BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Alice
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 01:21 PM

and the poor little teddy bear in the video foreground got buried

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: gnu
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 01:19 PM

Jeepers! Up here in the Great White Frozen, the snowmobilers are pissed!

In Moncton, New Brunswick right now... 5C, sun, no wind. Haven't seen such a nice winter for near ten years.

Ahhhh... shhhhhhhh, not so loud, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bobert
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 01:12 PM

No, Bill, I ain't relacing no roofs and I ain't replacing no legs or arms that might get broken off from folks thinkin' that gettin' up on their roofs is a good idea...

Cool video, Nancy...

Ahhhhh, real sorry for and Mudders who are stuck in the white out... It missed us by about 30 miles to the north from what I can tell...

The good news is that there is this round yeller thing in the sky right behind it and everyone shoule see a little of it before the end of the day...

We got lucky here... 'Bout 6 inches... I've allready plowed it down to the road but have problems at the bottom of the hill with ice... Took a half an hour of serious Back draggin' (tractor term) to bust it up enough to make it back up that section of driveway but it's gonna need either some meltin' or some more back draggin' before it will be passable for my 4WD truck...

Hope everyone is safe.... An' warm...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Alice
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 12:40 PM

Very cool video! Thanks for linking that.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Nancy King
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 12:15 PM

I think the "blizzard" designation has to do with wind and white-out conditions, which we ARE getting. That's why the plows have stopped for a while. The Maryland transportation guy said they didn't order them stopped, but told drivers they have the option to pull over until conditions improve.

At the moment I can hardly see out my window, because the wind has plastered snow to the screen.

Say, check out this cool video., which Animaterra linked to on Facebook. I'd seen it on TV a couple of days ago, but then couldn't find it again. Check out the trees in the background.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 12:05 PM

Seems to me you all in Maine and the area had your share earlier......now if you really feel left out, I'll send this on up...

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 11:59 AM

Well, I DID go out....in front to refill the birdfeeders. It wasn't bad...

(the new snow is colder and ligher...not difficult to make a 10 ft.pathh to the feeders.)

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 11:59 AM

Maryland and DC just cancelled plowing because it is too dangerous. Hunker down folks. I would love to snuggle in with a good book and a glass of wine but ALAS no snow in Maine. I am beginning to feel like Amos.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 11:22 AM

We are now within a couple inches of the snowiest Winter since 1899 in the Wash area. 54 in. is the record, and it's over 50 in places. As Nancy said, it's snowing pretty steady, with moderate wind. I am not even going OUT for awhile, much less on the roof.

(You DO provide roof repair for those who take your advice, huh, Bobert 'ol buddy?)

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bobert
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 10:23 AM

You call that snow, mary??? That's what we would call a dusting... Just funnin'...

My fondest Richmond snow memory was bad around '83... I think it was Feb 17 or 18th 'cause there was a party scheduled for the 17th in NoVa and I had it written on the chalk board in the hall... Anyway, a bunch of folks from Richmond went up to this party 'cause it was being thrown by a woman who had moved up there... Sunday mornin' rolls around and they said it was gonna snow so I beat feet back to Richmond... Started snowin' hard around Ashland and I barely made it back to my house in Woodland Height just south of the James River...

I was smart 'cuase everyone else go snowed into that 2 bedroom apartment in NoVa... Think there were about 15 people and it took days to get them out...

But nevermind them...

The day after it snowed was a Monday and I was workin' for the City of Richmond as a social worker and they told everyone to stay home from work... Reckon there was around a foot of snow, which for Richmond is alot... So me and my dog and my wife took off walkin'... Walked over the Lee Bridge and thru Oregon Hill to the Fan District where we visited with friends and made the best of it... I took my ol' Honetwell Pentex 35mm camera with me and still have a dozen or so pictures of that snow that I took during the day...

The End of My Richmond Snow Story...

Now, ya'll who are in the middle of the worst of it... Be safe... No gettin' up on the roof, por favor...

Now I'm gonna get bundled up and go have at my new snow...

Later...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Nancy King
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 10:09 AM

When I got up at 7:30, there was maybe 4-5 inches of new stuff. Went to take a bath and do a few other things, and just looked outside again -- it's snowing like crazy! If it keeps up like this all day, we'll have LOTS. Still predicting a total of 8-12 for this area for Round 2. Wonder if I'll be able to get out on Thursday morning?

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 10:00 AM

Gotta sign in to see your pictures, Mary -- and if you decide not to do that, the site gets you in a loop within the site so that you can't back arrow back to Mudcat.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Sawzaw
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 09:50 AM

There have been more roof collapses in Southern Maryland and they are giving warnings on the Eastern Shore.

