January 27, 2011
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Snow, Snow, Go Away
Technically Maryland is the beginning of the South as it’s under the Mason-Dixon Line. However, in so many ways, it feels like the DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland area have a lot more in common with our neighbors to the north. I even take a little bit of offense to people calling me a Southerner (I just don’t like being lumped in with that group). However, as soon as white stuff starts falling from the sky, it’s apparent that part of this area’s soul is still very much Southern.
Last night DC got hammered with heavy, wet snow. Many of us got out of work early. And many of us in this area forget how to drive when there’s snow on the ground in general. (As an aside, I’m eternally thankful that my parents are original Coloradans and taught my sisters and I how to drive in the snow.) I had a co-worker who works 7 miles away from work and it took her 3.5 hours to get home because traffic was such a disaster. She finally ended up parking a few miles away from her house in a parking lot and just walking home. There were tons of stories about people simply abandoning their cars on the interstate and trying to walk home.
The Architect and I had a meeting with a trainer at the Y and it was still open so we trudged over there after work. Traffic in the city was at a standstill and the intersections looked like the drivers were trying to play tic-tac-toe instead of drive. It was pretty darn miserable. We had our session and then went back outside to walk to the Metro, which is maybe 4 blocks away. The snow was so wet that it would melt on us as soon as it touched us. It wasn’t long until our jackets and pants were soaked through. It was so bad that we were trying to look for a cab to just take us all the way home but there were no cabs to be seen.
Luckily a Metrobus heading in the direction that we were trying to go stopped right then. I’m not a big fan of the city buses because the drivers always seem to drive dangerously but the Architect and I agreed that it would do in a pinch. It was crazy crowded with people that were doing the same thing as us. Luckily we were able to get home without any major event as the bus driver decided to stick to the main roads. It was so crazy. It still took us about 30-45 minutes to get home (a mile and a half away).
This morning, things are still kind of a mess but it’s 40 degrees and sunny here so hopefully all this icky snow will melt. I’m ready for Spring!
How many of you have snow right now? Are you a snow lover or a snow hater?
Comments (15)
HATER!!!!
Especially this winter. Shoveling out my car has become a weekly activity. This has not been a fun past two months.
Im a snow lover. And this isnt really any different. Yes, its a pain because I have to dig it all out myself this time – my husband ended up staying at his boss’s house last night because it is much closer. My plans for the weekend are screwed up.
But because of the snow, I also get a friend, who is visiting from Florida, for 2 extra days!
We’re getting hammered over here. Today was more snow. Thankfully I didn’t have to shovel today but I did shovel yesterday. We must have had 30 inches this winter so far… despite the fact that I too never wanted to live in The South, I’m actually thinking about it seriously for the first time ever. This is pretty bad.
Looks like some more snow is on its way tomorrow, maybe Saturday too. Yeesh.
It’s going to be in the 60s today. But we did turn on the heater last night, as it was in the 30s.
Both. Lover when I don’t have to drive in it, but I’ve been doing a lot of driving in it lately. We had three storms in a row where we got 5+ inches with each storm and it’s just getting tiresome. Glad you guys made it through ok!
P.S. I LOVE Mumford & Sons.
I normally love those because I livei n the south and we NEVER get any. But this month we’ve had 4 snow falls and I am sick of it. It is just reminding me it is cold outside. And I really dislike the cold.
I’m definitely a snow hater! I hate snow and cold in general. New York City got hit a bit last night too, but nothing too disastrous. I was still able to go to work, although maybe I shouldn’t because only 4 people in my department showed up! Stay warm!
We don’t have snow here but we have been getting lots and lots of rain. It has been raining everyday since beginning December and it is suppose to be the dry season this time of the year. What is happening to our Earth?
Did you get to miss work today? I’m guessing not due to the 40 degrees.
We haven’t gotten much snow here…some dustings several times starting around Thanksgiving. We live on the wrong side of the mountain range for snow…apparently they get a ton on the other side. And Santa Fe gets a lot. It’s funny because the TV stations here are state-wide and there are several climates in this state. I really had to learn to read the map in order to understand what weather WE are having.
I am a snow hater. It’s due to my time in DC…from age 14 to 32. East Coast snow gets ugly fast…blackish gray, freeze, unfreeze, ugly, messy, and a bringer of stupid drivers like you said. My dad taught me what to do in snow and ice when I was a teen. We’re lucky to have our parents, you and I!
That said, snow is really pretty out here in the dry land of NM. It’s not gooey, and rarely the mixed stuff that’s common to where you are. My husband is a snow lover. I’d suffer through a ski vacation if he ever wanted…I’d just stay in the lodge and read good books and drink spiked hot cocoa.
Happy you were both able to get home from work and to the trainer at the Y. It seldom snows here and when it does I love it. Everything is so bright and pretty.
I spent 40 hours on a Metrobus going from the Metro station in Rosslyn to about halfway up the hill on Lee Highway coming out of Rosslyn before a co-worker and I decided to get off the bus and walk the rest of the way home.
I didn’t have it as bad as my boss. She was trying to get up to her Fiancee’s place in Tysons and got stuck on 123. She had to abandon her car after it ran out of gas and didn’t get to her Fiancee’s place until 12:45 in the morning!
I have to shovel that stuff. ugh
I like snow except when I have to walk or drive through it.
Gah! snow is so obnoxious. I love and hate it. i think it’s gorgeous, but it sucks having to trudge through it or having to shovel it. but getting to play in it is fun.
we had a snowpacolypse last week. lol there’s tons of snow mountains everywhere still. lol. and the temps are dropping here. insane.