Snowstorm pictures

Whether you want to call this Snowzilla as christened by the Capital Weather Gang or go with the Weather Channel's Winter Storm Jonas, it made a lot of snow! In fact there is even a controversy about how much. The official DC gauge is actually at National Airport (not even in DC, just sayin') and there are concerns that the 17.8" measured there was low because they didn't use the official National Weather Service measurement standards. Although to be fair to the measurers that's apparently because they lost their official snow board in the snow! Oops.

I enjoyed the whole thing. Elise hosted a snow dinner Friday night and I held a snow potluck on Saturday. Much eating and drinking was had although we never did get to the card games! Colleen's pumpkin muffins were super-good. I'm going to try the recipe tomorrow. And Lindsey shared her real Michigan pierogi. Oh my yum! I made cornbread and a big cherry cobbler.

Today I tramped around in the snow and took pictures and threw snowballs at my neighbors at the snowball fight Sookyung called in the park across the street. It was very proper winter all around.

Here's some shots from Saturday about 2 while it was snowing.

The tree-lined walkway leading to the Titanic Memorial. 

Here's the statue himself, with snow on his nose. 

Wind drifted benches.

Arena Stage through the snow.

M Street looks like bleak midwinter.

These are turning into car outlines under the snowdrifts!

It's drifting into my balcony.

And over the cars in the parking lot.

Car bumps!

Elise's holly tree looks lovely in the snow.

Walking down the middle of 4th Street.

And now some Sunday pictures after the storm blew over. 

Sunny morning!

And a snowy view out my bedroom window.

Piles of snow in the parking lot.

Plenty of buried cars.

Sookyung is getting ready.

Snowball fight!

And more snowball fight. 

A buried car on the street, well drifted in. 

The M Street garden in winter.

An intrepid biker. 

Here's the road conditions.

The snowblower has visited some sidewalks.

Plenty of snow.

It's knee-high here.

Looking toward Safeway.

Buried bikeshare bikes.

Snow plow on 4th Street.

 For fun, what's left in Safeway?

Bread, despite the cliche.

And apples.

Garlic but no tomatoes or avocados.

The only green stuff was some parsley and frisee. 

Doesn't anyone like carrots?

Forget about getting any potatoes or onions.

Or eggs.

Or milk. You can have chocolate I guess.

Some meat (on the left) but not much fresh. There was still plenty in the freezers.

Plenty of bottled water though. Another cliche broken.

Storm shopping verdict: as long as you were flexible and willing to eat canned or frozen you could have bought any kind of food all weekend long. The canned goods and other aisles in the center of the store still had plenty of stuff.

River Park in the snow.

More snowy bushes.

She's got a snow fort. 

Hmm, I guess we need to dig these vehicles out too.

Goodnight snowday. 

How to see oral arguments at the Supreme Court

Mom and I saw oral arguments at the Supreme Court on January 19. The cases were Heffernan v. City of Paterson and Americold Realty Trust v. ConAgra Foods. It was really interesting to see the Court in action. You should come visit me so you can see them too!

I'm writing this post to help me remember the details of how to see oral arguments and so I can advise friends and visitors about making the trek. It is definitely worth the early morning and the chilling wind to see for yourself how our highest court operates. You can see the Justices acting like real people who sometimes tip back in their big black chairs and swivel around and drill the counsel in front of them. Also, remarkably, the counsel isn't always that good. At least Mr Frost, the counsel for the petitioner (Heffernan), didn't seem entirely on the mark during his 20 minutes before the court.

My quick start guide to seeing oral arguments:

1. Check the Court schedule when you are planning your visit to DC. They don't have oral arguments every day. 
2. Pick a day with low-profile cases. If you've heard about it in the news you probably won't get in. Don't even bother for anything about abortion, health care, affirmative action, or immigration. 
3. Read up on the case on SCOTUSblog. You want to have some idea what they are talking about. 
4. Check the weather, lay out your clothes and a quick breakfast, and set your alarm clock early. 
5. Set it earlier. 
6. Get in line on the sidewalk in front of the Court by 6:30 a.m.
7. Get your line number ticket at 7:30. Keep track of this golden ticket! 
8. Go through security into the building at 8:00. 
9. Visit the restroom. You can't leave once you are in the courtroom. 
10. Line up in the north hallway by 9:30. 
11. Check coats and lock up cell phones and cameras upstairs.*
12. Go through security again, give your ticket to the person at the door, and follow directions to your seat. 
13. Rise when instructed by the Marshall and listen quietly. 
14. Arguments end at noon and they will quickly shoo you out of the courtroom.
15. Go get a bowl of hot soup (ramen is good) because you certainly need it by now. 
16. Read SCOTUSblog's recap of the case; they will point out all of the nuances you missed. 

