* The February 9, 10 & 11 East Coast Blizzard Thread *

[AGBF]

I thought I''d post a map of Connecticut showing the southwestern area so that people who have no reason to be familiar with the geography of this obscure little state can figure out why a southwestern portion would be on the coast!

Hope you enjoy the snow in Boston, Hudson Hawk. Are you a New England native or were you transplanted here? (I adore Boston.)

Deb

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Native for the most part. Moved to VT when I was 2 and I''ve been in VT/NH/MA/RI ever since.

 

[GoingCrazy29]

This wind is ridiculous! I look out the window and it is just a sheet of white. It hasn''t stopped snowing here in Central PA all night.

 

[GoingCrazy29]

Bonus picture of my husband''s car on Sunday...

 

[icekid]

I cannot believe we''re getting take 2 on this crazy snow here in Baltimore! Fortunately, they let me leave the hospital this morning. There was a very good chance that I''d have to stay until Saturday

And I got out before the snow/ wind got really terrible, so the roads were bad but passable.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 2/10/2010 10:52:09 AM
Author: Hudson_Hawk

Native for the most part. Moved to VT when I was 2 and I've been in VT/NH/MA/RI ever since.

Definitely native. I don't think that the first two years were that important in terms of where you lived geographically, although in psychosocial terms I know that those same two years were critical! I guess I would have to amend that if you were to say that you spent your first two years in a famine stricken war zone, though. I meant that if you spent the first two years with your family in New England or Wyoming or Florida, as long as it was all with your family, I don't think that the cultural effect of the first state on you would be significant.

AGBF

 

[Loves Vintage]

AGBF - Thanks for starting this thread. I was just going to post to ask how many New England folks made it into work today. I did, only to find that the office was closed!!!! That NEVER happens!

I did notice on my drive in, and back home an hour later, that there are very very few cars on the road, which is wonderful. Usually, offices will close at around 2 or 3, sending everyone out onto the roads at the same time.

I drove my DH's Volvo XC70, so it was a very easy drive for me, not much accumulation until I got to my country roads, where my little Saab 9-3 has nearly failed me in the past. Poor DH has that car today.

I'm in southern CT and the snow is coming down quite steadily, coating the trees! Gorgeous!

Kaleigh, I'm so sorry to hear about your son. I'm sure he received great care at the hospital and will be on the mend soon. Sending healing thoughts his way.

 

[Keepingthefaith21]

Date: 2/10/2010 10:45:38 AM
Author: NewEnglandLady

HH, when I looked at the map of the hardest-hit areas, I immediately thought of you and KeepingtheFaith--you are both in the area that is getting hit with the most snow. I hope you can get out early today!

Thanks for thinking of us NEL! I am working from home today - I learned my lesson a few years back when we had a storm with similar timing and it took we over 9 HOURS to get home that night. I will never get myself into the situation again if I can help it.

 

[IloveAsschers13]

Date: 2/10/2010 1:33:43 AM
Author: Burberrygirl

Date: 2/10/2010 1:10:27 AM

Author: Tuckins1

Wooo-hooo! Snow day here in SE Michigan!

I know! I don''t have to go to class tomorrow!

You guys are lucky! MSU is legally not allowed to close the school no matter how snowy it is... booo

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 2/10/2010 12:07:11 AM
Author: Kaleigh
The snow started fast and furious. I have already shoveld 6 inches of snow?? I had to make a path for the doggies to do their business.

I am tortured as my Son is in the ER in Hartford tonight and can''t get to him. He''s got a bad infection. We looked into getting a plane but the weather was a no go.

So we sit, we wait, we hope and we pray. My baby has to make it. I know he will. But gosh he''s been through soooo much lately. My little scooby doo, I adore you.

I only wish I could be with you tonight.

Lisa,
Sorry to read this about your son. Hope he''s feeling better today.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 2/10/2010 10:49:50 AM
Author: elrohwen

You''re right - I noticed that Greenwich already has 4.5'', while we probably just hit an inch. Though there are reports that lower Dutchess County and Litchfield County (I''m basically on the Fairfield/Litchfield border and close to Dutchess) are supposed to get 8-16'' - so I don''t think it''s just the coast (though you guys are getting more than us at the moment). I''m waiting to see when this 8-16'' falls. Maybe it''ll just wait for the afternoon or something.

