Whew!

[altivo]

It was foggy all day, growing gradually denser. Finally mid-afternoon the weather service issued a "Dense Fog Advisory". Visibility dropped to an eighth of a mile or less. We decided to close the library an hour early so people could get home before total darkness (sunset 4:25 pm, civil twilight ends 4:57 pm, so we closed at 4:30.) I got home about 5:15 which is double my normal travel time. Of course people were being idiots on the roads, so I got off the state highway as soon as possible and took the back roads home. Spooky. You could get lost easily, or drive right off the road if you went too fast.

I had to get home so I could care for the critters. Gary was off at the hospital in McHenry, where his younger brother was taken early this morning with heart symptoms. I guess they confirmed the problem and immediately put stents in. He's feeling as much better as could be expected, apparently. Of course their mom was upset and the other daughter-in-law brought her up from Chicago. So she's at our house for tonight, which is not a problem really other than that we didn't have time to tidy up before her arrival. Christmas boxes and paper and stuff is everywhere, but I think she's so tired and stressed that she's hardly noticed.

Four day weekend, yay! But I suspect it's all going to get eaten up with stressed hospital visits and driving in bad weather. Tomorrow: thundershowers turning to freezing rain and then snow in the evening. Eeew.

Comments

[corelog.livejournal.com]

Hugs to Gary! (And to you, of course!)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. So far everything seems fairly well controlled.

[tinbender.livejournal.com]

Hope Gary's brother recovers quickly. Scary stuff.

That fog is tough. We used to get that in Iowa all the time (and they're getting it now.) You just can't see.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

"Just can't see" is an understatement. This is the second worst fog I've ever experienced. The other was about a year ago, under similar conditions. Warm southerly air hits snowbanks... It's like being in the middle of a mad scientist's lab with the dry ice machines running wild.

[doco.livejournal.com]

Judging from your journal, the library seems to close early 400 days a year.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Actually, in the first four years I worked there, it never closed for anything other than scheduled holidays. We seem to be getting a string of very extreme weather this year. I think we also have a slightly different composition to the board of trustees, such that the leaders are more concerned with staff safety. Those of us who drive into town from rural areas are exposed to more risk when these conditions hit. This year we've actually had members of the board calling and telling us that we should close, where in the past our director would have had to call them and ask if it was OK.

Our weather here is probably prone to greater extremes than what you might see, other than in the mountains. We also lack the transportation systems you have, such as the many rail lines. There is no way to get from Union or Marengo, the towns nearest to my farm, to Harvard, where the library is, except by driving in a private vehicle. Well, you could ride a horse but chances are someone in a hurry would hit you on the road. Bicycles pose the same risk and wouldn't get you through snow and ice. Walking would take all day to get there.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear about Gary's younger brother, I hope he feels better soon. Its especially difficult during the holiday season.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

So far he's doing better than expected. Whether he'll make the necessary lifestyle changes though... I'm doubtful.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Yes some people are rather set in their ways, Still I thought that about my Uncle but he was diagnosed with diabetes and he's changed his lifestyle quite a bit :)