Here in the NY Metropolitan region, whenever we get 4" of snow, it
becomes a major catastrophe, because of the numbers of people involved.
I suppose to our friends in Minnesota, Montana and Wyoming, 4" doesn't
even get a tickle as far as daily lives are concerned, but here in the
NY Metropolitan region, it can be a major disaster.

All this week, forecasters were predicting that we'd get up to two feet,
and yesterday, there was run on the supermarkets. Naturally, being
retired, and having the luxury of going whenever I choose, I was able to
avoid the crowds and the shortages, which I am certain occurred. I find
it amusing that whenever there's a forecast of major snow, people panic
and line up at the supermarkets and gas stations, as if supplies were
never going to be replenished. After all, it isn't going to take then
weeks to dig out. NY isn't Minnesota. They're not going to be stuck in
their houses until Spring. The lines at the gas stations are especially
ludicrous, as where are people going to drive in a blizzard? I guess
they want to have their car sitting in a snow bank with a full tank.

Anyway, I got up this morning and there was only a little more than
foot on my driveway. About an hour's work for my snow blower. The
heavy snows that were predicted apparently didn't materialize, but the
winds of the Nor'easter are up to 50 mph. And that makes for blizzard
conditions, even though there's little more snow falling. The radio
said the roads are relatively clear, but the winds and what little snow
remains on the roads make driving very hazardous. I hope the delivery
service that delivers my newspaper stays home, as I don't want to have
to go poking through the snow for my newspaper before I take my snow
blower out. At any rate, it looks like I'll be awhile before the winds
let up and I go out to clean off my driveway.

In one respect, I like the snow, because it gives me the opportunity to
see what my $10,000 in property taxes pay for. My street, one of the
last to be cleaned, is completely plowed. And I'm sure the rest of the
streets in town are in similar, or better conditions. but yet when I
got up this morning, there the cleaned street was. You get what you pay
for, and that's why I don't mind paying for it. Too bad others who
decry the high taxes don't understand that there's no such thing as a
free lunch.

Anyway, most people are glad the storm occurred on a weekend, as they
don't have to get to work. Being retired, and owning a snow blower, I
couldn't care less.

Alan

From:	James A. Chamblee
Subject:	Re: The Blizzard of 2005
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 13:37:02 GMT

> From: Alan Lichtenstein

> Anyway, most people are glad the storm occurred on a weekend, as they
> don't have to get to work. Being retired, and owning a snow blower, I
> couldn't care less.

Question from South Georgia: What is a "snow blower"? We last had snow
here 15 years ago. It lasted 1 hour on the ground.

A bit of Geezing.

40 years ago, Washington was paralyzed by 20 inches of snow for several
days, since only the privatized bus company had snowplows.

I had been able to get to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, where I had
the use of the giant mainframe computers without competition. Nobody else
was there.

A phone rang for a long time in the adjacent computer bay, and finally I
went over there and answered it. The person on the other end said that he
had been trying to call for 2 days; but could get no answer. I explained
that 20" of snow had prevented anyone from getting to work.

This fact caused gales of laughter from the caller. He was calling from the
Pt. Barrow, Alaska tracking station, and said that he had been snowed in for
a month, and that he would welcome only 20" so he could go hiking.

From:	Alan Lichtenstein
Subject:	Re: The Blizzard of 2005
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 09:10:43 -0500

"James A. Chamblee" wrote:

> > From: Alan Lichtenstein
>
> > Anyway, most people are glad the storm occurred on a weekend, as they
> > don't have to get to work. Being retired, and owning a snow blower, I
> > couldn't care less.
>
> Question from South Georgia: What is a "snow blower"?

A snow blower is a powered device, either gas powered or electrically powered(
very inferior ) which cuts through snow with an auger type mechanism and using
an impeller, throws the snow in whatever direction you want. The larger the
width of the cage and larger the horsepower of the engine,, the more snow and
deeper the drift it can deal with. Which is why gas powered snow blowers are
usually more effective in dealing with large snow. It certainly beats
shoveling. Especially as one gets older.

> We last had snow
> here 15 years ago. It lasted 1 hour on the ground.

No doubt, given the climate of South Georgia.

