we had quite a number of intermittent power outages since this morning. at lunchtime, i decided to go and see what's happening in the world as my bedroom windows were blocked by snow and i couldn't yet use the balcony.
the one elevator that worked was wonky, i pressed L and it stopped at '14' but when the doors opened i was in the basement. so i pressed L again and it brought me to 17 which happened to be the floor above me, 23. so i pressed L again and it brought me down to B so i thought i'd just go and check the highway.
the way to the highway was fortunately ploughed but there was at least 2 feet of snow on either side. when i reached the corner, i had to go over a snowbank that was waist high. it was quite the adventure. i was at one point standing inside the snowbank and only my head could be seen. i was quite giggling at myself and when i finally got out one of the cars that were slowly inching its way north rolled down its window and the passenger yelled at me: at least someone's enjoying this mess! needless to say, i got to this point and that car hadn't moved at all.
this was the scene at the highway. the large green bus on the eastbound lane was stuck as were the other cars. the snow had iced and with the additional snow became very slippery for the drivers. that stupid grey car near the bus, it was flying as it passed the other stranded vehicles then just past the bus, it did a 360 and almost hit that tractor ahead. it righted itself and slowly went on his way. what an idiot!
the westbound lanes looked like a parking lot. i could've walked further so that i'd be really above the highway but there were quite a few people walking about (taking selfies, of course, the idiots) and the pavement was only one way. in fact, when i was taking this photo, i was actually on a high mound of snow which i realized later was actually the other side of the fence where there was a 10 feet drop. you should've seen me scramble back to the pavement. then i decided to go to the small parkette near the opposite side of my building to take photos. you wouldn't believe it, i even brought props! 🤣
Oh my word! What utter chaos. You chose a fabulous perspective to show the impact of the snow. I want to know how on the 23rd floor your windows were blocked with snow!
@grammyn - the wind must've been coming from the south-southeast where my unit is facing. when there's too much snow, they just cling on every surface. i like it that way, the bloody pigeons couldn't camp out on the window ledge.
Oh my. In West Texas years ago we kept snow chains for our tires in the car trunks. I learned how to use them my senior year in high school. I guess today people just take their chances.
@louannwarren - there was a guy in the parking lot in front of the building who had five of his buddies shovel the snow around his car. five so there was six of them and there was another young man who emerged belatedly to help out. he assisted me in going over the bank of snow in front of the building (he was amused i was taking photos of my doo-dads in the snow and was curious). it seemed the guy who owned the car had an appointment at the dealership or the garage to have his tires replaced with snow tires. it already snowed a few times in december and he only thought about having his tires replaced now. i guess they were lulled into a false sense of security by the warmer temperatures we had since Christmas. he was fuming and cursing when i told him good luck just coming out of the building's parameter. i just witnessed two smart aleck drivers who gunned on their gas and pumped on their brakes and drove straight on to a pile of snow that looked harmless. both cars got stuck. more gridlock ensued. i learned how to drive in the snow and ice when i lived with the ex in his mother's farm. i just laughed at those guys who got stuck. i thought that the streets around in the neighbourhood had been turned into a parking lot, it turned out the car in front couldn't move. the snow that first fell during the night was rained on before the real dumping started so that it was hardened ice underneath. it might have looked just normal snow, but with the constant friction from tires, the surface hardened and became slippery. i can sympathize with new drivers or newcomers, but not drivers who had been here long enough that they should know. @grammyn
@summerfield that is so true, Lubbock was flat so not as hard to navigate the icy streets. You learned what to do at a young age in Lubbock. Dallas is so hilly and curvy that ice is disastrous there.
Gracious. Why can't people stay home unless they absolutely have to get out (healthcare, fire, police, etc. Essential workers). We had about 6-8 inches here Sunday and I'm still at home because the roads weren't plowed well and I didn't shovel my driveway - content to let Mother Nature melt the snow which is turning to ice as we speak and the temperatures drop.
January 19th, 2022
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