Legend has it that the Inuit have many different words to describe snow

[Hosakawa Tito]

I'd like to add one more word to the list. It's a compound word, and it's English version is spelled


We currently have 4 feet on the ground with another 6 inches predicted for today, and tomorrow, and the day after that and the day after that till....seemingly the end of time. My free time has been reduced to the "way of the shovel" just so I can have the priviledge of parking in my driveway and getting in the house via the door instead of climbing in a second story window. Anyone else looking forward to spring?

[Don Corleone]

I'm right there with you, brother. With about 2 feet already on the ground, we got 6 inches Saturday night. I snowblowed the driveway (it takes me about 1.5 hours to do that and shovel the walk). I go to church, it's still snowing. By 1PM, an additional 6 inches had fallen. I cleared the driveway and walk again. Watched some football, did some homework, another 6 inches had accumulated, so guess where I was at 9PM? That's right, 3 times in one day... and just for good measure, Frost-miser sent another 6 inches over night Sunday night (2 feet in 36 hours!) and guess who began the day, you guessed it, clearing the driveway and the walk.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Bless you blokes in the Northern tier.

Southside Virginia (Va Beach, Suffolk, NE North Carolina) cancelled school today....to cope with the 0.5" of snow they had and the 2-3 additional inches predicted.

[Oaty]

Bless you blokes in the Northern tier.

Southside Virginia (Va Beach, Suffolk, NE North Carolina) cancelled school today....to cope with the 0.5" of snow they had and the 2-3 additional inches predicted.

The city of Virginia beach only has 2 snowplows and they are owned by the state so state roads get plowed first with the city leasing them from the state after the interstates get plowed. Its not justified to have a budget for snowplows for snow that occurs once every 2-4 years

[Seamus Fermanagh]

The city of Virginia beach only has 2 snowplows and they are owned by the state so state roads get plowed first with the city leasing them from the state after the interstates get plowed. Its not justified to have a budget for snowplows for snow that occurs once every 2-4 years

You're right of course, but I still roll my eyes over local responses.

[HoreTore]

The city of Virginia beach only has 2 snowplows and they are owned by the state so state roads get plowed first with the city leasing them from the state after the interstates get plowed. Its not justified to have a budget for snowplows for snow that occurs once every 2-4 years

What do you need a plow for when all you got is a couple of inches of snow...?

[Don Corleone]

Well, I should be plowing my driveway, it's too big and too much snow for a snowblower, but I'm cheap. At $40 a plow, sometimes two to three plows per storm, it can really add up over a winter.

Just checked the weather. We've had a nice 1 week break, but it would appear that we're getting another 10-12 inches tomorrow. With sleet at the end, just to add to the enjoyment. (That's 25-30cm for my European friends).

[Hosakawa Tito]

What do you need a plow for when all you got is a couple of inches of snow...?

HA! Apparently you've never visited the land of the "winter driving challenged". Think demolition derby on ice in an urban arena. The plows are actually needed for their sanding/salting function more than snow removal because icy roads are the more common hazard than snow on the East Coast sections of states such as Virginia. Most locals don't have the winter conditions driving experience/skills/knowledge that those who deal with it every season have. Snow birds who have moved to these states handle these conditions with little problem, however it only takes a few dummies driving 70 mph with bald tires on the old jalopy on an ice slick major highway to screw things up for everyone.

Well, I should be plowing my driveway, it's too big and too much snow for a snowblower, but I'm cheap frugal.

Mea culpa. My snowplow operator *who also happens to be my brother-in-law* unexpectedly moved the family to Florida a few weeks before Christmas *owes me money too*. Leaving me in the lurch. I don't even have a snowblower, and no convenient place to store one, yet. It's just me and my trusty shovel. Lord knows I need the exercise, but I can't remember the last time the temperature has been above freezing.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Diary of a Snow Shoveller

So, you want to be up North????


Subject: Diary of a Snow Shoveler

December 8:
6:00 PM. It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!

December 9:
We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the Whole World? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had. Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life.

December 12:
The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. l don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man. I'm glad he's our neighbor.