>
> A bit of Geezing.
>
> 40 years ago, Washington was paralyzed by 20 inches of snow for several
> days, since only the privatized bus company had snowplows.
>
>
> I had been able to get to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, where I had
> the use of the giant mainframe computers without competition. Nobody else
> was there.
>
> A phone rang for a long time in the adjacent computer bay, and finally I
> went over there and answered it. The person on the other end said that he
> had been trying to call for 2 days; but could get no answer. I explained
> that 20" of snow had prevented anyone from getting to work.
>
> This fact caused gales of laughter from the caller. He was calling from the
> Pt. Barrow, Alaska tracking station, and said that he had been snowed in for
> a month, and that he would welcome only 20" so he could go hiking.

Indeed.

Alan

From:	Rita
Subject:	Re: The Blizzard of 2005
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 13:35:08 GMT

On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 07:30:58 -0500, Alan Lichtenstein wrote:

>Here in the NY Metropolitan region, whenever we get 4" of snow, it
>becomes a major catastrophe, because of the numbers of people involved.
>I suppose to our friends in Minnesota, Montana and Wyoming, 4" doesn't
>even get a tickle as far as daily lives are concerned, but here in the
>NY Metropolitan region, it can be a major disaster.
>
>All this week, forecasters were predicting that we'd get up to two feet,
>and yesterday, there was run on the supermarkets. Naturally, being
>retired, and having the luxury of going whenever I choose, I was able to
>avoid the crowds and the shortages, which I am certain occurred. I find
>it amusing that whenever there's a forecast of major snow, people panic
>and line up at the supermarkets and gas stations, as if supplies were
>never going to be replenished. After all, it isn't going to take then
>weeks to dig out. NY isn't Minnesota. They're not going to be stuck in
>their houses until Spring. The lines at the gas stations are especially
>ludicrous, as where are people going to drive in a blizzard? I guess
>they want to have their car sitting in a snow bank with a full tank.
>
>Anyway, I got up this morning and there was only a little more than
>foot on my driveway. About an hour's work for my snow blower. The
>heavy snows that were predicted apparently didn't materialize, but the
>winds of the Nor'easter are up to 50 mph. And that makes for blizzard
>conditions, even though there's little more snow falling. The radio
>said the roads are relatively clear, but the winds and what little snow
>remains on the roads make driving very hazardous. I hope the delivery
>service that delivers my newspaper stays home, as I don't want to have
>to go poking through the snow for my newspaper before I take my snow
>blower out. At any rate, it looks like I'll be awhile before the winds
>let up and I go out to clean off my driveway.
>
>In one respect, I like the snow, because it gives me the opportunity to
>see what my $10,000 in property taxes pay for. My street, one of the
>last to be cleaned, is completely plowed. And I'm sure the rest of the
>streets in town are in similar, or better conditions. but yet when I
>got up this morning, there the cleaned street was. You get what you pay
>for, and that's why I don't mind paying for it. Too bad others who
>decry the high taxes don't understand that there's no such thing as a
>free lunch.
>
>Anyway, most people are glad the storm occurred on a weekend, as they
>don't have to get to work. Being retired, and owning a snow blower, I
>couldn't care less.
>
>
Agreed, Alan, I expected a lot more snow than actually fell. But I am
looking out the window now and the wind is blowing snow in big swirls,
whether new snow or not I can't tell at the moment.

My son who lives in Brazil but currently is working semi long term in
Dallas, and who has a long distance bargain, kept phoning me with updates
on our storm from watching the Weather Channel. We reminisced a bit about
our life in Iowa (and for me, before that in Wisconsin) where winter
weather was serious business indeed.

Living right in the city, we are not likely to run out of provisions as
you say. It would be quite possible to put on boots and slog a block or
two to some store or other that is sure to be open for the essentials.

However, I much prefer to stay in, bake bread, and read. That wind looks
to be vicious. Haven't baked bread for a long time, but my daughter with
whom I now live has a Kitchenaid with dough hook and so I tried a loaf of
rye bread and was surprised how easy it was -- and how delicious. At
the rate we are finishing it off, I'll have to think about making another
loaf very soon.

