More about the snow

Here's another look at the snow from across the pond. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/world_news_america/8509658.stm

I'm kind of frustrated by the comments like the one about living in Russia or from other people who live in areas that get lots of snow every year.

Those other climes can deal with these kinds of snowfalls because they do deal with them. And their modifications work right through the season. You can slap snow chains on your car when you live in a very wintry, snowy area and then go out. Here not only does nobody have snow chains but if we did we'd only use them every ten years or so. The last time we had weather like this was sometime between 1995 and 1998, when we lived in the house in the woods and ended up with three or four feet of snow and couldn't leave our house for days. No food could come in and the Safeway within walking distance of our house literally ran out of food.

Governments and people prepare for what's usual, with some preparations for extremes and emergencies. It would be wasteful for everyone to own snowsuits (or whatever adults wear) and snow chains and other extreme weather gear when it would be rarely used. And it would be silly for the local governments, which are already running on a limited budget, to spend money continuing to plow during the storm when the plow resources will be better spent after the storm runs its course.

That's what I think anyway. Of course I'm not an expert. But I've lived here for 25 years and only twice have I felt like I've been stuck in my house because of the snow for any length of time.

Snow pics

Some nice pics of the snow from the Guardian UK. I like the picture of Bo. He looks like he's having fun.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/gallery/2010/feb/10/washington-dc-snow?picture=359209037

Snow snow snow

School is closed tomorrow for everyone and my dentist's office is closed, which is good as there is no way in hell I could get my car out of its space. I guess we got a couple of feet, which would be enough to deal with but then some clever person dug their car out and threw all that snow behind my car. That's the second time this season and I'm not any happier about it now than I was when it happened the first time.

So far the electric is hanging in there, along with the phone and the roof, which is more than I can say about the big storm we had in the mid 90's when everything went out and the roof sprung more leaks than I had pots and pans to catch them in.

I also have plenty of books to read and some peanut butter and jelly so I guess we're set!

How much snow did we get?

I think we got around twenty inches. The drifts are around four feet. The pile of snow behind my car, smooshed there by the snowplow, is about ten feet. It will be interesting to see how and when I can get out of the house.

School is canceled for county schools but I think Cullen's college is open.