country is likely residing in Dallas right now. Detours, rerouting, u-turns, 4 lane highways shrinking down to 1 lane, highway closures, and headaches are abundant. Anyway, long story short I was driving with my boyfriend and 2 dogs in a car, and trying to navigate through a twisty turn of cones and merging traffic. I took a turn too sharp, hit a curb, and blew a tire. I pulled over to safety in an empty parking lot, called my mom, and then proceeded to bawl for the next few hours about how I couldn't afford to replace the tire, how it was 100 degrees outside and my dogs needed water, and we couldn't get the damned flat off, because it was still on from the factory and those lugnuts were NOT coming off for anything. Several phone calls and helping hands later, we got the dummy tire on, drove to Sam's Club, and an angel gifted a new tire to me. Three weeks later I found out Mazda offers complimentary 24/7 roadside assistance. Well hell.

Since Labor Day, I've been paranoid.

Well, no, not really. I've started being very cautious around curbs. I don't like vehicles right next to me. Traffic cones unnerve me a little. And when I have to make a right turn, I make my turn a little wider to make sure I'm TOTALLY avoiding that curb.

And I'm still adjusting to driving in North Dakota conditions. See, it's MUCH flatter up here than it is in Dallas. And it's a lot more open. No skyscrapers here. Therefore, the winds get pretty ferocious up here. A daily wind of 13mph is not an uncommon event. Even 20mph winds aren't exactly uncommon! My car is a compact car, and it can and will get blown around a bit by high winds on the highway. Recently, I've noticed my car pulling a little to the left. Maybe it's just the wind, maybe it's just me oversteering. But with the wind, I can't just go find a straight-a-way and let go of my wheel and see if she keeps true. My alignment ought to be perfectly fine; the car is only a year old! But part of me is really concerned when I blew that tire, maybe I tweaked my alignment just slightly.

On THAT note, when I got my car examined pre-1200 mile trip from Big D to Fargo, shouldn't they have checked the alignment?

See? See what I'm talking about? Total hypocardriac. I probably have NOTHING to worry about and I'm freaking out for no reason.

It'd sure figure.

UPDATE: My wonderful boyfriend has driven my vehicle both on city streets on the highway and performed the standard "Is yer alignment dun messt up?" test, i.e. letting to of the wheel and praying she keeps straight.
She passed. My Zoom-Zoom stayed true, and we're chalking it up to high winds blowing me around and me overreacting. We will continue to keep an exceptionally close eye on things, but I'll be a little less stressed when driving now.

The S Word

Being very new to Fargo, from a state not exactly known for it's winters, I get asked if I've ever seen snow before.

Yes. Yes I have. Probably not what an Fargo-ans (Fargoans? Fargans? Fargo-ites?) would deem worthy of being called snow, but I have seen the fluffy white stuff and the abhorrent ice that accompanies it.

And no, I don't like it.

My first really memorable experience with snow I was in kindergarten, in Wisconsin. I only spent about 8 months in WI and I was very young, so I don't recall much. I have a memory of playing outside, building a dinky, pathetic little snowman, a few snowangels... I went sledding with my daddy a bit. That was nice. I also remember Mom briefly losing control of her vehicle over a patch of ice. That was less than fun.

After that, I didn't really behold "snow" again (more than a few inches anyway) until I moved to SC. I spent fifth, sixth, and part of 7th grad there. During the winter of 6th grade, it started snowing right before homeroom. By the time second period came around, they were loading up the busses and calling parents. Mom and Dad couldn't come get me, which was fine, so I took the bus home like usual.

Now, we lived in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains and that said, it was very hilly. So, the bus driver said sorry kids, this is as far as I can safely go, and dumped us off at a grocery store. The risk of ice and snow on the hills was apparently too great. But what were we kids supposed to do? If our parents couldn't pick us up from school, why would they possibly be able to get us from the grocery store? Suffice it to say it was quite a while before my mom was able to come get me. There was a small stroke of luck; in the same shopping center there was a veterinarian. It just so happened my collie was undergoing minor surgery that same day, so the very nice vet let me stay in the office until my mom could come get me, and Mollie, our dog.