From:	Alan Lichtenstein
Subject:	Re: The Blizzard of 2005
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 09:17:19 -0500

Rita wrote:

> On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 07:30:58 -0500, Alan Lichtenstein wrote:
>
> >Here in the NY Metropolitan region, whenever we get 4" of snow, it
> >becomes a major catastrophe, because of the numbers of people involved.
> >I suppose to our friends in Minnesota, Montana and Wyoming, 4" doesn't
> >even get a tickle as far as daily lives are concerned, but here in the
> >NY Metropolitan region, it can be a major disaster.
> >
> >All this week, forecasters were predicting that we'd get up to two feet,
> >and yesterday, there was run on the supermarkets. Naturally, being
> >retired, and having the luxury of going whenever I choose, I was able to
> >avoid the crowds and the shortages, which I am certain occurred. I find
> >it amusing that whenever there's a forecast of major snow, people panic
> >and line up at the supermarkets and gas stations, as if supplies were
> >never going to be replenished. After all, it isn't going to take then
> >weeks to dig out. NY isn't Minnesota. They're not going to be stuck in
> >their houses until Spring. The lines at the gas stations are especially
> >ludicrous, as where are people going to drive in a blizzard? I guess
> >they want to have their car sitting in a snow bank with a full tank.
> >
> >Anyway, I got up this morning and there was only a little more than
> >foot on my driveway. About an hour's work for my snow blower. The
> >heavy snows that were predicted apparently didn't materialize, but the
> >winds of the Nor'easter are up to 50 mph. And that makes for blizzard
> >conditions, even though there's little more snow falling. The radio
> >said the roads are relatively clear, but the winds and what little snow
> >remains on the roads make driving very hazardous. I hope the delivery
> >service that delivers my newspaper stays home, as I don't want to have
> >to go poking through the snow for my newspaper before I take my snow
> >blower out. At any rate, it looks like I'll be awhile before the winds
> >let up and I go out to clean off my driveway.
> >
> >In one respect, I like the snow, because it gives me the opportunity to
> >see what my $10,000 in property taxes pay for. My street, one of the
> >last to be cleaned, is completely plowed. And I'm sure the rest of the
> >streets in town are in similar, or better conditions. but yet when I
> >got up this morning, there the cleaned street was. You get what you pay
> >for, and that's why I don't mind paying for it. Too bad others who
> >decry the high taxes don't understand that there's no such thing as a
> >free lunch.
> >
> >Anyway, most people are glad the storm occurred on a weekend, as they
> >don't have to get to work. Being retired, and owning a snow blower, I
> >couldn't care less.
> >
> >
> Agreed, Alan, I expected a lot more snow than actually fell. But I am
> looking out the window now and the wind is blowing snow in big swirls,
> whether new snow or not I can't tell at the moment.
>
> My son who lives in Brazil but currently is working semi long term in
> Dallas, and who has a long distance bargain, kept phoning me with updates
> on our storm from watching the Weather Channel. We reminisced a bit about
> our life in Iowa (and for me, before that in Wisconsin) where winter
> weather was serious business indeed.
>
> Living right in the city, we are not likely to run out of provisions as
> you say. It would be quite possible to put on boots and slog a block or
> two to some store or other that is sure to be open for the essentials.
>
> However, I much prefer to stay in, bake bread, and read. That wind looks
> to be vicious. Haven't baked bread for a long time, but my daughter with
> whom I now live has a Kitchenaid with dough hook and so I tried a loaf of
> rye bread and was surprised how easy it was -- and how delicious. At
> the rate we are finishing it off, I'll have to think about making another
> loaf very soon.

As I said, my only big concern is my newspaper. Newsday said they would
deliver today, which I didn't care to hear, since now I have to continue to
watch for it so I can pick it up before it gets buried in the drifting snow.
It would be a disaster if my snow blower ran into it. I would have preferred
if they said that due to the state of emergency which has been declared in
Suffolk County, they were going to forego delivery, under the circumstances.

I'm just waiting it out until the winds die down. it has now started to snow
again, and it looks like we'll get some more accumulation, even though the
center is off Cape Cod. It's going to be interesting to watch the game in
Foxborough this afternoon. They'll play regardless.

But being a Sunday with lousy weather, and being up early with nothing else
to do, I'm all set for a morning of watching the political commentaries.

