A Pennsylvania Day

FOG AND ICE

Today is what I call a “Pennsylvania Day”. The weather today is more common in Pennsylvania than in Duluth, Minnesota. I’m not saying that Duluth doesn’t get weather like we are having today, because of course, we do. What I am saying is that Pennsylvania gets more days like this in the winter and spring than we do in Duluth. When I was growing up we had more days off from school due to “icy roads” than we did due to snowfall.

It started yesterday; we got rain instead of snow because the temperature was warm. Then the temperature dropped throughout the day, and by evening it got colder and the rain turned to sleet. We had icy sleet and icy roads last night. A friend wrote me an e mail this morning telling me that they were coming from Minneapolis on the freeway yesterday and saw so many accidents due to the icy roads. They did arrive home safely, but it took them a lot of extra time, and it was a stressful drive for them. She had such compassion for those she saw in the ditch and in accidents. Another couple that we are friends with, were to fly into Duluth at 10 pm last night and the plane came in, wouldn't land due to the weather, turned around and went back to Minneapolis due to the ice, didn't get back to Duluth until 3 am! They were also returning from Arizona! March is a very "iffy" month here in Duluth. We never know what weather we might get!

Our neighbors across the street just arrived home this afternoon after spending 5 weeks in sunny Arizona. What a day to return from a winter vacation! The trees are ice laddened, we have a rain/snow mixture falling, and the fog recently rolled in. Earlier in the week I was going to write about how fast the snow has been melting here in Woodland, we can now see our front lawn grass, and we only have a few small snow areas left. This was due to the warm temperatures we’ve had, some sunny days, and some rain. At least the neighbors won’t see as much snow as when they left. We took photos of their house after our last big storm that they missed, so we can show them what they missed!

A few years ago in March we had a terrible ice storm that brought down many power lines, and it affected so much of Duluth and so many power lines, that it took days to have our power restored. It happened on a Monday and we didn’t get power back until Thursday night at 10 pm! I was happy to go to work on those days (downtown had power). It’s tough to be out of power when everything in your home runs on electricity. It was all due to ice, NOT snow. I can’t remember in 37 years, ever being without electricity for more than 3 hours, until that week.

I’m glad when days like this happen on a weekend, because then we can stay inside and not worry about going out. It’s a good afternoon to take a nap!

Three Weeks

Three weeks today. I haven’t written much this week, as I have been trying to rest as much as I could, since I will be back to work on Monday. I think I did a little too much last week, I noticed I was much more tired this week. (The doctor told me that’s usual for people recovering from surgery.) When the doctor told me three weeks, I thought that didn’t seem long enough, but guess he knew what he was talking about. I saw him the other day and he told me everything looked good. He signed my medical release paper that I have to take back to work. I’m happy that I am recovered and well enough to go back to my place of employment, I have missed my co/workers and friends there. I can’t help but be a little sad though, as all of us that work full time are, when we know our time away from the job has come to an end. Since my husband is retired, I have enjoyed being home all day with him. He teases me that I disrupted his daily routine (he is a routine person), but then after the teasing, he admits he enjoys having me around. I guess this has been a little taste of what our days will be like when I retire. I’ve enjoyed being able to take my time in the mornings, with the newspaper, reading, and relaxing. A nap in the afternoon has been nice too. I had a bunch of reading saved up, articles, books and magazines. I touched on them my first week, but that was about it, I still have most of the pile left, all unread. So, I didn’t really get things done that I thought I would. But, then I guess, the goal was to recover, not to catch up on the house or reading, so recover is just what I did.

Bob and I “celebrated my recovery” with lunch out today. We went to The Olive Garden, and I had a wonderful plate of Crab Alfredo, and I ordered the salad with the meal, NOT the soup! I even ate a breadstick, the first bread I have tried eating. Everything went down well and stayed down. It was delicious! I only ate ½ of it and will have the other half for lunch tomorrow. It’s the only calorie filled meal I’ve had all week, I have really been eating very healthy, as I want to keep off the weight I lost in this process, and hopefully, lose more. I have been eating pretty regular food all week, and it’s so wonderful! Please don’t take your ability to eat for granted. The Dr. did remind me that I still have achalasia, this surgery was only a treatment, not a cure. While they fixed me at the bottom of the esophagus the food still has to get down there, and the muscles in my throat still do not work in pushing the food down. I must depend on the food going down by gravity, but at least now, it has a place to go when it does get down there! Therefore, I have to still be careful what I eat, eat slowly, chew very well, and drink lots of liquid while eating. All these things will help me in losing weight too.

