Legal Commentary

I've been based in New York City for
12 years now, but I'm still a California girl at heart. So I'm acting like a kid today because ? for the first time since I moved here ? ALM has declared a Snow Day for its NYC offices.

When I lived in San Francisco, we had "appointment" snow -- weekend trips to Tahoe, with the joy of driving over the Donner Summit and experiencing the Sierras' sheer majesty. Snow was never spontaneous in the City by the Bay.

But it has a mind of its own in New York. Snow here shows up at annoying times -- like opening week at Yankee Stadium; or when I really want to get in the car and head north but I have the good sense to postpone travel -- because I am still that California woman who knows that I don't have enough Malcolm Gladwell blink experience behind the wheel when ice is involved. (My five years in Minnesota are way too long ago, and besides, back then I was a fearless 20-something, need I say more?)

So I am savoring my first-ever Snow Day. My tiny Manhattan patio is frosted with about seven inches of white. Later today, I'll take my dog across the street to Carl Schurz park; she absolutely loves snow, but like me, walks more carefully than when we were both young.

And I'm enjoying one of the best (or possibly worst) things about snow days: Thanks to technology, I'll probably get even more work done today than in the office, with all the meetings, appointments, interruptions. I brought home my MacBook; I'm plugged into the VPN; I can create a winter wonderland playlist on my iPod, I've got WNBC on the TV keeping me company with weather updates; and I'll take my digital camera with me to the park to capture the day.

Snow days are mother nature's way of saying "Hey! Stop what you are doing!" Enjoy the mysteries of this little blue ball circling the sun. Do silly things. Let the crystals melt on the warmth of your hands.

A good lesson for all of us. Enjoy your day.