Alan

From:	Lee K
Subject:	Re: The Blizzard of 2005
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 09:23:18 -0500

alt.bread.recipes

135 Bread recipe sites, last updated on 9 January 2005:
http://www.cbel.com/breads_recipes/

From:	Gary James
Subject:	Re: The Blizzard of 2005
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 07:46:32 -0500

On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 07:30:58 -0500, Alan Lichtenstein
wrote:

>Here in the NY Metropolitan region, whenever we get 4" of snow, it
>becomes a major catastrophe, because of the numbers of people involved.
>I suppose to our friends in Minnesota, Montana and Wyoming, 4" doesn't
>even get a tickle as far as daily lives are concerned, but here in the
>NY Metropolitan region, it can be a major disaster.
>
>All this week, forecasters were predicting that we'd get up to two feet,
>and yesterday, there was run on the supermarkets. Naturally, being
>retired, and having the luxury of going whenever I choose, I was able to
>avoid the crowds and the shortages, which I am certain occurred. I find
>it amusing that whenever there's a forecast of major snow, people panic
>and line up at the supermarkets and gas stations, as if supplies were
>never going to be replenished. After all, it isn't going to take then
>weeks to dig out. NY isn't Minnesota. They're not going to be stuck in
>their houses until Spring. The lines at the gas stations are especially
>ludicrous, as where are people going to drive in a blizzard? I guess
>they want to have their car sitting in a snow bank with a full tank.
>
>Anyway, I got up this morning and there was only a little more than
>foot on my driveway. About an hour's work for my snow blower. The
>heavy snows that were predicted apparently didn't materialize, but the
>winds of the Nor'easter are up to 50 mph. And that makes for blizzard
>conditions, even though there's little more snow falling. The radio
>said the roads are relatively clear, but the winds and what little snow
>remains on the roads make driving very hazardous. I hope the delivery
>service that delivers my newspaper stays home, as I don't want to have
>to go poking through the snow for my newspaper before I take my snow
>blower out. At any rate, it looks like I'll be awhile before the winds
>let up and I go out to clean off my driveway.
>
>In one respect, I like the snow, because it gives me the opportunity to
>see what my $10,000 in property taxes pay for. My street, one of the
>last to be cleaned, is completely plowed. And I'm sure the rest of the
>streets in town are in similar, or better conditions. but yet when I
>got up this morning, there the cleaned street was. You get what you pay
>for, and that's why I don't mind paying for it. Too bad others who
>decry the high taxes don't understand that there's no such thing as a
>free lunch.
>
>Anyway, most people are glad the storm occurred on a weekend, as they
>don't have to get to work. Being retired, and owning a snow blower, I
>couldn't care less.
>
> Alan

There are several reasons that I would prefer to live in the North
than the South. But there are two reasons I am still here. One is
that we're close to my wife's family. But even more important, to
me, is the fact that we don't have blizzards. I was caught in one
when I was 9 years old and I never forgotten the experience. If I
could afford, without worry, two homes, I would spend the Spring,
Summer and Fall above Mason and Dixon's Line. But the idea of
"camping out" in a motel in FL during the Winter does not appeal to
me.

From:	Alan Lichtenstein
Subject:	Re: The Blizzard of 2005
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 07:57:52 -0500

( previous post snipped-follow thread )

>
> There are several reasons that I would prefer to live in the North
> than the South. But there are two reasons I am still here. One is
> that we're close to my wife's family. But even more important, to
> me, is the fact that we don't have blizzards. I was caught in one
> when I was 9 years old and I never forgotten the experience. If I
> could afford, without worry, two homes, I would spend the Spring,
> Summer and Fall above Mason and Dixon's Line. But the idea of
> "camping out" in a motel in FL during the Winter does not appeal to
> me.

Well, Gary, I see that you a re also up early on this Sunday morning. What
you say about not having blizzards in Minnesota surprises me, as I generally
associate Minnesota with loads and loads of snow. But I guess that just
having snow doesn't necessarily make it a blizzard. Here in NY, we
frequently get Nor'easters, which I suppose you don't get, and the high
winds make for blizzard conditions. Even now, with the wind, I can barely
see to the end of my driveway, because the winds are swirling what is on the
ground, and what little is still falling.

I wouldn't leave Long Island, because it has probably, the best fishing
throughout the year of any place. I'll start fishing when flounder season
opens up around St. Paddy's day, and fish until mid-December, when the
striped bass season closes. Actually, if it's not too cold and the fish are
still there, I'll fish into January, since I catch and release stripers and
bluefish. Going to the old age home called Florida is not for me.
As I said, just so long as I don't have to get to work, and that I own a
snow blower, the winters don't bother me. Minor inconveniences.

