It is incredibly unusual that I — we — are confined to the house for days at a time.
Two weekends ago, however, that was the case. (update: we had another one). We were home from around noon Saturday until Tuesday morning. This left me with a lot of hours to fill.
So, please find below the things I did and did not do while at home in the ice/snowstorm. I am assuming you too can relate.
1. Watched our sermon online.
2. Read 2.5 books.
3. Watched two NFL play-off games.
4. Cleaned out two drawers
5. Vacuumed
6. Cleaned out the refrigerator
7. Cleaned out a kitchen cabinet
8. Vacuumed (we have cats)
9. Played with Adler and Maslow
10. Cleaned out my jewelry
11. Did laundry
12. Vacuumed again
13. Made lunches.
14. Made dinner.
15. Ordered books online.
16. Compiled things to donate.
17. Texted with friends
18. Texted with family
19. Watched “Dateline.”
20. Watched a movie.
21. Washed dishes.
Now, for things I did not do over the snow days:
1. Put on make-up.
2. Style my hair
3. Dress up.
4. Drive
5. Go outside.
6. Get out of my pajamas (except to shower)
7. Get up early.
8. Go to bed early.
As I have written before, I am a big lover of winter. I realize that I am an anomaly. I have laughed internally at the comments that I have heard over the past few days. I heard people say, “If I had wanted to live in cold weather, I would have moved up north” or “I am so sick of these cold temperatures” or “I hate having to bundle up to go outside” or “I am moving” or “Is it spring yet?”
I cannot help but chuckle because I feel the same way when the temperatures rise. I want to move, I get sick of the heat, and I wonder if fall/winter are coming soon.
As my dad always said: “That is why they make chocolate and vanilla. We do not always like the same things.”
* * *
High school basketball continues here on the Plateau with local teams scheduled to play this weekend.
The regular season for the basketball squads of Stone Memorial High and Cumberland County High Schools is winding down. The Jets and Lady Jets are in action tonight at CCHS gymnasium when they host White County. The Lady Jets get underway at 6 p.m. The Panthers and Lady Panthers travel to Clarkrange tomorrow evening before heading to Baxter to take on Upperman Tuesday.
District tournaments are set to begin just eleven days from now on Feb. 17.
In case you missed it during the severe weather, Briggs Lowe and Ashley Whittenburg were named as the Stone Memorial High School’s 2026 Basketball Homecoming King and Queen. Briggs is the son of Joe and Dana Lowe, and Ashley is the daughter of Chris and Crystal Whittenburg.
Other nominees were Jack Cordell and Christopher Garrison for King and Briley Norrod and Casey Hepburn for Queen.
Other homecoming court members were Lexi Clark and Clay Reeves, freshmen; Kassie Kunkel and AJ Vandever, sophomores; and Lauren Clark and Kyle Hinch, juniors.