Well.... we are all gonna die

[Texasgal]

here in central Texas. I've got my wine and dog food for the babies... just put on a pot of beans.

ICEMEGADDON 2018!

Keep warm my fellow Patriots!

[herding cats]

1. Ive been calling it icemageddon all day!

Between the Red Cross, NOAA, local news and Texas Storm Chasers alerts all day, I’m pretty sure it’s the end of life as we know it.

Local government offices: Closed.

Schools: Closed.

Bread and milk: Gone from the stores.

It’s official! We have a snow (fine, snow covered ice) day!

[sarah FAILIN]

4. We call it Snowmageddon

1 inch and we are in trouble.

[herding cats]

12. Wow, your locals can navigate less than 1 inch of snow?

Your locals are way more skilled than our locals.

I basically hibernate when the high temps are below freezing and there’s any precipitation. It’s just not safe to venture outdoors around here.

[Demsrule86]

9. I moved to Georgia when my kids were small from Pennsylvania. The last winter we were there it

started snowing on Halloween...and there was still snow on the ground in April. Anyway, we get to Georgia and there is a slight dusting of snow on morning, I am waiting at the bus stop...no other kids anywhere. Finally a kind neighbor notices me and tells me school is closed. I couldn't believe it...a dusting and school was closed for two or three day. After I went out on the highway, I figured it out. There snow equipment consisted of a guy shoveling salt from the back of a pickup! It is snowing in Georgia tonight my sis tells me. My family moved down to be close to me...and then hubs got transferred. We are in Ohio and they are in Georgia.

[herding cats]

14. Hahah! 😂

Yep, we close shop when it snows or ices any at all. For good reason, though. We don’t have the infrastructure, the tires or even the boots to navigate ice and snow without killing ourselves.

[Demsrule86]

56. It makes sense really. Unless you get a great deal of snow, what is the purpose of spending big

money on removal when it melts a day or so later. Georgia though seems to be getting hit more often these days.

[Hortensis]

54. Funny! And typical. We followed our son to Georgia,

and he'd moved to Georgia to be with a girlfriend whose name I can no longer remember.

Like Herding Cats, when we moved to Georgia from Southern California I also decided to just hibernate when the roads were snowy or icy. Worked fine right up until about 1:30 in the morning during a really bad ice storm, with the power down, when my husband developed excruciating stomach pain. I got to drive him 25 nerve-wracking minutes to the ER, and when they kept him overnight I stayed and slept in a chair.

[Demsrule86]

55. Did your hubs have appendicitis?

Yep very typical.

[Hortensis]

61. Not quite that similar. :) Strangely, the pain had progressed

to include weakness in the legs while we were still home. He was able to stand just enough that I didn't have to lay him on a blanket and drag him down the stairs. Then it all eventually resolved with supportive care and the weakness still undiagnosed. Weird.

Don't remember why both cell and land line phones were down. But, everything going wrong is certainly a similarity to your very bad, no good night.

[jpak]

57. When I lived in GA and it snowed (or iced) I parked my car on the lawn

Parking it on the street was lunacy.

People learned the hard way 4WD ain't shit without real snow tires....

[Demsrule86]

10. Good luck! Hope the power stays on.

[herding cats]

16. Thanks!

So do I. I went without power in 2007 for more than a day in freezing cold during an ice storm. It was not fun!

[Demsrule86]

59. No, it is horrible. My brother came down a couple of years ago and stayed with me after

his lights were out for two weeks after an ice storm in Connecticut.

[Texasgal]

13. The grocery stores were crazy!

I only had to grab dog food... I did all my shopping over the weekend in anticipation. As a Native Austinite I know this drill!

Keep Warm!

[herding cats]

18. Oh, I saw those lines on the news!

That was insane. Tell your pups how lucky they are you love them so much to brave that craziness!

You stay warm, too. It made it to 70 here today, and now the highs tomorrow will be in the mid 20’s. #TexasWeatherIsNuts

[Texasgal]

21. It was a lovely day at 65!

I honestly hope most people heed the warning ( as silly as it sounds ) but we have no idea how to drive in this weather!

My girls ( doggies) are way spoiled! We prepare to hunker down! The fire place may get some use tomorrow!

[herding cats]

32. Oh, I totally agree. We should not be on the roads.

Like I said elsewhere, we don’t have the infrastructure or the tires, let alone the skills to navigate icy roads.

ABIA is canceling flights now. They’re taking this seriously.

Hunker down with the girls and have a nice snow day tomorrow.

[Texasgal]

33. To you as well!

Thank you! It won't last long thank goodness.

[sarah FAILIN]

2. 1 inch of snow here

I've packed water, a fluffy blanket, snacks and meal replacement shakes in my daughter's car for tomorrow.
It's Alabama. That stuff melts a bit and re-freezes, we have no idea what to do, lol. The interstate could easily become a parking lot.

