Snowed In Again

Winter is apparently here, roughly a month early if you go by the calendar. It has been snowing lightly off and on all day, and the forecast calls for below-freezing temperatures tonight and tomorrow. Plus high winds. I’m already snowed in (see photo). The conditions aren’t as bad as they were two years ago, but are notable enough for a blog entry.

I live at the bottom of a hill. About an inch or so of snow has accumulated on my driveway so far. There’s not enough of an emergency to try driving out in my two-wheel-drive Toyota Tacoma. Even if I load up the bed with the 50-pound bags of play sand I bought to give it more traction, it would probably start sliding on the steepest part of the S-curve. So I’m snowed in for now.

The last time this happened was in December 2008. Things were more serious then—there was more snow and the cold snap lasted longer. I was stuck at home for about 10 days. Eventually I was able to shovel my way out.

The current wintry weather was predicted all last week, so I tried to get ready for it yesterday. I drove out to Treasure Island to turn on the heat in my vacation place and put covers on the outside faucets. I also went to the QFC for groceries and checked some books and DVDs out of the library. I just need the snow and ice on the driveway to melt by Thursday. Don’t want to be stuck here for Thanksgiving.