I just got into an argument about the weather and driving! She was afraid to drive because it was starting to snow.
Then why the fuck are you out of your god damn house?!
I mentioned it wasn't that bad; I grew up in the country and ice storms were worse. This was obviously the WRONG thing to say. I get a 3 minute speech about how it was raining first and with the temperature dropping and it now snowing there is now ice under the snow.
Um no sweetheart there is NO ice under the snow. It is currently 36 degrees and snowing. No ice darlin'. It takes longer than 5 minutes from the time it stops pouring rain and turning to snow in order to form ice!
God help me it's only 10 am!
--Kalysta98
Having survived [and driven in] the Great Ice Storm of '98, I have zero sympathy for people who bitch and moan about driving in bad weather.
Does it suck to have to deal with it? Yes. But if that's the worst thing going on in your life is driving in bad weather, you've got a damn good life.
Life's a bitch and then you marry one. That customer needs to grow a brain and stop whining. If you don't like it, stay home and don't drive.
Posted by: The Last Archimedean | Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 03:31 PM
Illinois weather could make anyone go a little batty..i mean 62 with sun on Tuesday, 16 with snow on Thursday...of the same week.
Unless someone is very new to the midwest, or has just received their driver's license...then they should know somewhat how to handle snow and ice...sure there are tons of dipwads who go careening down the road at 20+ the speed limit despite a day full of freezing rain and snow...but aware drivers in this area know how to recognize and react to Illinois weather road conditions.
The winter this year (and last year) have been really mild here in Illinois. We've only had a handful of snow and negative degree weather. "Normal" Illinois winters, that I'm used to, are the type where you shrug off 6 inches of snow as no big deal and prepare for a -10 day with just putting on a thicker sweater.
Posted by: Spritzy | Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 03:35 PM
I'd be a smarta** and tell them "welcome to the north." I'm in WV and Friday during a snow "storm", we had an accident happen and people actually were being careful.
Posted by: KitKat | Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 03:43 PM
Up in the great snowy north, we generally laugh at people who see half a cm of snow and freak. There's a lot of snow when you mistake a snow drift for your car, not when the road turns a brighter shade of grey..
Posted by: Nightwalker | Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 05:42 PM
I've lived in IL my whole life (bouncing form town to town.) Snow doesn't even phase me anymore. Driven in all types. Started a new job the day of a nasty snow storm in 2007.
The only time I actually freaked out about a blizzard here was Feb 2011 when we got 27 inches. But I was 9 months pregnant, days away from my due date. Was a little worried I would go into labor and have no way to the hospital, even though I had lived about 2 blocks from it!
I just tell people to drive slowly and carefully. Better to go slow and make it to your destination late, but alive, than to rush and cause an accident and be hurt or dead.
Posted by: Karebear | Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 07:48 AM
The Feb 2011 blizzard was freaky. Seeing all the abandoned cars along the Dan Ryan looked like something out of a disaster movie...that was scary lookin. We has snow halfway up the back door and 3/4 up my car. Took 3 hours and 3 shovels (one broke) to get the driveway even somewhat cleared...didn't go anywhere that day.
Posted by: Spritzy | Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 10:13 AM
I lived in the basement apartment at the time. Couldn't even see out of my window. I kept worrying about having to dig out my car (again, I was pregnant, snow is heavy, I'd probably pop the bugger out right there) but my landlord came around at 2pm and dug my car out. He made everyone move their cars so he could move all the snow, so I just travelled down the street a bit til I found a spot I could U-turn without hitting snow.
My cousin lives downtown Chicaog. Sent me pictures of all the abandoned cars along his street. Looked like a snowy ghost town.
Yet my local Wal-mart stayed open...I would have been pissed if I was forced to have to come into work. Idiot friend of mine even went in, but she brought a bunch of food for the workers who did have to come in, so I guess she got some redeeming points. Even offered on FB to get things for people (not that I saw anyone take her up on her offer.)
Posted by: Karebear | Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 03:32 PM
Chicago* good lord. Failed that right there.
Posted by: Karebear | Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 03:33 PM
OK, I'll let people who have had accidents because of the snow know that because YOU manage, they can. And people who have never seen snow. Or people who are new at driving. Then maybe you can go to the desert and let the Bedouin community laugh at you because it's 'just a little sandstorm'. There's letting off steam, and then there's being an uptight person who perhaps needs to breathe a bit.
Posted by: StrangelyCalm | Friday, February 01, 2013 at 11:04 AM