One guy had his roof collapse under him when he was trying to clear the snow.

The building departments will have a heyday over this and over react just like they did in 1973 when a high rise under construction collapsed in Bailey's Crossroads Virginia.

For years after that it was almost impossible to get a permit. It was like they just didn't want anything built.

Anyhoo the wind is picking up now and it is hard to see across the street. Supposedly we have 7 1/2 " of new snow so far.

Yesterday I was going to move several big piles of snow in a parking lot out of the way to make room for some more big piles. It took me 4 hours just to move one pile with my 1/2 yard bucket. I gave up on the rest.

I am afraid when I get all outfitted with a 3 point snow blower it will be another 5 to 7 years before we get this much snow. By then I probably wont be able anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 09:14 AM

They were saying Richmond would get off lightly - but here's what I woke up to this morning and it's still coming down... Snowy Richmond

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: GUEST,bigrickpa(no cookie)
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 09:06 AM

up here on the mason-dixon line, we have a ft. of new snow with 20+ expected along with winds 25-30 mph and gusts to 40.as of 8:30 this am, we've had 42 in. since fri. bobert, you're right about not getting on the roof, but i don't want to lose my house, so i'll have to take the chance. flat roofs are not made for this, the store i am remodeling in md was sagging enough to crack and buckle the walls i had done last week when i went in mon. night. don't know about now, cause i ain't leavin' home til' this is over!

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 09:04 AM

There is no blizzard coming to the DC area. Obviously it's already there -- and brought friends. Just plain old party crashers. You should call the cops and have them removed before all your booze is drunk up.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bobert
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 09:01 AM

Good news, Sawz... Gonna be in the high 30s for the next several days... Lotta snow gonna melt...

Hadn't heard about the Fairfax Fire Station roof but then again I'm purposely stayin away from the TV other than an occasional check in...

The snow has really lightened up here... Looks like about 5 inches... I'll give it another hour and then go out and shovel the paths around the house and work on the driveway...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Sawzaw
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 08:46 AM

The roof on our Safeway did not collapse. It was leaking so bad they closed the store along with another one that was leaking.

The roof on a firehouse in Fairfax county collapsed and another is in danger.

However with the 25"+ snow we have plus maybe plus another 10 to 20 will be hard roofs. And guess what? More coming on Monday. Right now it says showers.

We are now under a Blizzard warning.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bobert
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 07:53 AM

Well, looks as if we are gonna dodge part if the bucket here in Pine Grove Holler... About 4 inches of new snow and maybe another 4 before it stops... 4 + 4 = 8, right??? 8 < 28, right??? Works for me...

Snow-rakeless Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Donuel
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 11:59 PM

Rapaire, Home Depot had 48 roof rakes for sale last Sunday but they are all gone, so I had to make one and improve upon its design and reach.

Necessity is the mother of intention, um infection, aha invention.

Frank Zappa is its father.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 10:57 PM

Think she'll bring the snow with her, Rap?:-)

BillD..I wanna see those pix! Puir little guy. I hope he survives.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 10:09 PM

Yessiree -- my wife was going to fly out of BWI on Monday. Then she was flying out on Thursday. Now I hope to meet her in SLC on Sunday.

Look, she's a nice person and all, but I would like her back home for a little while.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 10:03 PM

ahhhh...NICE hot shower! I feel almost rejuvenated! Time go go out and shovel the....naawwww....let it snow!

You wanta know hoe serious the snow is? We just had a half-grown raccoon on our birdfeeder! He was hanging from a limb lime squirrel and barely reaching sunflower seeds in the top compartment. We took flash pics and went out on the porch 10 ft. away and all he did was look and try once more.
   I don't think he got enough to help his obvious hunger, but it was just too hard for him and he finally gave up. Kinda feel sorry for him, but not a lot I can do. (Last year we had 'em in the attic. I plugged the hole and we thought they were gone.)

Tough on everyone, this weather.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 09:51 PM

Thank goodness Richmond won't get much of it - they're saying just a couple of inches. I think north of Fredericksburg is where it gets serious. I'll be thinking sympathetically about the folks in DC but am mighty grateful that we'll be spared.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 09:39 PM

While you're at it, consider those folks with FLAT roofs and what the snow is doing to them -- not just the downward pressure, but the leaks being forced open.

Is this...could this...be part of a government plan to create jobs in the building industry? Or, it just occurred to me, a plan by Bobert??

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 09:37 PM

They sell rake-like things to pull snow off a roof. Probably don't have them in DC though, and probably not for two-story houses.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 09:07 PM

Yeah... I am almost embarrassed to still be able to do all that at 71.
I have shoveled more snow the last 4 days than I have in 15 years.

