STORM WARNING!
Dec. 20th, 2008 06:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jenni_blogOh My God. I am FINALLY on vacation until December 29th when I have to return to work. This is awesome. I will be able to catch up on everything I've been missing the past week or so. Because it's the holiday season, I've been busy with all the Christmasy things I have to do...shopping, parties, cooking, cleaning, visiting....etc., etc., etc. And then yesterday we got the first part of a three-part major storm. It was scheduled to start around 9 am. My husband said, "Don't go to work! If you do, you'll never get home!" However, I went in anyway because we were having a staff party and exchanging gifts. Everyone was bringing some food that they'd made, so there was no way I was missing that. "I want to go," I told him. "Don't worry, if it looks bad, I'll leave early."
The storm started right on time at 9 am. By 11:30 am visibility on the roads was nil. The wind was so strong that the falling snow was actually blowing sideways. It was a true blizzard. So I told the boss and my colleagues that I was packing it in, went downstairs to the parking lot, loaded up my car, putting my purse, wallet, everything, into it. I started the car and while it was idling I stepped out of it to brush the snow off the windows.
When I went to get back in I couldn't, because I was inexplicably locked out! "WTF?" I thought. How the hell did that happen? I ran back upstairs and into the office, carrying my windshield brush, which is on a long stick and almost as tall as I am. I explained to everyone what had happened and phoned the roadside assistance number. After waiting in priority sequence for 40 minutes, I finally got through to someone who promised a tow truck would be there in under an hour because they had someone in the area. After waiting for four hours, in which time I just continued working, nobody came, so I tried to call them again. After a few tries I got through again and was told that someone had already come, but they went into the video store downstairs to ask where I was and were told that I had gone. I freaked out because I had not talked to anyone in the video store at all, so why the hell were they telling the tow truck guys that I had left? Also, why was it that I never saw the tow truck guys when I was watching out the window the whole time, and when I wasn't, my coworkers were?
I facepalmed because there was a quarter tank of gas in my car and I figured it would be running out any time now. In the meantime I had called my husband (who has an extra key to my car) and told him what happened. When I talked to the roadside assistance people the second time, they said they would send the tow truck guys again, with some gas to put in my car, and they would be about 20 minutes this time. My husband decided to wait to see if they came or not before he ventured out. (I work out of town, and it's not a short drive, especially during a blizzard.)
My boss and one of my colleagues were still there, so I said goodbye to them and raced downstairs again. I stormed into the video store to give them shit for sending my first tow truck drivers off. But they told me that NOBODY had come into the store looking for me! So the bloody tow-truck bastards had lied!!! I went outside with my trusty window brush to knock more snow off my car and peer through the window to see how much gas was left. The needle was almost on empty and my Beatles CD was still blaring away. LOL. Twenty minutes soon turned into two more hours, and still no tow truck. By now it was about 6:15 pm. Standing in the doorway of the video store, I was beginning to shiver and I was starving. My boss had driven my other colleague home, and to my surprise he came back to see if I was still there! Concerned because I was shivering and shaking, he gave me $80 so I could go get some dinner, and gave me his keys so I could get back into the office and phone my husband. (My Blackberry was locked in the car along with my life. XD)
I called Ed (my hubby), told him the news, and he said he was on his way. At least the traffic had died down, but I figured it would take him at least an hour to get there. I, armed with my trusty window brush which I used as a walking stick, hoofed it over to the Burger King restaurant to wolf down a chicken sandwich and a shitload of fries. LOL. When I told the girl behind the counter my story, she gave me a humongous cup of coffee to help warm me up. That sandwich and fries tasted like heaven. I was the only person in the restaurant. I sat there and waited for Ed. When I saw him pull into the parking lot about an hour later, I went outside on cold, shaky legs to meet him. To my surprise the car was still running, although the gas indicator needle was pointing below empty! Ed said, "You'll have to try driving to the gas station and chance that it won't run out of gas before you get there. I'll follow you."
Anyway, to cut this long story short, the car made it to the gas station after running for over six hours! It is a 2009 Nissan Versa. I highly recommend these cars for their gas conservation, although I have no idea why it inexplicably locked while it was running, with me outside it! Today we tried every possible permutation in the driveway to see if it would do the same thing again, but it never did! So why would it just lock itself like that? If I am inside the car and turn it on, then get out, there is no possible way I can accidentally lock it because I have to unlock it in order to get out! The fact that I had gotten out meant that it was unlocked!!! It's a mystery.
