02.21.07

Valentine’s Day Storm of 2007

Posted in General at 7:47 pm by brmeyer

It was just not meant to happen. Jess and I had been eagerly planning our Valentine’s Day for more than a week. What was supposed to entail a nice dinner and some time together transformed into just an ordinary day of the week. Snow began falling on February 13 and continued into Valentine’s Day. The storm dumped about seven inches of snow on Pittsburgh over the course of the two days. Snow was not the issue though. Ice coated the sidewalks, roads, and power lines all across the city on Tuesday evening. I am not fortunate enough to work for a company that would cancel the work in such treacherous conditions so after working from home on Tuesday, I braved the weather with my dad who was kind enough to drive me into work on Wednesday. It was quite hazardous. I suppose it could have been much worse as motorists were stranded for twenty hours on I-78 in eastern Pennsylvania. Needless to say, I was quite disappointed. Jess and I were forced to cancel our plans. I was very happy, however, that the company that she works for realized the seriousness of the outside conditions and allowed her to remain safely at home by canceling work. Work is not more important than your health. I’m glad some people still recognize that.

Jess and I postponed our Valentine’s Day celebration until this past Saturday, and still, we could not escape the weather. I took her to a restaurant called Mantini’s Wood Fired which is located on Carson Street in the South Side. The place is very easy to miss as it located among a row of houses. The menu was limited, and Jess felt it was too expensive. I agree, but I do like to spoil her and myself from time to time. She ordered a delicious-looking salad and two sides while I had a New York Strip steak. It was quite a piece of meat, and I was stuffed by the time I was done. We were satisfied with the meal but both felt it was indeed a bit much for what we got in return. When we departed, it was again snowing outside. There was only a dusting of the white stuff, but it was enough to make the roads treacherous. We quickly hurried home and stopped at GetGo in Lawrenceville to get some excellent French Vanilla cappucchino.

After an excellent dinner, Jess and I exchanged some gifts. I bought for her a new Fossil watch and the Sonic Mega Collection Plus game for XBox. She definitely loved that, but she hasn’t given me a chance to play yet! She made for me an awesome basket filled with chocolate, chocolate covered Oreo cookies, the movie Flags of Our Fathers on DVD, and a very special photo album with pictures from our first year spent together. The last gift is definitely the most important to me. She spent a lot of time putting together the pictures along with words explaining what we were doing. It is very special. We toasted with a glass of champagne and ended the night. Though we didn’t get to spend time together on the actual holiday, our Saturday is proof that Valentine’s Day can be claimed any time you spend with your special someone. A holiday is not needed to show him or her respect and adoration. That should be done every day.

I wish I could say that the weekend ended without a hitch. While heading home from Jess’s on Sunday night, I drove my car into a huge pothole on Chartiers Avenue while attempting to avoid another hole. The tire began to go flat, and luckily, I was very close to home. My dad and I took a look at the wheel and determined that I bent the rim. It was a nasty pothole for sure. I’m now waiting for a wheel rim to be sent to me from Michigan. In the meantime, I’m driving the old red 1996 Plymouth Breeze that carried me on so many trips to and from Gettysburg College. That car has more than served its purpose, but I’m thankful to borrow it from my parents so that I can get to and from work each day. I hope that the wheel rim arrives this week so that I can get it put back on my car this weekend. I had anticipated that Punxsutawney Phil was right and that spring would come early this year. However, the combination of snow and ice interfered with my plans and ultimately cost me a wheel. But I am happy to have had a very special Valentine this year.

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