I can't say I don't feel it, but I durned well am gonna do what I can do! (soon... nice, hot shower)

(Oh...maybe I will scoop off the first 3 or 3 inches of new snow from my path and driveway. It is STILL easier to do 4 inches 3 times than 12" at once.)

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Donuel
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 08:53 PM

Bill you madman!   Correction... YOU SPRY MADMAN!

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Donuel
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 08:52 PM

Today I was on a ladder cutting fallen branches off my internet cable wire with a 8ft. extendable pole chain saw. When I was through, the wire went back up about 10 feet. Then I;
made the rake, went shopping twice, walked the dog twice, cleared more snow..
all the while on a crutch and in relentless searing hip pain.

Now after a dinner of BBQ ribs, salad and mac&cheese I am full of pain killers motrin vitamins and all is well in the world as I listen to Joshua Bell and complain about the snow on mudcat forum.



PS I recomend the movie 'The Invention of Lieing" The way it handles religion is the best I've seen in awhile. I give it 2.7 stars as an offbeat comedy.

I give 'The Man Who Sued God' 3.2 stars.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 08:46 PM

I was up there...deep snow...easy footing...cleared the vent pipes and a valley that collects extra stuff. Easy footing, took NO chances...I'm not crazy.

    well...not about snow...

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bobert
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 08:34 PM

Well, Donuel... I know that you is smart 'nuff to stay off the roof and also smart 'nuff to invent somethin' to get the snow off the roofs...

I wish that the DC TV stations had you on their programs tonight... All they talked about was collapsed roofs with no, none, nada, zip on what to do other than the implied: "Get the snow off yer roof"

Even Bill-Dee, our resident philosohy major, was perhaps up on his roof, I donno... But maybe...

I mean, lets get real here... The chnaces of yer roof fallin' in are alot less than yer chances of gettin' hurt 'er gettin' dead from gettin' up on yer roof in the middle of a blizzard...

Wished the news shows had talked more about that than scaring the crap outta everyone... I'll guarentee that the ERs will be filled tonight with people tryin' to get snow off their roof...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Donuel
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 08:23 PM

The snow rake I made is handled from the ground. Thats why it has a 30+ft flexible shaft and angled snow shoe like rake at the end.

No one should try getting on an icy roof that is already heavier than the roof has ever been in its lifetime.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bobert
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 07:31 PM

Sheet fire, folks...

If you live in a somewhat well built house yer roof ain't gonna collapse on you... And if you live in a crappy-shack then most likely yer roof ain't gonna collapse on you yet...

...I turned on the news tonight an' that's all the news folks want to talk about???

Like what are they tryin' to do??? Scare the crap outta everyone, 'er what??? next thing ya' know the hospiatls are gonna be filled up with people who allready have 20+ inches of snow on and around their houses out there with ladders trying to get up on their roofs with shovels... Now ol' hillbilly might not be the brightest bulb in the shop but I can see it now... Thousands of people with broken this an' thats... Oh, those will be the lucky ones... Lotta o' 'um be dead from fallin' off roofs... I mean, this is somekinda Darwin experiement, right??? Scare everyone into thinkin' that their roofs are gonna fall on them and then see how many are stupid enough to try to get up on their roofs with shovels???

I mean, I'd love to blame this all on Rush Limbaigh 'er someone else as evil but these newsfolks ain't all Rush wanta-bees...

Hey, a little common sense, por favor... Don't get up on you roof!!!

And Bill-Dee... I didn't get that cartoon??? Maybe too much moonshine over the last few days but I really didn't get it but...

...I'm smart enough to not be up on my roof...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 07:09 PM

Did some more on my roof...especially clearing around the vents which come up from the bathrooms. No way I can physically 'clear' the entire roof, but there are spots I want to relieve.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Nancy King
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 07:02 PM

Well, we finally got the plow! -- Shortly after the second snowstorm started. Still predicting 10-15" for this area by tomorrow evening. We shall see....

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 05:39 PM

I did some on my roof, but just had no energy & time to do it all. I did clear a metal awning which was looking shaky.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 05:37 PM

Ok, Bobert...you got it. He'll even add character to the snow for you.

Anything else I can do?

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Donuel
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 05:30 PM

As I posted earlier the roof failures are now beggining.

I made a roof snow rake out of 3 pvc pipes and t fittings and u fittings glued with pvc cement and steel duct tape.
The middle is double 3/4 tubing bound by duct tape so it does not bend too much.
On the rake end I strung nylon string like a snow shoe lace.
It is 30 feet long and flexible enough to work on a second story.
On one story roofs it will go all the way to the crest.
It takes 30 minutes to make.

