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{Katie’s Baby Blog} Snow Days!

Last year Lily loved the snow as a 1 year old! we only had one light snow day, but she had so much fun and liked being dragged around in her little sled.

This year, she changed her mind about it! She saw my husband, Tim, outside shoveling and begged me to go outside to play with Daddy in the snow. So I said “okay” and we got her all bundled up. She was surprisingly okay with all the snow gear on and walking in the big boots, but when she finally got outside she was not a fan of the snow!

She hated walking in it because it was “too slippery” and her face was too cold. So Tim took her to the playground and she tolerated swinging on the swing in the snow.  I was inside the house watching because I have no winter coats/gear that are big enough to go over my pregnant belly and, it was nice to stay warm!

I saw Tim put her in a sled and take her back to a big hill and I thought that it looked like she was having fun, sledding, but it wasn’t too much longer that they were heading back inside the house.

I asked her what she thought and she said “I don’t like the snow, Mommy, my face is cold and it’s too slippery!”  and Tim said, that she cried a little and reluctantly said she was having fun….maybe next year!!

At least she looked super cute in her little snow outfit!

This is where she likes to be…warm…inside…with food 🙂

<3 Katie Ryan

 

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why QBs Say “Hut” & “Hike”

Have you ever been watching a football game & wondered why the quarterback yells “hut” or “hike” just before starting a play?

“Hut” descends from the military. In the service, “hut” often replaces a syllable in a word to make it sharper & more distinct. Think about a drill sergeant screaming “atten-hut!” at cadets. It seems to focus the hearer, which can be particularly beneficial whether you’re gearing up for a strenuous march or you’re in danger of being squashed by a 300-pound lineman.

Hut originated during World War II, and was adopted in the 1950s by football players. Because a lot of players & coaches were former soldiers, it makes the word’s evolution fairly easy to plot. “Hut” is a clean, concise word that can be barked across distances, which helps quarterbacks who need to be heard.

So, where did the military get “hut” from? Animal herders. Words like “hip”, “hup”, and “hep” date back centuries; “hup” was in use in the early 18th century, and “hut” in the 19th century. The military adopted their own variations early in the 20th century before they ultimately settled on “hut”.

That other football staple, “hike”, comes from football legend John Heisman, who started shouting it to avoid being tricked during the 1890-1891 season when he played for the University of Pennsylvania. As the center responsible for snapping the ball to the quarterback, he usually got scratched on his leg as a signal to start the play. But, when an opposing player nefariously touched his leg & made him flip the ball, it made him mess up. So, saying “hike” (which means to pull or raise with a sudden motion) eliminated any leg-rubbing deception.

Other terms, like “blue 42”, are alternate signals meant to change up an offensive play or confuse the opposing team in the hope of scoring. And, while there still may be a lot of confusing things about football, at least why they say “hike” & “hut” isn’t anymore.

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Airtron Heating & Air Conditioning

TJ Osborne of Brothers Osborne: Choosing Happiness and Breaking History

Maryland’s own TJ Osborne becomes the first openly gay country music artist signed to a major label. “I want to get to the height of my career being completely who I am,” says TJ.

TJ sat down for an exclusive interview with Time Magazine and decided it was time to value his own happiness over anything else. He’s known about his sexuality since he was a teenager and is very comfortable being gay. TJ claims, “I find myself being guarded for not wanting to talk about something that I personally don’t have a problem with. That feels so strange.”

Believe it or not, the pandemic and long periods of self-reflection is what inspired TJ to tell his story. He realized that the perfect moment to tell the world would never come, so he decided to create that moment on his own.

Osborne admits, people may ask, “‘Why does this even need to be talked about?’ and personally, I agree with that.  But for me to show up at an awards show with a man would be jaw-dropping to people.”

Many family members and close friends have known for years and have continued to support TJ unconditionally. Including the other half of Brothers Osborne, John. “If I had to have all my money and success erased for my brother to be truly fulfilled in life, I wouldn’t even think about it.  Not for a second.”

The support of many other country music artists continues to pour out on social media. Including but not limited to…Dan + Shay, Little Big Town, Kacey Musgraves, Davisson Brothers Band, Chris Young, Ty Herndon and so many more.

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: 4-Wheel Drive Vs. All-Wheel Drive

With the weather we’ve had lately, you may be thinking more about your car’s ability to get up & down snowy, icy, or muddy roads. And, while you might know that 2-wheel drive isn’t the best option for driving in harsh weather, some other terms may be more confusing. Such as, all-wheel drive versus 4-wheel drive. Don’t all cars have 4 wheels? What’s the difference between all-wheel drive & 4-wheel drive?

