What I Learned Today

1. I can still drive in the snow.
2. People are idiots. 

We got a few more inches of snow today. Luckily, the ice from the weekend had melted (at least on the main roads). The temperature was in the teens when it started snowing but was in the upper 30s by the time it stopped, so the snow was that wet, sloppy stuff that melts fairly quickly. And because the temps were rising to more seasonal levels, the snow was going to melt and not refreeze. 

This kind of snow creates a sloppy mess. It isn't ice, and that is good, but it does become like driving in sand. But the thing is, I haven't driven in real snow in seven years. So I was a little nervous. Nervous because I haven't driven in it and when I did drive in it, it was in an area that did a good job of keeping roads cleared. 

And... As I have mentioned before, I live on a hill. I spent Thanksgiving with some friends on the other side of the hill. I could either drive up and over the hill, or down, around and back up. I opted for the latter. I prefer the up-and-over route because it is more fun to drive but not in the snow. 

Anyway, my road is usually pretty crappy--as is my driveway--but both were almost half clear. I only had to stop once because two people decided the snow meant they should stand in the road and take pictures of the snowy trees. But they didn't seem to understand with sloppy roads and two cars trying to pass them going opposite directions, you can't stand on the road. Both the oncoming car and I had to stop to wait for these morons to move. Not stopping would mean driving out of the tire ruts in the snow and both me and the other driver knew doing that could be bad for all parties involved. Eventually, they moved enough for us to get by, but I still don't think they got it. 

Past my hill, the main roads were nothing more than wet. My friends live at the end of a side road, which meant it as more snowpacked. But, I knew I could get to the top as long as I didn't have to stop. Unfortunately, I got stuck because I had to stop. Again

Some yahoos were standing in the middle of the road with their car doors open. I slowed down but kept moving until I realized I couldn't get around them since their car doors were open. And they just stood there, staring at me. And then I got stuck. I did the reverse-drive-reverse thing several times, but no luck. Since I only had to go a few more blocks I tried parking there and then walking up, but that was worse. 

The jagoffs who had been in the middle of the street were still staring at me. Two of them were nice enough to push me to the end of the block so I could get going (and so I didn't slide into their cars). And that was very nice of them. But then one of them said, "You just need to get some speed." No shit, Sherlock. I had speed until I had to stop for your dumb ass standing in the middle of the road. 

They way back down the hill was easier. There were fewer cars on the road and there were two clear ruts in the snow so I was driving on pavement and not snow. (I will admit I slid sideways at first because I forgot I had set my parking break.) I was doing fine until I got to the final block. I was picking up a bit too much speed and the slushiness of the street was getting worse. As I tried to slow myself down without making any sudden moves, I saw some dude standing in the street, next to his car with the the car door open. As I rolled to a stop (with a car behind me), I waved the guy away from his car (it's a narrow street); however, I had to come to a complete stop because he left his car door wide open. What the fuck? I tried to get past him, but I knew I would clear his door by inches and I wasn't comfortable with that. I waved at the guy some more. So he stepped farther off the road. I waved again. Finally, finally, he realized I wanted him to close his fucking door. 

It's stupid to leave your car door open when a car is passing you, but it is really stupid to leave your car door open when a car is trying to pass you in adverse weather. 

From there on, the roads were perfectly fine. I have to say, the Midwesterner in me was very happy to find that seven years after leaving, I can still handle driving in sloppy winter weather. 

And Thanksgiving was good. Lots of good food and good conversation. And I plan on spending the nest three days eating leftovers, drinking, beer, and watching football.

The Snow?

IS NEVER GOING TO STOP.

Dear Winter,

The snow was fun; I enjoyed it. The cold wasn't even that bad. It was all invigorating, nifty, and fun to play in. I got to make snow angels and be reminded of what was fun about winter: snow days, watching it snow, the calm and quiet after it snows.

