Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Dude, where's my snowstorm? Take 307.

Every time there is even the threat of snow in the DC area, all the media outlets go into full "STORMCENTER" mode. Oh no, 2 inches of snow expected, a big storm! HELP! Clear safeway of toilet paper and milk. Canned goods too! Give me a freaking break.

People, it isn't that hard. Quite contrary to what you think you are not the most important person in this Metro area, Barack Obama is. Slow the hell down if visibility is low and/or the roads are slick. You're trying to get home, to the gym, to yoga, to the day care center, whatever, but you're not going to your NASCAR audition. Never, ever assume the respective state or district road crews got to treat the roads in time either. I don't even want to talk about the December storm that dropped a whopping 4 inches on Montgomery County, MD, or last month's ice storm that caused 6 hour, 10 mile commutes. Safety is the priority, use your brains.

Okay I'll take off my snarky hat. Everything actually went smoothly in today's weather disturbance. It wasn't a snowstorm, but snow does cover the ground at my apartment complex for the first time all winter. But everyone used their brains today, no bad wrecks that tie up traffic for four hours more than it regularly is, and I walked home down Huntington Avenue without difficulties or seeing a mile long backup. Drove to the gym and back with no issues.

That doesn't mean DC handled a snowstorm well, cause anything with less than a half foot accumulation ain't a snowstorm. I've gotten soft in my old age, the old requirement was double digit inch accumulations.

1 comment:

Bill-DC said...

Yeah, it gets old. I hear the panic about snowy weather from co-workers, the news, etc.

Bob Dylan said it best, "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."

We go to the store weekly so we always have stuff. I can't recall in my life where I've ever been stuck to the point where I didn't have adequate provisions. Even in the blizzards of '79 and '96 (two I remember well), I survived.

If there is a dumping, I shovel, my back hurts and I bitch, moan and complain.

Aaaah Winter!