A friend’s brakes went out on their way to the airport (!), so they called me to see if I could go pick 'em up.
I’ve got AWD, Z-Rated tires, lots of experience driving in snow, AND chains- and it took me an hour to get from Sammamish to Redmond and back. I couldn’t get up their street when I got them home. It’s *that *bad out there.
Luckily, my wife had shoveled my tire tracks out while I was gone so that I was able to pull up our driveway and into our garage. I owe her a good Christmas present… of course, I’m not sure when I’m going to be able to go buy something…
I had to go pick my daughter up at work, but luckily for me it’s only like 6/10ths of a mile. I’ve got four-wheel drive on the Expedition, so I just plowed right up my hilly driveway and into my garage with no problem.
I can say with all honesty that I’d be satisfied with eight inches. We’ve gotten more than that–maybe we’re in a funny little bowl, but it hasn’t stopped snowing since yesterday. It’s coming up on well over a foot, if not approaching 1.5 feet. I’m astounded.
We’re at over 10 inches now. Yes, I know, not much compared to some areas, but a lot for this area.
I also just checked the website for work and there has been no operational curtailment authorized. Freakin’ idiots, we don’t ALL live on post, and I’m not mission essential. I don’t provide patient care either. How critical is a data pull fer chrissake?! The roads are pure shit right now and will only be worse by morning.
Snow isn’t the problem here – it’s damn cold. 14 below at 8:45 a.m., not sure if there’s a wind chill because I don’t even want to look out the window, let alone go out there. Last night was the coldest December night in Iowa since 1990.
The furnace repair guy is on his way. Ours is working, just not very well.
Okay, this is officially insane! Here’s my front yard taken a couple minutes ago. Here’s yesterday at around 1600. For reference, here’s the scene four days ago. The dogs are having a tough time going out to potty because they keep breaking through the crust and it’s up to the smaller dog’s belly–how in hell do you squat for a dump when that puts the sphincter right down in the snow? Poor things! It’s also a real bear when you have a cat that refuses to use a litter box under all but the most cataclysmic of conditions and who insists on going out in this mess. At least he’s being smart and not going far so I can recall him after just a few minutes outside.
Having to constantly sweep/shovel out the doors in order to be able to get in and out of the house is just insult to injury!
About a foot in the yard this morning. Of course, being close to Canada discovering the odd foot now and again isn’t surprising.
There was about 8" of snow piled up on the Jeep, from which I had gotten rid of the snow Sunday. The 5 was covered with packed snow. Better than ice. I used 4WD all the way into Seattle (except for a couple of spots). I could generally cruise at 50 with confidence on that surface with 4WD. South of Everett, north of Seattle (I guess that would be Lynnwood) the road was free of ice and snow for quite a distance. Of course being on asphalt again, everyone had to slow down to 30.
There was a sign up at Lenora and Denny advising that the sidewalk was closed. It didn’t say anything about Lenora, which is my normal way into the office when I drive in. The hill is moderately steep, so I was careful.
In an hour (they’re letting us out early today) I’ll have to do it again, in reverse.
I’m staying home today, but I’ve found a place that’s getting a shipment of chains in tomorrow morning, so I’ll venture out around 10:30am to get me some chains. Otherwise, hubby’s walking to work, and I’m staying home until Christmas Eve. I might run some errands if it looks clear enough – gotta get my Christmas shopping done – but my family will understand if gifts are late because of the weather.
Here in the Midwest they are calling for freezing rain all day tomorrow. :mad: Supposed to get above freezing on Wednesday, though. They are advising no travel until Xmas day.
Bad news: There will be a ‘hard freeze’ tonight, making the roads icy.
One girl in the office was unable to catch a bus this morning, so she hoofed it in four miles from Fremont. My supervisor asked me if I’d be willing to give her and another girl (who lives about three blocks from the first) a ride home. No hay problema. Except for finding the freeway afterward. The 5 was good all the way home.
On the other hand, were it not for the Jeep I’d be snowed in. My street hasn’t been plowed. I tried to get the Prius out tonight, and it just ain’t happenin’. Snow is up to the door sill. I can back out of the driveway, but I can’t move beyond that. The Prius has a system that cuts power to slipping wheels. So I can’t even spin the tires. It just stops. If I had chains I might be able to move. But as it is, it’s stuck in the driveway. Thank the gods for 4WD.
…it’s snowing. Been snowing for about four hours now. Gonna have to shovel the driveway in the morning. (Because piling the snow on either side makes for more impressive pictures than simply driving over and squishing it down.:))
The office is closing at noon today. The president is out for the holidays, and there was talk yesterday about opening late because of the (then coming) storm. My coworker wondered if we would be told not to come in to the office until ten, and wondered if it’s worth it for two hours. Our boss told me, ‘Just don’t come in.’ So I’ll log in today to see if there’s any data for me to work on, and if there isn’t then I’ll just take the day off.
But I still have to drive. The plan was to leave from Seattle for a 400-mile trip to Coos Bay. Now it’s a 500-mile trip. Man, it’s going to be a miserable drive! A long way, slow, slippery roads, in the less-comfortable vehicle, bad visibility (all that schmutz thrown up by the other cars)…
I’m starting to think of the Miller’s Outpost ‘Cowboys’ commercial from the '80s. ‘J.R.’ is a simple soul, looking forward to Christmas and snowed in in a log cabin. He’s sad that ‘Homer’, a slightly more intelligent cowboy (sort of the ‘Abbot’ to J.R.'s ‘Costello’) isn’t going to be able to make it through the snow storm to spend Christmas with him. Of course Homer does make it through. IIRC, he gives J.R. a puppy. Not that my friend is pining away in her apartment, or that there won’t be anyone else there; and she’s not getting any puppies. But from what I’m seeing on the news it’s going to be a slog to get down there.
The 90 looks extremely bad. Fortunately I take the 5. I’m a bit worried about the Portland area. They might require chains down there, and I haven’t any. I may have to find a Les Schwab and hope they have some. If I can stay on schedule I should get down there by three in the afternoon. Maybe it will have warmed up by then.
