This isn’t our first snow of the season. Although late, we didn’t have our first snow until last week. Before yesterday, we received about two inches – easy to clean up. But with talk of a big snow coming, we prepared for it as best we could short of buying a snowblower – that may change after today.

For the first time in nearly two decades, state offices were closed because of the weather. After the winter storm we had last year in which one of the interstate highways were backed up, I’m glad Governor Doyle declared a snow emergency. Roads were still in pretty bad shape by the time we finished our driveway, and I can only imagine the mess we would have seen had people tried to get to work today.

On the home front, this is our first winter with Birdie. Birdie doesn’t seem to like having this much snow. When we take her out to go potty, she goes quickly; before the snow, we could be outside for as long as 15 minutes before she would go. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that the snow is basically up to the top of her head when she tries walking in it. Either way, she doesn’t seemed very thrilled with it.

I also took a few minutes to try out my snowshoes. I took a short jaunt to the backyard to see how they felt and to make a few tracks. I guess that’s one benefit of the snow: snow sports.

I’m sure I’ve said it before, but I’m going to say it again: this weather is really starting to get on my nerves. Even with all of the warming and then sudden snowfall, it is still possible to get sick of it. I admit, it’s March (when we still see occasional snow), and the temperature is still in the 40′s (Fahrenheit), so it’s not like it should just end anytime soon. But we’ve experienced more snow than ever in recorded history in this town.

We broke the record for most snowfall in a season over 24 inches ago (I think we exceeded it in early February). So I think many of us in town have the right to be sick of snow for the year.

But it gets worse: they’re expecting more snow this week. The local meteorologists are expecting from 1 inch to 6 inches of snowfall on Thursday. That means more waiting for spring.

I think the day the temps get up to 55, I’m taking three solid days off to ride my bike. And I’m not stopping until hour 72!

The following pictures don’t even start to show how much snow we’ve really had since the beginning of the month.

 My apartment building covered in snow 

 My car in the snow

 Looking down the driveway

 Snow bank outside my apartment

Quite honestly, I’m sick of the snow. It’s been constantly dumping on us, and we’re expecting more this month. What’s worse, we had a warm-up with rain, only to have it freeze up on us the other night. Snow and ice removal have been difficult. The roads have been slick. Traveling in this stuff is not fun. And now the temperature is below the freezing mark.

I swear, if I hear anyone say, “gosh, I love having a white Christmas” or if anyone sings “Let it Snow,” I’m kicking them in the n**s!! It’s not that I dislike Christmas, because I actually love this holiday. But dealing with the snow has been pretty rough. But then again, I live in Wisconsin… “get used to it” is what most people would say anyway.

By the way, Merry Christmas!

Snow falls on Wisconsin, flags beating against the wind

It’s a winter wonderland in Wisconsin again today… in April!!

It’s true, we officially got slammed with another record-setting snowfall yesterday (April 11). Madison received 5.3 inches and Milwaukee got 7 inches.

It’s hard to believe that we had an 80-degree (Fahrenheit) day last week Monday. Temperatures plummeted into the 40′s by the middle of the week. We were freezing again by Tuesday evening.

But very few places closed. I made it to both jobs yesterday. I think it’s because we’re so used to snow. The county was ready for it, despite getting the lawn tractors ready for the anticipated warmer weather that we usually see this time of year.

The last time I saw snow this late was on May 2, 2004. I woke up that morning and looked out the window to see snow coming down. That was the night that I saw Godsmack and Metallica at the Colliseum in Madison.

When I was in high school, I also experienced a strange snow day. On May 10, 1990, we got a dose of snow that closed many schools… except mine. When I arrived home from school that day, my friends were all outside in shorts throwing snowballs at each other.

Although they didn’t close the office and I had to work yesterday, it seemed unusual to have snow in April. But then again, it’s Wisconsin… the weather here is unusual half the time.

Prairie oak tree covered with snow

Snow covers tree and ground in my backyard

My car (Ford Escort) covered in snow

Flags flying in the wind day after April snowfall

Wisconsin State Journal article: Record snow gums up spring day

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Newswatch – Snow’s wallop felt across region

Wisconsin DOT: Safe winter driving tips