I’m watching the news and weather during my pre-work departure coffee hour. The weather guy was just on, and used a term I have never heard: freezing fog. I’m not sure what to expect on the commute, but “freezing fog” mentioned in the same sentence as “black ice” can’t be a good thing.
-k-
Well, we didn’t make it through the winter without a blast of wintry precipitation. Two or 3 inches of snow yesterday, topped with 3 or 4 more inches of sleet overnight. That made a hard, heavy, nearly impossible to shovel mess this morning. I’m no lightweight(literally physically, that is), and I was able to walk over the snow and sleet without making as much as a footprint. I got our walk shovelled, and chipped out both cars. A neighbor and I pushed out a Ford Explorer that got stuck in front of our place this morning; so far, that’s one of 2 or 3 sets of tracks on the street.
And now we wait on Mr. Plow to make an appearance. I’m sure Mr. Plow and crew are having difficulties with this mess as well; they’re usually here by now. If he were here right now, with my commute distance, it just isn’t worth making the trip in today. I’ve got a thumb drive full of work related stuff that I may work on. Or not. I’m obviously blogging now.
-k-
This morning, SWMBO and I took the plunge, outfitting ourselves with our first of the stage 1 Nicoderm patches before we left the house. And all in all, it wasn’t too bad. There were some immediate benefits; I was ready to leave the house at 6:45, as opposed to my usual 7:00, thanks to no extra coffee and smokes before leaving. It was nice not to have a bunch of smoking-related paraphernalia in my pants pockets. It was a great feeling to hear the guy in line at the convenience store say “a pack of Camel Lites”, and think “that used to be me…”. I was in the habit of putting a drive-time pack in the little catch-all on the driver’s door; it was wonderful not to have to do that.
I drank nearly a liter of water during the day, chewed more gum than normal, and ate some sunflower seeds. All in all, I made it OK for day 1.
I asked SWMBO how she did. She was fine except for the drive home, wherein she drummed her fingers on the steering wheel, applied hand lotion, etc. I pointed out that she could use the hand, now freed by not smoking, to make gestures to her fellow commuters, commending them on their extraordinary driving ability. She was not amused.
-k-
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I drive about 30 miles one way to work. South in the AM, north in the PM. It was sprinkling off and on when I headed north tonight. About a third of the way home, I noticed the southbound lanes were backing up – almost to a dead stop, and the northbound lanes had slowed considerably. I was in the leftmost lane, and saw a pickup almost in the median, pointed south. OK, I thought, there’s been enough rain to wash up some road oil, and the pickup just skidded off the road. I then saw what appeared to be a good-sized dog, cavorting in the median. Oh, I get it, the dog was riding in the pickup bed, and decided to strike out on his own. When I got closer, I see the pickup driver on his cellphone, and then realize that the “dog” is really a pig. Not full grown, but well beyond shoat-sized. The size that if you were hosting a backyard pig roast and hoedown, would be just right. The pig turned around in the median, and headed west, across both southbound lanes. Drivers were just stopped until he made it across the road.
I wish I’d taken a picture; the RazrTM was in the seat beside me, but I can’t drive and talk, let alone drive and photograph. And yes, sooie! is spelled right, at least according to this place.
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When it comes to things automotive, I’ve never been a huge Blue Oval fan. I’ve always had a soft spot for Mustangs, though. And tonight, I saw a vintage Ford Mustang Fastback, firehouse red, which looked to be in pretty good shape. This was from the days before the fastbacks became “Mach-something-or-others” ; not being an authority, I guessed it to be from the 1965-1967 timeframe.
Now that I can afford to buy one of those at the price they were then, they aren’t priced at that level any more. Certain things just aren’t meant to be. It sure was good to see, though. That part was free.
-k-
I’m generally not a huge fan of vanity license plates, having followed cars with such monikers as “NET STUD”, “UNIX GOD”, and suchlike self-aggrandizing claptrap.
Tonight, however, I saw one that read “KSJHWKS”. Someone from the old country – good deal.
And, with NASCAR drawing to a close 3 short weeks hence, yea verily, I’ll be ready for some Jayhawk basketball.
“Beware of the Phog.”
-k-
Well, the “falling back” has hosed up traffic again. I don’t know what surprises me about this year after year, but it always does. I just wish people would cut out the darting across 3 lanes of traffic to the exit ramp, within 300 feet of same. When they’re on their deathbeds, I hope the 2 seconds they saved comes in handy for them. Maybe to be forgiven for being a horrible driver.
-k-