You are looking at Bossy’s bedroom skylight. The ice currently encrusted there represents the reason the neighborhood schools employed a two-hour delay this morning.
Actually it’s more like a 24-hour delay for Bossy’s daughter, who is home sick regardless of the weather. In fact, when it comes to snow days, Bossy’s daughter has been a bit unlucky this year. That’s because last year’s record snowfall forced so many days off that, this year, Bossy’s Philadelphia neighborhood is all, Here in Sweden our kids go to school even when the streets aren’t plowed. Tack och ha en trevlig dag.
Bossy grew up on the 19th floor of a Philadelphia high rise, and occasionally it would snow its city arse off down below, and so Bossy would stand by the transistor radio in her family’s kitchen awaiting the broadcaster’s announcement of her school’s closing number.
But for the majority of Bossy’s learning career, Bossy attended public schools, which would be lassoed together and announced as one unit.
Five minutes later when Bossy birthed her own kids, the school closing information could be found crawling along the bottom of the local TV news broadcasts.
Then one year when Bossy’s son was in grade school, Bossy somehow found herself on a classroom school closing phone tree.
Until one fateful late night when Bossy saw that her neighborhood was in the throes of a serious blizzard, and so Bossy took her phone off the hook knowing full well there’d be no school the following day, and Bossy wanted her family to sleep in, which is short for Bossy wanted to sleep in.
Except this meant Bossy’s phone was off the hook when Bossy’s phone tree person tried to call the house. This meant Bossy’s phone tree person had to call the person assigned to Bossy, and this did not go over well with Bossy’s phone tree person.
Which brings us up to date. These days, Bossy typically receives her daughter’s school closing information in an email.
Bossy can sum up her feelings about school closing information in this way: Sister mercy is there a fresher hell? Hurry up May!
Which is what today’s Ten-Word Challenge is all about. In exactly ten words, can you tell Bossy your experiences with school closing information, either from your childhood or currently?
And be sure to check back later today for the best school closing comments on the web!
Pam says
January 18, 2011 at 2:56 pmNew Zealand’s temperate: one disaster closure in entire school career!
Amy in NJ says
January 18, 2011 at 2:57 pm“All Philadelphia Public and Parochial schools are closed” or 313.
BOSSY says
January 18, 2011 at 2:57 pmThe worst is staying up late and then, what? School?
BOSSY says
January 18, 2011 at 2:58 pmThese days kids sleep with pajamas inside out. Doesn’t work!
Square Peg says
January 18, 2011 at 2:58 pm1970’s: Englewood, Colorado public schools *NEVER* closed for snow. Ever.
Audrey at Barking Mad says
January 18, 2011 at 2:59 pmI grew up in southern California. No snow days.
BOSSY says
January 18, 2011 at 2:59 pmCan’t the plows of the world die — just one day?
The Domestic Goddess says
January 18, 2011 at 2:59 pmbarely get sleep as it is. 5am phone call? ACK!
helenel says
January 18, 2011 at 3:00 pmHorn blew saying school was closed, reverberated throughout the land.
(it also honked special codes indicating fire, and what neighborhood it was located in, etc.)
floreksa says
January 18, 2011 at 3:01 pmOur city calls us at 5:40AM to tell us that there’s no school. Like this morning, at 5:40, in the morning.
the mrs says
January 18, 2011 at 3:02 pmi grew up in florida. no snow days. hurricane days.
Kerri Anne says
January 18, 2011 at 3:03 pmOnly one snow day ever. Mom told us. We cheered.
Kizz says
January 18, 2011 at 3:03 pmGrew up in New Hampshire. Mostly just braved snowy death.
Lauren McKinney says
January 18, 2011 at 3:05 pmCheck email in bed, on iPhone. No get up. Sleep.
Maggie says
January 18, 2011 at 3:15 pmNSP-Maplewood did same as St. Paul schools – no closings.
foolery says
January 18, 2011 at 3:16 pmSchools . . . close? Whaaaaa? Oh, redneck gunman on the loose — gotcha.
bossy's friend amy says
January 18, 2011 at 3:17 pmschool closing – what the hell is that? delay – huh?
