Quantifying the Misery (2008)

Originally published as a Facebook Note on February 19, 2008.

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As a connoisseur of misery I've noticed two things about it. One is, it's easier to handle when it's shared (for the sharer, that is, not the sharee). Secondly, it's easier to deal with when it can be quantified.

This has been, without doubt, a miserable winter in Cedar Rapids. Another snowstorm over the weekend has added to the huge pile of snow in our yard, and left a layer of ice on the streets and sidewalks that makes going anywhere like stumbling across the surface of the moon.

But I am happy--yes, happy!--to report that we are now among the top 10 snowiest winters on record here. 4.4 inches on Sunday afternoon brings the seasonal total to 54.8 inches, snowier than any winter since I moved to Cedar Rapids (passing the winter of 1996-97), and 9th on the all-time list. So what if the storm so unnerved the school system that they cancelled school on Monday, and had a two-hour delay this morning (36 hours after the last flake had fallen)?

Next up is 1940-41, 55.4 inches. Another inch of snow would put us in 7th, ahead of 1978-79, and within striking distance of 1904-05. 5 more inches and we're tied for 4th. Bring it on, I say!

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