And This Boy From Buffalo Is Impressed
Just a little global warming. Please?
It’s been a while since I’ve seen this much snow in the area. I’m house-bound, but no, it doesn’t bother me. If I can’t run, shovelling for exercise will do, in a pinch.
Ernie and I are at ground zero for this storm. So far, we still have electricity and supplies, but I’m rounding up the sled-dogs, just in case. If you don’t hear from me for a couple of days, it’s only because I’ve joined the two-hundred thousand or so people who are without power. That’ll make getting onto the internet just a little tricky…
So far, so good. In fact, DC is actually very nice when the politicians are out of town.
But if I miss Chuck on Monday at 8:00, I will go just a little nutz until I see it on-line. Ignore any news you hear coming from the metro DC area saying “Crazed Chuck fan eats TV. (Demands Subway Footlongs.)”
– joe
amyabn
atcDave
Ernie Davis
Faith
joe
thinkling
Chuck This 
I recall being down in the DC area for about 3 months from Feb to April (it was either 2002 or 2003) when just before your President’s day there was a wopping snow storm that lasted the whole weekend.
It’s a good thing I had done some grocery shopping on Friday after work or I would have starved to death. Couldn’t get back to work until the following Thursday.
Funny thing was back here in Canada, it would not have kept us stranded for more than a day if that. They just don’t know what to do in a snow storm there.
Gord, you have no idea. I just finished shoveling my driveway, out to a street that STILL hasn’t had a single plow over it. So my pristine driveway leads to 18-20 inches of snow. To be fair they are trying, but the plow truck is stuck at the end of the street because the driver doesn’t have a clue about how to drive in snow. Oh the irony. In his defense I suppose if he revs his engine high enough and spins his wheels long enough eventually he might melt his way down to pavement.
But fear not, being from north of Pittsburgh (but still south of Buffalo) I know snow. When others were getting milk, bread, and toilet paper I got beer, scotch, chips and pizza.
Gord, if I open my window on an overcast day and shout the word “snow!”, three schools in the area will shut down. I’ll never get used to how they react to the white stuff here.
Wow. DC blanketed in snow and Boston nearly naked. I suspect it’s all the hot moist air generated by the bloviating politicians, their staff, and lobbyists. It just doesn’t snow without moisture.
Keep warm, keep safe, and try to avoid all the idiots who don’t know how to drive on snow, but have decided to give it a try anyway.
…try to avoid all the idiots who don’t know how to drive on snow, but have decided to give it a try anyway.
That’s well nigh impossible here. A lot of people (other than Joe and I of course) seem to be of the opinion that 1) If you have a 4WD SUV you can stop faster, as if 4WD makes you immune to skidding, and 2) That a pickup truck is an ideal vehicle for icy conditions.
I was taking a stroll to enjoy the quiet and the scenery and on one of the roads some guy blew past in his SUV doing probably 25-30 on a road where 30 is the normal speed limit, and it was literally, and I literally mean literally, a sheet of ice.
I’m staying put. The traffic in my driveway is pretty light! 😉 I shovelled for a couple of hours with my iPOD firmly ensconced in my ears, and you can be darn sure I heard my favorite tunes from the show.
Imogen Heap’s Wait it Out (which is now and forever Amy’s song in my mind) started it off.
And then there’s the Goo Goo Doll’s Iris
And you can’t fight the tears that ain’t coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything seems like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know your alive
And I don’t want the world to see me
Cause I don’t think that they’d understand
When everything’s made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
Made me think of Sarah.
Poor Mrs. Joe! It probably took a lot to get used to.
On the positive side you guys really get the change in weather. I like how the leaves change and all that…we don’t really get that here.
White christmas? Foggetaboutit! Unless you ski in big bear lol.
sorry you are smowed in!!! I live in Miami 🙂 so the temp is in the mid 70s. I wish i could send some sun your way!
Oh yeah, rub it in, but wait till summer when Florida is 90 degrees and humid and the DC metro area is… 90 degrees and humid… 😦
Sorry, I’m in sunny california myself which incidentally is not so sunny coz we have storms right now. But I can’t even imagine what you guys are going through!
My wife spent years in Lake Elsenor and Riverside, Jem. She’s suffering lots more than I am.