I want to send a big thank you again to all those readers that kept me in their thoughts and prayers during my diagnosis time and recovery time.

More Canal Park Photos Spring, 2007

More photos from Saturday's walk at Canal Park and Lakewalk.

Saturday's Outing Photos - March 24, 2007

Here are the photos I took on Saturday at the Canal, Canal Park and the Lakewalk by the Canal.

The temperature was 55 degrees, it was sunny and beautiful. The snow is starting to melt. Hurray.

Tour Spots for Duluth, MN

I wrote below about tourism in my city. Here are some web sites that you can explore to see some of our great things to see:

http://www.glensheen.org (Glensheen Historic Estate - Mansion)

http://www.lsrm.org (Lake Superior Railroad Museum)

http://www.lszoo.org (Lake Superior Zoo)

http://www.duluthdepot.org (St. Louis Co. Heritage & Arts Center -Duluth Depot & Museum)

http://www.duluthfloatingmuseum.com (Duluth Floating Museum)

http://www.LSMRR.org (Lake Superior Maritime Museum & Vistors Center)

http://www.lsmma.com (Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad)
http://www.northshorescenicrailroad.org (North Shore Scenic Railroad)

http://www.williamairvin.com (S. S. William A. Irvin Ore Boat Museum)

http://www.vistafleet.com (Vista Fleet - sightseeing excursions & dining cruises)

http://www.glaquarium.org (Great Lakes Aquarium)

http://www.duluthomnimax.com (Duluth Omnimax)

http://www.d.umn.edu.tma/ (Tweed Museum)

http://www.claytonjacksonmcghie.org (Clayton Jackon McGhie Memorial)

http://www.lutsen.com (Sawtooth Mountain Park, Lutsen)

http://www.minnesotawhitewater.com (Superior White Water Raft tours & Fishing charters)

http://www.duluthhuskies.com (Duluth Huskies Baseball)

http://www.spiritmtcom (Spirit Mountain)

http://www.bongheritagecenter.org (Richard I Bong World War II Heritage Center)

http://www.duluthwaterpark.com (The Edge Water Park)

For more information on current activities and a Duluth calendar of events see:

http://www.visitduluth.com (Duluth Tourism web site)

--And these don't even include all of the parks & NATURAL BEAUTY we have here by the lake, or any of the sights up the North Shore!

Come and visit us! Note: I absolutely love being a tour guide to our visitors!

Tourism in Duluth

There was an article in the News Tribune this morning about tourism in Duluth. Yesterday I told you about all the tourists already in town and its only March. According to Explore Minnesota Tourism, Duluth was a bright spot in Minnesota’s 2006 tourism picture. “Duluth is considered to be a very fun, close-to-home get away.” 2006 set an 18th consecutive record for the number of visits to Duluth, a major accomplishment. Visit Duluth research has shown that in 1999, the majority of visitors were just passing through. By 2006, 75 percent made Duluth their primary destination. It was noted that the indoor attractions attendance was down, however, it was attributed to the fact that we had such a hot summer, and people wanted to be outdoors. July 2006 was the hottest July on record in Duluth. Hotels reported a total revenue increase of almost 12 percent and occupancy was up almost 6 percent. The new Edgewater Resort and Waterpark that opened last season fulfilled expectations and was a big draw for Duluth.

There are two new hotels under construction this winter. The Canal Park Lodge, will replace the old Canal Park Inn Hotel, it will be 116 rooms. The new Sheraton is being built in downtown Duluth and will provide 147 rooms. I have posted photos of both of these in construction, above.

For all of you out of town readers, take note and come to visit our beautiful city of Duluth!

Joining the Tourists

Yesterday was a beautiful day, it hit 62 degrees. We still have ice and snow, so that 62 degrees and sun was sure welcome!

My husband is happier these days, his bad back is healing and is doing better each day, just as I am healing and doing better each day. I have one area under my rib that still is quite sore. I’m thinking it’s the area where maybe they had to move things around and pull on muscles; it’s the side that has always hurt the most.

