Not really, but couldn't think of a catchy title 
I'm sure everyone around the country knows already, but in case you've been hiding: the South got winter weather today. I myself got 1.5 inches of snow.
Now, if it were just snow life would be hunky dory and there would be no issues. I'd be sitting at my desk at work right now, wasting the day in a work-like fashion. Instead, the South gets what is known as 'Freezing Rain'. For the uninitiated, freezing rain is when the atmosphere temp is warmer than surface temps. Liquid rain falls and coats every available surface in a thin sheen of water that instantly freezes over. Do this a couple million times and you get ice everywhere: cars, roofs, roads, trees, powerlines.
Invariably, it's the ice that does us in. I don't care if you're from SC or NY or MN or MI, I don't know anyone that can drive properly on ice with unchained tires. You might think I say this because I'm from the South, but the reality is that both my parents are from Detroit. Guess what: they can't drive in ice either.
And it's not just the roads; ice on the trees becomes a killer problem. I'm being literal here: tree limbs crack under the weight and come crashing down. Cars, powerlines, houses are all fair game. A former co-worker of mine saw a tree limb fall right on her sister about 2 years ago when she was walking to her car. ACK!!! Amazingly she was fine, but her car was trashed.
In '93 we had a major winter storm ("Blizzard of the Century" according to the news). There was about 8" of snow in one day, VERY MAJOR for us. But the ice and wind is what got us. We lived in the mountains and had no power for 2 weeks. Since we were so far out, no power meant no water from the well pump. Time to break out the 5 gallon buckets and start hauling water from the spring... Final count between the house, 2 cars, and our 1/3 mile driveway was over 50 trees down. Bah...
At any rate, I played my wussy card and called in to work. Luckily, working for a software company means I don't actually have to be at the office to be at work, so I'm happily 'plugged in' from home. We'll see how long the power lasts.
No worries, though. One of the perks of a woodstove is independence from electricity. Can't even say that about gas heat: no electric means no blower. As soon as I got up I started a fire. Just out of curiosity, I put a pot of water on the top once I got it good and hot, and sure enough the stove top is hot enough to cook an egg on. WooHOOO, I can even have coffee when the power goes out! As an avid camper and coffee drinker, I have a French press accessory for my water bottle. Hot water and coffee grounds go in, nectar of life comes out...
Ice Queen
February 1st, 2007 at 03:30 pm
February 1st, 2007 at 04:59 pm 1170349152
County outside the town of Blue Ridge, Ga.
Power fr us was 2 weeks also.
February 1st, 2007 at 05:23 pm 1170350589
February 1st, 2007 at 05:45 pm 1170351901
February 1st, 2007 at 07:40 pm 1170358847
February 2nd, 2007 at 07:16 am 1170400607
Sorry the weather is so nasty. Hope it doesn't lead to a silver thaw the way some ice storms due. Silver thaws are beautiful but the last one we had around here in 1990 or 91 destroyed nearly 1/3 of the trees in the county.
I almost feel guilty that our nasty weather seems to be over. It was bright, sunny and 54 degrees today. Nah, I don't. I know we're just taking a breather. Hang in there, spring is on its way.
February 2nd, 2007 at 09:44 pm 1170452684