But, Winter? I'm good now, thanks. I don't want any more. And worse? I don't appreciate your uncertainty. Will we get four inches or 12 inches? Will we have 30 MPH winds or 90? What about ice? Do you want to really mix it up and toss in some freezing rain?

Or are you yanking everyone's chain just to get a good laugh? Because you really messed with a lot of heads around here. Snow that stays on the ground for more than two days? Why do we need a snowplow? Snow melts, we don't need to do anything with it. That was enough, but then to send more snow on top of the snow people were expecting to melt? Hilarious!

So, thank you for stopping by. I enjoyed our visit, but really, it's time for you to leave. I miss Rain. It's been a while since he came to visit. And while you're at it, on you way out the door, can you remind Mr. Mountain that I'm not a fan of his winds?

Thanks,
Yankee Librarian

Snow Day!

It wasn't a total snow day since they just sent us home early, but still. It was a partial snow day.

The snow started sometime early morning. There was a dusting when I woke up. I didn't think we were going to get all that much because it was pretty light and sporadic this morning, but it picked up in the early afternoon.

My view while drinking my coffee this morning

I'm not sure how much we got, but I would say about five inches or so. I think it is supposed to continue off and on until tomorrow. It was light, fluffy snow which is unusual here. Because it's so damp and usually doesn't get super cold, the snow is more like that stuff we used to get in April--wet, heavy, and sloppy. Not today. Today was light and fluffy.

After taking a snow day nap, a friend (from New England) and I decided to go for a walk. We just wandered down the street and took pictures before it got too dark.

View up the hill.

Grainy shot of the trees and pink sky


Grainy shot of the trees and pink sky, part two

Whenever it snows I have to fight the urge to make snow angels. I love making snow angels, and this was perfect snow angel snow (but not perfect snowball snow). Just before we went back inside, L and I decided to give in to our snow angel urge. It was awesome and very cold. I think my ass froze. My camera battery was going dead so I just took one shot of my snow angel, It's far from good, but it is photographic proof.

Snow Angel!

YakTrax!

It was cold yesterday. When I got ready to leave for work, I dug out my thinsulate scarf and hat and wished I still had my thinsulate gloves. I also made the mistake of not wearing my boots to work. I don't know what the hell I was thinking. I strapped my non-YakTrax doohickeys to my shoes and climbed up the hill to campus and cursed the fact that I 1) had to walk into the wind, 2) didn't think to bring a case for my glasses since they were fogged up most of the time, 3) was reminded how much I hate wearing a scarf wrapped around my face because I hate that gross condensation you get from breathing into fabric wrapped around your head when it's only 15 degrees out with a windchill at about zero. And just like every winter I experienced in Iowa and Wisconsin, I'd go outside and think, "This isn't so bad," and then turn the corner of the building that was blocking the wind and get hit straight in the face with an arctic blast.

The only thing that made me feel better was that I wasn't in Iowa where the temps were in the single digits (and windchills well below zero). I was also happy that the snot did not freeze in my nose and that my eyelashes didn't freeze together--both things that happened often when I was growing up. So, basically, I kept telling myself that it could easily be worse.

Today wasn't as bad. It was a little warmer (20s) and no wind. And sunny. Running errands in the morning I threw my coat in the trunk of my car because I didn't really need it. I was running errands to get ready for my trip next week, to buy the things I will need later this week since we're forcasted to get 3-7 inches of snow tomorrow, and if three inches slowed things to a crawl for two days, more than that will shut the place down. Then I went to REI to buy YakTrax. I think I bought the last three pair (for me and others) of YakTrax in the city.

What are YakTrax? The thing that keeps me on my feet:

YakTrax

The bane of my existence in the snow and ice and why I need YakTrax:

The small part of the hill I have to get to the top of to get to work. This was shot three days after we had three inches of snow.

Like I said, this is just a small part of the hill and the only part I have to climb. It doesn't look big, but it is really damn steep. Just walking up it when it's dry you have to lean forward, and walking down means leaning backwards.