I want lots of snow!!

I''d love to have a foot or so, or more.

H_H and everyone else - drive safe! I hope you don''t end up stuck in traffic all afternoon. I once spent 5 hours driving in snow traffic and it''s horrible.

Enjoy the snow, everyone. We havent even gotten any this year! I had a "I [heart] Snow," sign up on my house and took it down, lol, but it seemed silly to keep up.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

Date: 2/10/2010 11:21:41 AM
Author: Keepingthefaith21

Date: 2/10/2010 10:45:38 AM
Author: NewEnglandLady

HH, when I looked at the map of the hardest-hit areas, I immediately thought of you and KeepingtheFaith--you are both in the area that is getting hit with the most snow. I hope you can get out early today!

Thanks for thinking of us NEL! I am working from home today - I learned my lesson a few years back when we had a storm with similar timing and it took we over 9 HOURS to get home that night. I will never get myself into the situation again if I can help it.

Yes, I noticed they resurrected the footage of that storm (and the traffic jams) on all the news channels last night. Very smart to stay home! I''m going to leave in less than an hour. All I can see from my window are other buildings'' rooftops, but it looks like there isn''t much accumulation yet, which is good!

 

[Lilac]

We didn''t really get anything from the first storm, but we definitely will from this one. They were predicting 6-10, then 12-18, then back to 6-10 so it really depends on when you listen to the news. 6 inches is not a big deal, but a foot or more is a ton and we already have about 4 or 5 inches - and that''s before the big hit supposedly coming this afternoon.

Usually I LOVE snow, but this time it''s just so inconvenient. Middle of the week - school, work, cleaning the car and shoveling - it''s just too much snow to deal with right now! My classes were cancelled today but DH had to go into work even though he and his coworkers have the ability to work from home *just* as effectively as they work from the office. It''s so frustrating because a lot of them need trains to get home tonight and train service will be suspended if enough snow falls - I hope everyone gets to leave early once it gets really bad this afternoon. Luckily DH only needs the subway to get home, so while it''ll probably be slower, it''ll be running.

Hope everyone stays warm and safe!

Kaleigh: Sending healing thoughts your son''s way!

 

[february2003bride]

Date: 2/10/2010 12:07:11 AM
Author: Kaleigh
The snow started fast and furious. I have already shoveld 6 inches of snow?? I had to make a path for the doggies to do their business.

I am tortured as my Son is in the ER in Hartford tonight and can''t get to him. He''s got a bad infection. We looked into getting a plane but the weather was a no go.

So we sit, we wait, we hope and we pray. My baby has to make it. I know he will. But gosh he''s been through soooo much lately. My little scooby doo, I adore you.

I only wish I could be with you tonight.

Kaleigh- your son is in my thoughts! I hope you get to him quickly and that he''s ok.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 2/10/2010 11:02:30 AM
Author: AGBF

Date: 2/10/2010 10:52:09 AM

Author: Hudson_Hawk


Native for the most part. Moved to VT when I was 2 and I''ve been in VT/NH/MA/RI ever since.

Definitely native. I don''t think that the first two years were that important in terms of where you lived geographically, although in psychosocial terms I know that those same two years were critical! I guess I would have to amend that if you were to say that you spent your first two years in a famine stricken war zone, though. I meant that if you spent the first two years with your family in New England or Wyoming or Florida, as long as it was all with your family, I don''t think that the cultural effect of the first state on you would be significant.


AGBF

LOL what about a state like California?

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 2/10/2010 11:21:41 AM
Author: Keepingthefaith21

Date: 2/10/2010 10:45:38 AM

Author: NewEnglandLady


HH, when I looked at the map of the hardest-hit areas, I immediately thought of you and KeepingtheFaith--you are both in the area that is getting hit with the most snow. I hope you can get out early today!

