Snow Storm Coming (1 Viewer)

[Bighorn66]

So my wife gets much more concerned about snow storms than I do. Her empathy is off the charts. So, yesterday I had to make a pre-storm mad dash to the store to buy, not staples for us, not ice melt or any other normal storm preparedness items.

No, we had to go out in the snow (it had just started when we left) to buy wild animal feed for the critters that come out of the woods to eat and shit in my yard—squirrels, deer, raccoons, chipmunks, skunks, and a bunch of different birds. The cracked corn and Sunflower type feed gets tossed in the yard. The bird feeders get filled with some smelly fruit mixture and the hummingbirds get their nectar.

This morning I’m stuck WFH and she calls me over. And there are 50+ birds and a half dozen squirrels all over the feeders, our deck, on the windowsill, and our winterized furniture. And the brightest red cardinals I’ve ever seen.

 

[Bighorn66]

Its a good solution to the problem. Just be sure to keep up on the maintenance schedule so that it'll run when you need it.

All the computers have a UPS with at least a 1/2 hour run down time, so they shouldn't notice the switch over to genny.

I don’t notice the switch. My hearing is for shit. But all the plug in clocks freak out and have to be reset. We lose power so often I just unplugged my alarm clock and use my phone after I accidentally set it for 5:00pm once.

 

[Helix]

So my wife gets much more concerned about snow storms than I do. Her empathy is off the charts. So, yesterday I had to make a pre-storm mad dash to the store to buy, not staples for us, not ice melt or any other normal storm preparedness items.

No, we had to go out in the snow (it had just started when we left) to buy wild animal feed for the critters that come out of the woods to eat and shit in my yard—squirrels, deer, raccoons, chipmunks, skunks, and a bunch of different birds. The cracked corn and Sunflower type feed gets tossed in the yard. The bird feeders get filled with some smelly fruit mixture and the hummingbirds get their nectar.

This morning I’m stuck WFH and she calls me over. And there are 50+ birds and a half dozen squirrels all over the feeders, our deck, on the windowsill, and our winterized furniture. And the brightest red cardinals I’ve ever seen.

That sounds lovely. Get some pictures.

 

[Bighorn66]

Yes I do.
I recall that I had to clear the driveway multiple times per day for what seemed like days on end.
I recall a 5 foot high snow bank next to the driveway where it all ended up.

School was out for the week, so I had the time to do so.

Oh, I remember it. Lemme tell you a story.

The house I grew up in was on a hill and behind our house were a lot of acreage of woods. With school out for the week, we had so much time on our hands that we got busy. We cleared out snow making pathways in the back yard down the hill and into the woods creating toboggan runs. Then we carried out buckets of water and poured the water along each of the four runs. As we went, we kept working the paths and packing snow on top of the water and pretty quickly the paths turned to ice.

I don’t know how a 12 year old, and 11 year old and a 8 year old were so industrious, but after a day or so, we had the best
damned sled run in St. Louis. Of course, the fours paths included a ramp, moguls, serpentine path through the trees, and a wipeout corner.

 

[eohrnberger]

We were visiting my grandmother and got stuck there for a while. Those 70s land yachts were decent on snow, but they were RWD. My dad solo shoveled out the alley while we were away. I did the same in his honor during a snow storm in 2011. It was a lot of work, and I slept on the couch afterwards.

Ahh to be 'stuck' at grandmother's house again. I miss my grandparents . . and my parents.

 

[eohrnberger]

Oh, I remember it. Lemme tell you a story.

The house I grew up in was on a hill and behind our house were a lot of acreage of woods. With school out for the week, we had so much time on our hands that we got busy. We cleared out snow making pathways in the back yard down the hill and into the woods creating toboggan runs. Then we carried out buckets of water and poured the water along each of the four runs. As we went, we kept working the paths and packing snow on top of the water and pretty quickly the paths turned to ice.

I don’t know how a 12 year old, and 11 year old and a 8 year old were so industrious, but after a day or so, we had the best
damned sled run in St. Louis. Of course, the fours paths included a ramp, moguls, serpentine path through the trees, and a wipeout corner.

Awesome!
That's how kids kept busy, outside. Now a days? Not so much. Something significant was lost.

 

[Helix]

Ahh to be 'stuck' at grandmother's house again. I miss my grandparents . . and my parents.

I miss my grandparents, too. I would like to time travel to that trip as myself at this age just to hear the conversations. Maybe we get to do stuff like that after we pass on. It's a nice thought.

 

[Str8shooter]

I cleared the driveway for the 3rd time this morning. We had significant snow. The wife and I cracked up watching the local news. They had us at 8 inches. We were at 8 inches last night. We measured today and there were an additional 3 inches added from the brief "clear off" of the main garage doors I did last night at 10:00. BTW, my snowblower is a Craftsman 26 inch and it rocks. I was throwing snow to a point where I was just touching the neighbor's yards on one side and covering my other neighbor's yard. Dang!!! I ran out of gas this morning but have the two main garage door areas open to the street. BTW, we got ice for a brief time last night as well but it was inconsequential for us.