I haven’t written much the last few days, they have gone by fast. I will be back to work before I know it at this rate. I have been taking time every day and walking, which is part of my recovery plan. Yesterday was particular beautiful for walking. I walked two and ½ blocks here in Woodland at 10:30 am when it was sunny and almost 60 degrees. The weatherman said it would be the warmest and nicest day of the year so far. And, it was. I thought I’d better get out and take advantage of it, since today was to be rainy (and it is). At 1:00 I took a drive downtown to Canal Park and decided I would beat the tourists rush. It was 62 degrees when I left our neighborhood, and as I got closer to Lake Superior, the temperature steadily dropped (there is an outside weather temp thing on my car dashboard). By the time I got there it was 55 degrees, but that was still very nice, since it was sunny and calm. I was wrong when I thought I would beat the tourists. Both lots by the canal were jammed full of cars. I could barely find a spot to park, had to wait till someone was leaving. There were so many people there, oh my. A few weeks ago after that first snow, I stopped down there and there wasn’t one person there! The canal walk way was full, the Marine Museum had just opened, so there were people in there, and the lakewalk was very busy. I went into the Museum, but didn’t stay because I had my prescription sunglasses on, though I would have liked to, as it’s probably been 5 years since I’ve seen the museum. I did take time though to look at the guest book they had there. Lots of signatures, and they were from all over, the majority from southern Minnesota and the twin cities area, however, there was one from Belgian, and quite a few from other states, that told me that most of these people milling around, were tourists, not locals. I walked on the canal walk, going under the aerial lift bridge to the other end. The walk out to the lighthouse wasn’t open yet, so I walked on the canal walk the other direction, going under the aerial lift bridge, hearing the cars passing above. I went to that end and stood and looked at the harbor, and the hillside. The hillside looked so brown and blah…and I was thinking that in a month or so, when the green comes out, it will look so much nicer. The lake still has a lot of ice, but not enough to keep the boats from coming. One person told me that there was a ship that had gone through the canal into the harbor around 11:30. I saw the coast guard cutter ship that breaks up the ice so the ships can get through. There were some people walking on the ice, I certainly would not do that!

After the canal and the museum, I took a walk on the lakewalk that goes by the water. I was pleased that I walked pretty darn far without huffing and puffing, the surgery has helped eliminate the huffing and puffing, thank goodness…I am able to walk and breathe so much better. When I went to leave, I had to go out the in entrance because there was a snow drift by the exit lane,that you couldn’t get over. I heard someone complain to a car going out the in entrance lane that they were going the wrong way. I saw more than one car going the “wrong way”, when I walked over to the lakewalk I saw the problem. So, as I was going out, an irritated looking driver trying to come in, I rolled my window down and explained why I was going the wrong way. I felt the “need to explain” why I was going the wrong way.


I took my camera along and took some photos, dropped them for processing on the way home, so when I get them back I will post some of them.

Today is sure a different day than yesterday, we had rain early this morning and now it is very, very foggy. I did get to church this morning, it was good to see friends again and worship. I’m making a beef roast for supper, and going to make mashed potatoes and gravy with it. I’m hoping that I will be able to eat some of the beef, along with the mashed potatoes and gravy. Eating a little more normally each day, alleluia! People have been telling me that I sound better, apparently my condition was what gave me the raspy sounding voice, and now that too, is gone.
I've found out that this condition caused a lot more problems than just swallowing.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Lund

Spring and Recovery

Rain yesterday instead of snow, aha spring is here! In spite of all the snow that is still lying in our Woodland neighborhood, I am encouraged that yesterday’s precipitation was rain not snow. It didn’t rain much though, we need a downpour of rain to get rid of this snow. Since I am to walk everyday during my recuperation period, I was almost wishing my recovery would have been in the month of April rather than March, so that it would be more fun to walk outside. I’m finding more places to get my walk in, because walking outside is so dreary, especially on the sunless days. Note: Our neighborhood has deeper snow and more snow that this photo shows (this is downtown). I like this photo of the Lift Bridge, taken in Canal Park. I took it after that first snow fall we had in February, before the "big storm".

