The Blizzard, or No Blizzard?

Tomorrow is my planned book reading and signing from noon to 5:00 at the Wild Rumpus in the Linden Hills neighborhood of Minneapolis.

I'll be sharing the "stage" with wonderful Lake Harriet Community School middle school ensemble musicians and, of course, Trini Lopez the cat, Ethel the chicken, Amelia the chinchilla, and all the other kid-friendly pets who reside at the store.

Although I shouldn't be, I'm nervous...

Not for the reading. Reading aloud? It's what I do. Most recently, the climactic (or anti-climactic) ending moment of "The Lady, or the Tiger?" in English 9 class, Holden Caulfield's chapter 26 final assessment of sharing his story in English 12, and the poem "A Blessing" by James Wright in AP English. But also Easter program narration at my church, grand march names at MHS prom, a quote for Shannah Anderson's Native American literature presentation at the 2013 MELT. Whatever, wherever.

As long as I have a script, I love to give voice to words.

Not for the venue. It's such an adorable, purple-doored space. And what book lover wouldn't thrill to visit an actual independent bookstore these days, much less be an invited guest?

Not for the company. Several college roommates, Facebook friends I haven't seen face to face in years, my nephew Jordan, and random strangers are expected. Come one, come all!

I'm nervous because of these words. Take it, Intellicast:

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM
CST SUNDAY...
...BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH
MONDAY AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM
MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM CST SUNDAY. A BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT 
FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 8 TO 12 INCHES.

* TIMING: SNOW WILL BEGIN LATE SATURDAY NIGHT...BECOME HEAVY ON
SUNDAY...THEN TAPER OFF TO SNOW SHOWERS SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY.
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL THEN BEGIN SUNDAY NIGHT AND PERSIST
THROUGH MONDAY AS NORTHWEST WINDS STRENGTHEN TO AROUND 30
MPH...WITH GUSTS NEAR 40 MPH.

* MAIN IMPACTS: HEAVY WET SNOW WILL CAUSE POOR DRIVING CONDITIONS
ON SUNDAY...AND THE STRONG WINDS WILL LEAD TO CONSIDERABLE
BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...RESULTING IN WHITE OUT CONDITIONS IN
SOME AREAS SUNDAY NIGHT. TRAVEL WILL LIKELY BE DIFFICULT THROUGH
MONDAY.

So, yeah. They are recommending no travel except in emergencies once this thing begins. Still, you never know exactly where or how a storm will hit. One local forecast for my hometown says just 1-2" of snow. It's Minnesota. That's nothing.

And I do have a 4-wheel drive vehicle.

But another forecast says 12-16" of snow and high, visibility-blocking winds. In other words, a full on blizzard.

The plan:

Although I could head to Minneapolis today to get in ahead of Orko (the storm's given name as dubbed by The Weather Channel), I think I'll wait until morning to make the call. If roads and the forecast look decent, I'll be on my way. And if  the weather picks up and I get stranded in the Cities, I'll just have to miss work on Sunday night and school on Monday.

In preparation, I've left lesson plans on my desk. But the truth is, if it's too nasty for me to travel home Sunday night or Monday morning, there's a good chance it'll be too nasty to have school Monday anyway.

We'll have to wait to see what the end of this story is. The Blizzard, or No Blizzard. Climax, or anti-climax.

Good thing I'm a glass-half full person. No matter the ending, it'll be a blessing.