Ice, ice baby!

How cold was it in Austin today? Cold enough that we didn’t have to go to work!

After a November of spring- and summer-like weather (seriously, it was 80-something on Thanksgiving), the temperatures finally dropped, and dropped haaard. Yesterday it just kept getting colder and colder, and then a fine drizzle started misting the entire area. Pretty soon, people around the office started wondering out loud whether or not we’d have to go to work the next day.

See, in Austin we don’t really get snow, we get ice. And the last time we had an ice storm – a couple of years ago – the entire city essentially shut down. City shut-down equals paid day off from work. Lopez! and I stepped out into the biting cold after work with frozen fingers crossed.

Then the stupid weather men burst our balloon, reporting that yes it was cold, and yes there was a drizzle, and sure, it was even going to freeze, but it would warm up fairly quickly so don’t get your shorts in a bunch. Even when the local channels started running a crawl announcing late school openings, we went to bed figuring we’d at most get a reprieve of a couple of hours.

In the morning we called the office to check if there was a company message. And there was – the office would be opening at 10 a.m. Damn! Me and Lopez! slept a little later, then started getting ready for work.

And then, while I was taking a shower, Lopez! busted in and started doing a victory dance and singing, “Snow day! Snow day!” Oh, hell yeah! Her boss had called to tell her that they decided to close the office all together; a few minutes later, my boss called to tell me the same thing.

So we’ve spent the day in our pajamas, eating, watching DVDs and checking out the traffic accidents on the local news. It’s still kind of up in the air whether or not the shut-down will be extended to tomorrow. Hell, I’d be happy with a half-day.

Snow day! Snow day!