I am feeling so much better these last few days. I even awoke at 6 am this morning and felt good enough to get out of bed, a first for me to wake up this early since March 9th’s experience. Tomorrow it will be two weeks. In some ways I can’t believe it’s been two weeks.

Last evening is the first that I ate “soft food” that was actually our supper. What a great feeling to eat the same thing that the guys were eating, it tasted so good! I ate very slowly and made sure that I chewed everything very well! I also drink a lot of water when I eat. I’m just so scared of eating the wrong thing or too much, or too fast, I don’t want to have any problems. So, I’m being very, very careful when eating. It went down fine and it stayed down, alleluia! I prayed that I wouldn’t have any problems later in the night, and I didn’t.

One thing I haven’t mentioned, ever since the last snow storm, my husband has been in misery with his back. He has been doctoring for it, and has trouble sleeping the last few nights in bed, so he was sleeping in his chair. Last night I suggested he sleep in my lazy boy chair instead of his because I’m afraid his is too soft, and aggravating his problem. So, last night he slept in my chair and he had a good night’s sleep and his back didn’t seem as bad this morning. I sure do hope he is on the mend with this back problem, because he’s been very grumpy. Men can’t take being miserable and in pain, as well as women. Men complain when they don’t feel good, women tend to be more silent. I know my women readers will agree with me.

Spring is Coming

According to the calendar spring has arrived. The second photo is what Duluth looks like today (credit photographer Jonathan Lund). I'm looking forward to the top photo posted here... it might look like this in July (no ice, green grass).

Recuperating - March 20, 2007

March 20, 2007 – Recuperating

10 days have passed since my surgery. The Heller Myotomy, for treatment of my condition of achalasia and a Trocar Fundoplication is that is what I had on Friday, March 9th. This was to treat my achalasia, which is an esophageal motility disorder. This morning is the first morning that I awoke before 8 am. I woke up feeling pretty darn good too! Laparoscopic surgery is sure a lot better than full invasive surgery when it comes to recovery time, 5 small incisions in the abdominal wall. I couldn’t believe on Friday that I was moving around and doing so well after just a week. I’m so thankful for the Dr. that came up with the laparoscopic method for this procedure in 1991. Thank you doctor!

I am eating a large variety of soft foods now (I refuse to eat any soup or jello, that I lived on for so long before the surgery) so far, so good. I haven’t taken any of the strong pain medication since Friday. I’m still a bit sore through the middle, but nothing like it was, and my chest pain I had the first 5-6 days is completely gone. A week ago today, I started taking short walks on my block, going a little further each day, worked my way to walking around the whole block. My discharge papers stated “no restrictions”, so I figured that meant that I could drive when I felt good enough. So on Saturday, I made a jaunt to the video store and also stopped at the grocery store, for just a few “soft” things, I was really craving for protein! On Sunday I went to the fitness center and walked a mile on the track with a friend.

Yesterday I went to the mall to walk. I have not been to the inside of the mall, I bet in over 2 years. I’m not a shopper, so when I need to go to a store there, I park right by where that store is, go into that store and never set foot in the mall. So, since it was so windy yesterday, I thought the mall would be a good place to walk. I was told that if I walked every day that would speed my recovery. I walked around and around, looking at the stores, seeing stores I didn’t know were there, and surprised at the stores that were gone since I’d been there.

My friend’s sister, who doesn’t live in Duluth, had major surgery last Tuesday here in Duluth and is staying at my friend’s house to recover. This morning I am taking her to the clinic to get her blood checked, Sharon has an important meeting at work, and I had told her previously that if there was something I could help her with, with her sister to let me know, so I got the call to help. I have met her sister several times, she’s a darling, and I’m so glad I am able to help her. Sharon gave me strict instructions to be careful when we walked, with some of the streets being slippery. I will really feel like I’m well on my way to recovery when I’m helping someone else in their recovery!

Below’s post tells about my surgery. Thank you again to each of you that kept me in your prayers and thoughts. It was a tremendous help to me, I know!

Another Postponement - Then Success

ANOTHER postponement - Heller Myotomy Surgery

My surgery was scheduled for March 8th at 10:30. I was READY. I was so, so ready!
I was confident about this surgery, I wanted it over with!