It’s actually more than just semantics, and which one you need relies heavily on the kind of driving you regularly do. 2-, 4-, or all-wheel drive refers to the tires powered by the engine. With 2-wheel drive, the engine powers either the front or the back axle of the car, moving only the front or back tires. Meanwhile, when 4-wheel drive’s engaged, the engine rotates all 4 wheels, which gives you extra traction on slippery surfaces, so that, even if one set of wheels can’t get traction on a slippery surface, the other wheels might be able to.

The key word here is “engaged.” Usually, 4-wheel drive means your car can drive with all 4 wheels, but you have to manually choose that option. The rest of the time, you’re in 2-wheel drive mode. Meanwhile, with all-wheel drive, the car itself figures out what kind of traction you need, all by itself. Sensors determine how much power should go to each wheel to get the best traction.

There are some downsides to all that extra traction, though. Your engine has to work harder to power all 4 wheels. And, since those engines are heavier, it takes more power to move. So, as a result, 4-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicles usually need a lot more fuel than a 2-wheel drive model.

You don’t necessarily have to spring for all-wheel drive just because you live somewhere with snowy winters. If driving in inclement weather is a frequent occurrence for you, winter tires may actually be much more important than which wheels the engine powers. But, at least now you know what all of that means, so you can make the best decision for you.

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Airtron Heating & Air Conditioning

Closings and Cancellations: 2/3/21

Berkeley County Schools – closed, curb side meals will be delivered tomorrow (Feb 4th)

New Life Christian School – Frederick – Two hour delay

Jefferson County Public Schools – 2 hour delay, high school will operate on a regular remote schedule.

Clarke County Public Schools- two house delay.

Greencastle-Antrim School District – Closed
Waynesboro Area School District – 2 Hour Delay
Martinsburg Christian Academy – 2 Hour Delay

Frederick County Government- offices and facilities on a delayed opening, will open at 10AM,

Storm Center 2/3 5:40AM

Berkeley County Schools – closed, curbside meals will be delivered tomorrow (Feb 4th)

New Life Christian School – Frederick – Two hour delay

Jefferson County Public Schools – 2 hour delay, high school will operate on a regular remote schedule. 

Clarke County Public Schools – two hour delay.

Greencastle-Antrim School District – Closed

Waynesboro Area School District – 2 Hour Delay

Martinsburg Christian Academy – 2 Hour Delay

Frederick County Government offices and facilities  on a delayed opening, will open at 10AM

Closings and Cancellations: 2/2/21

Schools:

Frederick County Schools – Closed with no virtual instruction.  Offices under 2 hour delay with re-evaluation.

Carroll County Public Schools – There will be no virtual or in-person instruction.

Montgomery Public Schools – Virtual learning will begin on time. Childcare and other in-person activities may begin at 11:30 a.m. All offices and school offices will open on time. Meal distribution will begin on time at 11 a.m. and technical support services at 45 W. Gude Drive will begin at 11:30 a.m.

Loudoun County Public Schools and Administrative Offices are closed. All distance-learning classes for are cancelled. Instructional staff should not report to work. There will be no food pick-up at LCPS schools and food deliveries by bus have been cancelled. All activities on school campuses are cancelled. Student testing is cancelled and the LCPS Vaccination POD is closed.

Jefferson County Schools -Remote learning only due to road conditions. Essential snow removal staff report on time and central office staff report on a two-hour delay.

Howard County Public Schools- Virtual Instruction as scheduled, buildings closed and food services canceled.

Berkeley County Schools – Closed

Frederick Christian Academy- Closed

New Life Christian Academy – Virtual only

Friends Meeting School – Frederick – Closed

Greencastle-Antrim School District – Closed

Waynesboro Area School District – Closed

Berkeley County Schools- Closed

Gettysburg School System – fully remote

Frederick Community College will open 11AM, virtual instruction will continue.

Mount St. Mary’s – Classes and business operations will be conducted remotely. Frederick campus is open for evening classes.

Hood College – All day and evening classes will be virtual. Offices will be open virtually in the morning and in person at noon.

Thurmont Childcare Center will open at 9, with possible re-evaluation.

Government:

Federal offices in the Washington, D.C. area under a two-hour delay and employees have the option for unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework. FBI Winchester is closed for first shift. Second shift is open with unscheduled leave.

Fort Detrick – Fort Detrick will open at 10 a.m. under a DELAYED OPENING Tuesday,  MISSION CRITICAL EMPLOYEES Report on time. This includes positions such as first responders, guards, plant operators, select CDC personnel, and snow removal crews; as well as critical NIBC and DODIN personnel working on health and life related issues.

Jefferson County Government will open at 11AM.

Frederick County Government Offices- open at 10am

Washington County Circuit court- opening at 10am

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: The Difference Between A Snowstorm & A Blizzard

As we’re being besieged by a winter storm, heaving shovelfuls of snow can give a person time to think. And, as I was digging my vehicle’s way out of the current white apocalypse, I wondered what, exactly, I was battling. Is this a snowstorm, or a blizzard? And, what’s the difference between them?

