Did I ever tell you I hate winter?

[Malaki86]

Got home yesterday long before the snowstorm hit our area. Because my wife freaks out with driving in the snow and works nightshift (when the snow was going to hit), I took her to work so I could pick her up.

I left the house 15 minutes after the snow started falling @ 10pm. I had 17 mile drive to pick her up. Well - it didn't go very smooth.

I have a '99 Chevy Blazer. When I left the house, the roads were just slushy, so I didn't have the 4wd engaged. When I got to the second hill, the rear end broke free, so I got off the throttle and hit the 4wd button. It lit up all nice and pretty, showing it was engaged. WRONG... Something in the front axle isn't locking in, so who knows - I'm hoping for the vacuum actuator, but when I checked it this morning it sounds like the front axle is clicking in, but still nothing from the front end.

Anyway, I decide to try to make it to pick her up anyway. All was fine until I came to the 3rd hill, which has a decent pull to it. Traffic was at a dead stop at the bottom, so I figured someone wrecked further up. That's when I decided to turn around. Just turning around on that crap was a nightmare - it probably took 10 minutes to get facing the other way. I went to my parents house and borrowed my mother's Subaru Outback to finally make it to pick my wife up.

Her daughter was also on the way home at the time. She got hung up on a very steep hill about 1 mile from her house. So, being the every-so-nice stepfather, I offer to go get her and take her the rest of the way home. Luckily, I had no problems with that, or the rest of the trip home.

All in all, the 34 mile round trip, which normally can be done in 40 minutes took roughly 3 and a half hours. We made it home at 2:45am. Mind you I started my day @ 3:30am yesterday. When I got home from work, I took a nap for an hour or so. When I got in bed last night (this morning), I'm pretty sure I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

What really sucks is that now my Blazer has to make a trip to the garage on Monday. I'm just hoping it's nothing major - there's nothing like having a huge unforeseen bill pop up days before Christmas, especially after I just dropped a little over a grand in various repairs on the Blazer about a month ago.

I'm gonna move to Laredo, damnit!!!

[Jackrabbit379]

Don't feel bad. I hate winter myself. I'd rather it be 106 than 30.
Luckily the winters here are mild. If all we got was snow, it wouldn't be bad. Most of the time, we get ice. (Sleet, freezing rain etc).

[Malaki86]

We've got roughly 8-10" right now. It should stop snowing in another 8 hours or so...

[Roadhog]

I hear ya, and hope everything continues to work out for you. People who live in snow country deal with challenges allot, and sometimes the extremes can be life threatening, if you don't know what you are doing. You met your challenges Mal, and everyone made it home safe. You earned a bark at the moon!

I know areas that are not accustom to severe weather, are sometimes not prepared, or forced out of their comfort zone, sometimes knowing only by the Grace of God, you made it through.

I've always loved living in N.Michigan, over anywhere else. For me it would be punishment to make me live in Laredo, unless Milla Jovovich has a Villa there, and would start finally answering my calls.



Who is he?
He says his name is Roadhog.
He's cute...can he act?
No...but he says his pet Iguana is very talented.

Pet Iguana?
Yes...Iguana...he says it's about this big...
Ummmm...send him to my Milla-Villa tonight.

[Bigmon]

In Laredo your Blazer will get stripped by Mexicans then you'll have to walk in 100 degree heat.

[Hawkjr]

My Honda Ridgeline was doing great in this 20 inches of snow in Central Virginia until the snow plow blocked me in and got stuck going over the hump of snow and ice

[Windwalker]

I know of a couple of guys that have had problems with Blazers and the front drive. One guy bought his new, and never used it until a few years later in KY, he got stuck in sand. He kicked in the 4-wheel drive and it did nothing. Later, at the dealer, they had to replace the front drive shaft. They had fine splines and without ever trying to use them once, the splines wore smooth. Don't know if they're still using that, but I think I remember it was the end that goes into the transfer case. Don't remember if he had to replace the female end in the transfer case too, or not.

Sorry, but I'm sure that is not something you wanted to hear. Hope you have a Merry Christmas in spite of what I've said.