Alan.

From:	Gary James
Subject:	Re: The Blizzard of 2005
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 08:17:05 -0500

On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 07:57:52 -0500, Alan Lichtenstein
wrote:

>( previous post snipped-follow thread )
>
>>
>> There are several reasons that I would prefer to live in the North
>> than the South. But there are two reasons I am still here. One is
>> that we're close to my wife's family. But even more important, to
>> me, is the fact that we don't have blizzards. I was caught in one
>> when I was 9 years old and I never forgotten the experience. If I
>> could afford, without worry, two homes, I would spend the Spring,
>> Summer and Fall above Mason and Dixon's Line. But the idea of
>> "camping out" in a motel in FL during the Winter does not appeal to
>> me.
>
>Well, Gary, I see that you a re also up early on this Sunday morning.

A very new habit for me. I spent my life being a night person and
sleeping late. Two years ago I started going to bed by 11:00 PM and
I now arise about 6:30 AM. I really love it. Come Spring I shall
return to eating breakfast on the patio at 7:00 AM which is what got
me started as an early bird :-)

>What
>you say about not having blizzards in Minnesota surprises me, as I generally
>associate Minnesota with loads and loads of snow.

I'm in Georgia, Allan. I believe Glenn Pooler is the only one in
Minnesota. It's a beautiful state, big skyies and all. Were I to
move North, it and New York would be my first choices.

From:	Alan Lichtenstein
Subject:	Re: The Blizzard of 2005
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 08:22:56 -0500

Gary James wrote:

> On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 07:57:52 -0500, Alan Lichtenstein
> wrote:
>
> >( previous post snipped-follow thread )
> >
> >>
> >> There are several reasons that I would prefer to live in the North
> >> than the South. But there are two reasons I am still here. One is
> >> that we're close to my wife's family. But even more important, to
> >> me, is the fact that we don't have blizzards. I was caught in one
> >> when I was 9 years old and I never forgotten the experience. If I
> >> could afford, without worry, two homes, I would spend the Spring,
> >> Summer and Fall above Mason and Dixon's Line. But the idea of
> >> "camping out" in a motel in FL during the Winter does not appeal to
> >> me.
> >
> >Well, Gary, I see that you a re also up early on this Sunday morning.
>
> A very new habit for me. I spent my life being a night person and
> sleeping late. Two years ago I started going to bed by 11:00 PM and
> I now arise about 6:30 AM. I really love it. Come Spring I shall
> return to eating breakfast on the patio at 7:00 AM which is what got
> me started as an early bird :-)

This past Summer, I enjoyed eating breakfast and dinner on my patio. On days
when I didn't get up to go fishing, of course. There is a distinct charm to
that.

>
>
> >What
> >you say about not having blizzards in Minnesota surprises me, as I generally
> >associate Minnesota with loads and loads of snow.
>
> I'm in Georgia, Allan. I believe Glenn Pooler is the only one in
> Minnesota. It's a beautiful state, big skyies and all. Were I to
> move North, it and New York would be my first choices.

Indeed, I have, Gary. My apologies. And if you move North, NY has excellent
open spaces in the Adirondack region, where property costs are relatively
affordable. Long Island, where I live, is marvelous if you like beaches and
boating and water activities. Unfortunately, property values are quite high
here, and taxes are just as high. When I bought my house thirty years ago, my
taxes were equal to my mortgage payment.

Alan

From:	Poppy - San Francisco Bay Area
Subject:	Re: The Blizzard of 2005
Date:	23 Jan 2005 10:54:41 -0800

I don't know if I should mention that it is warm and sunny here in the
Bay Area. However, we have had problems with ground fog. The Central
Valley has been covered in heavy ground fog for weeks, and this fog
spills through passes. It was panic time for me on Friday when I went
to work over hwy #4 near Martinez. It was so foggy, I couldn't see the
white lines at the edge of the road and as a result almost ended up in
Crockett. Of all the driving conditions, I fear fog most.

From:	demeter547opine at yahoo.com
Subject:	Re: The Blizzard of 2005
Date:	23 Jan 2005 17:42:31 -0800

Rita wrote:
-snip-
> Living right in the city, we are not likely to run out of provisions
as you say.

