[LewLew]

While most of the time people are talking about some negative things in Florida, I thought I would post this for something lighter, and to help us remember what is so great about Florida! The weather! I'm not looking for an answer to anything, just want to bring some smiles to everyone out there....for those of you who did move back North...at least you might get a chuckle even if you are glad you no longer live in Florida. Enjoy!

Diary Of A Snow Shoveler


December 9: We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow
covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can
there be a more lovely place in the Whole World? Moving here was the
best idea I've ever had. Shoveled for the first time in years and
felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks.
This afternoon the snow plow came along and covered up the sidewalks
and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect
life.

December 12: The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a
disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we'll definitely
have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says
we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to
see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice
man. I'm glad he's our neighbor.

December 14: Snow, lovely snow! 8" last night. The temperature
dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took
my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and
sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon
and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do
quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this
way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so.

December 15: 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer.
Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the
freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes
out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.

December 16: Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in the
driveway putting down salt. Hurt like crazy. The wife laughed for an
hour, which I think was very cruel.

December 17: Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go
a nywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets
on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to
irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit
it to her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm
freezing to death in my own living room.

December 20: Electricity's back on, but had another 14" of the damn
stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Blasted snowplow came
by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said
they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the
only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and
they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're
lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and
bill me. I think he's lying.

December 22: Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more
inches of the white **** fell today, and it's so cold it probably
won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to
go out to shovel and then I had to ****. By the time I got undressed,
pissed and dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire
Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter; but he
says he's too busy. I think the a**hole is lying.

December 23: Only 2" of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife
wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is
she...nuts??? Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says
she did but I think she's lying.

December 24: 6". Snow packed so hard by snowplow, l broke the shovel.
Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the guy who drives that snowplow, I'll drag him through the snow by his balls. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I 've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was busy watching for the blasted snowplow.

December 25: Merry Christmas. 20 more inches of the @!@!& slop
tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God I
hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation
and I hit him over the head with my shovel.

December 26: Still snowed in. Why did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.

December 28: Warmed up to above -50. Still snowed in. She is
driving me crazy!!!

December 29: 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it
could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does
he think I am?

December 30: Roof caved in. The snow plow driver is suing me for a
million dollars for the bump on his head. The wife went home to her
mother . 9" predicted.

December 31: Set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.

January 8: I feel so good. I just love those little white pills they
keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

To all my Northern friends and family, since you already have snow & more on the way....I suggest that you ask for the "little white pills" long before Jan 8th.

[faithfulFrank]

LewLew,

I've seen this before, but it always brings a knowing smile to my face.
We've missed the big storms my kids have dealt with this month, as we are still in Florida. We are here another week. It's been heaven.

Sadly, we have to go back Dec 27th......back to the cold and the snow.....we will deal with it for another few months, then come back down here again in April........knowing that helps us deal with the winters.

Frank D.

[CJFlorida]

That post brings back some bad, bad memories! I can't believe how much bad weather they have had all over the northern US already, and winter does not even officially start until Saturday.

[LewLew]

Originally Posted by CJFlorida

That post brings back some bad, bad memories! I can't believe how much bad weather they have had all over the northern US already, and winter does not even officially start until Saturday.

Yes, I just returned from NY State, and BRRRRRRRR it was 12 degrees, and there had to be "feet", not inches of snow on the ground. Pretty, but I'm over it, and happy to be back. I'll try to catch it each year around Christmas...enjoy it for what it is, then ditch the coat and gloves, and come back to my home.

[tallrick]

I would rather deal with snow than the aftermath of a hurricane. I would just get a snowblower or a skid steer loader. A garage for the cars and a nice basement recreation room seems like a good solution to those winter storms. Doesn't anyone up there have a generator? A nice Diesel engine could produce both power and heat using heating oil.

[CJFlorida]

Originally Posted by tallrick

I would rather deal with snow than the aftermath of a hurricane. I would just get a snowblower or a skid steer loader. A garage for the cars and a nice basement recreation room seems like a good solution to those winter storms. Doesn't anyone up there have a generator? A nice Diesel engine could produce both power and heat using heating oil.

Most parts of Florida go years, decades between hurricanes. You live in Syracuse, NY and many other place, you get foot after foot of snow, 4 months a year, every single year. That basement rec room gets old after a few days, let alone months.

Give me my CBS house with the hurricane code built roof and my whole house generator. I will deal with the infrequent hurricane over the annual 4 months of snow any day.

[121804]

Originally Posted by tallrick

I would rather deal with snow than the aftermath of a hurricane. I would just get a snowblower or a skid steer loader. A garage for the cars and a nice basement recreation room seems like a good solution to those winter storms. Doesn't anyone up there have a generator? A nice Diesel engine could produce both power and heat using heating oil.

Didn't you know mail is still delivered on horseback up here??

It is easy to prepare for snow. We got 8" Sat/Sun & most of it has melted. City services were out all weekend & by Mon AM, no big issues. Biggest issue were from our neighbors kids who were royally peeved that the roads were clear by Mon AM & school was not cancelled.

Ice, on the other hand, can be very nasty & very difficult.

Either scenario; hurricane or ice storm; is a crap shot every season. If it happens, a person just deal with it. We've been back for 2 months & have shoveled twice.

But Tallrick, glad to hear you are enjoying some milder temps. Enjoy those few weeks

[LewLew]

I have to say that while hurricanes are awful...CJ is right...besides 2004, which was a flooky year...they are rather infrequent. The probability of them hitting the same place over and over is unlikely...except the Keys. (but I don't live there). We get weeks of notice regarding a hurricane, and if it looks bad....you have the choice to leave. I think a generator is key in either location as it's a toss up as to whether I'd like to be stuck without power in the heat or the cold. I lean towards heat (I can jump in a pool, go to the beach etc.)....in the cold you just have to grin and bear it...light a fire and plant your rear right in front of it.

[faithfulFrank]

Yes Tallrick,
I installed one of the first residental automatic whole house generators about 6 years ago. Now, they are more common......but still a high end upgrade. Many more just have a gas one, but there are problems with going that way.....need to store alot of fresh gas, run your lines, don't backfeed, CO, etc,etc.....

Mine is nice.....comes on automatically when the power goes off, runs off of my 500 gallon propane tank.....will run for weeks if needed. Comes on for about 10 minutes once a week just to keep the battery good, etc. It is considered a luxury. Perminant...hard to steal.

Frank D.

[sunrico90]

Originally Posted by LewLew

I have to say that while hurricanes are awful...CJ is right...besides 2004, which was a flooky year...they are rather infrequent. The probability of them hitting the same place over and over is unlikely...except the Keys. (but I don't live there). We get weeks of notice regarding a hurricane, and if it looks bad....you have the choice to leave. I think a generator is key in either location as it's a toss up as to whether I'd like to be stuck without power in the heat or the cold. I lean towards heat (I can jump in a pool, go to the beach etc.)....in the cold you just have to grin and bear it...light a fire and plant your rear right in front of it.

Is there a way to compare the yearly cost caused by winter blizzards vs hurricanes. I will think that blizzards will have a greater cost because they hit more states and the recover process can be longer. Will be a good one to compare, I'll try to do some research, but someone might have the answer...