When I arrived at the hospital surgical floor, my surgeon greeted me. He wanted me to know that he and his surgical team had been up all night in emergency cardiac surgery, working until 4:30 am. He wanted me to know that and felt we should consider “together” whether to go into the surgery that morning. I felt it showed a lot of integrity that he told me that, and didn’t just cancel without telling me why, or worse, going on into the surgery. Well, of course, I was disappointed to postpone it AGAIN, but my good sense told me that I should have a well rested team. So, I told him we should wait. He and the hospital worked with me and were able to change the schedule around so that I could get in the very next morning at 9 am. So, I only had to wait one more day. One more day! That one more day, however, made me feel less confident by the time the next morning came. It provided room for doubt to creep in. I thought “What’s with this being postponed twice…maybe I’m not supposed to have it???!!” But then, gee, I didn’t want to face not being able to eat normally for the rest of my life. If not now…when? Yes, I just needed to get it done.

I prayed a lot about it, and many were praying for me, why couldn’t I just let it go? I knew that’s what I needed to do…but it was hard. It was hard to relax. It was hard not to think about going into a surgery. By the time 6 am the next morning came, I had decided I had to quit “thinking”. I had to just let go, and go forward. I had to, as they say, “Let go, and Let God”. That’s what I did. I finally quit "thinking" about it, I took each moment as it came and that morning I listened to each person that talked to me about what they were going to be doing, and I thought positively about everything. I already had confidence in my surgeon and his team, and after the anesthesiologist talked with me, I had confidence in him also. I understand that your anesthesiologist team is as important as your surgical team. No one at the hospital gave me advice about whether I should postpone or not, but boy that morning, I heard from many of them that “you made the right decision not to go into surgery yesterday.”

So…off I went, right on time…9 am, March 9th. They put me to sleep, did all that they were to do, and the next thing I knew I was in the recovery room, I asked what time it was and I was surprised to find out that it was 3:30! I didn’t get back to my room until 5 pm. It wasn’t until then that I saw those that had been waiting for me, my husband, who sat in the waiting room the whole time for me, bless his heart! Also, my Grandson Skylar, who had driven up that morning from Hudson, WI to be there. His Mother wasn’t able to be there, but having Skylar there was just wonderful. It was so good to see them! One son had left just minutes before they came out and told them I was in surgery, but he returned later in the evening to see me. Rob felt bad, it was a day he was scheduled to work 9 am – 8 pm, and couldn’t get off. I understood. He and Skylar came down Saturday morning.

Well, you know what they say about hospitals these days; they don’t let you be there very long. They told me that if all went well with my vitals, and the night, that I would be going home in the morning! The medical consensus is that people recuperate better at home than in the hospital. I guess I was fortunate that they didn’t ship me home right after the surgery, as I have heard so many times they do. All did go well. I was back home in my lazy boy arm chair with a pillow and my warm, plush blanket that my Covenant Disciple group gave me and prayed over me with, by 11:30 am Saturday, March 10th! I thank everyone for their prayers. I thanked The Lord for seeing me through, and now I was off to recuperating!

Daffodils and Surgery

It was a hectic week at the office. I spent the last three days helping Amber and Joni to make their daffodil programs go smoothly. All the daffodil related questions went to me or to my voice mail, and the calls came, as they do each year! Answering lots of phone calls, lots of questions, coordinating the Gifts of Hope for the hospital delivery from the florists, helping to get the flowers delivered, helping to set up and maintain and staff for on site sales tables, finding help for the tables and sitting at the Holiday selling daffodils when we didn’t have anyone, finding more volunteers to help with delivery, putting out “fires”, apologizing to those who got their orders with a bunch or two missing, just to name a few of the things that need to handled in the office during our big “Daffodil Week” each year.

I also was busy today doing things ahead, and making sure that everything is covered for my being gone from the office for my medical leave that starts tomorrow. Today was especially stressful, knowing that I needed to have everything in order to “be gone”. Last time I had someone that would cover for all my first of the month things that need to be done, since I was there now for "first of month" duties, I had all of them to do, in only a matter of 3 days, in addition to helping with daffodils. Oh well, I got through it all.