We live right in the city too, pop. 13,500, and right now the
milk/bread/eggs shelves are bare at all the local stores. Of course we
have record-setting cold, and snowdrifts up to 1/2" in places.

> It would be quite possible to put on boots and slog a
> bock or two to some store or other that is sure to be
> open for the essentials.
>
> However, I much prefer to stay in, bake bread, and read.
> That wind looks to be vicious. Haven't baked bread for
> a long time, but my daughter with whom I now live has a
> Kitchenaid with dough hook and so I tried a loaf of rye
> bread and was surprised how easy it was -- and how
> delicious. At the rate we are finishing it off, I'll
> have to think about making another loaf very soon.

Isn't the Kitchenaid fun to use? It does all the hard work of
breadmaking. If you want a very delicate flavor, try mixing the dough
using 1/2 teaspoon of yeast, then putting the dough in the refrigerator
overnight to rise very slowly. When you take it out in the morning it
continues to rise as it warms. The slowness of the yeast growth gives
a fine flavor to the bread. I've used half-and-half whole wheat/white
flour, and all whole wheat with this method, and occasionally
experiment with using only 1/4 tsp. of yeast. I like to mix the dough
last thing in the evening.

From:	Rita
Subject:	Re: The Blizzard of 2005
Date:	Mon, 24 Jan 2005 02:32:37 GMT

On 23 Jan 2005 17:42:31 -0800, "demeter547opine@yahoo.com"
wrote:

>

>Isn't the Kitchenaid fun to use? It does all the hard work of
>breadmaking. If you want a very delicate flavor, try mixing the dough
>using 1/2 teaspoon of yeast, then putting the dough in the refrigerator
>overnight to rise very slowly. When you take it out in the morning it
>continues to rise as it warms. The slowness of the yeast growth gives
>a fine flavor to the bread. I've used half-and-half whole wheat/white
>flour, and all whole wheat with this method, and occasionally
>experiment with using only 1/4 tsp. of yeast. I like to mix the dough
>last thing in the evening.

Good idea. I understand slower rising makes better bread. The rye
I made had equal parts rye, whole wheat and unbleached white flour.
And buttermilk. I'm going to experiment with other recipes. I will
try mixing it at night and refrigerating it until morning. The
Kitchenaid is a fine appliance. I've used my Cuisenart to knead
dough as well, but I prefer the dough hook as it gives me better
control.

From:	Michael II
Subject:	Re: The Blizzard of 2005
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 14:20:52 -0800

Alan Lichtenstein wrote:
> Here in the NY Metropolitan region, whenever we get 4" of snow, it
> becomes a major catastrophe, because of the numbers of people involved.
> I suppose to our friends in Minnesota, Montana and Wyoming, 4" doesn't
> even get a tickle as far as daily lives are concerned, but here in the
> NY Metropolitan region, it can be a major disaster.
>
> All this week, forecasters were predicting that we'd get up to two feet,
> and yesterday, there was run on the supermarkets. Naturally, being
> retired, and having the luxury of going whenever I choose, I was able to
> avoid the crowds and the shortages, which I am certain occurred. I find
> it amusing that whenever there's a forecast of major snow, people panic
> and line up at the supermarkets and gas stations, as if supplies were
> never going to be replenished. After all, it isn't going to take then
> weeks to dig out. NY isn't Minnesota. They're not going to be stuck in
> their houses until Spring. The lines at the gas stations are especially
> ludicrous, as where are people going to drive in a blizzard? I guess
> they want to have their car sitting in a snow bank with a full tank.
>
> Anyway, I got up this morning and there was only a little more than
> foot on my driveway. About an hour's work for my snow blower. The
> heavy snows that were predicted apparently didn't materialize, but the
> winds of the Nor'easter are up to 50 mph. And that makes for blizzard
> conditions, even though there's little more snow falling. The radio
> said the roads are relatively clear, but the winds and what little snow
> remains on the roads make driving very hazardous. I hope the delivery
> service that delivers my newspaper stays home, as I don't want to have
> to go poking through the snow for my newspaper before I take my snow
> blower out. At any rate, it looks like I'll be awhile before the winds
> let up and I go out to clean off my driveway.
>
> In one respect, I like the snow, because it gives me the opportunity to
> see what my $10,000 in property taxes pay for. My street, one of the
> last to be cleaned, is completely plowed. And I'm sure the rest of the
> streets in town are in similar, or better conditions. but yet when I
> got up this morning, there the cleaned street was. You get what you pay
> for, and that's why I don't mind paying for it. Too bad others who
> decry the high taxes don't understand that there's no such thing as a
> free lunch.
>
> Anyway, most people are glad the storm occurred on a weekend, as they
> don't have to get to work. Being retired, and owning a snow blower, I
> couldn't care less.
>
> Alan
>
Greetings Alan,

