Amy’s Adventures

As the snow is falling again inside the DC beltway, we’re appealing to a higher power for no more snow!

Anyone that knows me, knows I’d rather be in on a beach in the middle of a hurricane than endure a major snow storm. Apparently, God has my number and is testing me this year. In just the past  8 weeks, He’s thrown 40+ inches on me–a total that exceeds the total amount of snow I’ve seen in my lifetime.  I really try to be a good sport about it by stocking up on wine and taking advantage of the time to catch up on Dr. Phil and The Vampire Diaries. But after three days pre-storm hype, then round the clock storm central news coverage, followed by post-storm messiness, I’m exhausted and ready for those daffodils to pop out of the ground.

My Storm Pet Peeves:

1) Dumb News Casters - It seems winter storms are the prime opportunity for local news casters to see who can be dumber all the name of ratings. Case in point: the stupid news caster from NBC that was driving down Wisconsin Avenue last night doing a live broadcast during the height of the storm.  And I love that they had to emphasize, “don’t try this at home.”

2) Round the clock news coverage -The 2 ft of snow looks the same in DC, Maryland and Virginia.  And how many times do you need to tell me to “hunker down” or “the roads are impassable and treacherous?” Yes, they’re are the idiots who try and pick up their dry cleaning in the mess, but for most of us common sense prevails when we look out our windows. Does this all really demand 24 hour coverage? Can a simple periodic news break or scrolling ticker not solve the same purpose?

3) Stupid drivers -You may have grown up in the midwest and “know” how to drive in the snow, but that doesn’t give you a license to joy ride through the city.  If you don’t have a 4X4 in this mess, it really doesn’t matter where you grew up…you’re not getting far.

4) Toilet Paper, Milk and Bread- Seriously, I don’t understand the rush on these items before every storm. This is not Little House in the Prairie. We live in a major metropolitan area with the resources to clear roads. At the most, you may be inconvienced for a few days, but unless you have irritable bowel syndrome or down to nothing but eggs and diet coke why the mad rush?  The caveat here is of course, booze!

5) Doppler Radar - Yes, this is a great tracking tool, but do we really need to see it every five minutes? Like our friends the news casters, winter storms are  great opportunity for geeky weather dudes to pull out all their fancy toys. It becomes a competition on who’s tool is bigger and better. (Probably a reason majority of weather geeks are men.) Seriously, I don’t care,  just tell me how much and when it’ll stop.

6) Uncleared vehicles - You have 24 inches of snow on top of your car and you decide to drive it without clearing it off, thinking you’ll just let the wind blow it off. Thanks you “SOB”! Now, I have white out conditions while driving behind you.

I write all this after 36 hours of cabin fever and a 1/2 bottle of wine. Give me ’til tomorrow and the remainder supply of my wine and I’m sure I’ll come up with more.  Do you have any storm pet peeves?

I'm glad I have garage parking

Living in Michigan for 2 1/2 years, I got enough snow to last me a life time. Apparently, God had other plans and once again I’m haunted by large flakes and snow banks. Nonetheless, Michigan did teach me a thing or two about managing through these crazy-ass storms.

1)Buy a house/condo with a grocery store in walking distance. This avoids any mad rush for milk or toilet paper the night before, and if you’re caught in a crunch for some wine, you can simply just walk up the road.

2) Life goes on. Other news outside the storm is going on the world, so after you’ve gotten the latest on traffic and road closures, turn the channel and see what else is going on the world. No need for 24/7 storm watch.

3) Garage parking. I actually learned this one in NJ, but it’s a necessity in high snow areas. After leaving Connecticut, I’ve never gone without this one. I haven’t scrapped a windshield in 8 years.

4) Snow pants and boots. I almost parted with these when a left Michigan, but something told me to hang on to ‘em. Both have gotten good wear this year and since I bought quality will last for years to come. I’m actually wearing them right now!

5) Front-wheel drives kick ass in the snow. No matter the car, if you have front wheel drive you’re good to go. Even my VW Cabrio convertible braved the snow and totally kicked ass! I only got stuck once and that was because the snow was deeper than my car.

6) AAA - A total must have! My AAA membership pulled me out of the snow bank and gave me jump start when the battery died b/c of sub-zero temperatures. I let this membership go briefly when I was in TN, but it’s since been reinstated.

Hopefully, this will be the last of the snow this year.I’m just a nicer person in the summer.  I’m counting the days until Memorial Day.  However, this is my life today, so I made the best of it.

Walking down King Street, I feel like Yuri abandoning the military in Dr.Zhivago.

Unless your Lactose intolerant, there's no milk at the Safeway

Fortunately, there's still wine!

And toilet paper!

For once 395 had no traffic!

Snow up to my knees made for a Rocky IV in Siberia moment.

Traffic jam on King Street

I live on the 3rd floor, but snow continues to accumulate.