When you walk on ice and packed down snow, the key to remember is balance. If your weight gets thrown off, you will be on your ass in less than a second. I've been walking in the grass--even with the YakTrax. Walking down I've been using the grass and walking sideways because its gives me a little more control.

So, I walk up this hill and take a left and walk down this sidewalk:

This sidewalk was almost clear when I walked home tonight. It was almost all ice yesterday.

Two and a half blocks down this street is where I find the union. And what's in the union? An elevator. I take that six floors up and, vwala, I am at the top of the damn hill. There are stairs, and I do take them sometimes, but I won't take them in weather like this.

It wasn't as bad walking today. I was off in the morning to go to the dentist (I have a new crown!), and some of it had melted. Plus, the wind wasn't blowing down from Canada.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

It was supposed to snow last night, but it didn't. It snowed in the Canadian and US Cascades, but not at sea level. I was really disappointed.

Snow on the Canadian Cascades.

I love walking in the snow. I like standing in the snow. I like watching it snow. One of the my favorite things to see is snow in the light under a street lamp.

Everything is so peaceful and quiet when it first starts to snow. Snow is quiet. It is quiet when it comes down, it muffles other sounds. It sparkles.

When I was a kid, I remember going for walks during snowstorms. I would put on my boots, heavy coat, scarf, and hat and just walk. Sometimes it was just around the block, sometimes it was longer. I was usually the only one out, there were no other footprints in the snow, and the snow was sparkly white. And it was absolutely silent.

Well, it's snowing. I think we are supposed to get a couple of inches. Not normally a big deal, but it is really hilly here and the city sold all their snow plows a few years ago because they never get snow--or so the city claimed. I have some errands to run tomorrow and I am thinking I should've done them today. A couple inches of snow isn't a big deal. But people freak out over snow (I live next to the mountains, but people still freak out about snow), the town doesn't have snow equipment, and we're getting some strong winds from Canada--that may be a bad mix. We'll see.

Anyway, I walked outside tonight to watch the snow. And you know what? I felt myself smiling. And then getting happy. I mean like little-kid happy. I was almost bouncing up and down I was so excited. The manager of my buidling was in the parking lot. She saw me and yelled up, "Isn't this great?!" And I yelled back, "Oh my god, I missed snow!"

I wan't dressed for a walk in the snow. I was wearing jeans, clogs, a tshirt, and a zipped-up hooded sweatshirt. I pulled the hood tight on my head and trudged up the hill. I found myself slipping back into old ways. I did the midwest shuffle: flat-footed walk where you either swing your arms at your side, or, if you were like me, swung your shoulders because your hands were in your pockets (I forgot gloves). The shuffling and arm/shoulder swinging is what helps keep you balanced.

There was very little snow on the ground but temps have been in the 20s, so it was cold enough to stick. Even with a very light covering of snow, I could feel it and hear it crunch under my feet as I walked. I walked a couple of blocks up one way, doubled back and walked a few blocks past my building--all in all, about a twenty minute walk. Y'all, I couldn't stop smiling, I was so happy. It has started coming down harder now that I am home, but I can't stop glancing out the window every few minutes to watch the snow in the streetlamps below my window.

Snow!

Snowy street lamp

Holiday lights I saw while walking

Snowy parking lot

This is the view towards the Bay. I didn't walk down there because there wasn't as much snow on the driveway--and it is a very steep driveway. Less snow means less traction.

In the two hours since the light snow started, it has turned into SNOW. Big, fluffy snowflakes that are horizontal and it is awesome in so many ways. I just went back out to the walkway/balconies and it was starting to get slick.

After two hours there was about an inch on the ground.

More snow in the parking lot.

This is a shot of the driveway between the buildings. I live about a quarter of the way up a big hill, so it's either down hill to the street in front of my building or uphill to the street behind it (and uphill to campus). I've been old when it snows our parking lot turns into an ice rink since no one around here has salt, sand, or a plow.