[Demsrule86]

11. Are you traveling tomorrow or is it for work?

[sarah FAILIN]

15. It's my daughter's work.

Nobody gets snow days in health care.

[Demsrule86]

60. So true. It was so bad in Ohio a couple of days ago...solid ice and then snow that they sent people

home from work...I have never seen that before. Hubs, my daughter in law, my daughter, her boyfriend all sent home early or told not to come in. They closed YSU (youngstown University) where two of my kids go.

[dixiegrrrrl]

28. What part of Ala...north or central or south?

I am in SW Lower Al, they say snow Wed. when it will be only 37 degrees high.

I am SO glad we are retired and do not have to be out in this crap. Luckily, following Garrison Keillor's advice, we have 2 cats for the bed to keep us warm.

[sarah FAILIN]

41. Just north of Birmingham

I work 10 minutes from home and can walk back if I have a problem. She is not so lucky.

[dixiegrrrrl]

46. I worked in Decatur one winter.

And fled south soon as I could.
The irony is I moved down here years and years ago to avoid cold and snow and gloomy clouds.
So I am taking this winter here as a betrayal by the irony god.

[moriah]

3. Stay off the roads...

Here's what happens in my hometown when you have to drive in weather:

We're supposed to get maybe an inch or two. BTW, just what do people make with bread and milk? Soggy milkbread sounds so gross...

[sarah FAILIN]

20. PB and Js and snow cream

Or cereal

I liked snow cream made with Italian cream flavored creamer and whipping cream. Yes, I know it's probably full of poisons but my husband believes in living dangerously.

[dweller]

34. snow cream sandwiches

apparently here in the south, they add toilet paper 😜

[dixiegrrrrl]

36. I understand why people end up driving driving so badly in snow.

When they go to work, it is not snowing, so they get stuck with no way home. Had that happen to me more than once. Was lucky that I had a VW Beetle, but was really racing the rather fast snowfall once.
And in places like the South...snow is almost always a "maybe", with freezing weather already icing over the roads, which is exactly what we are having this week, with snow "maybe" predicted Wed. in bitter cold weather.

No chance, really, to put snow tires on , even if people bought them, which they do not do 'cause it only snows around here maybe every 10 years.
Which means people are not used to snow driving, and how to handle skids, and how to avoid hills, and most people now days do
not know how to use gears for traction, etc.

[moriah]

40. Yeah, if you know how to drive in snow, you see all the mistakes....

... the brakes vs downshifting, continuing to hold the brakes when the car is sliding vs releasing them to potentially let the wheels start moving again and get traction...

But yeah, we have some crazy hills, and while I learned how to drive in it from my winter in NY (2003 President's Day blizzard) I still misjudged a hill here once. My boyfriend had been pretty chill with me doing the driving even when we were crossing the iced over river bridge, but he was visibly freaked as I said "Okay hon, hold on, we have to back down. Please watch for other vehicles while I do this"... then calmly went into reverse, moved out of my tracks from the attempt, backed into a side street, then turned and took another route.

But dangit, we made it for Christmas

Edit to add: we left in the middle of the night, it was maybe 7 AM when we finally were in the official city and trying to get into my mom's hilly neighborhood. I am confident in my own driving on fresh snow, but scared shitless of everyone else out there.

[Demsrule86]

58. We drove from Georgia to Connecticut in one day. We had sent the presents from Santa ahead to

my Mom's. We hit an ice storm in Carolina. Trees were literally falling in front of us and we drove around them...they closed the highway an hour or so after made it through. I had broken my left ankle so I could help with the driving (my right ankle was OK).The kids were expecting Santa and the presents were in Connecticut. We were determined (maybe crazy)...finally we saw the signs for Washington DC and it turned to rain. What a trip.

I need to teach my daughter about snow and ice again. She got her fairly license recently and told me she couldn't stop at stop signs last night. I showed her before but we had a couple of mild winters and she didn't get practice. I went to high school in Connecticut in the sticks so I had plenty of practice with snow. It was very satisfying one evening to be able to get my daughter's friend out of the snow bank when all the tow trucks were unavailable. You know how teens are...they think their parents are hopeless...and I saw that they were impressed!

[moriah]

62. I can drive in/on snow. Ice... well, it's a lot of prayer.

Again, the biggest hazard in the South is other drivers, for me at least.

That year we had a storm similar to this -- the northwest part of the state didn't get anything (mountains blocked the Gulf moisture), but the River Valley wasn't shielded and so we started out fine. Then the parts under the overpasses were becoming ice sheets.

The bridge... well, I just tried to not touch the brakes and keep just enough gas so the wheels kept moving at the same rate as the car.

