I.... hate.... SNOW!

[pencilsharp]

Yeah, it's me again. I need to vent, and you kids are the lucky recipients... :wakko:
Right now, it's snowing outside. Working on four inches of that stuff. And I can't stand it! Now, I realize that this isn't Buffalo... let's just say that my state shares its abbreviation with a certain type of jelly... :rolleyes: ...but this is not something I get along with very well.
Today, TBW had to go to work in the middle of this gunk, and I chewed my little fingies down to the nubs worrying about her. She made it in with no trouble, but I didn't quite have that much luck when it snowed... last Saturday.
[Melodramatic music ON] Bum, bum, BUMMMMMM...!!
Now, for those of you who aren't experienced enough to know, what I am about to describe should not be attempted by anyone with a real car. I'm serious. You could get hurt. By a rise in blood pressure if nothing else...
Apparently, we got a surprise snow last Saturday, or a surprise to our road crews, at least. So, I tried to get to work
in a driving snow (mistake #1)
on a winding two-lane highway (mistake #2)
early in the morning (mistake #3)
in a 4-cylinder rear-wheel-drive Ford Mustang LX (and the biggest mistake of all :( )
Well, after a very hellish 45-minute (!) 10-mile trip, which included staring saucer-eyed at a mailbox post, two 180-degree spinouts, and a very special episode on a steep 50-foot-long uphill slope which took a good five minutes to get to the top, I managed to arrive at work.
Then I tried to turn left at the traffic light in front.
Another 180 later, I found myself looking at several cars' worth of oncoming traffic from the lane I had just used! I wound up just parking the stupid thing in a different parking lot entirely and just walking the rest of the way.
Now, I can look back in amazement, but at the time, it was sheer horror. Luckily, I made it there. I also learned something important:
Tell your loved ones you love them whenever you can. (I didn't before I left. I did when I returned!)
Yes, prayer does work.
And my county's road department ain't worth squat. :p
Sorry again about the rant, kids, but I had to spit it out eventually. Anybody else got horror stories from this fershlugginer winter?

[Calhoun07]

I am really grateful that we are having a so far mild winter in Kansas City. For once in my life that I can recall, fall was just fall. We didn't have any snow, ice storms, or really freezing tempetures all fall long, which is just amazing. When I grew up in Minnesota, I have plenty of memories of October snow, and even a few times we saw snow in September. So to have such a great fall this year was the treat of a life time.

But last year wasn't so lucky for Kansas City. I remember plenty of ice storms, and those are the worst, even worse than snow. There is no safety driving on ice, and the majority of people do not know how to drive in it (the trick, folks, do not accelerate or hit your brakes. Just let the car basically idle along as much as possible. Any sudden movement by accelerating or stopping is certain doom on ice). But there were two days I could not get into my car at all, the ice all over it was so bad and even tho I had poured buckets of hot water over it, I could not get the doors open. Actually, that was probably the best, because I got a ride to work then, and the roads were atrocious, I don't think I could handle being out on them.

So you have all the sympathy in the world from me when it comes to bad winters. From Minnesota to last year, I've had my share of white knuckle driving. Thankfully, I haven't been in any accidents yet (knocks wood). But I agree that snow and winter is something to be hated. Winter wonder land my behind!

[SonGoku V3]

No offense, but what were you thinking going out in that much snow anyway?!?! :p Seriously though, I don't own a car(just turned 16), but I know the hell it is trying to push it out of snow and junk like that. My worst experience is getting sent the school on a snow day. Now, this wouldn't be a problem normally, but this time, there was a power outage in the school, making it insanely cold. Second, there was a fire, and school closed at twelve. Third, they couldn't get in contact with my parents, so I walked through a crapload of slush just to get to a bus stop. Finally, it was about 30minutes to an hour before the bus actually came, and at about every stop, the bus was stuck in snow! Now if snow starts to accumulate tomorrow, my teachers just won't see me in school for the day. I refuse to go through that again. :yawn:

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by LilSonGoku
No offense, but what were you thinking going out in that much snow anyway?!?! :p

Unfortunately, sometimes it's necessary for workin' folk!

