The Snows Of Disbelief The Fiction Of Our Times

From Fernley to Tonopah we drove an additional 6 hours. It was as bad in Tonopah as it had been in Reno. I felt blessed that we'd traveled thus far without incident. Heather and I had formed a routine of communication. When lights would appear in the distance, she would call out "Snowplow" which meant to slow to a crawl because we'd soon be in a white-out as they drove by, blinding us with the offspray of snow. I'd give her a heads-up on cars coming up from behind so she wouldn't think I'd dozed if she heard repetitive thumping sounds from shoulder grooves when I'd scoot over to allow for passers. I wouldn't go so far as to say we were getting good at this, but we'd quickly come up with survival skills. It was a team effort.














Geminis are the original multi-taskers. They can eat, drink, read the newspaper, shave, or apply make-up all while driving, although this is NOT recommended, even if you're a Gemini. It's the sign of the twins; while one is driving the other co-pilots.

While snow is common during April, the amount the Midwest has received lately is more than usual. Record amounts of snowfall occurred in many places. Chicago's O'Hare Airport had three inches falls which surpasses the mark of 2.3 inches previously recorded on April 11th, 1954. Milwaukee's record snowfall for April 11th was shattered. They received 7 inches of snow and the prior record was 3.2 inches in 1997. Different parts of the Dakotas received 7 inches of snow which is higher than usual during this time of the year. Northern Illinois received 6 inches of snow because of the storm.

To expound a bit, by no means is it a lack of talent that blocks them, it's their gut. It's the excuse that the timing isn't perfect or x is not going to fall into place.

The snowstorm has created slick driving conditions. On http://sanxuatsoda.red/ , just a little southwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota, there was a 70 traffic pile up. There are two people seriously injured from this accident and many others with minor injuries. Iowa has had six deaths due to slippery road conditions. One incident happened when a mother driving a minivan with her two kids collided with another minivan in the south-central part of Iowa.

Goldfield had zero accommodations which meant we'd have to retrace our journey from Tonopah. There was a Ramada there on this side of town. Still, it was 26 miles. Again. It was the longest 26 miles of the trip--in the wrong direction. Disheartened and beat we drove silently to Tonopah. I watched the odometer countdown the miles. We were almost there.

The next issue hinges on the believability of the movie's plot. No one knows for sure the depth of the actual relationship between Austen and Lefroy. The movie makes several leaps of faith, creating a deep love between the two main characters. There is, of course, little substantial proof that Austen and Lefroy were as close as the movie suggests. By her own account, she was fond of him, and the general consensus among Austen scholars is that Lefroy was the basis for Mr. Darcy (for those of you who continued reading up to this point instead of turning on The Deadliest Catch, Mr. Darcy is a hero of Austen's classic Pride & Prejudice).