We see scenes like this about once a decade, so we might as well enjoy them when they come.
The cross country skiing has been good to excellent these past few days, by the way.
Cross posted at Jim Miller on Politics.
Posted by Jim Miller at December 22, 2008 02:25 PM | Email This* did you get mail delivery today
* will garbage collection come this week at all?
I've been dreading having to hear from the Light Rail people about how if we had Light Rail, blah, blah, blah...
But then, I decided to see what was happening in Portland and its MAX system...gee, I guess it's just more expensive and just as bad in snow!
http://www.kgw.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D957TRN01.html
"In Portland, many buses and some light-rail MAX trains ran, though irregularly. The line to the airport closed in the morning because of frozen switches. "
Frozen switches! Wow, even buses can work around that!
Nice picture, by the way.
Garbage didn't come either. My husband, the optimist, put it out anyway for tomorrow pickup. Hope springs eternal.
Posted by: janet s on December 22, 2008 09:18 PMOur gardening service came today and shovelled the driveway and sidewalk. I'd started that, but only had the driveway about a 1/4 shovelled. That was a very pleasant surprise! We were snow-bound with about 8" in the driveway; it wouild of been dicey even with chains. I probably would've gotten stuck.
Posted by: Mike S on December 22, 2008 10:07 PM
Don Ward - Most of the people I saw driving around Kirkland yesterday were doing fine. But ... I did see a Metro bus stuck all day, just a block from my house. (No chains.) And I did have to help a neighbor get out of his condominium. (He went a block, changed his mind, and came back, again with help.) And I did see other cars sliding.
Those who were having trouble appeared to lack the right equipment, the right driving skills, or both. Fortunately most of those people stayed home.
When I commuted to Kitsap County during the course of 25 years, I noted Kitsap's road crews were less efficient, although population density and traffic increases in Kitsap.
A friend e-mailed from Virginia of his surprise that Seattle has only "27 snowplows". Only 27 snowplows, yet I'll bet Seattle and King County homosexual and lesbian support groups still received their taxpayer subsidies this past year.
I had a shot last night but no camera. I was out on the five acres and had just finished plowing with my ATV and was clearing a path to the bird feeders and checking their food supply.
The thing about ATVs and playing is that the goal is to try to get stuck, which I am a professional at. With lights on at one of the bird feeders, I turned towards the lighted house (had to call the wife and kids for a push) and saw a Thomas Kincade moment. Cedar siding with the white snow and with just a couple of lights in the house. It was a magical moment. I placed myself in the eyes of a bird and what they see as they feed in the snow. It was just one of those special moments.
Posted by: swatter on December 23, 2008 07:28 AMAs for the 27 snowplows, I remember when a former city councilman, Charlie Chong found some surplus plows (blades only) had the great idea that Seattle should buy them to put on front of some of the cities heavier duty vehicles for the next round of bad weather. The city council skewered him because he did not go through proper channels with the right bids, etc and because he did not submit to the "Seattle Process". Never one to mince words, he had some choice ones for his fellow council members.
I do not what homosexual group subsidies you are talking about. LCRW is the Log Cabin Republicans of Washington and we certainly do not get subsidies of any kind, But if you how we can get some I will sign us up then use the money for ads bashing gay and straight Democrats-with gusto.
Salt@18,
Have a look at this article regarding Seattle's approach to clearing the roads of snow. The important takeaways are that Seattle refuses to use the more effective salt on the roads because the runoff might pollute the Sound, and that Portland has 55 trucks with plows compared to Seattle's 27.
We got mail all this week, but haven't had garbage pickup in two weeks (Rabanco). Maybe next week, we'll see.
Posted by: Palouse on December 23, 2008 09:00 AMThey use chains on their trucks.
PS, it's also a private biz too. Posted by: Medic/Vet on December 23, 2008 09:18 AM
After watching the Seahawks drub the Jets in the snow Sunday I got out my nearly 90-year old sled. My Dad had lovingly refurbished it about 15-years ago. We haven't had enough snow for real sledding in beautiful Lake City since I cleaned out Dad's house and brought the sled home.
Well, as I jumped on the old sled and started down the street the thought occurred to me that I hadn't been on the thing since Nixon was President. Would it turn? Could it turn? The thought became more important as I gained speed. It did turn alright...really slowly just the way I remembered.
I ended up at a hill where kids and their parents were sledding. They all had these plastic things which I presume is what passes for a sled these days. "What is that thing?" a little girl asked. I proceeded to demonstrate by flying down the hill. After that all the kids wanted their turn on the ancient sled and I gladly let them.
Later I went down the steepest hills I could find.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on December 23, 2008 10:36 AM