Yet another snowstorm rolled though last night and this morning, leaving a fresh 8". At this point 8" seems like a dusting. It's been nearly 25 years since I've seen snow depth like this, if I were to stand on our front lawn it would be neck deep on me, and I'm 5'8". To add to the fun, my snowblower decides to break the auger belt. It's far past the point of pushing it around, removal or melting are the only options. We take our lives in our hands leaving the driveway, both directions are blocked solid from view by the banks. Driving at night is adventurous, there's so much snow everywhere that only shades of white are visible.....few reference points to verify you're still actually on the road. I forget what asphalt even looks like. I used to think our parent's generation told tall tales about snow reaching the treetops just to make the stories interesting. A few more nor'easters and we'll be up where the crows nest. Oh, and did I mention there is more snow coming for Tuesday?
Replies
- DADanandJanetteOriginal PosterFeb 13, 2011
Well, more snow coming tonight and tomorrow, but only 4" or so. The good news, finally got the snowblower up and running. Two broken auger belts (well, broken and MELTED due to a frozen auger and my temper). Changing the belts out was tricky, three tensioners to deal with, but between the two of us we got it done. Took me over 3 hours to clear snow that had built up during the snowblower's hiatus, could only shave a little bit off at a time. The snow depth was above the tops of the drift cutters.
Oh, and yesterday morning we woke up to no water. Frozen pipes. If we were American, we'd move down south in a heartbeat.ReactReply - DADanandJanetteOriginal PosterFeb 13, 2011[quote]My blower's wheel drive died in the middle of a snow job. Took $150 to learn that it was a broken bolt. But as the old joke goes: 1. Replacing bolt -- $1.00 2. Knowing how to replace bolt -- $150 We got a dusting yesterday, half an inch or so. Just enough to be annoying. But winter ain't done with us yet. Not by a long shot. And Punxatawney Phil can kiss my old aft cheeks. In these parts, winter MIGHT be over in late April.[/quote] No one who knows me will ever accuse me of being mechanically inclined....but I'm learning the hard way as far as the snowblower is concerned. A tip for anyone out there reading this......if you're considering a do-it-yourself job like this, do a search on YouTube. We found a couple of homemade videos on just this....changing auger belts on an MTD snowblower. He included invaluable tips such as time savers dealing with the tensioners, how to keep them out of the way while installing the news belts. I'm sure there are videos for changing wheel drive belts too, and I watched one made by the same guy for changing the auger gear drive, that metal component dead center in the maw of the scoop between the blades. In a winter like this, snowblowers lead a very abusive life, even when care is used. Ideally, they should be serviced each year, preferably in the summer when it's much more pleasant to do so. I know I know, who wants to think of winter when it's 90 degrees, but these things do need annual maintenance. They can be your very best friend this time of year.ReactReply
- RO
RoosterockFeb 13, 2011Rabbit and bunny, if you do not like the threads. Do not read them. Now is that to hard to do.
ReactReply - RORoosterockFeb 13, 2011
Gbrian56, I see you are a demorcate and blame Bush for everything. But Obama is the one in control now and is spending , spending, spending. Look at the deficit. Try watching something besides MSNBC
ReactReply - RORoosterockFeb 13, 2011
NudeINMA, you can't argue with a lib or demwit. That is why the country is in the situation it is in now.
ReactReply - GB
gbrian56Feb 13, 2011[quote]Gbrian56, I see you are a demorcate and blame Bush for everything. But Obama is the one in control now and is spending , spending, spending. Look at the deficit. Try watching something besides MSNBC[/quote]Yes I'm a Democrat. You can't spell, but I guess you can read. I don't blame everything on Bush, but he certainly needs to shoulder his share of the responsibility for the mess were in. Allocating our resources to wars and tax breaks for the rich hasn't work out so well. Bush had 8 years to work his magic on this country and he left it in a mess. Obama has reversed the downward spiral he found our economy in when he took office, but I guess you'll want to credit Bush with that. Obama still has his work cut out for him, but I think he's up to the task. Maybe you need a little MSNBC, Rush and FOX have clouded your judgement. If the next generation were to continue to think the same way as you, we really would be doomed.ReactReply - RORoosterockFeb 13, 2011
Gbrian, name one thing Obama has done. Unemployment is up, deficit way up. Still have wars and taxpayers are now paying alot more for health insurance thanks to Obama. The taxpayers are paying for the freeloaders of this country.