I didn't see significant snow again until my sophomore year of high school. It was a huge joke, too, because during about second period when all the kids had their faces pressed to the windows, watching the white stuff accumulate, the principal came over the PA system, "Students! Under NO circumstances will school be dismissed early or cancelled. I expect you all to pay attention and those who don't will serve detention." One hour later, he was eating his words. "Students. In 30 minutes we will release the Seniors and anyone who carpools with a senior. In 45 minutes, Juniors and those who carpool with juniors" etc. The student council went as far as to make T-shirts with his first quote on the front and him retracting the statement on the back. They sold for $20, as a fundraiser for prom, I think.

Senior year we saw a little bit of snow then, too. School was closed for a few days, and the snow melted really quick. It caused flooding in some areas, and some black ice from when it would refreeze overnight. Not fun.

Winter of 2010 saw the worst snowstorm I've ever seen. The city I lived in shut down for seven days. The place was a ghost town for a full week! People were getting stuck, and having wrecks, and no one could get anything done. We called in neighboring cities to try to help clear the streets, but DFW just wasn't equipped for the kind of snowfall we saw in the time frame we saw it. I'd say we got almost 8 inches in 24 hours, and it didn't go away anytime soon. The ice that followed the storm was treacherous. Everyone that owned a Jeep or a 4 wheel drive thought no big deal... And were proven wrong.

Snow in Texas. This was 2010, my senior year.

I'm not looking forward to the snow this year. I'm not looking forward to blizzards this year. I'm just thankful I live in a place that is fully prepared for that type of weather, and they won't be caught unawares. The first time I skid on ice, though, in my little Mazda... rest assured, I will pull over safely and have a good cry/freakout before continuing. I've been reading everything I can get my little hands on regarding WHAT TO DO when you hit ice. Shift to neutral, steer into the direction you skid, let off the gas and brake..... Jeez.

Random Acts of Kindness: The Barista

These days, Starbucks is just about its own food group. The word Starbucks has come to almost replace "coffee". For example, Friend A says: "Whatcha drinkin'?" and Friend B responds, "Oh, a Starbucks." Surely you've heard this before, maybe even said it. Much like Kleenex, Duck Tape, and Band-Aids, the brand name is becoming synonymous with the product.

But let's pause a moment and think, while we're sipping these yummy, Skinny Lo-Cal Diet Soy Latte No Foam with 2 Shots of Espresso and a Splash of Caramel (or whatever it is you order), those poor baristas are working long hours, on their feet, being yelled at for "wrong" orders, trying to keep 10-word+ orders straight, for minimum wage. And most of the Starbucks I visit seem to be staffed exclusively with young people, college-age kids. Either they must REALLY need that job, or they must enjoy what they do, because frankly, the service industry sucks. I LOVE customer service positions, but the reality is, any way you slice it, there's always the asshole customers who are just out to ruin your day. Or so it seems.

Now, Random Acts of Kindness are becoming increasingly popular. If you haven't heard about this philosophy or way of life, then go here and educate yourself. A lot of these ideas are on the extreme side or require a little more effort than the average lazy American is willing to put forth, myself included. But when I visit Starbucks, I consistently make my barista smile by doing this one, easy thing.

I give them free reign of my order.

For example:

"Welcome to Starbucks hon, what can I get started for you?"

"Whatever you wanna make me."

"Pardon?"

"I trust you. Get creative. Have fun. I'll pay, even if I don't like it. I just ask...."
And here's I'll specify I'm lactose intolerant and I don't care much for caramel, but if there's a little, that's OK. Sometimes I'll ask specifically for a hot or chilled drink, depending on the temperature outside.

Every time I get a new drink, something different. I've had a raspberry white mocha frappaccino with vanilla, something the barista called "Liquid Cinnamon Roll", and a lovely mix of blackberry, lemonade, green tea, and passion fruit juice. There have been countless other drinks, hot and cold, coffee and tea, etc. It never gets boring because it's different every time.

Day in and day out, baristas are told what to do and how to do it. I've heard customers even specify the number of pumps of syrup they want! It gets a little ridiculous. By asking my barista to do whatever she/he wants, they gain freedom and flexibility and it's FUN! I'll stand up at the counter and chat with them, ask how their day is, what they're putting in my drink, comment on the weather, whatever. It's a nice break of the  monotony, always making whatever is on the menu when quite literally, the possibilities are endless.

