Snowtrapped
We’re snowtrapped in the house. But I have a lot of eggs. Like a lot of eggs. And two bags of clementines. It’s still coming down and will continue well into the night.
Riddle me this, Batmans (Batmen?): Do you leave your windshield wipers up or down when it snows? Have you ever seen this done? Before the snow starts falling, people pull their windshield wipers away from the windshield so they stick out. Josh does this. I told him not to do it this time because I was worried the snow would weigh so much that it would crush those fragile wipers.
While I love a good snowstorm, this one is making me really nervous. I woke up early yesterday and started bleaching down the house. I wanted to be able to take out the garbage one last time and have everything clean, but it was also about trying to tame my anxiety and instate order when there is no order.
Capital Weather Gang made me nervous about roofs collapsing. I’m worried about neighbours not being prepared because it’s their first time around snow. I’m worried about trees falling and houses being damaged and people dying in car accidents. I’m worried about people not being able to get to the hospital if they fall ill at home.
Cleaning didn’t help. I am still nervous, but there is nothing I can do about it. It’s not as if I can stop the sky from dumping snow. I’m just going to hope that we keep power so I can plow through work and then play some Doctor Who Monopoly. But it’s sobering as much as it is pretty.
21 comments
I feel ya, we just realized I forgot to get syrup as I started to make pancakes and I felt panicked. I just hope people stay home and that everyone had enough time to prepare. Our Liam is worried about all the homeless people. Off to play Risk and hope world domination eases my worry. Hang in there and stay warm! (And please power stay on!)
I guess I am more selfish than you because it would never occur to me to worry about how other people will react to, or be affected by, a storm unless their behavior would directly impact me. (Example: whether or not people will get in auto accidents while I’m not out on the roads, or whether people can get to a hospital.)
I hope you and your family stay safe and warm and that you’re able to get some work done.
I hear ya. Many years ago we got 3 feet of heavy wet spring snow in our area and we were living in a pretty shoddily built tract home. It held up, as did the rotting deck (damn it, we were really hoping that would collapse so that we didn’t have to pay for a new one). Roofs in good condition can take more load than you think.
I’ve seen people lift windshield wipers because they don’t want them to freeze to the windshield. But if you’re going to be stuck for days why bother?
Hope your power stays on! That’s would make me the most anxious.
Thanks for posting. I was just checking n to see if you were ok.
That is a lot of snow. Sorry to hear the weather is stressing you out. When I lived in Atlanta, it would rain so hard that it scared me. I had never experienced rain so heavy and hard, like it feeling like you are driving through a carwash. I had similar worries of big trees falling and the roof not holding up. Hope your work and game play can help quiet your mind. Sometimes if something is so big and out of my control like the weather, I will pause and say a little prayer–take those worries and send some positive, hopeful energy into the universe for all to be safe.
I’ve heard of the wipers thing for ice. But, it didn’t make sense to me because then your wipers might be frozen out. And that doesn’t stop ice forming on the windshield. Makes me want to Google it.
Glad you guys are doing ok and still have power! We still have power, too. I am not seeing the crazy wind they were saying we would get, which is awesome.
The windshield wipers thing…my parents never did that growing up and I never paid attention and noticed people doing that until a few years ago. I guess it is so you can clear your whole windshield?? We don’t do it though so I’m not really sure if it makes life easier or not.
I’m a wipers-up gal. It’s much easier to clear the windshield of snow without them in the way.
It’s highly unlikely that enough snow would land on the wipers (and not fall off) so much so that the load would break the wipers.
Definitely wipers up. That way, they don’t freeze to your windshield. If they freeze to your windshield, both the wipers and the windshield will be really tough to clean.
I totally understand your worry. Our neighbour’s 70-year-old pine tree was struck by lightning two summers ago, and every time we get a winter storm or a thunder storm, I am paranoid about it falling on our house. It sits about 10 feet away from our bedroom. You should have heard the sound when the lightning hit- I’ve never heard anything that loud in my life!
Try not to worry too much. Being snowed in is fun! We always make popcorn, watch movies, play twister- it’s always idea family bonding time. You’re stuck there, so make the most of it. Enjoy your pretzels- we’re making some today, too- I couldn’t get the idea out of my head after you brought it up yesterday!
Wipers up when I remember to do so.