I thought you might be interested in the first paragraph of a note that
I sent to two nephews (both history majors) in Boston this morning:

"I sit here on a miserable January day in Portland. The temperature
plummeted to 45° last night and for today, although sunny, the temp is
predicted to reach only a chilly 64°. So I thought I might pass along
some musings on the second-most important topic on a young man's mind
(the first being getting layed), historiography. . ."

I should mention that I received similar notes from them during a local
ice storm a week ago.

From:	El Castor
Subject:	Re: The Blizzard of 2005
Date:	Sun, 23 Jan 2005 20:12:42 -0800

Michael II wrote:

>Alan Lichtenstein wrote:
>> Here in the NY Metropolitan region, whenever we get 4" of snow, it
>> becomes a major catastrophe, because of the numbers of people involved.
>> I suppose to our friends in Minnesota, Montana and Wyoming, 4" doesn't
>> even get a tickle as far as daily lives are concerned, but here in the
>> NY Metropolitan region, it can be a major disaster.
>>
>> All this week, forecasters were predicting that we'd get up to two feet,
>> and yesterday, there was run on the supermarkets. Naturally, being
>> retired, and having the luxury of going whenever I choose, I was able to
>> avoid the crowds and the shortages, which I am certain occurred. I find
>> it amusing that whenever there's a forecast of major snow, people panic
>> and line up at the supermarkets and gas stations, as if supplies were
>> never going to be replenished. After all, it isn't going to take then
>> weeks to dig out. NY isn't Minnesota. They're not going to be stuck in
>> their houses until Spring. The lines at the gas stations are especially
>> ludicrous, as where are people going to drive in a blizzard? I guess
>> they want to have their car sitting in a snow bank with a full tank.
>>
>> Anyway, I got up this morning and there was only a little more than
>> foot on my driveway. About an hour's work for my snow blower. The
>> heavy snows that were predicted apparently didn't materialize, but the
>> winds of the Nor'easter are up to 50 mph. And that makes for blizzard
>> conditions, even though there's little more snow falling. The radio
>> said the roads are relatively clear, but the winds and what little snow
>> remains on the roads make driving very hazardous. I hope the delivery
>> service that delivers my newspaper stays home, as I don't want to have
>> to go poking through the snow for my newspaper before I take my snow
>> blower out. At any rate, it looks like I'll be awhile before the winds
>> let up and I go out to clean off my driveway.
>>
>> In one respect, I like the snow, because it gives me the opportunity to
>> see what my $10,000 in property taxes pay for. My street, one of the
>> last to be cleaned, is completely plowed. And I'm sure the rest of the
>> streets in town are in similar, or better conditions. but yet when I
>> got up this morning, there the cleaned street was. You get what you pay
>> for, and that's why I don't mind paying for it. Too bad others who
>> decry the high taxes don't understand that there's no such thing as a
>> free lunch.
>>
>> Anyway, most people are glad the storm occurred on a weekend, as they
>> don't have to get to work. Being retired, and owning a snow blower, I
>> couldn't care less.
>>
>> Alan
>>
>Greetings Alan,
>
>I thought you might be interested in the first paragraph of a note that
>I sent to two nephews (both history majors) in Boston this morning:
>
>"I sit here on a miserable January day in Portland. The temperature
>plummeted to 45° last night and for today, although sunny, the temp is
>predicted to reach only a chilly 64°. So I thought I might pass along
>some musings on the second-most important topic on a young man's mind
>(the first being getting layed), historiography. . ."
>
>I should mention that I received similar notes from them during a local
>ice storm a week ago.

Sorry to hear about your bad weather, Michael, but that's Portland for
you. Here in sunny California it's much nicer. Today was like a
beautiful Spring day. The sun was shining and the birds were chirping.
Some of us just had the foresight to be born here. What can I say? (-8

Jeff