No Thanks for the Help

There's probably one pet peeve of mine in the winter and that's the fact that weathermen rarely ever admit that they are wrong. They will go on and on about their new computer models and how they have snow tracking machines that will tell you where snow is falling and how much is falling and how much will fall and how they won't be caught flatfooted again. I will admit that predicting the weather is still one of the hardest jobs out there. However, I won't admit to going easy on weathermen because of that fact simply because when they're right, they often play it up as if they have made the prognostication of the millenium. If they turn out to be in correct then they will blame it on 'a sudden burst of low pressure from the south' or a 'delta clipper driving through faster than we expected' or some similar such gobble-doo-guck. As long as it sounds plausible, we are still expected to believe that they are infallible. I give them the benefit of the doubt but if the last two weekends are anything to go by then I'll stick with the prognostications of porchfront weathermen who predict when it will snow by the moss on trees and aches in their bum knees.

Two weeks ago, we here in DC were hit with a snow and ice storm that left many of us stranded, without power or anything for several days. By the time the weekend rolled around the thaw had begun and life was returning to normal. The weathermen cheerfully informed us that the cold air had moved out and that we would have a rather pleasant weekend, so it was with a bit of surprise that I looked out the window late that Sunday afternoon to see periods of heavy snow dusting the area. No one had predicted this stuff so no one was even out clearing the streets. By the time I left my parents place in Maryland to return home, there was a fine coating on the road, not enough to create mounds of snow, but enough to create a slippery coating on the streets. Until I reached the highway there was much compensation and counter turning to prevent spinouts. I felt like an F1 driver attempting to reel in a very loose car.

This weather system was unexpected so we can excuse it; they hadn't predicted the dusting but had thrown in the caveat that 'light snow was possible' so again they covered themselves. However, this past Sunday once again they were put on the spot and their predictions were less than stellar. All week we had been dealing with warmer temperatures so the snow and ice from the previous snowfall was all but melted. For this past Sunday they once again predicted that there was the chance for freezing rain and sleet for the morning with an end by about mid-day. Snow was possible mixed in the farther north and west you went from the District but there wasn't to be anything more than an inch. Lo and behold, after lunch, we were still seeing heavy snow falling and we had already gotten a good six inches. The snow continued to about mid-afternoon before it finally ended. The weathermen in the area were eating crow and finally at least hinting at having made a mistake. It was the kind of help you didn't need.

Another help that I could also do without had to do with the chaps who drive the snow plows. I understand that they drive long hours and have to contend with a lot more than we may realize but still, a bit of common courtesy would be nice. I was again in Maryland this past weekend and so my brother and I (after several years of not being together to shovel snow) cleaned off the driveway, walkways and sidewalks at my parents place. Because the snow was light and falling so rapidly, we decided to go out in stages. We cleared out the snow twice during the day. Both times we also cleared the snow from the street directly in front of the driveway as well. The reason for this being that should the temperatures drop below freezing later that night, at least the street in front of the house would not be icy.

By early evening we had done our duty for the day and the snow had ended. The predicted ice never showed up in our area but that's beside the point. We were all comfortably enjoying an evening drink when we heard the snow plow come through to clean off the street in front of the house. It made several passes and each time it led to large wet and heavy chunks of snow being pushed in front of our driveway. My dad went out to ask the driver if he could move it out of the way after we and our neighbors had already spent time moving it. He said he'd be back and then proceeded to drive off without having cleared the snow caked in front of our driveways. Aggravating as it was, my brother and I quickly went out to move the snow out of the way and managed to clear it within a few minutes, but it's the principle of the thing. If this is the help we are to get then why bother getting it at all.

I have a very low clearance car so with the least bit of snow, it can turn into an interesting drive. With large chunks of snow and ice in the way, it can mean a bumpy ride as well. I took a look at the picture in today's blog and realized that perhaps it is indicative of what I need to do in order to fend for myself. Fortunately the area in which I live isn't all that bad as far as snowfall goes, but it can get pretty messy at times. When you get help like mis-diagnosed precipitation and snow being added to your burdens, it's a wonder any of us seek out any help at all. I mean it brings real meaning behind the statement, 'with friends like these... who needs enemies?'