ISleepInADrawer.com

Disaster

Seattle is in the grips of a "fierce snowstorm."

Two inches accumulation and counting.

I tend to refer to snowfall like that as more of a "spittle" or "dribble." And, instead of "fierce," I would assert descriptions like "passive" or "humble" or "friendly" or "irenic."

The irenic snowspittle of 2004.

That said, and realizing that I was halfway through a week's worth of time-sensitive experiments, I rose, dressed, ate (allthenormalthings), and, upon learning that most buses were delayed or trapped on those "treacherous" uncleared roads (Seattle is equipped with -0.078 snowplows, apparently), Zach drove me to work. We are Midwesterners by vocation, after all.

(We'll pause to allow me to flex my Nordic, snow-beaten muscles... Oh, wait... I'm Welsh.)

When I got to the Center, I saw most labs operating at half-staff... skeleton crews, actually. And I was (and still am) the only member of Yao Labbery to make it in. When I checked my e-mail, I saw this:

"Date:  Tue, 6 Jan 2004 05:32:49 -0800
From:  "Hood, Ron"
To:  !AllHutch
Subject:  Center Status for Tuesday, January 6
AllHutch -

This is the Center status for Tuesday, January 6, 2004.

The Center is closed for all but essential personnel.  Essential
personnel must come to work.  If you are unsure if your position
is essential, please contact your supervisor.

There is no shuttle service at any campus.

Ron"

I'm obviously nonessential. So I should not be in. I'm here, just the same; so I thought I'd make the best of a free day and wander around the campus whilst my experiments churned. And here's the best part:

The Hutch's espresso bar is open today. Both full-time baristas are apparently official essential employees and had to come in.

I love Seattle - weatherwusses and caffieneaddicts. And the coffee and pastries are free today for all who braved the passive snowspittle!

(I took two bagels.)

Posted by James at January 6, 2004 11:47 AM