ReactReply - GBgbrian56Feb 14, 2011[quote]Gbrian, name one thing Obama has done. Unemployment is up, deficit way up. Still have wars and taxpayers are now paying alot more for health insurance thanks to Obama. The taxpayers are paying for the freeloaders of this country.[/quote]For starters, my 401K is back where it was before Bush's recession started. Consumer confidence is up, housing is starting to move again. New unemployment claims continue to decline, although enemployment is still high it is coming down and employers are forecasting adding jobs. I'd say that's pretty damn good considering Obama inherited an economy in freefall. What would your team have done differently? more tax cuts for the rich? or maybe we could have given them bailout money so they'd keep creating jobs? After 8 years of tax cuts we saw how the economy responded to that stimulus. I think taxpayers have had enough of corporate welfare and tax breaks for the rich, Republican staples. The investment Bush made in that group did not pay off and the American people would like their money back to reinvest. Out of curiosity, who are these "freeloaders" of which you speak? Is it a certain segment of the population? or do you have a list of names? Is it the unemployed who continue to receive unemployment benefits? Or is it some other group you feel is taking advantage of the social safety net we've established. Without a clear definition of the problem, it's tough for find solutions. I've never claimed to have all the answers, but it seems you two have passed some magical age where you know it all and are smarter than everybody else. Congratulations. But when you're dead and gone, the world will continue to spin and sun will continue to rise each day. Hmm maybe that's what has your knickers in such a knot, the fact that you two aren't the center of the universe. Or maybe it's just that you're afraid "somebody" will get a nickle more than you that they didn't have to work as quite as hard for. Life isn't fair. Get over it. Actually, Luke 12:48 puts is more eloquently [color=#ff9900]For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." [/color]If you believe in salvation, do you really want to go meet your Lord with every nickel you ever earned? There are parables about servants who horde the riches given to them by the master, and the results generally are not good. I've learned one thing about you and your know it all friend, you may not always be right, but you always have an opinion. Talking over the opposition may work for FOX ratings, but it never solves problems. There are greater minds than yours (and mine) working to solve the world's problems. Try opening your mind and listening for once before you shoot off your next one size fits all response.ReactReply
- GBgbrian56Feb 14, 2011[quote]Brer Roosterock, attempting to discuss anything with a mantra-chanting Obot is about as fruitful as debating a voicemail system. No matter what you say, their preprogrammed responses never vary. "I'm sorry, I didn't understand your response. For customer service, press 1. For mindless BS, press O..." The Obot had best get ready. We're going to continue in 2012 what was started in 2010, and we'll save their arses despite their objections. Step one: throw out the Marxist community agitator.[/quote]Since it's apparent that many are growing weary of this discussion and that it will likely lead nowhere, I'm going to bow out here. It feels like I'm trying to have a discussion with an aging grandparent who lives in the past and no longer has a firm grasp on reality. The kindest thing I can do is leave you to your reality and say, You're right Grandpa, You're right.ReactReply
- CD
Cheri Donna DawsonFeb 14, 2011I have met both Democrats (of which I am - a Southern Democrat/Libertarian) as well as Republicans who haven't a clue about what is going on in this world. I HAVE spoken with at least two economists who say that President Obama did the right thing to help get us out of that spiral.
Our new SC Governor is not doing well as far as I can see...she's just proliferating the policies that her predecessor created. I'm a state employee and am not very happy.
ReactReply - RORoosterockFeb 14, 2011
Gbrian, the unemployment is showing that it is going down. But the fact is, it is going up. The people that was drawing unemployment, ran out of employment and are still unemployed. Just because they show on a chart they are not drawing unemploymnet does not mean they are working. If the housing is improving, why are so many house being foreclosed on?
ReactReply - MEMemberFeb 14, 2011
Back to the topic at hand....
I am thoroughly enjoying the 50 degree temp we have today and desperately hoping that the next few days of moderate temps will melt the ice enough to use our front door again, before the next predicted bout of snow hits us on Sunday. If my yard wasn't still 3 feet deep in snow, I'd have played hookie from work and played in my garden all day. What a great teaser for spring today is!
Jen
ReactReply - DADanandJanetteOriginal PosterFeb 15, 2011[quote]Back to the topic at hand.... I am thoroughly enjoying the 50 degree temp we have today and desperately hoping that the next few days of moderate temps will melt the ice enough to use our front door again, before the next predicted bout of snow hits us on Sunday. If my yard wasn't still 3 feet deep in snow, I'd have played hookie from work and played in my garden all day. What a great teaser for spring today is! Jen[/quote] Good for you, glad you had a break. The warm air never quite made it up this far, close but not quite. We got another 4" of snow out of it, but such a piddling amount isn't noticable on top of snow that, in some places, is neck deep.ReactReply
- GE
Gerry-4Feb 15, 2011We just had to evacuate the main shopping mall in my city. Part of the ceiling caved in due to the snow on the roof.http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2011/02/15/nb-fredericton-mall-roof-203.html. I was there when the evacuation took place, but didn't actually see the damage.ReactReply - MEMemberFeb 15, 2011
Hey Gerry, sorry to hear about that and really glad to know you are okay! Our state has also had a lot of roof collapses as well.
