There Is No Business When There Is Snow Business

     The first big snowfall of the season fell last week.  Fortunately, I closed my store extra early and managed to get home before any snow actually fell.  I also didn't go into work the next day, as road conditions were still a little too bad for driving.  While I wasn't at work last Friday, the snow removal company hired by the shopping center was.  As usual, they piled the snow mostly up against the various light poles around the parking lot. For some reason, the biggest pile always seems to be at the pole just in front of my store.  For the past few winters, I had been lucky that they were mild and didn't require having major snow removal problems.  In fact, last year's lone event was so small that I was able to get into work and park at my normal spot before the removal began.  This led to a much smaller pile away from my spot.  Here is a picture of the current pile, taken on Monday, January 10, after an entire day of moderate rain and a weekend of above-freezing temperatures. Note how the snow had already melted off the hillside across the road from the shopping center.  Much of that had melted on Saturday.  The pile is about ten feet 

tall, as you can estimate from the car in the background.  As of today, Wednesday, January 12, the pile looks about the same.  Meanwhile, other piles around the shopping center have noticeably melted.  This is due to them being smaller to begin with as well as receiving more sunlight later in the day.  This additional sunlight allows for more melting.  This snow pile mostly gets early morning sunlight, where it does very little as the temperatures are not warm enough to help in the melting.  What's worse is that there is some melting occurring. However, since the temperatures are still getting to below freezing, the melted snow is refreezing overnight, causing a huge patch of ice to form on the other side of the pile.  This is leading to a slightly dangerous situation for those drivers who try and take a shortcut or go the opposite direction of the traffic flow. While the short term forecast has warmer temps the next few days, there is also a chance for one or two minor snow events.  This could lead to more plowing and a bigger pile.  Even without more snow, I doubt the pile will be down enough for me to get my parking spot in time for my birthday in two weeks.  The worse part is that the pile would pretty much be melted by then if it had just been made in a spot closer to the road.  The pile would be getting more sunlight and any melting would lead to a smaller area to refreeze.  But no, the removal service has to place the snow by the light poles, even when it is clear that, in this instance, this is not the best location.  I mean, there could theoretically be a body hidden in that pile and no one would know about it for a few weeks.  None of the other piles on the lot are this big, although still big enough hide something.  This pile is big enough to have two or three, theoretically.  At least there are still plenty of parking spaces left for my car and any potential customers, especially since the neighboring unit is now empty.  No more Zumba sessions once or twice a day, although I almost miss the music.  Almost.