I'm not dreaming of a white Christmas anymore.

It's just after 7 in the morning on Christmas eve. I've been sick for the past five days but haven't gotten any better as I've been working 10 straight days, with the 11th day this afternoon. All of this work was okay because at the end, I'd have a couple days to spend with family.

The plan was to head over to Vancouver Island after work, catching one of the last ferries and making it to my parents' place before the stroke of midnight.

But that won't be happening.

Looking outside there's already been a dump of snow overnight and there's no indication it is going to stop. Whatever snow Vancouver gets, Nanaimo gets twice that - if not three times.

My parents' place is gorgeous.. a rural home overlooking the ocean. But it also means, a treacherous drive if there is any snow, let alone the amount we've had in recent days. I got the call last night, the one where my family cautiously warns another dump of snow means they won't make it.

So, these two days I have been desperately looking forward to, will now be spent in my crappy little apartment that feels much smaller and empty than it ever has before. Last year I didn't get to spend Christmas with family and I was okay with it because I was just starting my job, my parents house wasn't finished and my brother was in Alberta. I knew weeks ahead that I wouldn't be making it over.

This year, for weeks I've been looking forward to making it over.

As many Vancouverites complained about this snow, like they do about the rain, I was happy about it. I defended it.

No more. Snow ruined my chance to spend some time with family this Christmas, which is the only present I wanted.

Bah humbug.