I do remember some really bad snow we had to drive thru when I was a kid riding the school bus. One time, we were stranded til after six in the evening before anybody could get out to get us off the bus. Living in the country in Minnesota during the winter was not good, and the super intendent of our disctrict hardly ever called off school for snow.

Another bad experience when I was a kid during the winter was when I couldn't go home because none of the buses were allowed to go out in the snow, and I had to spend the night at some teacher's house.

[The Mad Hatter]

Yup, us working folks have to work when we're scheduled, snow or no snow. Especially newspaper writers... hey, someone's got to print the thing!

So far, we've escaped any of the white stuff, but after last year's Ice Storm of Death, that's fine by me. I spent Christmas day listening to the merry sound of tree limbs cracking off and transformers exploding. Fun! I didn't have too bad an experience driving to work, aside from the time that the road curved and my car said "no, I don't believe I want to turn, I think I'll keep going in a straight line, thank you very much." Fortunately I didn't smack anything, but it was the most harrowing thing I've been through...

[Lonestarr]

In Buffalo, the snow has stopped for now and we're making a return to normal. The end...question mark!*

(* - "Angry Beavers" reference; man, I miss that show.)

[Maxie Zeus]

In a week I'll be returning to Oswego NY, just north of Syracuse. We hadn't had any snow by the time I left, but I'm sure there's tons of it now. And since this is my first winter north of I-40, I'm sure I'll just LOVE the drive back from the airport. :rolleyes:

[pencilsharp]

When I first started this thread, I was thinking "Man, am I glad I'm not in western New York. Foot upon foot of that precious lake-effect snow..."
Then I realized, "Man, when it comes to being glad I'm not in Buffalo, the snow is just the tip of the iceberg..." :D

Calhoun07 wrote...
Another bad experience when I was a kid during the winter was when I couldn't go home because none of the buses were allowed to go out in the snow, and I had to spend the night at some teacher's house.
Jeez, cal, could you imagine something like a sleepover at a teacher's house today? Let the innuendoes begin! Me first... that was either its own circle of frozen-over heck...
or something a lot hotter... ;)

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by pencilsharp
When I first started this thread, I was thinking "Man, am I glad I'm not in western New York. Foot upon foot of that precious lake-effect snow..."
Then I realized, "Man, when it comes to being glad I'm not in Buffalo, the snow is just the tip of the iceberg..." :D

Jeez, cal, could you imagine something like a sleepover at a teacher's house today? Let the innuendoes begin! Me first... that was either its own circle of frozen-over heck...
or something a lot hotter... ;)

Well, those were simpler times! And it wasn't like I had to go alone. My sister stayed over there too. I just feel sorry for kids who were only children. Of course, if that hard nosed superintendent had let school out early that day, there would have been no problems! I swear our school district was ALWAYS the last one to call off school. There was nothing as horrible as knowing when the rest of the state had a snow day and the buses of Owatonna were still rolling. On rare occasions, my mom wouldn't even let us go to school if it was really bad and they still had school go on.

[optimal321]

This morning my car had about 3 inches of snow on it... and ice underneath that. Good thing i had that 2 hour delay in which to clean it off :rolleyes:

[Fantasie117]

When it snows and we have school, it is not fun. The students come from so many different towns that busing becomes an issue, especially with the New York students.

Many times, we have school and the New York schools don't so anyone who takes a New York bus can't get to school because the buses aren't running. They have to scramble to find alternate transportation, or if the schools are delayed, come in late and be marked late or even absent.

And of course, our school happens to be located in the middle of nowhere so just dealing with the roads becomes an issue. Also, half the drivers are 17 or 18 years old. They don't have the experience to drive in the snow.

Ah, the wonders of snow...

