nicks pics

GROUNDHOG DAY
Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

On this Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2005, Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, King of the Groundhogs, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, made this prediction at 7:31 a.m. on Gobbler's Knob, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

"Natural disasters have been a terrible thing: Earthquakes, tsunamis, downpours, floods, Landslides, heavy snowstorms, avalanches, Frigid temperatures, sleet and freezing rain. They cause much destruction, suffering and pain.

When it seems like too much with which to cope, The coming of Spring gives us hope. Changing seasons are a wonderful thing; Now it's Groundhog Day and we think of Spring.

Will Spring come early or will it come late? It's time for me to prognosticate. As I study the sun, it's all about fun, But I'm sorry to say, I see my shadow today.

When I see my shadow, six more weeks of Winter will come our way."

a few photos from a couple of weeks ago.. this was the day before inauguration and i was really hoping it'd rain and turn the snow to ice. ducky in full swing.

ducky and rebecca sweet and smiley... right before they hammered me with snow balls.

the smithsonian castle - on the mall opposite natural history museum

my first snow angel

another first. greyhound. there was a section on my ticket asking you to report greyhound staff who go "beyond the call of duty" to offer exceptional service.
at this stop, about 1/2 hr to pittsburgh, and the driver jumps on and asks if everyone was on. the girl in front of me wasn't, but her bag was so another guy tells the driver. no problem for the driver though, the schedule can't be interupted. there'll be another service coming through in 1/2 hr so she'll just have to get on that, he says. and we drove off.
i met a guy who was on his way through to salt lake city (utah?). a good 48hr ride ahead of him. needless to say he was warmed by the drivers compassion.

pittsburgh, pensylvania

pittsburgh was originally a steel town, but now is known for its medical research. at least thats what i was told by the guy downtown who i gave a lift to in return for directions.

.. on mt washington in pittsburgh

so i left pittsburgh at about 4pm and it was snowing lightly but nothing too bad. this photo was taken about 1hr from pittsburgh - the snow wasn't settling on the road and i thought i had about 4hrs until washington...

.. but soon the snow got heavy and i crawled back and into d.c. at 1am, both the van and myself looking and feeling like an ice cube. i fortunately bought a snow scraper before the snow and sleet began to freeze on my windscreen. this is how it was when i got back.

delux diner! i love diners. this one has a completely metalic interior. from left is carltonberg ( actually i can't remember his name but he is german so i'll leave it as that until i'm corrected ), rosemary, me, esther, and jeff.