33 states affected, 10,000 flights cancelled - we're in for a whopper!

[Tri Girl]

In the northern wintery states people become accustomed to it, I feel worse for those who live in the states that usually don't see any snow because they are not equipped to deal with it, either with actual snow removal equipment or mentally they are just not prepared to deal with it either. It takes a different attitude, a kind of slow down and not be in such a hurry and the ability to suddenly change your plans and not let that rock your world.

That's just it. And I feel bad for places like Dallas where snow is even more rare. 12" to Chicago is no big deal, but to us Okies, 12" is completely devastating. We usually get a couple snowstorms of 2-3 inches a year (and at least one ice event). A foot of snow is world-rocking.

Most businesses were closed for the last 2 days. Schools will be out for 4 days this week. They sent my hubs home from work (he's a postal carrier) at noon on the day of the blizzard for safety reasons- in 18 years at the Post Office, that's NEVER happened.

We just can't handle it. Even the streets that are emergency snow routes aren't clear. With 60 plows, we can't take care of the 600 sq. miles of the city.

I lived in Chicago for a few years and the attitude about it is totally different. People know how to drive safely in it, how to take their time and react sooner. Not so much here. I admire Northeners for their mental toughness through the long winters. I live south for a reason... but when storms like this come through I wish I were even further south- like in the middle of the Caribbean.

[Crankin]

I find that in the greater Boston area, it feels like people have become less "hardy" as compared to when I was a kid. I remember several horrific rides home on a school bus, in blizzards, because school wasn't cancelled, then they decided to let us out early. We used to sled down the street for at least a day after a storm, because it wasn't plowed that well. I am pretty sure it's due to better weather forecasting. This year, the forecasts have been extremely accurate. People get to prepare and schools make decisions earlier. The roads are plowed rather quickly, at least in the areas where I drive. Of course, right now, we are just running out of room to put the snow.
Learning to drive in the snow at age 37 was perhaps one of the scariest things I've done. I used to work 40 miles from home at one point, and I had many horrible drives that took 2 hours. I don't drive in the snow, unless I really have to. I cancelled my clients on Tuesday; no one would come to begin with, and Wednesday, the clinic was closed. Even though i have had an AWD car since 1992, and I know what to do, I avoid it if I can.

[indysteel]

I'm glad everyone surviving. That article about Lake Shore Drive blew my mind. I have to say that Central Indiana got off relatively easy. Some areas got a bit more freezing rain/sleet than others, but all in all, we did not have the widespread power outages and property loss that was first predicted. It really would have sucked to have been without power in this.

I have, however, worked from home the last three days. I live 25 miles south of my office. Even when the roads are relatively navigable, but really slow, I often just opt to stay home. I get more done than I would with an hour and a half to two-hour commute. We were basically closed yesterday and part of Tuesday anyway. So, it's been kind of vacation like in some ways. I haven't even had to shovel, because we got so little actual snow. My house is melting at the moment. Well, not literally, but it looks that way from my office window. It would be pretty if it weren't so darn cold. The kitties and are I enjoyed the squirrels and birds whom we made a point of feeding.