Je hate le Winter...
This weekend I rented a car to go to my parent's house, which is two hours and a half from where I live. I don't usually drive, so I was kind of nervous, but the drive up went well, even though sometimes, when I braked the car kind of slided (slid? sp?) a little bit from side to side. At the time, I thought it was because I was driving a new car and I wasn't used to it, so I drove carefully and I didn't have any problems. However, I happened to drove my mother's car also this weekend and I didn't have this problem, I didn't feel as if I would do a donut every time I braked. I told that to my mom and she said that it's probably because they were 4 seasons wheels, and they didn't have much traction.
When I went back home in Moncton, I got caught in a storm where I could barely see anything, because of that I didn't follow my speed limit, I drove slower, and I noticed that most cars were doing the same thing anyways. I still had to drive very far from the car behind me, because I couldn't brake correctly. And making my stops were hell, because I had to slow down long before, otherwise I would just slide further after braking. At this point, I knew there was something wrong with the car, not just the fact that I'm a unexperienced driver. Anyways, back in the Moncton area, I missed and exit and decided to turn in this residential road, so I could go back. I was driving at 20km/h, very slowly, but the road was going down, so my car drove faster than it should've and when I tried to brake, the car basically did what it wanted and I drove into a snow bank and I got myself jacked up real bad. It took 6 nice men to take it out. I was not hurt physically, just my ego was bruised. But while the gentlemen were pushing and shoveling under the car (I was on the phone with the rental company at this point), they told me that the wheels were really used up and they thought that it shouldn't even be on the road. They managed to get it out and me, stupid me, instead of demanding another car to be sent to me, I just thanked the guys like a thousand times and went back with the car. It was hell driving up to this point because the roads were even worse and I was nervous that something broke on the car. (I checked and didn't see anything wrong, but it's just me).
I'm going to the rental place today to tell them how unhappy I am. I may not be an experienced driver, but I'm not a reckless driver. There really was something wrong with this car! And the fact that I don't usually drive was not a good mix. When I called my mother later on, she was so pissed, she told me that I should demand to not be charged. I said that I would see what I could do, but I'm not sure that's how it works. I don't mind paying the fee, but I brought the car yesterday and I couldn't find the box in which I was supposed to put the keys back in, so I could demand to not be charged another day. I'm so not used to this, but hey, I definitely learned from my mistake.
What about you, any winter horror stories?
I'm glad you are safe too after your driving trauma! I think the whole world should just shut down for a while when its like that outside. My sister flies in and out of Chicago all the time for work and she got stuck there this weekend too.
Thank you. I think I just had to leave at precisely the wrong time, unfortunately. O'Hare was a mess, but strangely enough, Midway holds up pretty well, even in really bad weather. I'm prepping for another doozie (sp? doozy?) of a snow storm tomorrow-- but I don't have to drive as far in it. Mostly walking!
;) Oh the Midwest....
when i was in high school my friend and i were driving to school and when we were going down a hill we couldnt stop and we slid down the hill and t-boned a snow plow truck that was sitting on the corner. we werent going fast so no one was hurt, it just seemed funny & ironic.
in college i was driving to my parents house (dirt road, not much other traffic) and i was going down a hill and slid kinda off the road into the deep snowy shoulder. i was trying to dig myself out with the ice scraper but it was taking forever. just then a couple that were taking a walk came up and helped me out pushing snow away and guiding me out of the drift, it took a loooong time with no shovel. it was so nice of them & i eventually went on my way, & they continued their walk in the same direction. i got to my house which was only about 1/4 mile away and saw that the snow plow guy had created a huge bank of snow at the end of my drive way (otherwise it was shoveled). like a moron i went for it! and totally got stuck again! i was so afraid that the nice couple were gonna walk up and realize that i was a total idiot i ran down to get a shovel and dug myself out as fast as i could before they got there. it was ridiculous but finally i got myself free and down the driveway. from the window of my house i watched & waited for them to walk by. i made it but not by much!
We're in the negatives (with windchill factor) for the rest of the week!
