Schanilec
Posts: 4040
Joined: 6/12/2010 From: Grand Forks, ND Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: nashvillen quote:
ORIGINAL: Schanilec quote:
ORIGINAL: nashvillen We were on the north side of the storm and, as such, only got about 2 inches. Enough to close schools around here due to all the back roads that have no removal other than vehicles driving on it and the sun. So, kids are at home, play computer games with their friends online, and I am at work. Unlike USS Mike, I had to drive in to do so. About traded paint with a Dodge Charger that pulled into my lane of travel with windows that were not cleared of snow and ice this morning on that commute. Seven lane road (3 each way and a middle turn lane), the vehicle came from the far left and I was in the inside lane northbound. Said vehicle had to cross three lanes plus the middle turn lane that was slushy. Two issues with the Charger, it didn't have it's windows cleared and it slid through the slush into my lane. I was less than 100 feet away and moving at 45 mph (posted speed limit) roadway was wet, but not frozen. I pulled a maneuver taught to me in Emergency Vehicle Operator's Course (EVOC) back in my Firefighter/EMT days. It is essentially an instant lane change at speed. We practiced it on a closed course with ambulances. It works well with a Grand Caravan, also. No paint was traded and the look on the others that pulled up next to me at the next light down the road was priceless. They had a look of astonishment at how the accident was avoided. Anyways, my adrenaline is up this morning... 2" of snow and they closed the schools. Oh the cultural differences. You forget, the city of Murfreesboro (150k pop) has less snow removal equipment than my hometown of West Bloomfield, NY (1200 pop). It is the nature of the South. They depend on the Sun, mostly, to clear roads. They will be back in school tomorrow, as it is getting above freezing today and the sun is out. It isn't economical to keep a large fleet of vehicles to remove snow with. Even hybrid vehicles for regular maintenance during the summer (which they currently use), are not enough. If we get more than three inches of snow forecasted, the bread and milk shelves at every grocery store are cleared. It is like the Apocalypse has come. We, back in NY, just kept 2-4 weeks of food on hand at all times for when the 24-26" snowfalls would occur and it would be a week or more before we could get out. While I miss the great spring and fall seasons of Upstate NY, I do prefer a winter down here where I can just wear a hoodie 99% of the time for being outdoors. You guys own snow shovels, right? All those little idle hands. Get busy.
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This is one Czech that doesn't bounce.
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