I want to thank everyone that have already been praying for me to have the surgery moved up. Last Thursday during the storm, the surgeon called and told me the equipment came in and that he could do it March 8th. I go into the hospital tomorrow morning at 8:30, the surgery will be at 10:30. I decided to go ahead and work today, as I knew I was needed. I feel like I am so so ready for this surgery to done. I feel your prayers already, because I am not feeling worried or aphrensive about the surgery.

Another good thing that happened this morning that really cheered me, our Grandson from Hudson called. He is on spring break from school and he is planning to come up to Duluth to visit. He will either be here tomorrow or Friday. It will be so good to see him again.

SO…you may not hear from me for a little while, depending how I am feeling. If you don’t see any writings, you will know why. But, I promise, as soon as I feel good again, I will be back to writing! Until then, I wish you all well. I thank you in advance for your thoughts and prayers for healing.

DAFFODIL WEEK - The Flower of HOPE

This is Daffodil Week for the American Cancer Society. Our daffodils came in on Monday afternoon and they are beautiful this year. If you pre-ordered your daffodils, you have already received them and are enjoying them. If you didn't pre-order, these are the places in town that you can get them:

The Holiday Center (downtown) on the skywalk by the escalators
10 am - 2 pm - Tuesday through Friday (or until they are sold out).

UMD Student Center

College of St. Scholastica

The Gift Shops of St. Lukes, SMDC, and Miller Dwan Hospitals

Mt. Royal Fine Foods - available in the produce/florist area all week

Super One Foods - Hermantown (only) - call for hours

I hope you got your "Hugh R. Hope" Boyds Bear that I told you about earlier, he is such a cute Boyd's Bear. They were available only through pre-order. I got mine!

So, let me encourage you to get your symbol of spring and hope.

Thank you for your support.

1991 Halloween Blizzard

The Oct. 31 – Nov. 3, 1991 Halloween Blizzard, is the other bad blizzard that I remember, and I know all of us in Duluth remember. It was the most recent one we had, until last week. I can’t believe, in remembering it, that it was 15 years ago. It doesn’t seem possible that 15 years have passed since then. We got 37 inches of snow in Duluth. We had nasty wind chills, deep drifts, and many roads were closed for days. This blizzard is listed as one of the largest and longest lasting blizzards in state history.

The Halloween Blizzard was a period of extreme snowfall that began on Halloween (October 31) in 1991. This marked the beginning of a major winter storm that pounded the eastern half of Minnesota over a three day period, setting records all across eastern Minnesota.
Halloween Blizzard

Storm type: Cyclonic blizzard, Panhandle Hook
Formed: October 31, 1991
Dissipated: November 3, 1991
Maximum amount1: 37 inches (Duluth, MN)
Lowestpressure: 984 mbar (hPa)
Damages: $100 Million (2005 USD)
Fatalities: 20
Areas affected: Eastern and southern Minnesota, northwestern Wisconsin, central Iowa
Some of the Twin Cities records that were broken or contributed to by the 1991 Halloween Blizzard were:
Event 1991 record
Old Record (1891-1990)
Most single storm snow total -28.4 inches
Old Record: 20.0 inches (Jan 22-23 1982)
24 hour snowfall in any season -21.0 inches
Old Record: 18.5 inches (January 23, 1982)
Most snow on October 31 - 8.2 inches
Old Record: .4 inches (1954)
Most snow on November 1 - 18.5 inches
Old Record: 3.6 inches (1941)
Most snow in October - 8.2 inches
Old Record: 5.5 inches (1905)
Earliest 8 inch snow - 8.2 inches
Old Record: 8.5 inches (Nov 8, 1943)
Most snowfall in any month - 46.9 inches (Nov, 1991)
Old Record: 46.4 (Jan, 1982)[3]
Earliest autumn below zero low -3°F* (Nov 4)
Old Record -1°F (Nov 11, 1986)
As of 2006, all of these records still stand.

I'll have to look to see if I have any photos of this blizzard. Our family does remember it!