 

[eohrnberger]

I miss my grandparents, too. I would like to time travel to that trip as myself at this age just to hear the conversations. Maybe we get to do stuff like that after we pass on. It's a nice thought.

Yes indeed. A nice thought.

 

[gdgyva]

It was pretty much full-on alien invasion panic at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods today (in Northern Virginia).

Yep

I remember snowmeggeggon fron a couple of decades ago
DC govt didnt let out till like 1pm....when there was already 4 in on the ground
I was working in Dulles...and had to drive to Silver Spring....
Left at 4pm....got home at midnight
DC unlike Michigan or N Dakota where i spent years each doesnt get a lot of snow, so their drivers just dont know how to deal with it when it comes....and none of their cars are prepared for it it seems
By the time i got home at midnight, we had 9inches easily....crazy crazy day

 

[multivita-man]

Yep

I remember snowmeggeggon fron a couple of decades ago
DC govt didnt let out till like 1pm....when there was already 4 in on the ground
I was working in Dulles...and had to drive to Silver Spring....
Left at 4pm....got home at midnight
DC unlike Michigan or N Dakota where i spent years each doesnt get a lot of snow, so their drivers just dont know how to deal with it when it comes....and none of their cars are prepared for it it seems
By the time i got home at midnight, we had 9inches easily....crazy crazy day

That happened *again* in January of 22. Flash snow/freeze ended up stranding drivers along I-95, and as in 2016, the VDOT did not prepare the roadways. Once the snow and ice hit, once the pileups started, it was over. Everyone spent the night in their cars, either running their engines or freezing their tits off. Local authorities have gradually learned to take precautionary steps such as deicing and impose closures earlier.

 

[Chomsky]

Reminds me of the TV interview of te crusty old Alaskan. They had experienced a record-breaking run of low temperatures; the reporter asks the old bird,”what does 40 below feel like?”

Without delay the native said, “oh, it’s just like 20 below, only colder!”

I had the unique experience of experiencing -40 below in Northern Canada. F or C? It don't matter, as I found -40 is where F and C intersect!

My takeaways from the experience:

1] Water Baseboard heat is amazingly good heat!

2] When you're in a place with A.C. Power Posts to plug in your vehicle's Electric Oil Heater, there's a reason money was spent on them!

3] When you experience a place that's -40 and only has 4 hours of daylight in the day, you understand why alcoholism is prevalent!

 

[Chomsky]

You know it’s cold when your Fahrenheit and Celsius thermometers read the same.

Hah! I see you have experience in this. Once you've experienced the mythical 40 below, you never forget it.

I was utterly amazed my old car started, outdoors exposed to the elements. This was way back in the very early GM "throttle-body" days to boot! But the hydraulic lifters, even with thin winter oil, were not happy! I was missing on at least one cylinder for at least 20-30 seconds.

Of course the secret during an intense frigid burst like this, is to start & run your car several times a day, including the very last thing at night, and the very first thing in the A.M.

 

[Mika-El]

Time to panic!

I am Canadian. Why? You yanks are something else. However I will of course exclude my neighbours in Buffalo, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, Montana, Minnesota from my shocked response.


Lol carry on. (With a name like Bighorn I know you were joking and I have seen you climbing mountains with no clothes on in)

Here for you, a Canadian take on snow: (note to old druggies, no I do not refer to coke)

just another day.....

 

[Helix]

This Jack London short story is one of my favorites.

To Build A Fire, Jack London | The Short Story Project

At twelve o’clock the day was at its brightest. Yet the sun was too far south on its winter journey to clear the horizon. The bulge of the earth intervened

shortstoryproject.com

 

[Mika-El]

So my wife gets much more concerned about snow storms than I do. Her empathy is off the charts. So, yesterday I had to make a pre-storm mad dash to the store to buy, not staples for us, not ice melt or any other normal storm preparedness items.

No, we had to go out in the snow (it had just started when we left) to buy wild animal feed for the critters that come out of the woods to eat and shit in my yard—squirrels, deer, raccoons, chipmunks, skunks, and a bunch of different birds. The cracked corn and Sunflower type feed gets tossed in the yard. The bird feeders get filled with some smelly fruit mixture and the hummingbirds get their nectar.

This morning I’m stuck WFH and she calls me over. And there are 50+ birds and a half dozen squirrels all over the feeders, our deck, on the windowsill, and our winterized furniture. And the brightest red cardinals I’ve ever seen.

Thank you for helping our friends in need. I put the bird seed out unfortunately the hawk shows up to try get a meal from the mourning doves. Technically skunks, squirrels, racoons, even mice could hibernate but birds do not get that luxury. If they do not keep eating they freeze to death. Do not panic if a Bigfoot shows up.

 

[Mika-El]

Hah! I see you have experience in this. Once you've experienced the mythical 40 below, you never forget it.