December 14:
Snow lovely snow! 8" last night. The temperature dropped to - 20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. l didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so.

December 15:
20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.

December 16:
Ice storm this morning. Fell on my on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, Which I think was very cruel.

December 17:
Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.

December 20:
Electricity's back on, but had another 14" of the dang stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Goddamn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.

December 22:
Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white fell today, and it's so cold it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to piss. By the time I got undressed, pissed and dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter; but he says he's too busy. I think the is lying.

December 23:
Only 2" of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she, nuts?!?! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying.

December 24:
6". Snow packed so hard by snowplow, l broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the son of a who drives that snowplow, I'll drag him through the snow by his balls. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was busy watching for the goddamn snowplow.

December 25:
Merry Christmas. 20 more inches of the slop tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's an idiot. If I have to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to kill her.

December 26:
Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.

December 27:
Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze.

December 28:
Warmed up to above -50. Still snowed in. THE is driving me crazy!!!!!

December 29:
10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?

December 30:
Roof caved in. The snow plow driver is suing me for a million dollars. The wife went home to her mother. 9" predicted.

December 31:
Set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.

January 8:
I feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

[Crazed Rabbit]

Over here we've got week long stretches of above 40 degree weather at ski areas.

I wouldn't mind sharing some of that weather and snow.

CR

[Strike For The South]

70 here. Not a cloud in the sky. Think I'll go out and play baseball.

[Don Corleone]

You know Strike, just before Christmas, I had the pleasure of making a trip to Texas for business. Even got to see the small towns, as I had to drive from Dallas to Austin one day, and back the next.

You've been holding out on us, my friend. All these details about the glories of Texas, and not a peep about your greatest treasure... Bone Daddys?

Seriously, great, great place. I really enjoyed my stay. Even got to have some barbecue at some famous barbecue place that's also a gas station/garage, but I forget the name. Yummy.

[Strike For The South]

You know Strike, just before Christmas, I had the pleasure of making a trip to Texas for business. Even got to see the small towns, as I had to drive from Dallas to Austin one day, and back the next.

You've been holding out on us, my friend. All these details about the glories of Texas, and not a peep about your greatest treasure... Bone Daddys?

Seriously, great, great place. I really enjoyed my stay. Even got to have some barbecue at some famous barbecue place that's also a gas station/garage, but I forget the name. Yummy.

Heard of Bone Daddys but never been. I'm glad you got some good BBQ but if you want the best you have to go to mom and pop places that have to close at 3 or 4 because they have run out of brisket. Luling Texas has the best (at least this is the rumor, I have never moseyed over but Redleg vouches for it so I believe him)

Small towns on 35? Hehehehe. Those are medium sized towns! lol. You want to see small, hop on I-20 or one of the state highways more pump jacks than people!

Texas is a great place you should move down here! Glad you had a good time.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Seriously, great, great place. I really enjoyed my stay. Even got to have some barbecue at some famous barbecue place that's also a gas station/garage, but I forget the name. Yummy.

Threadgill's? Where Janis Joplin did some of her first gigs? It really was a gas station too for the longest while.

[drone]

Send the snow down here. It's been cold enough, but we keep getting missed. Raleigh, of all places, just got 6" of snow, but we get squat.

[lars573]

I'm right there with you, brother. With about 2 feet already on the ground, we got 6 inches Saturday night. I snowblowed the driveway (it takes me about 1.5 hours to do that and shovel the walk). I go to church, it's still snowing. By 1PM, an additional 6 inches had fallen. I cleared the driveway and walk again. Watched some football, did some homework, another 6 inches had accumulated, so guess where I was at 9PM? That's right, 3 times in one day... and just for good measure, Frost-miser sent another 6 inches over night Sunday night (2 feet in 36 hours!) and guess who began the day, you guessed it, clearing the driveway and the walk.

Be glad you don't live in larger sub-urban lot where shovling by hand or with a snow blower is totally impractical and impossible. And you have to rely on some yahoo idiot with a plow truck. Who doesn't put winter tires on his plow truck (which doesn't have 4x4 power) and has no clue how to plow.