I should have taken some pictures!

Today I decided to go do some more shoveling because my back finally stopped hurting. (I never said I was smart!)

Our driveway and sidewalks were all cleared by DH... but from the end of the driveway to the path cut by the plows in the middle of our street is a good 15 feet that had about 4 inches on the top of a good 2 and a half inches of ice. So I decided that I would go tackle that.

It was a beautiful sunny day...so I put on over my jeans & sweatshirt, one fleece jacket, snow pants and my stadium Parka from LLBean. Oh yeah, don't forget the mittens and ear headband thingy (my ears hate to be cold!) and I had my hat in my pocket...just in case.

I get out there and start shoveling off the snow. That went really well except for the shovel sticking on the ice in some parts. I get all the snow off and start working on the ice. The ice is stubborn and I'm shoving the snow shovel into it and trying to get the ice to break with the corner of the shovel. Finally after getting about 1/4 of it to move, I decide to try our square nose shovel that's for the garden and yard work. Oh yeah, I've already ditched my parka at this point.

I find that the ice is much easier to remove with the "new" shovel and start chipping away. I was able to get the shovel to wedge up under the ice and pick up huge plates of ice...I had to drop some to break them small enough to fit on the shovel. I debated on if I should remove the ice from the gutter or not because DH HATES the gutters (his parent's house has the gutter flattened out so there's no bump when you drive in and he hates that ours isn't exactally like his parent's house...there's many more issues there but that's a different show.) but I did end up taking the ice out of the gutter. I also ended up ditching my gloves and ear headband thingy.

It felt so empowering to break up the ice and be able to throw it out of the way. I could picture something that was making me mad and just hack away at the ice to get all my frustrations out. It was great. And I was proud of the job I did...until...

DH came home. He wasn't happy at all that I cleared out the ice because now the bump is back. (I need an eyeroll smiley here) Oh well, can't win them all.

I wish I had taken before and after pictures though...you would have been proud of me too.

After I did all that work, Darly & I went out...just to be out! We went to Michaels and bought up some left over Christmas stuff that was 70% off. and then we went to Walmart to get some dishwasher detergent (hey Jen!) because we were totally out and some milk too...I also grabbed some cleaner and Salsa! and then we went to the library...bumped into our friends at Woodstone Prairie...they managed to get out too...but they have their own plow (course they need it too!) Then we headed home and WE HAD MAIL! That may not mean much to you but since the first blizzard hit our mail service has been hit or miss. If the airport was closed, no mail...if they can't get to the mailbox, no mail...if the roads haven't been plowed, no mail...you get the picture.

I got a card from my grandmother apologizing for it being late for my birthday. ha ha, she was probably expecting it to arrive yesterday or maybe on my birthday. I should call her.

My Mom called while I was out. She said that the unwrapped stuff wasn't for my birthday...it was just some stuff she got me because it was a good deal and that I should have gotten another package. I had to explain the whole mail thing to her. I'll get the box Monday, I'm sure. But I teased her that it would be here in time for Valentines.

I'm tired now.