A snitful of snow

We're supposed to get a huge dump of snow here this weekend; anywhere from five to 12 inches, according to meteorologists' predictions. (Here's the satellite image of clouds currently building over the Northeast.) I don't know, but I think I may declare shenanigans on this one. I mean, how many times have they told us to get ready for some "extreme blizzard" this winter, and had it turn into nothing but an inch or two of quickly melting snow? Well, most of you don't know that answer, so let's just say that it's happened quite a bit. But at the mention of predictions like these, the whole state goes into a hibernation frenzy, with people rushing out for firewood (if they have fireplaces); wine (if they have drinking issues); blankets (if their heat doesn't work properly); snow blowers (if their backs get sore or they have heart issues); and plastic chairs (if they need to "save" their parking spots once they dig their cars out). It's a lot like watching ants scurry around their hill after they've been disturbed. The funny thing is that all this preparation costs money and gets the people amped up, but then the payoff is rarely worth their effort. So even with this "severe storm," I'll be sticking with my weekend plans ... which ... er ... were really nothing to begin with. But it's the principle of the thing!