[Mr. Ford95]

Hawk man your nuts, I stayed put all day. Currently at 23" and still coming. Spent 4 hours clearing the major snow off the vehicles then digging them out. Tomorrow will be spent making a path out of the driveway and clean the vehicles off again, got an addtional 4" after cleaning them off. C-ville station was saying towards Lynchburg and Wintergreen Resort got 30-31"

[Jackrabbit379]

I couldn't drive in that mess either. If I didn't have to, that is..

[Pack_Rat]

Subaru does it every time. I live in the UP with an average snowfall of 200 inches and have no problems in the Subaru!!!!!!

[golfhobo]

I really don't want to hear all this WHINING from a guy who chooses to LIVE in West (By God) Virginia!

I spent all LAST (Friday) night under an overpass on top of Flat Top mountain pass on the WONDERFULL WVA turnpike!

The snowplows were afraid to lower their blades within 2 inches of that F'd up road! And I was NOT going down that hill with the suicide curve at the bottom with slick tires and only a few pebbles of salt on the road!

But, all in all..... I made the smart choice! The road was closed ahead of me, and so was 81 in VA AND Fancy Gap! I wasn't getting home last night as planned anyway! No glory in chancing a suicide hill just to sit in a traffic jam! I had LESS snow to dig out of in the morning cuz I was under an overpass. (Helped dig out two other trucks who were in front of me.)

I got home early tonight, but it cost me a day's pay for not making today's run. But, that wasn't happening no matter what. So.... I made the smart choice. I rode out the blizzard in a safe place. Thank God I didn't need MAL to come and save me!

[Hawkjr]

I really don't want to hear all this WHINING from a guy who choses to LIVE in West (By God) Virginia!

I spent all LAST (Friday) night under an overpass on top of Flat Top mountain pass on the WONDERFULL WVA turnpike!

The snowplows were afraid to lower their blades within 2 inches of that F'd up road! And I was NOT going down that hill with the suicide curve at the bottom with slick tires and only a few pebbles of salt on the road!

But, all in all..... I made the smart choice! The road was closed ahead of me, and so was 81 in VA AND Fancy Gap! I wasn't getting home last night as planned anyway! No glory in chancing a suicide hill just to sit in a traffic jam! I had LESS snow to dig out of in the morning cuz I was under an overpass. (Helped dig out two other trucks who were in front of me.)

I got home early tonight, but it cost me a day's pay for not making today's run. But, that wasn't happening no matter what. So.... I made the smart choice. I rode out the blizzard in a safe place. Thank God I didn't need MAL to come and save me!

Wow?? Don't believe this Hobo!! Most of You Fedex guys drive like you have the biggest set of balls in the world, and didn't take the chance on going down one of the biggest grades on the East Coast?? are you a Swift driver playing along as if you where a Fedex guy??

[Hawkjr]

Hawk man your nuts, I stayed put all day. Currently at 23" and still coming. Spent 4 hours clearing the major snow off the vehicles then digging them out. Tomorrow will be spent making a path out of the driveway and clean the vehicles off again, got an addtional 4" after cleaning them off. C-ville station was saying towards Lynchburg and Wintergreen Resort got 30-31"

i gotta go to Tennessee tomorrow near Memphis, i hope this stuff get's cleared up between Noon and 3!!

[golfhobo]

Wow?? Don't believe this Hobo!! Most of You Fedex guys drive like you have the biggest set of balls in the world, and didn't take the chance on going down one of the biggest grades on the East Coast?? are you a Swift driver playing along as if you were a Fedex guy??

Well, Hawk... my man.... what can I tell you. My truck recently got "gelded" (accidentally) down from 70 to 67mph.... but, "I" still have some balls! But, I got some brains, too!

First, I gotta tell you that I left ONE other Fedex truck in my dust, and "smoked" most of the OTHER trucks that got stuck on the 3 hills leading up to that spot. So.... "I" made it through with alot of work, balls, and know-how! [I also got out and pushed about 6 cars up the hill to clear my path!]

