Before I left my apartment this morning, I already knew that my life was going to be in mortal peril. Why, you might ask? Because DC had its first "legit" snowfall last night (1 - 2 inches tops) - which means that overnight the city was magically transformed into the world's largest ice luge. The photo at left was taken on my way to work this morning.
DC has not gotten the memo that not only do first world metropolitan areas in the northern hemisphere generally provide snow removal services, but that if you remove the precipitation while it's still snow - it does not become ice.
I mean, I know DC is kind of "southern" but we get slammed with snow and ice enough times a year that:
a) the city should be clearing public areas (where are the Bobcats?!);
b) stores and office buildings should be all over snow and ice removal - none of this salting at 10am crap; and
c) the citizens SHOULD LEARN HOW TO DRIVE in inclement weather conditions.
I really can't stress point C enough. I'm afraid to drive in this sort of weather here - not because I can't handle myself in the snow (18 years of Michigan and Boston living taught me ONE thing), but because people around here are total ASSCLOWNS. And lest you think that walking is a viable option, I actually feel MORE threatened when I'm walking because people seem to spin out in the most inconceivable locations known to man.
For more of my thoughts and feelings on this, check out the first installation of my DC and Snow - A Rant series, penned last winter.
Ice.... Snow... what's that??
Posted by: JRT | December 07, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Ohhhhhh John. How quickly you forget!
Posted by: Catch Up Lady | December 07, 2007 at 10:31 AM
If you buy an SUV, you can drive as fast as you want over the ice. That is what everyone in my neighborhood does.
Posted by: JOCKO | December 07, 2007 at 11:47 AM
Did some memo circulate to NMS past and present?! You guys are coming out of the woodwork.
I think SUVs are the perfect answer, then you can monster truck anything that you may hit whilst spinning out.
Posted by: Catch Up Lady | December 07, 2007 at 11:52 AM
Love your use (coinage?) of the term "ASSCLOWN". Paints such a bizarre picture... I imagine an ass made to look like a clown face and the famous "Crusty the Clown" laugh emitting from it.
Oy.
Nice post--you are so right about, well, everything.
Posted by: lacochran | December 07, 2007 at 11:57 AM
*turns on Bing Crosby's White Christmas and puts the radio on your desk*
Posted by: Andre | December 07, 2007 at 01:17 PM
As a maryland native, I can agree that DC goes postal in inclement weather conditions. While I don't necessarily condone the lack of salting and the poor excuse for wannabe decent drivers, I will say that the typical DC area freakouts did get me out of more than my fair share of exams I didn't want to take growing up. There's nothing like getting a day off of school because it's "too cold." You'd think we were in the tropics!
Posted by: marylandbluecrab | December 11, 2007 at 08:50 AM
Here in NW NJ, our neighbor’s truck is sitting in our driveway, down the hill from their house next door. They just moved from Florida and never thought 4WD was something they needed.
Yeah, well, welcome to their first snow/ice storm.
Posted by: bg | December 13, 2007 at 04:56 PM
Here in NW NJ, our neighbor’s truck is sitting in our driveway, down the hill from their house next door. They just moved from Florida and never thought 4WD was something they needed.
Yeah, well, welcome to their first snow/ice storm.
Posted by: bg | December 13, 2007 at 04:56 PM
What truck doesn't come with 4WD? My brethern in Detroit would be shocked!
Posted by: Catch Up Lady | December 15, 2007 at 09:35 PM