we got a... snowfall

cue the sad-trombone "wah waaaaaah."

what was touted as the biggest snowstorm in years turned out to be little more than a very windy, pretty ordinary snowfall. at least here in toronto.

i went to bed last night feeling a bit like it was christmas eve. i was filled with anticipation over what the morning would bring -- huge snowdrifts? whiteout conditions? empty, pristine, snow-filled streets and sidewalks just waiting for me to embark on a blissfully silent and snowy walk? i couldn't wait!

and then i woke up today.

before even getting out of bed, i quickly turned on the TV to see what was happening on the local news. all the stations had (yesterday) promised full storm coverage, and each of them had their graphics department come up with cheesy storm-team or storm-watch or storm-centre logos.

but when i flipped on one of the morning shows, i saw its host standing outside... in what looked like a fairly underwhelming flurry.

"what?!"

i immediately got out of bed and hurried to my windows, a little panicked more than excited, certain the storm must still be raging outside. after all, they'd called it "a blizzard" a few times yesterday, so surely the skies would still be vomiting snow onto a city already blanketed with a foot of it.

when i pulled open the curtains and raised the blinds, i could feel myself deflate.

yes, there was snow outside, but not nearly as much as they'd predicted. there were no pretty drifts. the roads and sidewalks were snowy but passable, and i could see people easily walking through what looked like a couple of inches at best.

the snow that was still falling didn't look all that plentiful, and a quick channel-flip over to the weather network revealed via satellite that the "storm" had already moved out of toronto. what was outside was pretty much it, as the remaining snow will slowly taper off through the morning.

it's not particularly pretty outside, nor is it shocking or awe-inspiring -- it just looks like we got some snow. period. there's nothing exceptional about the snowfall... except, perhaps, the degree to which all the meteorologists wuh-HAAAAAAAY overestimated what we'd get. i don't even think i'll need my big winter boots or my parka.

feh.