{"id":4376,"date":"2020-12-23T23:55:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-23T23:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/?p=4376"},"modified":"2025-09-17T17:08:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T17:08:14","slug":"blizzard-its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/blizzard-its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"Blizzard: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>
\n(Wednesday noon, December 23, 2020; my webcam’s view of Sauk Centre’s south side.)<\/p>\n

Tuesday afternoon’s winter storm warning for my part of central Minnesota became a blizzard warning in the evening.<\/p>\n

We were promised a chance of freezing rain. But I didn’t notice any Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, wind was picking up and by noon snow wasn’t coming down. It was coming across. I’d probably have got out to the Eucharistic Adoration chapel for my 2:00-3:00 Wednesday afternoon turn, if my wife hadn’t said I should think about it.<\/p>\n

Which I did. Then I started calling folks who should be told when a scheduled adorer can’t make it. Odds are pretty good that they closed the chapel anyway. The Adoration chapel may be devout. But we’re not crazy.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Adoration and Alternatives<\/h4>\n

<\/a>Well, most of us aren’t.<\/p>\n

Like I said, I was going to go: blizzard or no blizzard. I very strongly suspect it’s not because I’m devout above and beyond the call of reason.<\/p>\n

More likely, it’s because I’m a guy and we live longer if we’re married. Or so I’ve heard.<\/p>\n

About closing the Adoration chapel: I’m not involved in that part of the operation, but I gather that someone’s tasked with reposing the Host and taking care of whatever weather-related procedures are needed.<\/p>\n

Would I have preferred having my hour of Eucharistic Adoration this afternoon? Yes!<\/p>\n

Am I going to grouse, grumble and gripe about the weather, folks who say my life matters, or the National Weather Service for scaring us with weather reports?<\/p>\n

No. I am not.<\/p>\n

I am, however, going to do a little reading and some prayer that I’d have done at the chapel. And then I’ll be back to finish this post. That’s my plan, anyway.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Discord, the Other Discord, and “Deck Us All With Boston Charlie”<\/h4>\n

\"Walt<\/a>That was several hours back now. It’s still Wednesday, Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n

My son had asked me if I had set up a Discord account yet.<\/p>\n

I had not.<\/p>\n

A Discord account, I discovered, has nothing to do with My Little Ponys. Or is that My Little Poinies? Never mind. Discord (discord.com<\/a>) has nothing to do with Discord, the charmingly eccentric dragon-moose-whatever of MLP.<\/p>\n

Or, so far as I can tell, with those who would bring chaos and tumult to this fair land.<\/p>\n

Which would be quite a trick on a night like this. I figure the only folks out in this weather are those whose job is keeping streets and roads comparatively clear, emergency responders, and folks with more optimism than good sense.<\/p>\n

None of which has much to do with “Deck Us All With Boston Charlie,” but it’s almost Christmas, and I like the old Pogo strips.<\/p>\n

Speaking of Christmas, the Weather Service says this blizzard will likely keep going for another 12 hours. (It’s just after 6:00 p.m. here in Minnesota.) Looks like we’ll have a white Christmas this year.<\/p>\n

And now, more weather maps than you need, or probably want, to see. And whatever else I think while setting them up.<\/p>\n

<\/a>“Oh, the Weather Outside is Frightful….”<\/h4>\n

<\/a>
\n(From National Weather Service, used w\/o permission.)<\/span>
\n(U.S. National Weather Service map, 6:58 p.m. on December 22, 2020.)<\/p>\n

That’s what I saw about 23 hours back. A winter storm warning is something to notice – but not enough to necessarily make me change my Wednesday afternoon plans.<\/p>\n

A few hours later, the forecasts had been updated.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n(From National Weather Service, used w\/o permission.)<\/span>
\n(U.S. National Weather Service map, 10:09 p.m. on December 22, 2020.)<\/p>\n

Okay. A blizzard is still a winter storm of sorts. But Stearns County, where I live, is on the edge of the blizzard warning. Still not necessarily reason to change my plans.<\/p>\n

And thus ended Tuesday the 22nd.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Snowing Sideways<\/h5>\n

<\/a>
\n(From National Weather Service, used w\/o permission.)<\/span>
\n(U.S. National Weather Service map, 8:24 a.m. on December 23, 2020.)<\/p>\n

Wednesday morning, and the forecasts have changed again. Slightly, and mostly other than where I live.<\/p>\n

No problem. My hour at the Adoration chapel is from two until three, but now I’m wondering whether maybe I’d better reconsider.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n(From National Weather Service, used w\/o permission.)<\/span>
\n(U.S. National Weather Service map, noon, December 23, 2020.)<\/p>\n

Noon, Wednesday, December 23, 2020. It’s snowing sideways. My wife tells me I should think before going out. I decide that she’s right. And start calling folks who need to know that I’m not coming in.<\/p>\n

Start trying to call folks. The telephone system told me that some numbers were disconnected or no longer in service, other didn’t respond, and – – – long story short, it was frustrating.<\/p>\n

And, therefore, a good opportunity to practice patience.<\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n(From National Weather Service, used w\/o permission.)<\/span>
\n(U.S. National Weather Service Upper Midwest radar map, noon, December 23, 2020.)<\/p>\n

And so, now, several hours after I said I was going to do my ‘Adoration hour’ reading and prayer, I’ve done only a little of the reading and none of the prayer.<\/p>\n

<\/a>“And a Good Time Was Had by All”<\/h4>\n

I’m not overly concerned. Partly because I’ve been spending much of the time chatting (I think that’s the verb) with my number-one daughter via Discord. Nice! As my father used to say, “and a good time was had by all.”<\/p>\n

I figure I’ll get the prayers done later this evening. After I wrap up this post.<\/p>\n

And, as it turns out, decide to do some slightly more Christmas-themed stuff tomorrow.<\/p>\n

Which leaves me with the often-pleasant task of adding links to vaguely-related posts:<\/p>\n