[Nightflower]

Bah. With the exception of anyone living more north than me (And not near a large body of water, that evens up the climate), I bet I could whip all your booties at snow griping :p

[Danielle]

Originally posted by Nightflower
Bah. With the exception of anyone living more north than me (And not near a large body of water, that evens up the climate), I bet I could whip all your booties at snow griping :p


Reeeeeeeeaaaaaalllly? This is the first time I ever shoveled snow in my life.


It was raining. Slippery. Very slippery. I already had a cold from a window someone was unable to close the night before. Did I mention it was raining?


And..........IT WAS HARD!!!! :eek:

[pencilsharp]

Nightflower said...
I bet I could whip all your booties at snow griping
and then Danielle said...
Reeeeeeeeaaaaaalllly? This is the first time I ever shoveled snow in my life.
Oy. I should have expected this, especially from you two.
There I was... uh, excuse me...
[Cheesy violin ON]
(much better) There I was, risking life and limb, trying to make sure that the whole American commerce system continued to function, all while Nightflower gripes and Dani falls on her bum.
Oh, boy... now we just KNOW that these ladies have such hard lives! [Cheesy violin UP VOLUME] And heaven forbid one little bitty car wreck should claim that worm PencilSharp's insignificant little life!!!
[CRESCENDO]

Aw, skip it. I'm startin' to sound like my mom. So, Dani, didums get a boo-boo? :p

[Nightflower]

Originally posted by pencilsharp

Oy. I should have expected this, especially from you two.
There I was... uh, excuse me...
[Cheesy violin ON]
(much better) There I was, risking life and limb, trying to make sure that the whole American commerce system continued to function, all while Nightflower gripes and Dani falls on her bum.
Oh, boy... now we just KNOW that these ladies have such hard lives! [Cheesy violin UP VOLUME] And heaven forbid one little bitty car wreck should claim that worm PencilSharp's insignificant little life!!!
[CRESCENDO]

Aw, skip it. I'm startin' to sound like my mom. So, Dani, didums get a boo-boo? :p

Yeah.
And you're griping about it.
And I'm saying that I could beat your booty at the griping. Because I've been in my fair share of accidents myself, as well as going FIVE DAYS without power, heat, or water in an ice storm, and I didn't want to get started.
So shut yer mouth, city slicker :p

[Danielle]

Ha! Those are walks in the park compared to what happened to me! There I was, lost in the forest for two whole weeks during a storm, all the while fighting cold, starvation, and a grizzly bear that had taken a liking to me. When I thought things couldn't get any worse, I saw a tree get hit by lightening and start plummeting towards me..........closer.........CLOSER........


No, wait, that was Mordy's story. (yells off-screen) Sorry, Mordy!


Yup, I guess I *am* just a city-slicker. But I *did* once fall into a half-frozen lake.....


No, wait, that was Ashley's story. (yells off-screen) Sorry, Ashley!


Yup, they only thing I hafta complain about is how hard it is to shovel snow for the first time. Nuts. :p




Originally posted by pencilsharp

So, Dani, didums get a boo-boo? :p


No. But I can give you one easily. So why don't you be a dear and keep your oversized yap shut, 'k? :D



(Note: Just kidding, I'm not meaning to hurt any feelings here...)

[Naraht]

Snow....snow...

that's that white stuff they show on TV...happens when it's...what's the word I'm looking for...COLD! Yes CoLD! when it's COLD it SNOWS!

=D

I grew up in El Paso...50 o
F is cold for me...

on the other hand, I'm probably one of the few ppl here to walk home from Day Camp, uphill 3 & 1/2 miles in 115 o weather.....

HA! You all would MELT!

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by naraht
I grew up in El Paso...50 o
F is cold for me...

Ho-ho, another denizen of the lower Mesilla Valley!

Always ticked me off that El Fetid got more snow (meaning, an extra 1/4") than we got up in Cruces. :D

[pencilsharp]

[Yap SHUT]

[Side-of-mouth ON]

All right, Dani. I'll behave. Put those whips away.

You know I prefer chains anyway! ;)

[Naraht]

Originally posted by Maxie Zeus


Ho-ho, another denizen of the lower Mesilla Valley!

