We’ve had a weird trend in southern Wisconsin this winter: it has snowed almost every Thursday.
Thursday isn’t the only day it has snowed — but it has been the most reliably snowy. This isn’t just a subjective observation, either. The stats back it up. In 2023, it has snowed every Thursday but one.
Add Feb. 16 to that chart. It’s been snowing all day. We have about 4-5″ on the ground and it’s still coming down. We’ll probably see another couple of inches before our Winter Storm Warning expires at 10 p.m.
Oh, and guess what? I took a peek at next week’s forecast. Granted, we’re seven days out, but they’re predicting…drumroll, please!…SNOW next Thursday.
I’m just as shocked as you are.
Our local meteorologists say it’s just a coincidence that we’ve had so many snowy Thursdays. Weather sometimes gets stuck in these weird little patterns, they claim. Personally, I’m blaming it on a glitch in the Matrix.
Either that or a weather balloon.
We are now less than a week away from closing on our house!
Yesterday, Justin the Realtor texted us with a link to a Spotify song. It was Europe’s “The Final Countdown.” Not to be outdone, I replied with a link to another song: Barenaked Ladies’ “One Week.” Tara followed that up with “Our House” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
Never let it be said that we aren’t competitive.
In fact, during our inspection, JTR mentioned that he once had a couple who were so excited about their impending home purchase, they would surreptitiously sneak over there before closing, take selfies, and text them to him. Does this sound like gauntlets being thrown? It did to us.
We’ve been popping over there from time to time, taking photos, and sending them to JTR. And because Justin is the coolest realtor ever, he got in on the action, too. We’d talked about replacing the woodstove downstairs with a cool retro Mid-Century Modern Malm fireplace, so when he came across one in a Madison antique store, he texted a photo where he was standing in front of the fireplace with a similar comical expression on his face. We were enjoying cocktails in Lake Geneva when we got his text, and we laughed so hard, the other patrons probably thought we were special. I’d post the photo, but don’t want to intrude on his privacy. Here’s the fireplace, though.
Gotta admit, that would be perfect for us. But the wood-burning stove is pretty nice, too. It’s a solid cast iron beast. The question is, do we prioritize warmth or ambience?
That’s a decision for another day.
In any case, we will be doing our final walkthrough next Wednesday morning, then heading to Jefferson — one town over — to sign our lives away.
Naturally, I will be texting JTR a link to Semisonic’s “Closing Time” that morning.
Then, we immediately shift gears and get to work. Our proverbial dance cards will be full for the foreseeable future, but instead of doing the tango, we’ll be gradually emptying out the apartment and garage, and spackling, painting, and cleaning. Every night, or almost every night, and every weekend too, until we’re outta here for good in mid-March. We’d better enjoy these last few free evenings relaxing on our recliners in front of the TV, ’cause these muscles are about to get a workout. Good thing we’re almost up to the seventh and final season of The Shield.
In fact, I’m taking a vacation day on Wednesday. With the walkthrough and closing that morning, I figure I’ll be way too amped up to think about TobacCo work that day anyway.
Six more days!!
Mark My Words 
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