[Demsrule86]

64. That is how I drive on ice and snow too.

[BigmanPigman]

5. Lucky babies!

[LeftInTX]

6. The state of Texas is:

Due to ICE-MEGA-DOOM

[catrose]

19. Truly!

[Igel]

31. If I'd been drinking something when I saw that ...

I'd need to wipe off my screen.

[Demsrule86]

7. Once the temperature? It was 14 below here (Northern Ohio) last night and

now it is cold and snowing.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

8. 65 degrees in the Puget Sound area today

Not normal. I was working outside without a jacket.

[sarah FAILIN]

17. Wow. 21 to 50 here today

11 to 26 tomorrow.
No such thing as climate change though, right?

[Texasgal]

23. Whoa!

That's NUTS!

[dixiegrrrrl]

22. A Texas friend sent me this painting..it is called "snow expected"

[Texasgal]

25. ROFL!!!

That is Hilarious!!!! Do you mind if I share?

[dixiegrrrrl]

47. Pls. do.. I did.

[onetexan]

51. Lol that pic about sums it up doesn't it?

I'm in North tx. We have sleet & snow expected tomorrow as well. Forgot to pk up firewood. Brrrrrrr....

[Demtexan]

26. I went shopping on the weekend.

Glad I went.

[Kali]

27. !!!

[FailureToCommunicate]

48. What no eggs?!? Any New Englander knows tyou gotta run out to get those

'french toast' ingredients if a blizzard is headed in.

[Demtexan]

24. Who stoled our mild winter.

The low will be in the 20's.

My chickens will hugging the heaters.

The cows in the pole barns.

We have doors that close on the front if needed.

Glad do not have to drive in that weather.

[klook]

29. Do you have plenty of milk and bread??!11!1??

Here in Georgia, at the slightest hint of snow or ice, everyone gets an uncontrollable urge to make French toast and wash it down with beer.

Stay warm and recharge those batteries before the power goes out!

[Texasgal]

30. LOL!

I have bread and drink almond milk which is rarely sold out. The toilet paper aisle was a mess however!

I'm ready to hunker down!

[Demtexan]

35. It is hell stocking shelfs in for bad weather.

You never get finished.

[spanone]

37. We're here in Tennessee expecting 1 to 2 inches...we'll see you on the other side!!!!

OH! the humanity!

[RussBLib]

38. it's even gonna freeze in extreme south Texas

I mean, come on! This will be like the 5th or 6th frigid cold blast we've had in the RGV so far this season!

WTF?!

[Xipe Totec]

39. I'm doing my part; pledged to turn off my heater, microwave, and toaster from 6:00 to 10:00

The coffee maker stays on. Sorry, there are limits to my altruism.

[flying_wahini]

42. Me too! Gonna be 22degrees tonight with mixture of ice/sleet and snow tonight!

Lots of tea and cocoa supplies!

[hibbing]

43. I want some details about this pot of beans you speak of

I just checked my weather app, it is -2, but "feels like" -17. I love me some beans, so would like some info about your style. God Bless America!

On a side note, I baked up some cheesy scalloped potatoes and ham from scratch today that I must admit turned out fantastic.


Peace

[Texasgal]

44. Pinto beans

salted, one small onion, one small fresh jalapeno and three roma tomatoes cubed.

One healthy dash of garlic powder and chili powder. Cook on stove top for 2-3 hours. Just made some cornbread to go with! My favorite comfort food!

I hope you keep warm!

[hibbing]

45. Easy enough

Sounds like a filling and warm meal. It has been a cold one here, but that's life sometimes.

Peace

[Demtexan]

50. I put pork chops in my.pinto beans.

Even lima beans.

It is pinto bean weather.

Slow cook the beans.

I have my grandmothers bean pot.

[Demtexan]

53. It is starting.

It is raining.

[thegoose]

49. I went to HEB an hour ago because

I didn't have enough supplies (or cat food) and it was packed. I needed chips and salsa. dammit!

We've been ordered to drip our faucets to prevent bursting and open the kitchen and bathroom cabinets to warm the pipes up. Either this will be a terrible catastrophe or it'll be "Meh," and I'll go to the gym tomorrow.

If Texas had a sudden shocking freezeover and thousands died, Dumpster would respond by flying back to one of his hideous resorts and continue raping the country, wouldn't he?

[Cha]

52. Hope it's a false alarm like Hawaii,

Texasgal!

[Blue_true]

63. Come on!!! When the going get cold, the tough make chilli.

One of my SIS made chilli on the coldest stretch of the year, and sent chilli out to all family.

[BoneyardDem]

65. I swear if I die over night, my cats are going to eat me.

Little buggers cannot be trusted.