Always ticked me off that El Fetid got more snow (meaning, an extra 1/4") than we got up in Cruces. :D

oh yeah...and add another dam to the river in revenge why don't you?

*sigh*

@least El Paso is a REAL city (although LC had the Hastings.....)

When were you in Cruces?

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by naraht
When were you in Cruces?

I was actually born and grew up there. Spent most of my life there, except for grad school and few years when I was real small. In fact, I just moved from there about 7 months ago, and may wind up back there in a few months more.

That'll make the winter I'm about to experience in upstate New York a real joy! :rolleyes:

[Naraht]

Originally posted by Maxie Zeus


I was actually born and grew up there. Spent most of my life there, except for grad school and few years when I was real small. In fact, I just moved from there about 7 months ago, and may wind up back there in a few months more.

That'll make the winter I'm about to experience in upstate New York a real joy! :rolleyes:

Damn....

we may mutually know people....

wow..that's neat! =D

[Maxie Zeus]

The Scarecrow is in Radium Springs, just north of Cruces. We could have a nice little reunion, if we could just agree on the Mexican restaurant to hold it in. :D

[The Mad Hatter]

Eh? You were in Cruces? My great-aunt lives there! Small world...

[Maxie Zeus]

Is she a native, or one of our many, many retirees who are flocking there from other parts?

[Matthew Hunter]

All you anti-snow guys can send it all my way. I live in Fort Worth, Texas, and we're lucky to get a quarter inch a year, if that. It just doesn't snow here. Wish it did, I love snow.
-Matthew

[Sir Gatts]

:D I see a blizzard heading my way. In the Post: Flirting with Disaster.

Buffalo to the west. Albany to the right. They both got hit hard with it.

Syracuse in between standing on a bull's-eye: NYAH, NYAH, Missed Me! :p

[Naraht]

Originally posted by Sir Gatts
:D I see a blizzard heading my way. In the Post: Flirting with Disaster.

Buffalo to the west. Albany to the right. They both got hit hard with it.

Syracuse in between standing on a bull's-eye: NYAH, NYAH, Missed Me! :p

Heh...I used to live in Rome, which if I remember correctly is between you & Utica NY....

Course, that predated the pic of me in my avatar...so it was a while back.


I've noticed that most anti-snow ppl are ones who have to drive in the stuph. Snow is yucky!

[Sir Gatts]

Originally posted by naraht

I've noticed that most anti-snow ppl are ones who have to drive in the stuph. Snow is yucky!

I find it quite fun driving through snow. Expecially when you get to slide around corners on a rear wheel drive. Best not to use your brakes too much and just let up on the gas. :)

[Maxie Zeus]

So I'm vacationing in Oklahoma right now, but have to return to Owsego (by way of Syracuse) in about a week. What's the weather been like up there in the past 2 weeks?

[Naraht]

Originally posted by Maxie Zeus
So I'm vacationing in Oklahoma right now, but have to return to Owsego (by way of Syracuse) in about a week. What's the weather been like up there in the past 2 weeks?
Oh Glacoma! gee, you might sorta be kinda near to me here in Lubbock, Texas!

Or not...

North Easterners have no concept of how big our states are down south...

=/

[Maxie Zeus]

Well, being originally from NM I am more than conscious of the distances involved. In fact, before they lived in OKC my folks were in Lubbock for a few years.

So I'm very sorry to hear that you're stuck there now. :p

[Naraht]

Originally posted by Maxie Zeus
Well, being originally from NM I am more than conscious of the distances involved. In fact, before they lived in OKC my folks were in Lubbock for a few years.

So I'm very sorry to hear that you're stuck there now. :p

Yeah, well...it could be worse...

I could be back in Midland....

*sigh*

[The Mad Hatter]

Is she a native, or one of our many, many retirees who are flocking there from other parts?

She's one of the Legion of Extraordinary Retirees. I didn't know the place was such an AARP mecca (I was only there once when I was in middle school), but considering that she went there for her health, I probably shouldn't be surprised.