There is still a crazy load of snow and ice slicking up Iowa City, but at least for today, the sun shone down and did some helpful melting-like work.
Last night, some of my friends and I headed out for the evening, and we decided we were all sick of snow boots: although no one braved sky-high heels, there were some definite signs of fashion on our collective feet. Of course, the flip side of that was we all nearly 
killed ourselves walking from my house, where we gathered for a pre-festivities festivity, to the vehicle that carried us on our way.
So, this afternoon, I spent a little time smacking at the ice out front with my shovel, busting up big chunks and reclaiming about two feet of my sidewalk that has not been seen in a couple of weeks.
There’s still a heck of an opportunity to land on one’s bazoom out there, and there’s snow and freezing rain in this week’s forecast, but for whatever reason, the sight of ice coming off the sidewalk gave me a little hope. The sooner it’s off the sidewalk, the sooner it’s off the garden.
on Feb 24th, 2008 at 5:15 am
Hope (and seeing that ice disappear!) is what gets us through February, I think. :)
on Feb 24th, 2008 at 5:16 am
And breaking up the ice helps get you in shape so that you are in shape for gardening in the spring.
I’m sure glad I’m not in Iowa this winter. Our snow from a few days ago is now mostly gone, but we are also expecting some more “wintry mix” later in the week.
Carol (in Indiana)
on Feb 24th, 2008 at 8:05 am
Nancy, I think you’re right!
Carol, that’s definitely true — I was thinking about that as my biceps were burning. Hope your next round of wintry mix disappears quickly…we’re looking at another pretty hard hit tomorrow into Tuesday, it sounds like!
on Feb 24th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Well at least you will have a head start on it when it ices again.
on Feb 24th, 2008 at 11:23 am
I was out there yesterday as well…shoveling through 3 inches of ice in my driveway. First I laughed, then I thought of the following
The Myth of Sysiphus – The gods had condemned Sisyphus to ceaselessly rolling a rock to the top of a mountain, whence the stone would fall back of its own weight. They had thought with some reason that there is no more dreadful punishment than futile and hopeless labor.
on Mar 2nd, 2008 at 9:29 am
Curtis, you’re right — that head start is paying off now that things are warming up.
PrairieRobin, this has been a winter for the ages…and I have been feeling like Sysiphus for months!