Wow!

[dreamflower]

Uh--it's snowing!! *REAL* snow!

The downside: I'm going to have to drive in it to the houseclosing this afternoon. Luckily, it's not too far--but I've never driven in snow before. Please cross your fingers for me!

Comments

[shirebound]

I think you happened to move to OK during one of its worst winters! Next year will be a piece of cake (or lembas).

*crosses fingers*

[poppymuddyfoot.livejournal.com]

From your mouth to God's ears.

[dreamflower]

Thanks! I made it just fine!

[surgicalsteel.livejournal.com]

Just go slowly and allow plenty of space between you and the next driver. It's a bit more slippery than rain, but you'll do fine. *hugs*

[dreamflower]

It was a little spooky--but there really seems to me to be next to no traffic in this town compared to what I'm used to. I did have one car kind of tailgate me--but he turned a couple of streets before I did.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Just as Surgicalsteel says, give yourself extra time for the trip, drive slowly, with extra room between you and the car ahead of you. Go easy on your brakes. If you have antilock brakes, you should have no trouble with stopping, if not, give yourself extra room to stop and pump the brakes gently. No sudden moves with the steering, wheel, everything nice and smooth.

[dreamflower]

Thanks! I kept your advice in mind!

[mumstheword54.livejournal.com]

Thirds on the tortoise pace! I would say to leave 15-30 minutes early, depending on how far you're going, and take a book or handwork to keep you occupied if you get there 'way early.

*hugs and safety prayers*


Yea! You're closing on your house!!

[dreamflower]

Well, it's not far normally, but I still left 45 minutes early, and I drove about 10 mph. I was still almost 30 minutes early--gave me time to work on my knitting.

((hugs back))
I'm sure your prayers helped, dear!

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

Is it wet or dry snow? There is a lot of difference in how that affects the road conditions. I love driving when it's sprinkling with snow but not the heavy downpour snowing. Drive carefully and you should be fine!

*hugs*

[dreamflower]

It's not as dry as that stuff we had a couple weeks ago, but it's still kind of "crunchy-powdery".

*hugs back*

[longcleeve.livejournal.com]

As an expert snow driver, just go very slow. Let people get angry behind you. Once you start to think maybe the roads are fine and speed up, suddenly it can get terrifying!

[dreamflower]

I did have one person kind of tailgating me, I'm sure I annoyed. But I'm glad I was cautious. There was a bad (as in fatal) accident just outside of town. The real estate agent was talking about it at the bank.

[elendiari22.livejournal.com]

Good luck driving! It's snowing here, too, but at least I don't have to drive in it.

:)

[dreamflower]

I'm just glad I hadn't far to go. *brrrrr.....*shivers*

[topaztook.livejournal.com]

Crossing my fingers that you get to the house closing (and home again) safely, and that the whole house sale/driving in snow thing works out and gets completed!

Maybe you can come home and celebrate by making a snowman in your own yard.

[dreamflower]

Yes, thank you for the good thoughts--I'm sure they helped.

Not quite enough today for a snowman--maybe tomorrow!

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

Be careful, sweetie! Just make sure that if you slide not to slam the brakes and to slowly turn into the skid (it sounds counterintuitive but it works to straigthen the wheels out).

**hugs**

[dreamflower]

*hugs back*

Well, I didn't skid--but the DH confesses to doing so on his way! But he did just what you said, and was fine!

[elanor1013.livejournal.com]

do you have a brush and a scraper? I grew up in FL and now live in MA and I'm learning! and drive slowly :)

[dreamflower]

We got a scraper, but it was in the DH's car, along with a can of de-icer, LOL! I did have snow all over the windshield when I got in the car, but fortunately the wipers brushed it mostly off.

[elanor1013.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you did it! You will probably want to get a brush/scraper to keep in each car. I have definitely gotten caught where it has unexpectedly snowed while I was inside somewhere all day.

But congrats on your first snow-driving. :)

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

You'll be fine. Just take it slow and drive as if it were heavy rain conditions. I know you've done some driving in the pouring rain before. My fingers are crossed!

[dreamflower]

It was a little like rain driving, in having to take it slow! But I did it!

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! I just knew you'd get the hang of it. Next thing you know, you'll be an expert.

[melilot-hill.livejournal.com]

I love snow. Maybe that's because it doesn't snow all that often here. I only have experience with cycling through the snow, since we don't have a car, but I guess as long as you go slow, you should be fine. *hugs*

[dreamflower]

((((hugs back))))

I love the snow too--from the inside, LOL! And not driving in it! But it *is* so pretty!

[elandulin.livejournal.com]

Never take a back road (I speak from experience!) Go slow and no sudden moves with the wheel or the brakes. What an education in Winter you're getting all at once!

[dreamflower]

Fortunately the bank is only a few streets from where we live!

Everyone here keeps saying what an unusual winter this is--that they never have this much snow and ice! I keep thinking about the Fell Winter in the Shire, LOL!

[obeliamedusa.livejournal.com]

Oh boy! Good luck. :) You might try driving in 1st or 2nd so you won't have to use the brakes too much. If the car skids, remember to steer in the direction you want to go.

I wish I could send some of my flying pigs to give you a ride, but I'm sure you'll be fine.

[dreamflower]

(((hugs))))

Thanks for the advice! But it might be a bit too nippy for flying with pigs today! 8-D

[poppymuddyfoot.livejournal.com]

I second what Elandulin said. Try to stay on the well traveled roads as much as possible. And speaking from experience, never assume the other driver is going to slow down or stop. Most of us crazy Oklahomans don't have the sense God gave a goose when it comes to driving on snow or ice. I'm listening to radio while I type this and it sounds really bad out there. People are calling the radio station to report injury accidents because 911 lines are so tied up they can't get through. The guys here at work laughed at me when I left my car home after lunch, but they're not laughing now. They get to deal with slick roads after work while I let the bus get me home safely. I hope you don't have any problems.

[dreamflower]

We've already noticed that Oklahoma drivers are almost as bad as Louisiana drivers! It's like they think the speed limit is the *minimum*, not the *maximum*! There was a fatal accident just east of Cushing today--two people!

*shiver* (and not *just* from the cold!)

[fafojoy.livejournal.com]

Or you can take the Far North Ice Driving Course

Find something frozen (only lakes if you know they really freeze solid), hopefully build up snowbanks around the edges (wide wide space in between) drive on to it fast and put your car into a spin. Experiment slamming on the brakes, turning the wheel and doing things to stop the slide. Preferrably do this with a very calm rational person who isn't scared of anything and tells you things like 'now try pumping the brakes' or 'turn slightly the opposite direction you are sliding' in the passenger seat.

You'll either learn fast or decide there is nothing important to go out for on icy days.

We used to go watch the car races on Lake Superior. In the harbor, which did freeze solid (the lake is never to be trusted), a snowplow would plow the course. That gives you nice snowbanks to bounce between. And then the cars would race on glare ice. It was a riot. Spectators stayed at a distance 1) because it was dangerous and 2) it was usually about -20F.

If the wind came in from the north, it would blow huge chunks of ice along the shore. We were walking on them once (after snow races) and realized we were on an ice shelf over open water.

I am sometimes surprised we survived into adulthood.