Tomorrow we're -2 w/o figuring in windchill. I'm thinking that's a good reason to skip school. ???
eta: for a high, at about 3pm. -12 for a low.
:o
Rescue me? May I come to your much colder-sounding town, plz?
With the windchill, they are announcing -31 celsius here. I don't know how much that is in Farenheit. It's going to be a cold week! :wow:
:o
Rescue me? May I come to your much colder-sounding town, plz?
i got this one meggs....
cus we have the monte cristo and you don't! so :P
I know it's nothing compared to all you guys living in the tundra, but they're calling for a low of 10 here on Saturday night...maybe single digits. My heat is broken but the repair guys says he hopes he can fix it by the weekend. This is the second apartment I've lived in where the heat broke right before it actually got cold. I don't want this to sound like complaining b/c honestly I don't mind the cold (in SC) and have only turned the heater on a few times because it's really inefficient. I don't know though, I can't remember it ever being in single digits before. I just hope my pipes don't burst or something. On the news, they were like "open cabinet doors to expose your pipes to the house heat." I laughed.
you need to buy yourself a space heater or heated mattress pad!
Yeah, I have a spaceheater and I should be fine in my bed. I have a down comforter that works well. It's doing stuff OUT of the bed that is the problem. Ha. Like, it's only around 40 now and I don't want to get out of bed and go into the cold kitchen. I'm weak.
I have a good one... The week before Christmas, we took my in-laws (who flew from across country) to a trip to the mountains, as in the Canadian Rockies. It had been -40 (literally) for weeks and the roads were covered in ice. I'm not a fan of icy roads to begin with, but when you add twists and turns, and ups and downs, it makes me that much more nervous. Well, when we were a bit before Lake Louise (for those who know where that is), we saw a cop car on the side of the road. He was calling something in.
There was tracks and you couldnt see anything, because the car must have been over 50 feet down. Trees everywhere and just a steep fall. I dont know how long these people were down there for, of if they were even alive, but just the thought that someone when down that steep 'side-of-the-road' was very scary to me. I think I held my breath for the rest of the drive, all day until we got home. So glad we made it alive and in one peice!
I hate Canadian winters. This one has been particulary nasty cold so far, and it's not even halfway through... yuck!
With the windchill, they are announcing -31 celsius here. I don't know how much that is in Farenheit.
-23 F
Not to try to outdo you, but well, I can (just for tomorrow)--My friend, who is trying to get me to stay home from school (which is odd, because she is going to school) told me it's going to be -35F with windchill (-37.22C)
Those numbers so don't make sense to me. http://www.wbuf.noaa.gov/tempfc.htm
Let's bundle up! All of us! At least you have a great space heater, Lotus! ;)b
because I have the same one.
I have a good one... The week before Christmas, we took my in-laws (who flew from across country) to a trip to the mountains, as in the Canadian Rockies. It had been -40 (literally) for weeks and the roads were covered in ice. I'm not a fan of icy roads to begin with, but when you add twists and turns, and ups and downs, it makes me that much more nervous. Well, when we were a bit before Lake Louise (for those who know where that is), we saw a cop car on the side of the road. He was calling something in.
There was tracks and you couldnt see anything, because the car must have been over 50 feet down. Trees everywhere and just a steep fall. I dont know how long these people were down there for, of if they were even alive, but just the thought that someone when down that steep 'side-of-the-road' was very scary to me. I think I held my breath for the rest of the drive, all day until we got home. So glad we made it alive and in one peice!
I hate Canadian winters. This one has been particulary nasty cold so far, and it's not even halfway through... yuck!
holy crap - i wouldve been like 'how about we stay home, i'll make cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate for us and we'll look up pictures of the Canadian Rockies on the internet?"
I have a good one... The week before Christmas, we took my in-laws (who flew from across country) to a trip to the mountains, as in the Canadian Rockies. It had been -40 (literally) for weeks and the roads were covered in ice. I'm not a fan of icy roads to begin with, but when you add twists and turns, and ups and downs, it makes me that much more nervous. Well, when we were a bit before Lake Louise (for those who know where that is), we saw a cop car on the side of the road. He was calling something in.