Me? It feels like “home”! 😉
I’m enjoying it too. I don’t need to be anywhere, I always have several days worth of food (and toilet paper), and I like snow. Nothing against California or Florida, but I think people who grow up like Joe and I (and Dave and others, not trying to exclude) need to see seasons and a change. We learned to live our lives by rhythms and seasons, and when they’re gone we feel we’ve lost a bit of life.
My older brother has lived in Texas and California for the last 15 years. He still comes back to the homestead every Christmas and still talks about how much he misses autumn. He came back for about a week around Halloween a few years ago, I arranged time off as well. All we wanted to do was go on hikes through the woods near where we live and drink it all in.
Frankly, I’m lovin’ it.
It was -20C or -4F when I got up this morning and is -10C or 14F now, reading about sauna-like 70 degree temperatures is just depressing.
Speaking as a Michigander, I’d have to say I feel deprived this year, you guys are stealing all our snow!
I spent the coldest winter I ever experienced in Kalamazoo. We didn’t see above 20 deg. from January until March. That’s when it finally stopped hurting to breathe out doors.
Please – come get your snow, Dave!
If you want to talk about cold winters. When I was in the military, I did 3 tours of duty at a place called Alert. It is 550 nautical miles south of the North Pole.
We used to stop in Greenland on our way up north. lol.
Hey Joe, I don’t suppose that was 1982? I was still in Illinois then, but dang that was a cold year!
Gord, sounds like you win. But I should have guessed a Canadian with military time could put us all to shame.
Sorry You are enviromentally challenged but I golfed yesterday. Yes I am still in Michigan but it was almost 30 degrees. Heat wave!!! I love getting any extra 100 yards or roll. I try to spread out my obsessions. 1. golf 2. chuck. If I can do one I doing the other. Just remember living is a state with four seasons makes it funny to go on vactions then living where CN8 lives. Where do people that live in paradise go on vacation?
Joe
I’ll say an extra prayer for you guys that you’ll have no problems come Monday. No CHUCK would really suck. Your local officials and DPW still have a couple of days to get things right.
Weaselone I couldn’t help but notice you referenced Boston. If you’re from the area yourself or simply have familiarity, I grew up in Norwood. I got out 11 years ago. Call Las Vegas home these days.
I’m originally from Michigan, but moved out to Massachusetts a few years ago. I know of Norwood, but am not intimately familiar with it. I still speak as if I’m from the Midwest, like I have a permanent cold and with r’s in all the proper places.
Where in Mass?
The biggest storm to hit Greater Boston occurred in early February of 1978.
There was probably about a foot on the ground already when a Nor’ester hit the night of the Beanpot Tourney. It dropped another two to three feet of fresh snow and was subeqently dubbed The Blizzard of 78.
Governor Mike Dukakis (in charge at the time I believe) declared an immediate state of emergency and we were then given the rest of the month off from school. One of the weeks later in Feb. was always reserved for Winter Vacation, so TPTB just punted the idea of opening the schools that month.
Who would have thunk but this winter has been amazing up here in Canada. Two snowfalls of any note to leave any appreciable snow on the ground.
Instead of the Great White North we have been the Great Green North. Best winter ever!
All the best to those of you without power et al. Hopefully things will get back to normal ASAP for those affected.
thanks for the jinx Old Darth. Here comes the Karma boomerang. In Detroit we take everything from you. Your weather, your trash, your medical waste and now your jinx.
I was really lucky, OD. Never lost power. Ernie did for a bit, though. Shovelled snow for about 5 hours over the past two days. My shoulders are sooooo sore… (grumble, grumble).
Lou F. – ain’t it cool that when you head directly south from Detroit, the first country you come to is – Canada?
It is a great tivia question. Name the only lower 48 State that is north of Canada.
I love all the Michiganders on the blog. I’m from Michigan too. Go STATE!
Winters may be less than fun but does anything beat a spring day walking around the MSU campus and getting an ice cream cone at the dairy shop. NO, well maybe a 24 hour Chuck station or a nice couch burning.
Maybe a 24-hr Chuck station, but definitely not a couch burning.
Good Point weaselone
I still have scars from that night!!
HAIL TO THE VICTORS (from a UofM guy who lives in East Lansing). You are right about the MSU campus – a great place in the spring and fall. The new dairy store not nearly as cool as the old one.