Meltdown!

Indy says, "You've got to be kidding!"

The official measurement was 14 inches of snow for our burb south of Portland. During the past two days, I-5 in our vicinity has been one of the worst trouble spots for travelers.

The change in weather began today. The morning walk with Indy was similar to yesterday's...traveling on the packed snow in the streets because the unshoveled or nonpacked snow/ice/snow combination was difficult to navigate. The rain began shortly after we returned from our walk and continued most of the day. I watched the snow fall off of the trees in the neighbors' yards while I wrote. By the time we ventured out for Indy's afternoon walk, all the trees were bare and the cold rain was just nasty. The streets are melting, however, the packed snow has turned to thick slush that is even more slippery than the snow!

Would you believe we have no idea where our snow shovel is? Misplaced during one of our moves, or maybe in the commercial storage unit. So I used the only shovel I could find to clear out the gutter at the curb so melting snow can flow past the house. Hey, I'm Oregon born and raised -- I've seen the Oregon City falls completely disappear under flood waters -- twice.

We'll hunker down again tomorrow to let the warmer temperatures and rain further scour out the snow from the neighborhood streets.

LEGACY, A TALE OF PENNLEAH

Would you believe Aisley and her traveling companions had to dash into the fen to escape the bad guys who caught up with them? People get lost in the fens and are never seen again. Could it be because of the Fen Folk? They're an elusive, odd-looking, highly intuitive race that exists between the magical races and mortals.

Snow, Part VIII

Does the theme from "Jaws" go through your mind when you see this?

These are the harmless boxwoods planted along our walkway given a sinister appearance by snow drifts. I couldn't resist the picture.

The morning tramp with Indy through the Xerox campus revealed that even our well-used streets are packed snow (no pavement in sight). And I-5 was brown slush. Weird to observe vehicles on the freeway traveling around 40 mph instead of 70-80 (despite the 65 mph limit).

Two mobile neighbors have offered assistance if needed. So far we're doing okay.

Making progress on "Legacy." Aisley and her traveling companions have dealt with bandits, a lost horseshoe, and additional information about Aisley's heritage. The bad guy is only a few days behind them. I have a suspicion [ :-) ] that Aisley will encounter a problem or two that will delay their northward escape. Hmmm.

Snow, Part VII

Compare today's 3:00 pm measurement on the left with Saturday night's measurement on the right. Check out the snow piled on top of the deck railing. And note that evidence of Indy's leap into the snow has disappeared!

Yes, we woke up this morning to MORE snow on the ground. Snow contined to fall here all day until about 3:30 pm.

Get this, all State offices located in Portland are closed today. During my 30 years of employment with the State of Oregon, offices were NEVER closed.

This long-lasting snow "event" has become one for the record books. Reminds me of the 1968-69 winter when we had a lengthy cold spell and several snow showers.

Per "The Oregonian," total snowfall for Portland is approaching the all-time record from 1949-50. We have a photo in the family album of our '49 gray Chevy coated with an inch of ice (no exaggeration) during the 1950 silver thaw. My mother recalls ice flows in the Columbia River that winter.

Still great weather for writing and I'm making progress on Legacy.

Staying inside unless I need to venture outside with Indy so he can conduct "business." The only way we can get around is to walk in tire tracks in the street. Otherwise we're stepping into snow, crunching through ice, and sinking into more snow.

The horses are again confined to their stalls, since it's too treacherous for turnouts. Phantom is in the little barn, which I'm sure is pretty snug. Owner Susan keeps us updated daily about our ponies.

My uncle suggested it's good weather for hot, mulled wine. Hmmm. Regretfully, we have no peppermint schnapps to add to our hot cocoa. Cinnamon schnapps in hot cocoa is also killer!

Our gas fireplace is fronted with protective glass. Toasted marshmallows are out of the question. :-(

Happy Winter Solstice

This says it all.


Our street in the burbs.


The bird buffet is open.

Snow, Part VI

No narrative necessary.







All photos taken around five hours prior to this posting. It's been snowing nonstop all day, so these pics are already outdated.

Snow, Part V

Guess what's back?

I took this photo on the return from my morning walk with Indy. As I am writing this, there is melting while more snow periodically drifts down. ?!!

