barry burton
Spring Break!
Spring Break kicked off last Friday with the second biggest winter storm of the year. I think just over a foot of accumulation in the twenty-four hour period beginning Friday evening. It started out clumpy snow but quickly turned into beautiful powder. I celebrated by making my first New York snow angel on Saturday night. I decided that it looked best after another inch or so of fresh snow rounded off the harshness of newly depressed snow. Actually, it was a bit of a strange angel, being clad in bellbottom pants rather than the more typical flowing gown. Later that night, I drove on snow for the first time. It was quite exciting because going anywhere from campus means driving downhill — very steeply. I discovered that for the most part, the skills needed to walk on snow and ice translate directly to driving. In essence, pay very careful attention the physics of it all — inertia rules, so avoid changing direction, and if it must be done, do so very slowly. Never rely on a firm grip on the ground to avoid contact with other objects, including the ground. Lastly, gravity is pretty important also, so if the ground has a slant, just go that way in the beginning, because that is where things will end up. Sliding, in moderation of course, is great fun. This was part one of my fun.
On Sunday afternoon, I continued to take advantage of the copious snow by cross country skiing for three hours with people from the outing club. We started out on a trail that goes around the lake on campus (Beebe lake) and then made it over to the golf course (which is a Robert Trent Jones course! Just like home :) ) I started actually getting more of the hang of it. I’m sure I wasn’t doing everything exactly right, but I was actually gliding from time to time instead of constantly more or less walking on top of skis on top of snow, as was the case in my previous (and first) cross country skiing escapade. This time I used much longer skis, which I think made most of the difference, because they were big enough to keep me “floating” on the snow. This concluded the fun portion of my break.
The rest of the week I have just been working every day like normal. Most of the other first year students have been around too, so I guess we are all boring or busy or maybe just procrastinators. It’s at least harder to feel like a loser when in a group. Oh well. (which reminds me, I find myself often ending statements concerning less than perfect situations with this phrase. The funny part is that it I say it in more of a Johnny diction than my own. I think maybe I picked it up from him.)
Today the temperature soared to 60°F / 16°C and I got sweaty walking around in a short sleeve shirt. I can’t believe I formerly clung desperately to my hoody in these temperatures. Needless to say, the snow is almost all gone again.