Jen
ReactReply - ST
SteveFeb 15, 2011ndeinma...im clapping my hands...my hat is off to you.very well put.my argument has always been that if the scientists that insist that theres global warming didnt insist that the earth is getting warmer they would be out of a job.if he said there wasnt any global warming then there would be no need to pay him big bucks to analize the situation.in 100% agreement with you they are only preserving their job
ReactReply - STSteveFeb 15, 2011
gbrian56,this economic disaster started long before 2007..it started in the late 80's by banks lending money to people that couldnt afford to pay them back..the banks were to blame and the people that took the loans were too.and this continued into the 90's.when the motgagee couldnt pay the bank foreclosed and with the price of land and homes steadily going up the bank could resell the home for more than the original price(their reson for lending outrageous amounts of money to almost anyone)then the tragedy of 9/11 was another big hit to the economy...investors lost millions...airlines lost billions...the banks began to need their money so when average joe couldnt come up with the money they forclosed but instead of reselling it for more money they now had to resell it for about half its worth...so they went from win,win to lose,lose then the banks had to be bailed out and the came the IDIOT obama..instead of trying to create jobs(like he promised)he decided to do a multi trillion dollar healthcare reform.he also promised to end the war but instead he moved it to afganastan and left a very small force in iraq to be picked off one by one.he promised to (and i quote)kick "big oil" in the pants and let them know that this is our country and we want change...well,we got change...last time i filled my tank gas was 3.08 probably 3.15 now.im not gonna get in to immigration but i will say that hes done nothing there either.i want to ask you one question:can you tell me one thing he has done to benefit this country...and saying he got 88% of his college basketball brackets right didnt benefit the country one iota.he shoulda went to hollywood because hes always on tv..i cant even watch espn anymore because hes there too...enough is enough....let me keep my freedom,my faith,my guns and my money and YOU can keep the CHANGE!
ReactReply - GEGerry-4Feb 18, 2011[quote]We just had to evacuate the main shopping mall in my city. Part of the ceiling caved in due to the snow on the roof.http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2011/02/15/nb-fredericton-mall-roof-203.html. I was there when the evacuation took place, but didn't actually see the damage.[/quote] Just to let you know, it turns out the roof is fine. The snow was of reasonable quantity. What fell were hanging ceiling tiles. While still a concern, it's not quite as serious as we first thought.http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2011/02/16/nb-fredericton-mall-reopens-roof.html.ReactReply
- DADanandJanetteOriginal PosterFeb 18, 2011[quote][quote]We just had to evacuate the main shopping mall in my city. Part of the ceiling caved in due to the snow on the roof.http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2011/02/15/nb-fredericton-mall-roof-203.html. I was there when the evacuation took place, but didn't actually see the damage.[/quote] Just to let you know, it turns out the roof is fine. The snow was of reasonable quantity. What fell were hanging ceiling tiles. While still a concern, it's not quite as serious as we first thought.http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2011/02/16/nb-fredericton-mall-reopens-roof.html.[/quote] Good to hear, Gerry. I had heard about the roof problems at the Freddy mall on the radio the day it happened. As you know, we're having a very brief thaw, if you can call 0 C and rain a thaw. But it's not melting anything. We had a coating of snow this morning before the ice pellets and rain later, and that coating is still on our driveway.....if THAT didn't melt, nothing else did. Moncton is due for another 10cm over tomorrow and tomorrow night, with another snow event coming in on Monday. BTW, Moncton set a new February record for snow depth on the ground. Frequent snowstorms and no prolonged thaws add up to the new record. It's going to be awhile before I have to mow the lawn.ReactReply
- CDCheri Donna DawsonFeb 19, 2011
Would you believe in the 90s F in SC? It's true. It's going to be a beautiful weekend for nuding.
ReactReply - DADanandJanetteOriginal PosterFeb 19, 2011[quote]Would you believe in the 90s F in SC? It's true. It's going to be a beautiful weekend for nuding.[/quote] May a plague of locusts visit your town this weekend. jk
btw, it's snowing here again, so please spare your northern friends a kind thought during your early heat wave.ReactReply - DADanandJanetteOriginal PosterFeb 24, 2011
Another mega snowstorm on the way. A rare blizzard warning issued for 12" to 16" inches of snow and whiteout conditions. And we haven't yet lost ANY of what's on the ground.
ReactReply - WE
wes0u812Feb 24, 2011We have lost a lot of snow we had due to a few wonderfully warm days. but we are getting hit as well here in vermont and it's calling for the same around 10 to 16 inches. :(
ReactReply - DADanandJanetteOriginal PosterFeb 25, 2011[quote]We have lost a lot of snow we had due to a few wonderfully warm days. but we are getting hit as well here in vermont and it's calling for the same around 10 to 16 inches. :([/quote] 6:35 PM Eastern here, and it is COMIN' DOWN. Full out blizzard. Our commute home, normally 15 minutes, took over an hour. Several stuck vehicles, a couple of minor accidents, and a jackknifed trailer blocking the road on the homestretch. Oh, and that was two trailers being hauled. Spring seems eons away.ReactReply