BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?

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: 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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: 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: Donuel
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 08:53 PM

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

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 - 11:59 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: 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: 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: Alice
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 12:40 PM

Very cool video! Thanks for linking that.

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: 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: 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: Bill D
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 01:40 PM

I am watching TV video of guys with shovels AND a small snowblower removing snow from school roofs. Someone is concerned.

Flat roofs are a real concern, even though this snow is lighter than the last one.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Sawzaw
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 03:28 PM

National weahter service says: "BLIZZARD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING"

It is snowing like hell and looking at the radar map it is just rotating in place and not moving off to the east or northeast as usual for any storm system. More moisture is coming ashore in New England and turning into snow while the whole thing is circulating CCW.

Even if it stopped right now it would take a week to get back to normal. I don't have any front steps anymore. Not a damned thing is moving out there.

Maybe this was what those rumored secret Pentagon briefings were about. I heard 36" Others said 48". Looks like if there were warnings like this it would not be kept secret.

I am wondering about people with oil heat or LP gas heat. How are they getting deliveries? I have Natural Gas heat.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Nancy King
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 04:01 PM

Just heard that this season's total snowfall has surpassed the all-time record with 54.9". So the winter of 2009-2010 has had even more than the famous winter of 1898-99. And there's several more weeks of winter left to go...

Actual snowfall is tapering off now, but it's kinda hard to tell, because there's still so much wind it's all blowing around.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 04:14 PM

My son & I have cleared the walk from our downstairs door to the drive, and an area behind the car, which is parked almost to the street. So...it won't be TOO hard to get onto the street...whenever the street is worth getting onto. Shoveling was 'relatively' easier than last time, except for the higher piles to toss it over.
As Nancy says, the snow is a bit lighter, and not building up so fast. I think the worst is over as far as accumulation....digging out the whole state? HA!
Governor O'Malley just said ALL counties are 'red' for a state of emergency...and *grin*...he told folks to STOP demanding that their streets be scraped down to the pavement.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 04:24 PM

Well, as they say out here, "This is Idaho. It snows here. Sometimes it snow a lot. Get used to it."

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 04:33 PM

This Maryland...it often doesn't snow at all here. We don't intend to get used to it.

(Sorry about your wife, Rap..we thought she'd be honored to be here when we set the all-time snow record. We'll send her home in a few....mumble...)

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Nancy King
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 05:53 PM

Yeah, well, winding down it may be, but lemme tell ya, it's still miserable out there. And it is still actually snowing -- the blowing and drifting is just an added bonus. Looks to me like we've had 10-12 inches this go-round, but it really is hard to tell because of all the drifting. And it's cold, too. Every shovelfull gets blown back in my face after I fling it as high as I can to reach the top of the existing pile. And maybe someday I'll own a warm hat that doesn't slip down over my eyes every 2-3 minutes.   Piss and moan, piss and moan....

So Phase 1-B is now complete: I have a path to the street, for whatever good that does. Street is once again completely impassable, and I guess we've slipped down to the bottom of the plowing priority list again. For a while last night I thought I might actually be able to get out on Thursday to start off for snow-free Maine, but right now it's not looking too good. We shall see.

The only good news (other than that I still have power) is that under today's layer of snow I found the newspapers for Saturday through today, obviously delivered in the brief interval between last night's plowing and today's impassability. No mail yet, though -- not even bills and ads.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Donuel
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 08:11 PM

The snow is waist deep so having to use a crutch or a staff is actually utilitarian and helps balance in slippery spots. Shoveling on crutches, cutting branches etc is not that hard.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Sawzaw
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 09:27 PM

It has slacked up here but there is one last hopefully short blast coming.

The record for a single winter in MD was 62.5" in 1996.

Four hours ago it was up to 77.3" for the season.

This is the worst season for me and everybody I know. The big problem is it did not melt between the first two storms in January.

It is going to be a long time before this melts.

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: M.Ted
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 12:39 AM

I grew up in the Midwest, and thought I'd moved away from all this, but I guess not.

The last thing I did before it started to snow yesterday was to get a crisp pile of tens from the ATM, for the nice people who come around and offer to dig me out, because I know that whatever they ask will be cheaper than the co-pay for an ER visit-

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 03:43 PM

How are things in the DC area today? We have a meeting with a Food Safety Organization in Arlington tomorrow morning (Friday) and can't contact anybody in their offices - I'm assuming they're closed. Anybody have an idea of what it will be like Friday (i.e. how close are they to digging everybody out?) We don't really want to drive all the way from Richmond only to find nobody there...are businesses starting go go back to work???

Subject: RE: BS: Blizzard coming to DC area?
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 04:48 PM

It's bright & sunny, but chilly. No buses running, and all govt. offices closed, as crews try to catch up. It's possible to get about on main streets, and many side streets, but not always easy to park anywhere, as that's where the snow was put. By Friday, it will be... ummm... 'better'. I'd wait until I got a phone call thru and confirmation of meeting.