There was tracks and you couldnt see anything, because the car must have been over 50 feet down. Trees everywhere and just a steep fall. I dont know how long these people were down there for, of if they were even alive, but just the thought that someone when down that steep 'side-of-the-road' was very scary to me. I think I held my breath for the rest of the drive, all day until we got home. So glad we made it alive and in one peice!
I hate Canadian winters. This one has been particulary nasty cold so far, and it's not even halfway through... yuck!
holy crap - i wouldve been like 'how about we stay home, i'll make cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate for us and we'll look up pictures of the Canadian Rockies on the internet?"
No kidding, right? Ah well, I've never been out West, but we were teasing a work colleague yesterday who's from Saskatchewan on the fact that he should feel less homesick with the temperature outside (even though he's been a Maritimer for at least 30 years now). Apparently, the West is wicked cold. However, I remember when I started university that it used to be -40C (-40F) and I had to walk at least 30 minutes to get on campus. However, I don't remember it being so bad, of course, it course it could be selective memory.
And I know where Lake Louise is! I have a friend who worked there for the summer, and it's a very touristy spot, non?
I know it's nothing compared to all you guys living in the tundra, but they're calling for a low of 10 here on Saturday night...maybe single digits. My heat is broken but the repair guys says he hopes he can fix it by the weekend. This is the second apartment I've lived in where the heat broke right before it actually got cold. I don't want this to sound like complaining b/c honestly I don't mind the cold (in SC) and have only turned the heater on a few times because it's really inefficient. I don't know though, I can't remember it ever being in single digits before. I just hope my pipes don't burst or something. On the news, they were like "open cabinet doors to expose your pipes to the house heat." I laughed.
((((Lotus))))) As a person who has recently experienced heater issues - I am sad for you!!! That is no fun. Pipes are supposed to be OK unless it dips below 32 and stays there for a while, but you can drip the water in your sink as a preventative. Crank that space heater!
This morning the ACTUAL physical temperature here was -28. With our 35 mph wind windchill it feels like -51. Although I really think numbers don't matter - when it gets anywhere below zero and it is windy, it is just DAMN COLD.
Did you know if you blow bubbles when it is this cold they rise up a few inches, then freeze, fall, and shatter? Its cool. I did it with my school kids yesterday.
This morning the ACTUAL physical temperature here was -28. With our 35 mph wind windchill it feels like -51. Although I really think numbers don't matter - when it gets anywhere below zero and it is windy, it is just DAMN COLD.
That is just WRONG.
Did you know if you blow bubbles when it is this cold they rise up a few inches, then freeze, fall, and shatter? Its cool. I did it with my school kids yesterday.
And THAT is super cool.
Did you know if you blow bubbles when it is this cold they rise up a few inches, then freeze, fall, and shatter? Its cool. I did it with my school kids yesterday.
And THAT is super cool.
Yeah, the kids thought so too.
Quote from the school district website:
Parents: Temperatures for Thursday are forecast to be extremely cold. Please make sure your children are wearing appropriate outdoor clothing or consider driving them to school. If you feel it is too cold to attend school, it is your choice to keep your child(ren) home. All absences for Thursday, January 15th will be excused.
Many of the schools around here have been canceled, but mine has not. I chose to not go, then I read the syllabus for the one class I do have today and... well, I feel like I should have braved the temps, even though it's in the negative 30's and 40's with windchill.
:-\
Wow! All schools here are canceled. We're wimps!
Wimps smart
eta: it is actually -20 right now. With windchill, -40. That's crazypants. I've never experienced such a thing.
Wow! All schools here are canceled. We're wimps!
Wimps smart
eta: it is actually -20 right now. With windchill, -40. That's crazypants. I've never experienced such a thing.
Where's global warming when you need it!
Seriously.
I think I've only driven in snow once in my life, mainly because it almost never snows here. When it does, which is maybe once every 2 years, all the schools are closed and even some places of business. I'm talking about for an inch of snow. I'm glad its that way though because we can't drive for shit in that stuff. We aren't experienced and we certainly don't have snow tires or any of that jazz. ohhh the south. :)
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