...is how I have to look at last night's blizzard. I measured several spots in my backyard and several out front of my house. Out back almost every spot I measured was between 14" and 14.5", out front they were all between 10-12". So if I lived on the other side of the street I would be shoveling more is how I see it. Just the way the snow lands. A snowstorm like this is unusual around here especially in December but we were lucky because it could have been more. Back in 2006 we got well over 2 feet of snow but then again that was in February. In that storm, NY City had its all time record snowfall of 26.9 inches, that is about 25 miles west of where I am now. I know, not a lot of snow for places like Masena or Buffalo, NY - but an awful lot in NYC and just east of NYC in Nassau County on Long Island. Further east on Long island, in North Haven, NY (very close to Sag Harbor) my sister measured 25 inches in her yard in a level spot. Yes it could have been worse.
Back to it not being as bad as it could have been. Lucky for me I have the habit of going out when a few to several inches has fallen and clearing it away so there is not as much the next morning. I did about 6 inches worth last night. Also, lucky for me, my neighbor let me keep my government car in his driveway overnight. If on the street it would have gotten a ticket for obstructing the snowplows and they would have buried it. There is no room for it in my own small driveway with my own cars parked therein. As I was digging out my driveway and just contemplating going over to dig out my G ride from the neighbor's driveway, I saw he was stuck in the snow in his small SUV. I dug his 4 wheel drive out of the snow just outside of his driveway with the ass end of the car sticking out in the street stuck in the pile left behind by the plows. Yep kiddies, SUVs get stuck in snow too when it is deep enough.
That was a bit of a chore but I figured since he allowed me to leave my government car in his driveway overnight, I owed him more than a thank you. Right after that he brought out a snow blower and did my front sidewalk. That was nice. He then told me his back was killing him and asked if I would continue on to his sidewalk. I know his health is not the best, so it was my pleasure to help him out even though his sidewalk is about 3 to 4 times as long as mine (corner lot). Man what a breeze it was with that brute. It ate it up and spit it out and took minimal effort to push along. That left me only my front walk, and getting my work car out of his driveway. Just getting the driveway clear for my G ride was a lot of work as I did that with the shovel. Only shoveled as wide as the car in a path about 12 to 15 feet long but lots of snow was built up at the curb from the plows. Got it done though and got the car right out and parked back on the street. As I said, not too bad, could have been worse. Lucky I did not have to shovel all of the sidewalk on my house and his without the aid of the snow blower. I have done it before when only a few to several inches and it is a lot of work. With what we had last night, it was probably a heart attack waiting to happen. Now that I am getting older and Arthur I. Tis is a constant companion, I may have to cough up enough for a snow blower. That will wait till next year since I will not be here this winter with my Phoenix trip upcoming. As for this winter I foresee my sons back getting stronger. (Thanks Brendan!)
Right now, I am typing and listening to Nat King Cole's Christmas For Kids CD. Great stuff. I am also enjoying a nice big cup of coffee and letting the Aleve do its stuff (which usually is not much but I guess it helps a little). Of course, if I was a kid or even a teenager (maybe even in my young 20s) I'd be out there now waxing up the rungs of my Flexible Flier and screaming full blast down the steepest hill I could find trying to crash into one of my buddies (that's one of the reasons me and Arthur I. Tis are such good friends nowadays). As for me now, I guess I'll spend the rest of the day puttering around the house and maybe I'll clean my guns and oh yes - I'll be hoping we do not get any more snow for awhile.
All the best,
Glenn B
