You know the drill. Some kind of bullshit about gathering around at the rather erotically named “Gobbler’s Knob” and seeing shadows or not seeing shadows and spring being in six weeks or “right around the corner” (which I think means in six weeks, because we’re lucky if we see spring ’til May around here). What the f*ck the poor woodchuck has to do with it is beyond me. Can’t they just say if it’s sunny this morning it’s one thing, and if it isn’t it’s the other (or, more accurately, that it really doesn’t matter either way)? But then I guess Brian Doyle Murray needs the work.

As for us, the good news is we’re not gonna get as much snow as they said we were, ‘cuz this big monster storm that doesn’t look like all that big a deal to me is tracking farther north than they thought. The bad news is that’s because we’re starting out with sleet and freezing rain first. Oh boy. So, all we’re looking at right now is a measly 8 inches or so. We’ll never get to 200″ this way.

Still, I really wish I could just go back to bed, or spend the day puttering around the house, but, sadly, no. As they seem to do whenever the weather geeks predict a life-threatening storm, the powers that be sent out the obligatory e-mail yesterday, detailing how you’d get shit-canned if you even thought about not coming in to work today (unless you get killed in a car accident on the way in, in which case they’ll let it slide – this time, as long as you get your supervisor’s approval).

Governor Andy announced his budget proposal yesterday, and, as expected there are cuts aplenty. In addition to reducing the State workforce by about 9,800 people (apparently via attrition, though, as opposed to outright layoffs), he wants some pretty harsh cuts to public school funding (which will force NYC’s Mayor Bloomers to lay off 21,000 teachers – but not really) and medicaid (which will cost the place I work at $36 million in State and Federal funds). No tax on rich people, of course.

So, now we’ll see what the State Legislature comes up with. What with the mood of things right now and the budget deficit, it’ll be pretty hard to restore any funding, though I suppose there’s always room for tax cuts for the wealthy. We’ll see. I could use a tax cut myself, as I’m starting to wonder how I’ll save up enough money to pay the school taxes come September.

But, hey, I’ll worry about that in seven months or so. Right now, it’s time to worry about plowing the driveway and getting to work without being the first candidate for layoff due to attrition.