Thanks for thinking of us NEL! I am working from home today - I learned my lesson a few years back when we had a storm with similar timing and it took we over 9 HOURS to get home that night. I will never get myself into the situation again if I can help it.

I remember this storm! We luckily left for vacation the morning before it struck.

 

[Keepingthefaith21]

Date: 2/10/2010 11:48:17 AM
Author: NewEnglandLady

Date: 2/10/2010 11:21:41 AM
Author: Keepingthefaith21

Date: 2/10/2010 10:45:38 AM
Author: NewEnglandLady

HH, when I looked at the map of the hardest-hit areas, I immediately thought of you and KeepingtheFaith--you are both in the area that is getting hit with the most snow. I hope you can get out early today!

Thanks for thinking of us NEL! I am working from home today - I learned my lesson a few years back when we had a storm with similar timing and it took we over 9 HOURS to get home that night. I will never get myself into the situation again if I can help it.

Yes, I noticed they resurrected the footage of that storm (and the traffic jams) on all the news channels last night. Very smart to stay home! I''m going to leave in less than an hour. All I can see from my window are other buildings'' rooftops, but it looks like there isn''t much accumulation yet, which is good!

I think that storm has changed how people plan for these days - which is a great thing. I love that employers are much more willing to grant work at home passes to people on days like today. It keeps the productivity on par while keeping employees safe. I just got an e-mail from corporate communications that our office is closing now in anticipation of the storm - this is in contrast to a few years back when they waited until the snow was falling heavily before dismissing the office.

Looks like it is nap time with the kitties on the docket for the rest of today - woo! I know my temporary assistant, Miyagi, will be happy for this change - he''s been rather disturbed that a computer has taken up residence on his mommy''s lap. He firmly believes he is entitled to that space

 

[NewEnglandLady]

KTF, I'm so jealous that your office is closing! I agree with you about that storm and its effect on how empoloyers and schools plan for daytime storms. I was a bit surprised that our company did not send out any emails encouraging employees to work from home.

Anyway, I'm on my train ride home and there isn't a flake in the air or on the ground. I told my boss that I was still going home because I told our dog walker not to come and it makes more sense for me to take the mid-day train than to try to carve out time in the afternoon to come home. I just wish my list of projects due by EOD was not so long. Blah!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I just got home and I really felt silly leaving when there was barely a flake on the ground. However DH and I commute together and he has a conference call at 1:30 so if we didn''t get home before then we''d be stuck at the office until at least 4 and if the weather got bad we''d never get home. The weather definitely started changing the further south we drove, it''s a wintery mix right now. So I''m tucked into my pjs with my ''puter on my lap and mu email open. Lunch, a cup of tea and a nice nap are in my future.

 

[FrekeChild]

I know that snow is a terrible inconvenience for all of you guys, and in some cases really scary (I hope your son is ok Kaleigh!) but I am SOOOOO jealous. Here in NM we''ve gotten about...1/16 of an inch this winter. I just keep remembering about 3 years ago when we got 12 inches in the Metro area and 18 inches in the foothills/mountains, and how surreal it was to get so much snow.

Is it so much to ask for snowball fights and snowmen? I just want an inch or so!

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 2/10/2010 1:21:15 PM
Author: FrekeChild
I know that snow is a terrible inconvenience for all of you guys, and in some cases really scary (I hope your son is ok Kaleigh!) but I am SOOOOO jealous. Here in NM we''ve gotten about...1/16 of an inch this winter. I just keep remembering about 3 years ago when we got 12 inches in the Metro area and 18 inches in the foothills/mountains, and how surreal it was to get so much snow.

Is it so much to ask for snowball fights and snowmen? I just want an inch or so!

The kids in my neighborhood will scrape up 0.5" of snow to make snowmen. They''re always kind of dirty and grass filled snowmen, but cute anyway

 

[FrekeChild]

Lol! That''s awesome!

When I was about 16 or so, we got about .5 inch of snow, so I went out to our wall, and gathered enough snow from on top of it to make about 5 snowmen that were about 5 inches tall. They were a bit pathetic, but looked cute until the sun came out.

I really need to move somewhere where it snows more...