December, 1970 - Blizzard Remembered

The worst blizzard that I was out in was in December, 1970. I do not remember the date. I spent so much time on the internet last evening looking for information on it. I remember it as being very bad, however, I found a list of bad Northland storms, listed chronologically, and it was not listed. I don’t know why, it came up in a hurry, don’t believe it was predicted, we had high winds, lots of snow and people got caught not being able to get home. I was one that got caught. I found a web site where I could look at old newspapers, and thought I would find it there. However, to look at the newspaper, I had to “subscribe” to a trial subscription for 6 months, and it wasn’t cheap. So I didn’t. It then occurred to me that I could go to the library and find the newspapers from that month and year, for free. So, I finally gave up, and guess I will just rely on my memory. Do any of you readers remember this one, or is my memory wrong, and filtered by the fact that it was the FIRST one I experienced here? (Maybe that's it).

In December of 1970, I worked as a secretary in an office in The Board of Trade Building, downtown Duluth. I drove a 1968 Ford Mustang that was horrible at getting around in the snow. We had someone from Chicago visiting that day and we all took her out for lunch. A storm was not predicted. It was dry and cold when we left for lunch. When we came out, it was snowing and blowing. It came up so fast, we had a horrible walk back to the office. The wind was whipping and snow coming down fast. Of course, I didn’t have boots, and wasn’t dressed properly for any snowstorm. We got back to the office, and continued to work. We saw the snow coming down from our 4th floor windows. It’s the first time I ever remembered hearing thunder and seeing lightening at the same time it was snowing. By the time I left work, got to the car, the lot was chocked full of snow, my car got stuck, I wasn’t able to get out. I came back into the office and the person that was there from Chicago offered that I could stay with her in her hotel room. Since I wasn’t dressed to walk home and my husband couldn’t come to get me, I took her up on her offer. We got in one of the other staff’s cars to try to get to the hotel, and the car got stuck. We ended up walking to the hotel, we were all soaked wet by the time we got there. It was so bad. The hotel she was at was the Radisson, which was about a block and ½ west. The four men in the office lived quite a ways out of town, and ended up not being able to get home. They all joined us at the hotel, where we ate supper, and after spent the evening in the hotel lounge and looking out the windows at the blizzard that shut down the town. It was like the other day, no cars or people on the streets, and people staying over in the hotels because they couldn’t get home. The Radisson Hotel had a revolving restaurant at the top and watching the blizzard from up there was a beautiful sight. The Radisson was one of the newest buildings downtown. It provides a view of the harbor, the Aerial Lift Bridge and it was a great place to be watching a blizzard.

That was my first experience of a blizzard in Duluth. When looking at the list of bad storms in Duluth, it listed winters of 1995 – 96, and 1996-1997 as being the worst winters for snow storms in Duluth, in recent times. It named the November 9, 1913 storm, as the worst November storm ever on the Great Lakes. That blizzard had 62 mi. per hr. winds in Duluth and 3 ships were lost on Lake Superior.

The other bad blizzard that I know all of us most recently remember, of course, is the Oct. 31 – Nov. 3, 1991 Halloween Blizzard. We got over 37 inches of snow in Duluth. We had nasty wind chills, deep drifts, and many roads were closed for days. This was listed it as one of the largest and longest lasting blizzards in state history.

We really haven’t had a bad blizzard since the 1991 Halloween Blizzard, until this past week, but this past one we didn’t get the amount of snow or the nasty wind chills that the Halloween Blizzard gave us. That blizzard holds many records. Look at my post after this one, and I will write about that blizzard.

Friends from Park Point Dig Out

Just received from our friends that live on Park Point. Two photos and this note:

"Here are a few more pics. We’re still snowed out of our basement door—I tried to show that. That’s where our mailboxes are, hence the sign. Some of our neighbors came over and helped us finish an opening in our driveway. We had to first chop and then snowplow every step of the way. Today it is colder, but it’s a beautiful sunny day."

More Fun in the Snow - to be a kid again

Jumping off garage into a 6 foot drift
Building Tunnels

Sliding
Snow Angels by second floor

Vacant Downtown, March 2, 2007

Vacant downtown Duluth, March 2, 2007. Superior Street. Photo: Clint Austin, Duluth News

Tribune. Remember, when looking at this photo: downtown does not get near the amount of snow that Park Point and areas over the hill (like Woodland) get.

Two and One Half Hours work and not done

This photo was taken when the resident had already spent 2 1/2 hours with his snowblower... hardly a dent... this home is in the residental neighborhood of Park Point. March 2, 2007.

Photo credit: Bob King, Duluth News Tribune

More Storm photos, Duluth, MN 2007