Philly says
January 18, 2011 at 3:26 pmHated Phone chain, disconnected myself from that.Loved having a friend who was a busdriver for the district, call the night before and more sleep the next day.
KathyB says
January 18, 2011 at 3:27 pmHigh school, no buses, no snow days. Daughter’s school same.
WebSavvyMom says
January 18, 2011 at 3:27 pm–>Praying for “wintery mix” often seen in the DC ‘burbs.
Z. Mulls says
January 18, 2011 at 3:28 pm“Two hour delay today, son”
“Turn off my alarm clock”
WebSavvyMom says
January 18, 2011 at 3:28 pm–>Now we’re near beach, cancel night before, snow or not.
Bev says
January 18, 2011 at 3:34 pmClasses cancelled for faculty & students; campus open for staff ~~ I’m staff.
(dang…I just can’t seem to eliminate two more words!)
Meg at the Members Lounge says
January 18, 2011 at 3:43 pmWhistles blew Morse code. Girl Scout training came in handy.
Scottsdale Girl says
January 18, 2011 at 4:02 pmScottsdale Tourism Office does not allow inclement weather. Ever.
Claire in AZ says
January 18, 2011 at 4:04 pmArizona native here who thinks this is an urban legend!
BOSSY says
January 18, 2011 at 4:10 pmAmber night sky from sky rise windows announced snow. Flawless.
Claire in CA, USA says
January 18, 2011 at 4:13 pmClaire grew up in Southern California. She feels deprived, now.
Jean says
January 18, 2011 at 4:22 pmMy school always last to close, always waited in vain.
Lori says
January 18, 2011 at 4:25 pmAs a kid, loved it! As a mom, resent it!
Lori says
January 18, 2011 at 4:26 pmTwo hour delay? What’s that? Make up your mind already!
Cactus Petunia says
January 18, 2011 at 4:26 pmCatholic schools only closed if snow was 5 feet deep.
Thatgrrl says
January 18, 2011 at 4:31 pmMom: Go to school! Trudged there, building locked. Me: Ha!
amy says
January 18, 2011 at 4:43 pmI can’t do 10 words but I want to tell you this post made my day; i laughed out loud–you are such a wonderful and clever writer, thank you for being one of my favorite and most delightful bloggers. Being able to read you is one of the reasons that the internet is a good thing.
Crystal says
January 18, 2011 at 4:57 pmText messages to my phone and my daughter’s equals happiness.
steph says
January 18, 2011 at 4:58 pmCalifornia schools only close for fires. Where I live, anyway.
OH-Ang says
January 18, 2011 at 5:04 pmOne child, independent school worth money, check weather, I decide.
Melanie says
January 18, 2011 at 5:13 pmChecked status on website. Five kids, home all day. Help!
Sharri says
January 18, 2011 at 5:25 pmAs kid – huddled by the radio
As adult teacher and parent – school closing phone line dialed night before. Hit redial at 5:30am. Turn off alarm.
(That was more than 10 words. I’m new at this.)
Deb says
January 18, 2011 at 5:40 pmWent to school in Rocky Mountains. It never closed. Never.
Damn it.
Ruth says
January 18, 2011 at 5:55 pmSchool closing in the “Ice ages” – Mpls. Minnesota -NEVA happened!
Diahn Ott says
January 18, 2011 at 5:59 pmI homeschool my boys. Everyday is a snow day.
Olivia says
January 18, 2011 at 7:02 pmCanadian. Snowiest country in world. Nothing ever closes. Deal with it.
k says
January 18, 2011 at 7:02 pm10 words:
Kid – Please, oh please call Berlin.
Now – shit – Bedford County.
Another 10:
I grew up in New England – read – NEVER EVER CANCEL.
Ten More:
Now, in Virginia, cancel at forecast of possible snow flake.
Amanda in ATL says
January 18, 2011 at 7:12 pm5″ in Atlanta + One salt truck = kid home all week.
Erika says
January 18, 2011 at 7:26 pmI grew up in Sweden and we never had a snow-day. 🙁 We do have a school holiday in February, which traditionally was meant to save fuel but now is called Sports-week because you are supposed to ski and skate that week.
alice says
January 18, 2011 at 7:26 pmteachers want it more…
Julie says
January 18, 2011 at 7:39 pmSchools will close when California cracks off and floats away.
