Why I'm glad I'm in Illinois for this winter

Published on October 18, 2004 By dharmagrl In Misc

Thanks to Blue Dev for the inspiration for this article....

Earlier this year, Rapid City, SD (where I used to live) saw it's worst snowfall in a single storm for 20 odd years.

This is what I was confronted with when I got up the morning after the storm:

That drift extended close to 6' down my driveway.

If you look at the house in the distance in this pic, you can see that the drift comes up almost to the top of their deck.

This is the house next to me:

And this is the house on the other side of me. It took 4 of us 1 1/2 hours to dig these folks out:

That drift came almost to the top of their porch and extended halfway down their driveway.

This is Shea and I when we had almost finished digging ourselves out:

Yes, I know I look dorky, but it was a snowstorm, I was warm, and that was all I cared about!

I realize that Illinois gets snow.....but I'm thinking that it's probably not going to be as bad as SD!!!

Comments

BlueDev

on Oct 18, 2004

Wow, those are wild. I haven't seen snow like that since we moved from Utah. But trust me, there were winters in which we had to get on our roofs and shovel the snow off there was so much. Houses were collapsing. Of course, there was so much snow that by the time the roof was cleaned off you could literally walk off of the house onto the snow.

Cool pics Dharma.

chiprj

on Oct 18, 2004

(In my best Stormy Waters voice) I hate snow. I'd like to kick snow's a$$!

dharmagrl

on Oct 18, 2004

But trust me, there were winters in which we had to get on our roofs and shovel the snow off there was so much

That's what we were contemplating with my neighbors. We figured it might just be easier to get someone on their porch roof and start from there. It was the worst snow I've ever seen...and of course, Dave was gone and I had to dig myself out. Always happens like that!

I hate snow. I'd like to kick snow's a$$!

Well, you're living in the right place then, Chip. Hawaii doesn't get much snow, does it?

SSG Geezer

on Oct 18, 2004

It is just heavier and icier there.
>>>

greywar

on Oct 18, 2004

Hmmm that looks heavenly!

chiprj

on Oct 18, 2004

Well, you're living in the right place then, Chip. Hawaii doesn't get much snow, does it?

Alas, I'm not in Hawaii anymore, although it's been home for nearly 6 of the last 10 years... I'm in Monterey, CA now and we don't get snow here, either though!

dharmagrl

on Oct 19, 2004

I'm in Monterey, CA now

Duh! Dumbass strikes again! (I knew that)

dharmagrl

on Oct 19, 2004

Me, id rather have the snow anyday, i actually like the stuff!

After 9 years of SD winters, it's going to be different, that's for sure....

After all the rain we had yesterday I can see why we'd be getting lots of ice!

BlueDev

on Oct 19, 2004

The worst thing about the ice storms for us here in NC is that they just don't have the necessary infrastructure to deal with it. In Utah we could get feet of snow overnight, inches of ice on the roads, blinding blizzard winds, and still go to school/work the next day because that is just the way things work. Power goes out, it is only a few hours.

When we had our ice storm here (the pictures are from that) there were places in the large cities without power for a week or more. They just don't know how to handle the ice and snow. If they mention there may be snow schools close, businesses close and there is a run on the stores. Crazy stuff.

dharmagrl

on Oct 19, 2004

They just don't know how to handle the ice and snow. If they mention there may be snow schools close, businesses close and there is a run on the stores. Crazy stuff.

That's how it works in England too. They get more than 6" and the whole country grinds to a halt. Indiana is just as bad, they closed schools there for stuff that we just took in our stride in SD.

It's going to be interesting seeing what happens here this winter...how many snow days we get!

oleteach

on Oct 19, 2004

Been there, done that, many times. Who needs it?

M-Post

on Oct 19, 2004

Lol, well I can say at least my school in Indiana had good cause to close a lot of the times it did. When a vast majority of your students live out in rural country area's where the snowplows don't go they just can't get there. No school want's to be the one that stays open and has one of their kids die in a car wreck because they were out driving on an inch of ice on the road.

Though... it was pretty much a hickville, and a lot of the students had big honker ass trucks and snow tires...... but still... ice is ice.... lol

Spc Nobody Special

on Oct 19, 2004

Geez, it's in the mid 90's here today in texas. Brrrrrrrr......

dharmagrl

on Oct 19, 2004

Geez, it's in the mid 90's here today in texas. Brrrrrrrr......

Oh hush!! It's mid 50's here today, dull and drizzly.

Mind you, I like it like this.....

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