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 2/10/2010 1:43:48 PM
Author: FrekeChild
Lol! That''s awesome!

When I was about 16 or so, we got about .5 inch of snow, so I went out to our wall, and gathered enough snow from on top of it to make about 5 snowmen that were about 5 inches tall. They were a bit pathetic, but looked cute until the sun came out.

I really need to move somewhere where it snows more...

It''s like a mini-snowman army!

 

[Patiently_Waiting]

I''m in the Philadelphia/SE PA area and they are calling for another 18-24". This is in addition to the 28.5" we got over the weekend. I am fortunate enough to be able to work from home so I am loving all of the snow

 

[Keepingthefaith21]

Date: 2/10/2010 1:21:15 PM
Author: FrekeChild
I know that snow is a terrible inconvenience for all of you guys, and in some cases really scary (I hope your son is ok Kaleigh!) but I am SOOOOO jealous. Here in NM we''ve gotten about...1/16 of an inch this winter. I just keep remembering about 3 years ago when we got 12 inches in the Metro area and 18 inches in the foothills/mountains, and how surreal it was to get so much snow.

Is it so much to ask for snowball fights and snowmen? I just want an inch or so!

Ohhh I don''t know about that...I rather like days off and excuses to lounge around in PJ''s, snuggle up with DH and the pets and watch a movie or two...or three...depending on how bad the storm is

Sometimes it is a little dangerous but fortunately we get a good amount of notice so we can plan ahead. I guess when you live in snow areas your whole life you just get used to it.

Now, tornados and hurricanes - the things we seldom get, those scare me BUT I do wish I could see a tornado just once...

 

[sugarpie honeybun]

It still isn''t really snowing in Boston. A few sporadic flakes and then it stops. The weather people keep talking about it, and talking about it, aaaand talking about it, but where the heck is it?

Sitting here waiting.

 

[treefrog]

It seems a little unfair for me to start posting in this thread. The Philly/Maryland/DC area is on it''s second 20 - 30" snowstorm within a week. We are in a very different position from the rest of the the Mid-Atlantic/New England area. It''s simply crazy here. The storm totals have been pushed up again. Another 20 - 30. Due to drifting snow, I have 8 feet to shovel to get out to my car.

There is absolutely nobody outside. I can''t hear plows anywhere, certainly don''t see any evidence of them coming around. The only sound I hear is an occasional fire siren.

Road crews have been pulled from the road in some areas. I read that Baltimore will fine drivers $500 for driving.

Hope everybody is safe, warm and is hanging in there.

Here''s a quote from the Baltimore Sun:

The snow has been coming down hard for a few hours, and coupled with 40-plus mile an hour winds, area roads are "beyond treacherous," according to the State Highway Administration.

There are some vehicles moving on major highways, but in many cases, the roads are down to one lane and crews are having difficulty keeping those open, said David Buck, administration spokesman.

"This is a white-out, deteriorating condition," said Buck. "This is not a day to be outside."

Officials are encouraging people not to drive. Most governments, schools and businesses are closed, but essential workers have been heading out. There have been a smattering of crashes, Buck said, though no roads are yet officially closed.

Montgomery County and Washington have pulled snow crews off the roads, he said. For now, the state is leaving the decision to pull off the road to drivers, but in Baltimore, Mayor Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake ordered Phase III of the snow plan to be instituted, meaning only city-authorized emergency vehicles were permitted on roads.

 

[icekid]

Kaleigh, just caught your post. I hope R is okay and that you can get to him soon! Even big kids need their mom when sick!!

 

[jewelz617]

Well, I''m in Marshfield and it''s just been raining all day. Where is this blizzard everyone canceled school for?

 

[elrohwen]

Deb, how much did you guys end up with in lower Fairfield? The snow started picking up a bit here around 4:30, and the temp dropped so the roads aren''t clear anymore. Still, it hasn''t been that bad. I think it just missed my town - DH''s coworkers are in the Hudson Valley and said they got a fair amount, and I''m pretty sure lower Fairfield County got a decent amount.

How about Boston? I hope everyone was able to leave work early.