Little Miss Sunshine State says
January 18, 2011 at 7:46 pm1963. Lightning hit the cross on top of the convent.
2010 in Florida. For anything vaguely resembling hurricane force winds.
Kirsty says
January 18, 2011 at 8:07 pmSouth of France, no snow, no closed schools ever!
Catherine McP says
January 18, 2011 at 8:22 pm1960/70s, Minnesota, -50blizzard, one boot, one breadbag, uphill. What snowday?
CS says
January 18, 2011 at 8:29 pmCalifornia girl: snow day. . wheee! wha? NYHusband explains makeup days. Love Bossy being strangled by the phone tree.
GrandeMocha says
January 18, 2011 at 9:00 pmI get a text msg from edline.
leslie (crookedstamper) says
January 18, 2011 at 10:24 pmSchools closed, federal government on liberal leave, one sweet commute.
Joie says
January 18, 2011 at 10:41 pmIf two snowflakes fall on the school driveway, they close.
Beth says
January 18, 2011 at 10:51 pmColorado, 1960’s/70’s, Wha? Snow day?, Walked to school, Boogers frozen.
Steve C says
January 18, 2011 at 11:05 pmSCHOOL CLOSED was like I’d gotten the winning lottery number
rory says
January 18, 2011 at 11:33 pmUn-doubt-ly-ex-tremely-over-the-top-bliss-fulness.
Bush Babe (of Granite Glen) says
January 19, 2011 at 12:18 amFlooding so bad schoolbus would have washed away. December 2010.
Meg says
January 19, 2011 at 1:00 amin AZ 122 degrees doesn’t even close school. Recess mandatory.
to be fair, the hottest day on record did happen in the summer and we just stayed in and stood under the AC vent. But it regularly got up to 110 or 112 before school let out and they still made us haul our wee sweaty rears outside for recess.
lesliereid says
January 19, 2011 at 4:56 amTwo inches of snow shuts down entire state of Oklahoma.
Angela@beggingtheanswer says
January 19, 2011 at 9:00 amSuperintendent was from Alaska. Literally. No snow days for us!
GK in MI says
January 19, 2011 at 10:00 amAt college when blizzard hit – classes canceled – three day party!
Snow says
January 19, 2011 at 11:14 amKid 1: Private HS / Snowflake = Closed
Kid 2: Public school = Never*.
*Kid 2= BITTER!
kathleen says
January 19, 2011 at 12:14 pmschool day slugabeds- snow day up out crack of dawn
joeinvegas says
January 19, 2011 at 12:55 pmNo kids at home, don’t care anymore (74f in Vegas)
Gennie says
January 19, 2011 at 1:50 pmMassachusetts, 1980s, open front door, hear fire siren, SNOW DAY!
teriboberry says
January 19, 2011 at 2:22 pmMontana, only snow day was in college. Party on dude.
Cindy says
January 19, 2011 at 2:25 pmOn school board. Superintendent calls 5:00 am. Coherent conversation who?
km says
January 19, 2011 at 2:26 pmct, kids home one week, snowdrift wine cooler, will survive
Jennifer P. says
January 19, 2011 at 2:52 pmBossy! Du talar svenska!!
Alison says
January 19, 2011 at 3:25 pmNever snow days. Hurricanes and flooding? Plenty of those.
AngAK says
January 19, 2011 at 7:10 pmhuddled around radio, praying for announcement.
Doug says
January 19, 2011 at 7:25 pmI can’t get my kid out of bed ANY day–snow or otherwise–without deploying a Sears DieHARD and battery cables for nipple clips.
Aimee says
January 20, 2011 at 8:59 pmMichigan=snow days are for wussies. Plenty of snow but lots of salt, sand, and plows.
runnergirl says
January 21, 2011 at 10:09 amListening to KYW under warm sheets, frozen room…..C’mon 307!!!!!
kay says
January 21, 2011 at 11:57 amSo much snow, Son may be junior next year, too!
kay says
January 21, 2011 at 12:00 pmIn 1840, Dad would yell upstairs: “Everybody awake? No school!”