A snowstorm is your run-of-the-mill winter weather event, which can involve snow, sleet, ice, or freezing rain, accompanied by freezing temps. Snowstorms may result in hazardous surfaces & poor driving conditions, so they’re really nothing to mess around with.

A blizzard, however, brings real violence to the environment. To meet the blizzard standard, conditions have to involve three different weather events: sustained winds at 35 miles per hour or more; snow-reduced visibility of a quarter-mile or less; and the conditions must last for at least 3 hours.

Now, one’s not necessarily more severe than the other. A blizzard could create poor visibility & strong winds for a few hours but not leave much accumulation. In fact, a blizzard may not even involve active snowfall if there’s existing snow that’s being blown by wind. But on the whole, blizzards tend to be more threatening, since conditions can grow so bad that visibility is near zero & wind chill factors invite frostbite or hypothermia.

The storm we’re in now is classified as a nor’easter, which is a low-pressure system that starts in the Mid-Atlantic coast & gains strength as it moves.

As impressive as our current storm may be, there have certainly been worse. Much worse. For instance, in the Great Blizzard of 1888, the northeast was hammered by as much as 55 inches of snow & winds as high as 85 miles an hour. Above-ground water & gas lines became frozen, walking was all but impossible…it was rough. How rough? Out of around 1000 people who were supposed to work at the New York Stock Exchange that day, only about 30 made it in. (Kinda makes you wonder why you called out from work, doesn’t it?)

Got a Mundane Mystery you’d like solved? Send me a message via social media (@AndyWebbRadioVoice), or shoot me an email at [email protected].

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Airtron Heating & Air Conditioning

Snow Closing & Delays February 1, 2021

Feb 1 – 10 AM

 

Frederick County Public Schools -FCPS will not offer virtual instruction. Offices are closed. Community group and evening activities canceled

 

New Life Christian Academy – Frederick – closed

 

Washington County Public Schools – Meal Sites are closed

 

Carroll County Public Schools closed for students. Teachers work on end of marking period items. Non-workday for instructional assistants.

 

Montgomery County Schools – virtual instruction will begin on time and offices will open on time, conditions and building/in person activities are canceled.

 

Jefferson County Schools – on full remote learning Mon. 2/1/21, due to inclement weather. All employees will work remotely except for essential snow removal staff, who will report on a two-hour delay. 

 

Howard County Schools – Virtual instruction as scheduled; HCPS buildings are closed. Meal service canceled.

 

Loudoun County Schools – Schools and  Admin Offices are closed, All distance-learning classes are cancelled. Instructional staff should not report to work. There will be no food pick-up at LCPS schools and food deliveries by bus have been cancelled. All activities on school campuses are cancelled. Student testing is cancelled and the LCPS Vaccination POD is closed. Appointments at the POD for Monday, February 1, 2021, will be honored on Wednesday, February 3, 2021.

 

Waynesboro Public Schools – Closed

Greencastle/Antrim Schools – Closed

Berkeley County Schools – Pre K to 12 will observe remote instruction

 

Shepherd University – Closed

Frederick Community College – Campus closed, virtual classes will be in session, Students should refer to Blackboard for instructions. 

Hagerstown Community College – Closed

Hood College – All virtual day for day, evening classes and offices.

Mount Saint Mary’s University – All remote day, Emmitburg, Frederick campuses and the Grotto closed.

 

Thurmont Child Care Center – Closed

Children’s World Early Learning Centers – Walkersville and Frederick – closed

Learning Tree Early Learning Center and Glade Center-closed

 

GOVERNMENT

 

FBI Winchester is closed for first and second shift Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. Federal agencies in D.C. area will be open Monday, with option for unscheduled leave/telework..

 

Maryland State Government – Emergency Essential Employees should report as scheduled. Non-emergency essential employees should remain home.

 

Frederick County, MD government offices and facilities will open at 10 under liberal leave, Courts and District Courts will be closed today. 

 

City of Frederick – Snow Emergency Plan remains in effect, Offices and facilities will open at 10, liberal leave for employees.   Trash will be picked up. Please do not put trash on the street, but as close to the street as possible. Talley Recreation Center closed.

 

Montgomery County Government – Offices and departments open at 10 a.m. with optional liberal leave for nonessential employees. Essential employees must work their regular hours and report as scheduled,

Montgomery County Circuit Court – Closed.

 

Washington County Solid Waste Facilities Closed

Jefferson County Government – Closed

 

Loudoun County Government open with unscheduled leave.

Washington County District Court – Closed

 

MEDICAL

Cardiovascular Specialists of Frederick closed today. 

 

Other:

 

AMVETS Post # 2 closed

 

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