And when my drink is done, I'll let it cool if hot and take a sip. I've never had a drink I didn't like. For the effort put forth, I always leave SOMETHING in the tip jar. Sometimes all I have is some spare change, and sometimes I can put a dollar or two in there. And I always thank my barista by name for their creativity and effort.

I've been concerned before the upcharges could get ridiculous; I mean, my barista could choose to charge me for every pump of sugar, every ounce of coffee, and every shot of espresso. More often than not, though, I'm simply charged for a "latte + flavor" or "frappaccino + soy". This isn't always the case, but either way I've never paid more than $5 and change for a drink.

This is so fun, and so easy, and such a different way to brighten someones day. Imagine if YOU were at work, doing whatever job you do, and a customer or your boss says "Ya know, with this project, I'm giving you free reign. You do whatever you think best." How gratifying and exciting it must be!

Everyone Woman Needs One

Every woman needs to own a slow cooker. Simple as that.

For most folks, a slow cooker is used to make chili, or stew, or a pot roast. Oftentimes, winter food. I know in mama's house, the crock pot gathers dust from March until November, and she brings it out during winter months for delicious roast and her special "yankee chili" (because apparently, southern chili's never met a tomato.)

Now, in Fargo, we get about 10 months of winter. Just kidding. Kinda.

It's October  now and our daily high temps are about consistent with the high temps of winter in Dallas. Ouch. So, my slow cooker came out to say hi a little early this year. And with that, I've started looking into new recipes to make. Chili is divine by all means, and roast is always hearty. I've yet to discover a stew recipe that really enraptures my heart (or stomach, whichever!). But with Pinterest becoming so popular, I knew I'd find some real awesome recipes for my crock pot that would break the everyday humdrum.

Beer chicken.

It's chicken. Slow cooked. In beer.

Every redblooded male ought to marry the woman that makes this for him. And it's SO. EASY.

The recipe I used can be found here. I altered it a bit because I used Shiner Bock, which comes in a bottle, and I did not measure my spices. I also substituted cayenne for paprika. For side dishes I made garlicky mashed potatoes (From a box. Thanks, Betty Crocker!) and sweet and spicy carrots (basic glazed carrots, and hit it with some black pepper and paprika). When the chicken was done and smelling oh-so-delicious, I used what liquid was left in the slow cooker, poured it into a pot, and added a bit of flour and turned up the heat to thicken it into a gravy. Only about a table spoon and a half of flour was needed, and even then I think I overdid it. I've never made gravy like this, so it was kind of a trial and error ordeal. "Yeahh, that looks about right!" type of situation.

It it looks like my slow cooker is going to get a real work out this year, because this week is not supposed to get about 45F, and Thursday we've a chance of snow. Granted, it probably won't stick, the ground is too warm, but still. Snow. In October. Yikes.

In Dallas, we might see snow once or twice. Between December and February. Never before, never later.

It's a different world here...

1100 Miles From Home

Change.

Drastic change.

Let me paint a picture for you.

You live in a urban area. Over 4 million people across 2 of the US's largest cities, and all the suburbs in between. You've lived here all your life, save for a few years when you were younger. This is home, this is comfort. Summers can easily see temperatures of 110F, and winters might see 30F. On a really, really cold day. Traffic is nothing new or surprising, small talk between strangers doesn't exist, and when someone asks "How are you?" it's not because they care, it's because it's an obligation. Sad, but true. It's a concrete jungle out there, and it's your playground.

Change.

Move 1100 miles away to a "metro area" (if it can even be called that, you scoff). Population 200,000 of the area. Go 20 minutes any direction and hit vast farmland. Highways are never congested, even during rush hour. Asking "How ya doin'?" yields a life story. Strangers greet one another without necessity. Summers here peak at 90F on the hottest days, and winters will drop to 20F below. Easy.

Hi there. My name is Melissa, and I just moved from the DFW Metroplex to Fargo, North Dakota. In case you aren't aware, DFW = Dallas/Fort Worth. Metroplex IS, in fact, copyrighted. One thing I've learned so far is you can't tell someone you're from DFW. They don't know what it means. Only "Dallas" or "North Texas" will be met with recognition.

This road may be bumpy, but here's to hoping not too many u-turns will be necessary. Asking for none is just asking for too much!

Note: That is not my vehicle, but my boyfriends. As nice and reliable as the Ranger is... I'm a Mazda girl!