Three inches of snow reportedly fell at the barn and Owner Susan kept the horses inside today until conditions improve. For the uninitiated, horses are subject to the same strains and sprains as humans when slipping and sliding on slick surfaces. Plus, wet and heavy snow packs in the horses' feet which can be dangerous. (Imagine trying to walk on snowballs and you get the picture.) All the stalls have been provided with buckets of water to supplement the automatic waterers. And Phantom has graciously taught his aislemates how to amuse themselves by tossing their halters and other items within reach. Keeping up with current weather conditions may be making a wreck of Owner Susan and crew, but I am confident that Phantom is in good hands.

SOAP BOX WARNING:

The local news media, per usual, went into overkill on weather coverage. Folks mumbled and grumbled about the excessive reporting from various locations in the metro area and on Mt. Hood. However, extreme weather conditions are unusual on the west side of the Cascades and with our varied landscape we have numerous mini climates. For example, while the Portland metro area experienced mixed snow and rain the other day, several inches of snow dumped north of Vancouver in the Ridgefield area. Folks planning to travel in the region need to know what kind of conditions they're traveling into.

Then there's the "I'm from ______ (fill in the blank of a location east of the Rockies) and they know how to deal with this weather there!" As a child of the Tom McCall years, my initial response is: "Go back." But that's not neighborly. So let's think about it. As mentioned above, snow storms are unusual in western Oregon and Washington. So it isn't financially responsible to have an army of snow plows and gravel trucks parked for 364 days a year. The reason I could operate my car for 18 years is because we don't salt our roads. Afterall, the snow will melt on its own in a day or two. As for the goofy "Oregon" drivers, just consider for a moment that if the compainer didn't learn to drive in Oregon, then perhaps the other driver is also from out of state. The immigrants from dryer climes can't drive in Oregon rain, either. In case you haven't noticed, it isn't flat here. While downtown streets and heavily-traveled roads may clear up quickly, numerous side streets in the metro area often remain icy and dangerous. So driving skills learned in the midwest might not help one climb Portland's West Hills, or Mt. Tabor on the east side.

So give Oregon a break. Something attracted the complainer from fill-in-the-blank to the Pacific Northwest. If you don't think we do snow correctly on the west side, then move to Enterprise or Burns. They know extreme weather.

Okay. The soap box has been put away.

Fracture Fable Finale

Today I had my final therapy session with Heather. I have been released to go forward and stay upright! But I will miss Heather. What a cutie!

I'm not yet at 100%, but much improved. Today I registered just under 40 on the "squeeze-o-meter" with my left hand. The last two sessions I managed like a 32 and 34. I registered 50 with my right hand (I'm assuming it's pounds of pressure) and since I'm right handed it's normal for the dominant hand to register higher. But my left hand should pick up some more oomph. So I'm to continue working with the putty goop.

SNOW, PART IV

So obviously we finally got the car out of the driveway if I made it to my therapy session. Yesterday we had snow, then snow and rain, and then rain that helped scour out the residual packed icy snow on our street. Earlier today we still had slippery slush, but enough bare asphalt for traction. Seems the worst spot in the neighborhood was in the vicinity of our driveway.

Of course, the warmup came AFTER I had hiked to and from Walgreen's to pick up Mom's prescriptions. When I set out on foot, the exits from the neighborhood were still icy and, although the busy streets were basically wet pavement, the side streets were still slick. I marched through several snow flurries, and snow mixed with tiny ice pellets. I was pelted with sideways frozen stuff on the I-5 overpass. I encountered some bare pavement, but for most of the trek I was dependent on my YakTrax. They were not, however, very helpful on linoleum! Oh well, it isn't like I don't need the exercise. I'm thankful that I'm in good enough shape that I can make the trek. I have no idea how far the round trip is. I'll have to measure it in the car.

HI HO, TOWN CENTER

The clinic is very close to the Town Center Mall, so we zipped over there when my session was over. We drove through some snow flurries on the way to the clinic, but there were patches of blue sky and sunshine when we headed to the mall.

Mom hasn't been able to get out to do any of her shopping. She's sewing a couple of items, and sent away for some gifts, but no visits to the stores yet. She was getting panicky, what with the prospect of more winter weather this weekend. So when we arrived at the mall we went our separate ways. She emerged from the mall with a huge shopping bag (hmmm!). I picked up one more gift for a friend and our holiday box of See's candy.

Back in the burbs, we cleared out our jam-packed mail boxes, and then stopped at the grocery store to stock up in case the weekend is snowy and/or icy. The forecasters say it could get nasty again. Oh well, we're ready. And it's perfect writing weather.