I was utterly amazed my old car started, outdoors exposed to the elements. This was way back in the very early GM "throttle-body" days to boot! But the hydraulic lifters, even with thin winter oil, were not happy! I was missing on at least one cylinder for at least 20-30 seconds.

Of course the secret during an intense frigid burst like this, is to start & run your car several times a day, including the very last thing at night, and the very first thing in the A.M.

Lok you are showing your age.

Myth Busted! Why You Shouldn't Idle Your Car In the Cold | Firestone Complete Auto Care

Contrary to popular belief, warming up your car in winter can do more harm than good. Find out why & what to do instead, from Firestone Complete Auto Care.

www.firestonecompleteautocare.com

 

[Mika-El]

I cleared the driveway for the 3rd time this morning. We had significant snow. The wife and I cracked up watching the local news. They had us at 8 inches. We were at 8 inches last night. We measured today and there were an additional 3 inches added from the brief "clear off" of the main garage doors I did last night at 10:00. BTW, my snowblower is a Craftsman 26 inch and it rocks. I was throwing snow to a point where I was just touching the neighbor's yards on one side and covering my other neighbor's yard. Dang!!! I ran out of gas this morning but have the two main garage door areas open to the street. BTW, we got ice for a brief time last night as well but it was inconsequential for us.

Hang in.

Lok you are showing your age.

Myth Busted! Why You Shouldn't Idle Your Car In the Cold | Firestone Complete Auto Care

Contrary to popular belief, warming up your car in winter can do more harm than good. Find out why & what to do instead, from Firestone Complete Auto Care.

www.firestonecompleteautocare.com

I forgot to say to Chomsky, power plug yes. After it gets below minus 70 you might have problems starting your car even with a plug so do not leave it empty or half empty. Keep the tank always full. Also freak out your neighbours and run around naked in the snow. That we do for fun in Canada.

 

[Chomsky]

A teacher friend had teachers from Costa Rica here during winter on an exchange program. Poor things stayed bundled up near the fireplace most of the time.

I've had the experience of "rescuing" an international visitor from the Philippines, who was literally crying on her phone asking for help, as she was on a bus stop trying to get to my place!

She had never been to a cold climate, and mutual friends (unbeknownst to me) gave her transit directions on how to get to my place via bus (involving a transfer at an outdoor intersection). The temps were in the low thirties - so not so bad. The problem was though she was previously told to "dress warm", from her niave perspective that meant a thin cotton hoody & sweat-pants with no hat nor gloves! Only her second day in the country, with a body-clock still on a Philippine time, she left the apartment very early in the A.M. without anyone seeing her inappropriate winter attire. She was frazzled and besides herself from the experience, when I arrived at the bus stop..

I've since found her experience is not unusual for first-time out-of-country Filipinos in a cold climate. Through no fault of their own, they have no perspective or reference for what "winter cold" feels like. The initial experience can be shaking.

 

[countryboy]

I've had the experience of "rescuing" an international visitor from the Philippines, who was literally crying on her phone asking for help, as she was on a bus stop trying to get to my place!

She had never been to a cold climate, and mutual friends (unbeknownst to me) gave her transit directions on how to get to my place via bus (involving a transfer at an outdoor intersection). The temps were in the low thirties - so not so bad. The problem was though she was previously told to "dress warm", from her niave perspective that meant a thin cotton hoody & sweat-pants with no hat nor gloves! Only her second day in the country, with a body-clock still on a Philippine time, she left the apartment very early in the A.M. without anyone seeing her inappropriate winter attire. She was frazzled and besides herself from the experience, when I arrived at the bus stop..

I've since found her experience is not unusual for first-time out-of-country Filipinos in a cold climate. Through no fault of their own, they have no perspective or reference for what "winter cold" feels like. The initial experience can be shaking.

Growing up in San Diego, when relatives from Tucson would visit in the summer, they'd be freezing, lol. In San freakin' Diego.

 

[Chomsky]

I have one that runs on propane and kicks on automatically if needed. I convinced the wife to purchase it on some of her retirement investments. It's commercial size that is set up for two households as my parents live in an apartment above my garage.

Lucky you! I'd love to convert my garage to have a second floor coach-house apartment!

 

[Rexedgar]

Lucky you! I'd love to convert my garage to have a second floor coach-house apartment!

It’s also known as a mother-in-law suite!

 

[Chomsky]

I should add we had 40mph winds last night - the drifting is pretty bad. I can't see my bottom two steps, with third step almost to top.
I live on a busy main road - I have only seen one utility vehicle for the past hour.

Living in a large metropolis, I revere the rare occasion where the snow comes so fast & so deep the streets become impassible. The peace, quite, and isolation, is a profound & enjoyable experience!

 

[Helix]

Audio book version:

 

[SenorXm/Sirius]

Coldest I ever experienced was when I lived in upstate NY.. 1 morning it was 30 below zero.. Early 1980s I think.. I got up 6am to go to work.. Needless to say my car didn't start.. Lol.. I stayed home that day...