The average house here has 6 tons of snow on it. Another 20 inches will compromise many more roofs.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bobert
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 05:23 PM

Well, Blizzard #3 of the season has begun in earnest here on God's Holler... I wish it could just snow 24/7 forever... I love being without beer... An' electricty... An' water... An' I Love Lucy" reruns... An' my computer... I just loves it!!! Maybe some who is better connected with the Big Guy could arrange that for me... I woud be so appreciative...

...'an 200!!!

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: GUEST,LynnT
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 03:20 PM

I did see the robins drinking snowmelt on the cleared driveways before they moved on.

We've been putting out seed, Leeneia, and even trekked out to Annapolis yesterday to replenish ---safflower in one feeder, peanuts in another, suet seedcakes, and mixed millet etc in another. Periodically the grackles mob through and push everyone else out of the way, but otherwise it's eastern juncoes, nuthatches, titmice, cardinals, a pair of mourning doves, an occasional bluejay, and the odd downy or spotted woodpecker taking turns. Richard says he's seen an eastern towhee, but I missed it.

Lynn

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Amos
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 01:40 PM

Just for the record, kids, I was raised in High Snow country, Connecticut and Vermont. That's why I am so content to leave snow in the memory file and enjoy sunlight in real time.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bobert
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 01:38 PM

Well, betweem my tractor and my buddy's bigass New Holland we "got her done".... What's it been??? 4 days on the tractor??? And more snow comin' tonight and tomorrow??? I can live with 12 inches... Anymore and I'm gonna...

(Ahhhhh, what are ya gonna' do, Bobz???)

I donno but I'm workin' on it...

At least I'll have beer...

No, shine left...

Sniff...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 01:37 PM

You're on the list, Nancy....as my daddy used to say: "Next October, at 4 o'clock"

I'm sure the light traffic down there must be a virtue....350+ days a year.

(Some idiot in a plowing truck did our street again last night, neatly covering up parking spaces that folks had spent 2 days digging out! Several people went out and told him to GO AWAY!}

The problem is that once they start a run where it 'seems' to be a good idea, they can't just stop at selected spots in the middle. They gotta find a place for the final load, and stuff keeps escaping off the sides, like it was designed to do. I did convince him to push one big pile into an empty spot on the curb, creating one parking space to replace one he buried.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Nancy King
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 01:21 PM

I'm with you, Bill.

(But I do wish they'd plow the damn street...)

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 01:18 PM

re: moving to S. California... when deciding between a deep snow every 15-10 years and fires, mudslides, earthquakes and huge budget problems every year, I think I'll stay put.

(typed this BEFORE the next snow, which might make me think twice)

I am as ready as I can be....

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 09:02 AM

Lynn, you can help the robins by providing water. If there's no free water, they have to eat snow and lose precious body heat to do it.

They also eat sunflower seed in winter when there are no insects. Other seeds too, perhaps, but I'm familiar with the sunflower.


Bobert, too bad my fax idea didn't work. Glad to hear about the neighbor with the tractor.

Dont buy CA till you've checked the liability issues - landslides, fires, vulcanism etc. There's a reason CA is a bargain right now.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: beardedbruce
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 08:50 AM

10 - 20 inches expected tonight and tomorrow...

Lonely here at work.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bobert
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 08:02 AM

Well, I gotta a big machine on the way!!! Hooray!!!

Might get out just in time to get snowed in again???

Climate/weather, weather/climate... Ya'll Canooks can talk all ya' want but you can't even hold a winter olympics 'cause ya'll don't got no snow... You gotta import it... What's that all about???

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: GUEST,LynnT
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 05:26 AM

Sunday morning there were a flock of over 100 robins high up in our oak trees, soaking up the early sun. They were so puffed up for warmth, they didn't look like robins at first. The neighbor says the gang had been there over a week, eating the holly berries, though those are all gone now -- probably why the robins weren't there yesterday morning. I've never seen flocks of them before. They must have come north in last week's warm weather, then gotten caught in the storms. This was in Lanham, a couple miles east and south of Bill's house (think 2:00 on the Beltway clock-face). Another friend says there's a flock like that in her oaks over in Tacky Park too, closer to where Bill lives.

Hope they don't all end up as birdsicles.

Lynn T

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Donuel
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 02:20 AM

Crap

another 20 inches headed this way. The roof already has 6 tons on it.

I have moved 3 tons of snow already from the driveway and out back.
Driving is a wild slide ride on the unplowed connecting street.
The power has been out twice. I put an inverter on the one car but it wouldn't start after shoveling 50 feet to get to it. Then I put the inverter on the Buick and got the furnace blower up and running with an extension cord until the power came back 3 hours later.
Safeway grocery store is out of eggs tomatos bananas produce in general but I did get a watermellon ?!