So we had snow the first week of December. On that Friday I decided to chance fate and drive to my scheduled hair appointment. At the worst spot on the route there, Commercial & Madrona, the light went red and I stopped with a Jeep Grand Cherokee ahead of me. When the light turned green, I took my foot off the brake and watched the Jeep spin out in front of me. Fortunately, there was enough distance between us (despite releasing the brake my car stayed put) and no one was hit, plus the Jeep regained control and proceeded on. Quick side note, it was 10:00 a.m. And the city had not cleared the Center Street bridge or Commercial yet, even though this was all forecast with plenty of lead time. Anyway, since I didn't roll forward as hoped once I released the brake, I lightly tapped the gas pedal. Nothing. Yikes!! I felt guilty blocking traffic so I tapped lightly but closer together. Nope. Ok fine, I'll press the pedal. Well $&@! Now I was spinning out. Fortunately i got control of the wheel. Unfortunately I had to go downhill on Madrona.
Ok, I told myself, I can go up the US Bank driveway and turn around. Nope, the incline was too much and I was forced to idle halfway up the driveway until traffic cleared and I could back up and head back uphill to the light. I had serious fear that I was not going to be able to make the needed right turn (no way in hell was a left turn an option). Thankfully, the timing of the light and the slight downhill onto Commercial meant I made it back onto Commercial safely. I proceeded to my hair stylist and gratefully note that lot was not cursed by any inclines.
My stylist got down to business and trimmed my hair. I skipped any fancy style since inches of snow had piled up during the hour long appointment. I was nervous getting in my car for the trip home, but thankfully the drivers at 11:45 a.m. were as cautious as the ones earlier and we all scooted along at about 10 to 15 mph. Unlike my trip there, the light at Madrona was green onthe way back, crisis averted. The Marion Street bridge had been managed but most of Edgewater and all the connecting streets leading home had not. So I prayed and carefully inched my way home. I even managed to reverse park as I usually do. That was the last I drove until the following Monday.
Flash forward to February 2014 and boom, snow is back. the city pretty much shut down, including actual toads that were closed for almost 5 days. It started on a Wednesday evening when the meteorologist said he had confidence the predicted snow storm would come the next day. I got to work that Thursday and immediately told all my co-workers that the prior December incident was not happening again so I would be leaving before noon. I left at 11:25 and went to the grocery store en route to home. I stocked up on everything I thought I needed to get me through the weekend and headed home. Once again, I successfully parked as snow fell and didn't dare drive until the following Monday afternoon.
My best friend did rescue me that Saturday. Luckily she has traction tires. This mattered for safety reasons, and because the city had restricted all travel to chains or traction tires - all others would be ticketed. So we explored the west side, noting many places, including all Starbucks :(, were closed. Short staffing affected what places were open. For example, no deli, bakery, Starbucks, or any other specialty zones were open in Safeway that day. Once done shopping we headed up Eola as far as allowed and saw gorgeous views in the hills and looking over town. Aside from walking Yuki, that was the only outing I had for about 5 days.
Once the snow days were over, rain came hard core. The river is still up, though not at flood stage, and it's been over a week. We still have a long way to go to catch up rain levels and snow pack levels to avoid a drought this summer, but there's something nice and comforting about returning to normalcy. I also like not having the electric heaters constantly running.
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