OT: Winter

Better snow than the freezing rain that we have here. I slid down the driveway, slid down to the corner, barely able to turn onto the main subdivision road, and at the next street, one block away, my passenger bumper had an encounter with a driver-side door as the lady slid through the stop sign. I ended just enough in the ditch that I couldn't back out, she in the main road. Nearly an hour later the police hadnt' arrived and with more traffic and cars sliding past us, her husband and friend pulled me out and I drove home. They were only a couple blocks from home too. She got the ticket as it was her fault, but sad really because of all the ice. I couldn't make it up my driveway so parked in the neighbors temporarily. Schools amazingly were still open, but I called in sick and said no way was I braving 32 miles of hills and highways. Now come to find out I swung around and my back passenger door impacted her rear bumper. Hers is toast and I can't open my rear door.

So, after about a dozen phone calls from insurance, police, car rental, etc. I'm really curious as to what will happen. Her insurance will pay for repairs, but a ten year old Saturn with 142,000+ miles is only worth about $500. I know that I will need a new car in the nearer future, but not quite yet.

So, I rested some, sewed some, and plan on burgers on the grill. As Scarlet said, "Tomorrow is another day," and I'll brave it all then.

Steven Alaska

Hey Sunny

All to soon the very cold temps will be in South Mississippi, probably next month. BUT.... till then my neighbors and I are going to have Thanksgiving out in the backyard. There will be about 20 all together. We are going to have the traditional dinner and will include fresh shrimp and some very expensive oysters. I'm making dessert. Apple, pumpkin, chocolate, along with a coconut cake.

The temps are suppose to be in the high 70's and no rain is forecast. This will be the first time in years that's its been warm enough for Thanksgiving outside.

Kate T. South Mississippi

I remember many T-giving dinners where we kids at on the large porch at my granny's house. It isn't often, but even in southern OK the weather can be nice in mid-November. I just hate winter. I try not to hate it, but I can never get warm. I don't think I get warm until April.

Sherry

I'm just the opposite -- I LOVE winter 8-0 and absolutely abhor summer! Of course, I grew up in SoCal (LA area) and then lived in Lizard land (aka Phoenix) for 35 years so what do I know about living through a **real** winter?!?!?. The last 11 winters here in Magnoliaville (aka Atlanta metro area) is the only time I have actually lived where it gets fairly cold and has a bit of snow & ice most winters and can be in the 30's F for a high. I'm sure I would not be happy living along the northern tier of states but do look forward to retiring to the high country in AZ. The altitude is almost 6,700 ft. Fortunately, we are quite close to the Mogollon Rim which brings heat from the valley up the mountain and keeps the winters from getting too severe for too long. I can't wait but heaven help me if I have to actually drive in the snow LOLOL!!! :-))). CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

I do like the winter landscape though. An overcast gray sky as the backdrop for bare trees is somehow beautifully meloncholy. (That's as good as it gets here -- not many pines or evergreens, no mountains, and "pretty snows" are hit and miss. Usually our winter precip is horizontal ice. :-) Another thing -- I like handquilting in the winter, and getting to actually *use* quilts. Sherry

Mother Nature gave you a day to remember. A day to reflect on for years. Bet you'll find many things to be gratefull about this day....and oh the memories.

Not a boring day, eh?

Donna who's going to have to go to the store on snowy and icy roads.

I wish Steven would report back in. The time we had just a 'little' accident I was pretty sure I was going to die the day afterwards. As I recall, I was unable to stand up or sit down without help. You can't get a whole lot accomplished crawling about on hands and knees. So, Steven,we would like to know how you're doing. Polly

Oh bums!

Best of luck. My dad had a similar encounter many years ago: he stopped by the level crossing (railway) part way down the hill, he pointing up. Train goes by, gates go up, lady appears round bend in other car and at top of hill, slides downhil almost crabwise into him. Nowhere for him to go - he'd moved into the hdge when he saw her, and CERTAINLY wasn't going to try diving over the icy level crossing with her coming at him totally out of control! He said at the time that the only good thing about it was that she was doing 5 miles an hour or thereabouts when he saw her, and only about 15 when she landed in his door!

Be safe.

Howdy!

Oh, T.M., another after my own heart. You've pretty much described n.Tx., and my feelings about the weather here.

Fine for quilting all year (I pay homage to the gods of air conditioning), but it's really nice to be able to open the windows and let the real air in, in what some call "early winter".

Cheers! R/Sandy - still a yankee at heart Whose Woods Are These quilt by Jane Kennedy

Howdy!

W/ winters like that, why bother w/ a new car? Get a good crowbar (pry bar) to open the back door when needed, and keep going. You have the Saturn broken in, it still runs, and it's paid for. All good qualities in a snowland "banger" mobile.

Another pretty w> Ach! Glad you're both safe. (The brother of a friend of mine crashed

Steve: keep the "winter rat" for the next season and put it away in spring. then go buy a vehicle that you can run in the good weather. Nuthin' like a rat!!! hahaha!

Winter...what a dirty six letter word! the reason why i moved from central NY. 4-6 feet of snow, ice storms, never getting warm enough. at least here i can sit in the sun and get warm. No regrets on that level!

amy in SoCal (finally)

We went to dinner last night at a place across the street from the autobody place. They haven't even moved my car yet, and it's now buried in snow, so it's not even looked at yet. While it would be nice to have the money for a downpayment, my real hope is that it can be fixed enough to be driveable and get me to next summer and maybe beyond.

I agree, with the bumper car season upon us, I'd rather not get something new, let alone new-used right now. This state has crazy drivers with the mentality that a pick-up can go anywhere at any time at any speed, and anyone with studded tires is invincible.

So for now, we're down to one car and Bert is housebound.

Steven Alaska

Don't forget to include the idiots that think that if they have 4-wheel drive they can drive as fast as they want to. None of those idiots have learned that the brakes on a 4-wheel drive don't work any better than brakes on any other car when roads are covered with ice, snow and slush.

I think the dumbest thing I've ever heard is the girl that passed a sanding truck that was sanding the interstate. As soon as she got past the truck she spun out! Why did she think he was sanding the road?

Donna in Idaho

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My mum lost the clutch on her car the other day, just after coming out of the T junction and turning right onto the main road from her back lane... She managed to roll it backwards up onto the verge, but was stuck, hazard lights flashing, just opposite the junction. Awkward, but the road is quite wide and there's plenty of time to see something like this from either direction. After a good Samaritan called the garage and the RAC for her (her mobile phone also died!), she was standing on the verge beside the car with the RAC chap... He has a BIG DAY-GLOW ORANGE VAN WITH BIIIIG FLASHY ORANGE LIGHTS!!! There was something large stuck/stopped at the junction, waiting to turn down her little lane, so all the vehicles coming up behind mum were waiting behind her to go past or turn right into the lane.

Some pillock could not wait, drove up onto the verge, and passed mum and the RAC chap so close they ran over some bit of his kit that was on the grass beside them. It was getting dark, and no street lights (country lane round the back of Bishops Stortford here here), so they couldn't get his number.

I can only hope that my disapprobation from this distance is giving him severe belly cramps!

Steven, I hope that your car can be fixed soon, and you can let Bert out of his cage before he goes stir-crazy and eats a quilt!

Howdy!

Thank you, Steven, for the comments on your local drivers. Here in too-damn'-hot Texas, "they" like to say, "People here don't know how to drive in the snow!" True, we don't get much (more ice than snow), but I reckon the locals drive in it about as well as anywhere; everyone slips and slides and bumps into things, all over the world, in the snow.

Best wishes > We went to dinner last night at a place across the street from the autobody