BUT..... I wasn't one of the 50-60 trucks that were jammed up at exit 9 that night! By the time I started rolling this morning, the roads were pretty clear, the jammup at exit 9 was cleared, and I sailed right through and got home. What can I tell you? You gotta learn to PICK your battles!

But, that hill (sounds like you know it) IS one of the worst. Monteagle is just as bad. Actually, I was wishing I'd been allowed to go down 75 to Knoxville and take the 81 to 26 detour until I heard they had a foot in Asheville! I-26 "eastbound" into Asheville is MUCH steeper than the one I avoided last night!

But, NONE of these compare to some I've done out West! But, I'm not out West anymore.... and I drive a wiggle wagon now. You gotta "guage" your surroundings compared to your equipment. There's really no place in trucking for "big balls and small brains!"

BTW..... when I awoke this morning, there was a PUMPKIN truck buried up to his axles in the snowbank BEHIND me! He was still there when I left!

All in all.... I saw about 15-20 trucks in the ditches along the way. UPS trucks coldn't make it. Bullhaulers in the ditches. Swift, Celadon, and O/O's spun out everywhere.... because they didn't know when to STOP!

THEY are probably all still there.... or calling for expensive TOW trucks to pull them out. I'm at home drinking White Russians and watcing HBO.

You got anymore questions? Just kidding ya! R O O K I E !

[Malaki86]

It'd be safe to say that I've lived my entire life in West Virginia, minus a few months. I've dealt with the usual snowstorms & occasional ice storms we get here. BUT - that doesn't mean I have to like it!!! LMAO

Glad you did the right thing hobo - too many people get pressured by their dispatch and think that they have to keep pushing on.

I'm scheduled to deliver first thing tomorrow morning in Charleston (a (normally) 2 hour drive from the house). When I called them Friday for directions & info, he told me that if the roads are bad to not even attempt to come in for the delivery that early. He said that even if I can manage to get into the dock to get unloaded, chances are that I won't get back out of them when I'm empty.

[Roadhog]

It'd be safe to say that I've lived my entire life in West Virginia, minus a few months. I've dealt with the usual snowstorms & occasional ice storms we get here. BUT - that doesn't mean I have to like it!!! LMAO

All I really know is I'm bumming that Shania won't return my phone calls. I'm always thinking about her in a wet t-shirt in my hot tub, but she considers that creepy, and has a restraining order against me. Well...I'm only going to pine for her one more day, and I'm turning my attention back to Keira Knightly, or Ann Hathaway again.

What's real cold this winter, is not one of you guy's have yet to turn me on to your wife's hott single freind either!

[Malaki86]

What's real cold this winter, is not one of you guy's have yet to turn me on to your wife's hott single freind either!

Of course not - we're keeping those for OURSLEVES!!!

[golfhobo]

Of course not - we're keeping those for OURSLEVES!!!

Or for people we LIKE!!

Hoggie said:

Shania won't return my phone calls. I'm always thinking about her in a wet t-shirt in my hot tub, but she considers that creepy, and has a restraining order against me.

And??? ...... Name me ONE woman who DOESN'T!!

[Snowman7]

23 deg at 5:30 in the morning. Driving down snow covered back county roads, light snow falling in my truck's headlights, country music on the radio. No one out but me and the critters. Warmest day this week so the ground is frozen. Turn left down a gravel road and the trees are thick on both sides of the road for about a half mile. In the clearing on the right I can see the old farm house, a fixer upper now. I kill the headlights as I drive up to the barn. Seems like I'm wearing everything in my closet as I waddle across the 200 acre field of cut corn but I'm not cold, roasting actually. Now I'm sitting in my favorite tree stand staring out over the field like an eagle. I can see forever with the moonlight and snow cover. No wind blowing and there is no sound at all. If you've never done this then you dont know what your missing, if you have, you're wearing a very big grin right now!

Did I ever tell you I love winter!

[Roadhog]

It's great up to a certain age...
then you think more about extinction,
and have the urge to migrate south.



.................................GERK!