Prof. Zachary Wolfe has a blog with instructions for his GW law students about viewing oral arguments. The visitors guide to oral arguments on the Court's webpage has good information about what is going on in the court room but it doesn't really tell you how best to get there. I'm using the post to fill in the holes and let you know how to be most efficient about getting in to the courtroom itself. Be sure and check the building security requirements and don't take any prohibited items with you. Don't bring any food inside and if you have a cup of coffee outside you will probably have to throw it away before entering the building.

More details on how to maximize your visit and get a good seat:

• What to wear. Check the weather and dress accordingly. If it's December or January or February it could be really cold. Or not. Be glad you aren't a lawyer so you can wear puffy down jackets and silly stocking caps with puffballs on top. People with Esquire in their titles seem to have a uniform of black wool double-breasted jackets. Yes they are sharp but not nearly as warm as my down coat! Long underwear is good if it is cold. You do want to be presentable in the courtroom so think about your inside clothes too. Nice jeans and a sweater are fine; we don't have to dress like the lawyers. 
• How early to get in line. It depends on the case and the weather. We arrived at 6:40 on a really cold day and got great seats. For more popular cases or more temperate weather you might need to be earlier. It seemed like even people who arrived at 9:00 got in to see this set of arguments because the chairs behind us never filled up. Don't count on that though. 
• Have a plan on how to get to the building. Metro is possible (walking from either Capitol South or Union Station) but you need to carefully check the times of the early trains because they aren't frequent. We used a Car2Go and left it on the corner of South Capitol and 3rd Street. Uber or a taxi would be good options too. If it isn't too cold you can bike. There is a bike rack right across the street from the front of the Supreme Court. Don't forget to pocket your bike light.  
• What to do while you wait. Outside, stand in line a shiver mostly, commiserate with your fellow line-standers. Inside, some reading material is good, either paper or electronic. You can take a newspaper or magazine and just throw it away before you enter the court too. If you aren't in the first 60 they may not let you inside until after 9. In that case go back to Union Station and hang out in a coffee shop. Visit the restroom. 
• Where to lock up your stuff. You can either lock up your purse, cell phone, and everything else in the downstairs lockers by the restrooms or upstairs in the locker scrum. The disadvantage of downstairs is that you won't be able to walk down the front steps of the building and Away! when you leave. You'll have to go back downstairs to get your stuff. However the advantage is that you can skip the locker scrum and get into the courtroom faster (maybe getting an even better seat). I advise you use the downstairs lockers (there was more space near the women's restroom when we checked) and come back later for a tour of the Supreme Court building when they will also let you walk down the main steps. The lockers require one quarter, put your stuff in, close the door, lock it, and take the key with you. The only things you can take in the courtroom are blank paper and pen and a small wallet or ID holder, lock up any electronics and large purses and coats and hats and gloves. 
• Where the restrooms are. Restrooms are on either side of the main hall, women's to the south and men's to the north. The cafeteria is also on the north side (and you can buy coffee and food here too). Drink responsibly because there are no bathroom breaks during court. Ask the friendly security guards, there are plenty hanging around to direct you. 
• Getting into the courtroom. After hanging out until about 9:30 you will see people starting to line up in the north hallway (facing the men's restroom). Check your ticket number and find your place in line. Keep that ticket handy, you will need to show it several times. The guards will line you up and send you upstairs. Since you've already stuffed everything into the locker you don't need to join the coat check and locker scrum to get rid of your prohibited items. However if you didn't then be ready to check and lock them up once you get upstairs. If you are together then one person can get a locker while the other checks coats. Be sure and keep your ticket, don't lock it up! As soon as you've stashed your stuff you want to get into the security line heading back to the courtroom. Numerical order doesn't matter anymore (it did downstairs) so this is where you can get ahead if you locked up everything downstairs. Go through security then follow instructions into the courtroom. They will take your ticket at the door...sorry, no souvenirs. Follow instructions into your seat. Mom and I were numbers 25 and 26 and we got to sit in one of the back benches which were a bit more comfortable than the small and tight wooden chairs further back. 

Don't forget to take a selfie while you are waiting!

And appreciate the view from the steps on your way out. (no we didn't lock our stuff downstairs, but I would next time)