Transmissions From My Winter Palace

I was out early this morning to deliver my wife to a carpool and the side roads are still compact snow/ice, but it was trouble for our trusty Outback. Fortunately, the Starbucks was open and I was able to fortify myself with hot coffee for my troubles.

The snow has been quite enjoyable for me, having previously taken the week off for the holidays. I've been relaxing, getting my strength back from the surgery with a demanding physical regimen of snowball fights, watching soccer, and Christmas shopping (the latter being the most demanding, of all).

One of my favorite moments was Monday, when my youngest daughter and I took my clueless dog Pedro on a walk down to the Metropolitan Market. We got some hot sandwiches and hot drinks and sat on the outdoor patio with the overhead gas heater on. The heater made it so warm, I had to take my jacket off. It was just a beautiful winter moment to be eating outdoors, looking at the white, snow-covered parking lot, sharing time with my daughter (and Pedro, of course!).

Here's a pic of me and Pedro on one of our walks.

I've been thinking all week long about what will happen when the snow melts. It sounds from the forecasts that we'll get additional rain/snow through the week. That is a recipe for flooding in the Hylebos. And of course, whatever salt, de-icing chemicals, car exhaust, etc. that is in the snow, will end up in the Hylebos, or other local waterways, and ultimately, in Puget Sound.

Seattle apparently does not use salt on its roads, in part, because of concern about its effects on local streams and Puget Sound.

Another article in the Times caught my eye; this one about the efforts to create animal crossings along I-90. The Hylebos has its own animal crossing project its waiting on, the S. 356th St. bridge. When that is built, it will include sufficient room beneath the roadway, not only for water flow, but also for animals. It will in effect, reconnect the majority of the West Hylebos Wetlands with its downstream sector.

I'll be back with more later...