Frozen Precipitation

Also known as "snow".

View of Brafferton from outside the President's House,
looking very picturesque.

Virginia, meteorologically challenged as it is, is a temperate climate (a humid subtropical climate, to be exact). That means that we get snow, but not often. So it's not unheard-of that we get snow, usually once or twice per winter and just a few inches at a time, but it's a rare enough occurrence that Virginia has no idea how to handle snow.

In the case of Northern Virginia ("NOVA" to those who live there, and are pretentious), just whisper "snow" into the open air and schools will close. Following that, every family rushes to the grocery store to buy milk, bread, and eggs, because apparently when it snows we have a biological need to make tottering stacks of French toast. Must be a survival instinct.

A snowy Wren Building,
courtesy of Ryan Minnick, the W&M Apple Campus Rep.

At least once every semester, snow is bound to dust the roof of the noble Wren Building, but every time it happens it seems to be a shock to all. Everyone gawks in horror and fear, then admires how pretty colonial architecture looks when accented with snow. (And therein lies the key to Colonial Williamsburg tourism around Christmastime.)

The winter wonderland from outside my window
(hence the overlaying mesh screen pattern)

Now I myself am a wuss when it comes to inclement weather. One look outside the window (as seen above) and I stayed inside, living on Diet Coke and a Guilt Pizza. The Domino's that serves campus was still delivering, to my great astonishment, though I made sure to spend the necessary half-hour of uncertain agonizing when it comes to ordering delivery in poor weather -- that is, make someone else go out in weather into which you yourself don't want to go. Also I made to sure to feel guilty for the shivering young man as I ate my warm, delicious pizza, and to give him a 50% tip.

Our TJ, looking exasperated at this weather cramping his style
(also courtesy of Ryan Minnick, the W&M Apple Campus Rep.)

So what's the outcome of this frozen tundra(-ish)? The College closed Saturday and Sunday, and a late-opening at 10am Monday. (Just like all those two-hour delays back in elementary/middle/high school! Aww!)

A New Jersey native who now attends the College couldn't believe the news when I told her. "I've never had a snow day in my life!" she exclaimed, and then made remarks against our honor as Virginians. I believe the word "pansies" came up. Our fortitude against weather isn't our strength. Go to Wisconsin for that sort of human endurance. We'll sleep in and eat our Survival French Toast.

And make tiny snowmen! Having only a foot of snow to work with presents a challenge when it comes to the height of your snowman.

A failed snowman outside the President's House


















An attempt with better structural design, also in Ancient Campus outside the President's House. This example is actually a single pile of snow tapering to the top and ridges dug in to suggest separate pieces. Clever. Only at W&M.

And notice the Cheese Shop bag in the corner. True Tribe Pride, there. Yum!