Maybe this will cheer you up? Gee. Spot this.
http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/277976/huge-blue-vagina-expected-to-cream-the-mid-atlantic/
Hahaha, love it Lori!
I’ve been monitoring what’s been happening and that’s a lot of snow. I get the anxiety of being snow-trapped. Been there, especially in the middle of nowhere (literally) and it can easily produce panic.
How I handle it is by shoveling. It may seem pointless when it’s still coming down, but clearing walkways and paths (driveways especially) means I know I can get out of the house and take some control. It also gives my anxiety some purpose.
And though I’ve seen the wipers up, honestly what are they going to clear? They are meant for water, not ice (and ice tears the shit out of your windshield). And even if they do get stuck, they will be rapidly be unstuck when you turn on the car and give it a few minutes to warm up.
I actually had a cover for the windshield and the rear view mirrors, and when it was going to really snow badly, I just put the cover on. It wasn’t very expensive and it worked really well. I left it behind when I moved away from snow.
Really bad snow storms can be scary, but I prefer them to most other natural disasters. At least it’s easier to stay safe by using your head. The good news is, it’s actually not too bad to get to the hospital if travel is suspended for everyone else. I had one of those jobs that was considered emergency services (and a four wheel drive truck) and I remember driving down a deserted highway going to work. I got pulled over by a cop, we commiserated about working while everyone else was having a snow day, and then I went on my way…. they’re pretty good about keeping one lane open if at all possible.
There are lots of emergency service people with their eyes wide open looking to help. And I limit listening to the weather. Those folks live for this and they are wayyy over the top.
And you have eggs!
I woke up this morning to snow. Not literally, as it’s a warm, summery day. But my Fb feed was filled with snow photos like yours. It fascinates me – especially to hear the wipers up/wipers down conundrum.
Here in Wellington, living on a faultline, we’re supposed to have at least three days food and water in case of an earthquake. So being snowed in for a couple of days doesn’t sound like a big deal. Maybe though, it’s because I’m a pantry hoarder (re my recent A Separate Life post). In fact, as long as your house was warm, I think I’d really love it. Cosy inside, no reason to leave the house. Though I can understand that the uncertainty makes you nervous.
Since my ectopics, I also always think of people who might need urgent medical attention. So it was nice to read Illustr8d’s comment above.
I do wipers up, but I also don’t remember it being a Thing until Snowmageddon. I know my dad is glad to not be in the National Guard anymore…he spent all of the Blizzard of 96 in a Humvee driving people to hospitals and dialysis appointments.
I hope you stay safe in the storm! I’ve never been trapped like that before apart from that one time in Taiwan when there was a typhoon. Fortunately I was high up!
I guess I am in the minority (or am just so used to snow from living outside of Boston all my life) and I just don’t give too much thought to snow prep. It is a matter of habit to fill up the gas tank in the car and have food (and wine!) in the house.
Yesterday in our area we were not supposed to get much of a storm and what was supposed to be a dusting turned out to be a full on storm. My drive home from a fun day out was not very fun and reminded me to be a bit more respectful to mother nature.
On the note of windshield wipers I am a wipers down girl. Based on the comments here maybe I’ll try the wipers up strategy for snow removal. Stay safe, stay warm & stay positive. The sun always comes out again.
Here’s a tip I might try … https://www.pinterest.com/pin/88946161368868661/?fb_action_ids=10207092785150743&fb_action_types=pinterestapp%3Apin&fb_ref=88946298799000741%3A4cb3f9a3b685475390bf
I spent a lot of time worrying about our elderly neighbors, who insisted on shoveling themselves out. Consequently, we spent a lot of time outside helping them. Thank goodness it finally stopped. Now I only have to worry about when school will start back up and what to do with these crazy hyper kids.
Sorry you are dealing with crazy weather. At least you had some warning. I hope things go as smoothly as possible in your city, and there are an absolute minimum of injuries or casualties or damage. Stay warm and stay calm! I still remembered the Sunday bookmark challenge: http://torthuiljourney.blogspot.ca/2016/01/sunday-bookmark-challenge-3-boob-feeding.html
Depends on the situation, sometimes wipers up and others down. If it will be wet/freezy snow then def put them up. It makes scraping the windshield easier and they blades don’t get frozen to the window (and possibly tearing).
I hope things are better now Mel….!