Anyway, we finally got home about 8:30 pm. I was far too knackered, freezing and brain dead to get online and do anything! Today I feel knackered still. Ed and I went out for a Chinese lunch and we were going to do some shopping, but we were too tired to shop so we came home. I've been watching footie on TV and laying about like a vegetable. Tomorrow I will try to catch up with everything (again), and get back to replying to comments, reading my flist's entries, do some posts, etc., etc.
It feels good to be home!
HOWEVER, my daughter is supposed to be flying home to Toronto tomorrow night. She's coming from Vancouver. And my brother's daughter is supposed to be flying in from Korea, where she works and lives now. But the second part of the storm is supposed to hit us tomorrow. So I have no idea what is going to happen. I hope the girls can get here okay! Surprisingly, today was nice and sunny, although cold as hell. So none of yesterday's snow has melted. But the driving was easy. It's amazing what a great job the snowplows and snow removal service can do. Years ago we would have been snowed in until we could dig ourselves out or the snow melted. I'm not too traumatized by what happened, although I think it'll take me a few days to warm up again! LOL. I just apologize to my flist for being so much in absentia!
The storm started right on time at 9 am. By 11:30 am visibility on the roads was nil. The wind was so strong that the falling snow was actually blowing sideways. It was a true blizzard. So I told the boss and my colleagues that I was packing it in, went downstairs to the parking lot, loaded up my car, putting my purse, wallet, everything, into it. I started the car and while it was idling I stepped out of it to brush the snow off the windows.
When I went to get back in I couldn't, because I was inexplicably locked out! "WTF?" I thought. How the hell did that happen? I ran back upstairs and into the office, carrying my windshield brush, which is on a long stick and almost as tall as I am. I explained to everyone what had happened and phoned the roadside assistance number. After waiting in priority sequence for 40 minutes, I finally got through to someone who promised a tow truck would be there in under an hour because they had someone in the area. After waiting for four hours, in which time I just continued working, nobody came, so I tried to call them again. After a few tries I got through again and was told that someone had already come, but they went into the video store downstairs to ask where I was and were told that I had gone. I freaked out because I had not talked to anyone in the video store at all, so why the hell were they telling the tow truck guys that I had left? Also, why was it that I never saw the tow truck guys when I was watching out the window the whole time, and when I wasn't, my coworkers were?
I facepalmed because there was a quarter tank of gas in my car and I figured it would be running out any time now. In the meantime I had called my husband (who has an extra key to my car) and told him what happened. When I talked to the roadside assistance people the second time, they said they would send the tow truck guys again, with some gas to put in my car, and they would be about 20 minutes this time. My husband decided to wait to see if they came or not before he ventured out. (I work out of town, and it's not a short drive, especially during a blizzard.)
My boss and one of my colleagues were still there, so I said goodbye to them and raced downstairs again. I stormed into the video store to give them shit for sending my first tow truck drivers off. But they told me that NOBODY had come into the store looking for me! So the bloody tow-truck bastards had lied!!! I went outside with my trusty window brush to knock more snow off my car and peer through the window to see how much gas was left. The needle was almost on empty and my Beatles CD was still blaring away. LOL. Twenty minutes soon turned into two more hours, and still no tow truck. By now it was about 6:15 pm. Standing in the doorway of the video store, I was beginning to shiver and I was starving. My boss had driven my other colleague home, and to my surprise he came back to see if I was still there! Concerned because I was shivering and shaking, he gave me $80 so I could go get some dinner, and gave me his keys so I could get back into the office and phone my husband. (My Blackberry was locked in the car along with my life. XD)
I called Ed (my hubby), told him the news, and he said he was on his way. At least the traffic had died down, but I figured it would take him at least an hour to get there. I, armed with my trusty window brush which I used as a walking stick, hoofed it over to the Burger King restaurant to wolf down a chicken sandwich and a shitload of fries. LOL. When I told the girl behind the counter my story, she gave me a humongous cup of coffee to help warm me up. That sandwich and fries tasted like heaven. I was the only person in the restaurant. I sat there and waited for Ed. When I saw him pull into the parking lot about an hour later, I went outside on cold, shaky legs to meet him. To my surprise the car was still running, although the gas indicator needle was pointing below empty! Ed said, "You'll have to try driving to the gas station and chance that it won't run out of gas before you get there. I'll follow you."
Anyway, to cut this long story short, the car made it to the gas station after running for over six hours! It is a 2009 Nissan Versa. I highly recommend these cars for their gas conservation, although I have no idea why it inexplicably locked while it was running, with me outside it! Today we tried every possible permutation in the driveway to see if it would do the same thing again, but it never did! So why would it just lock itself like that? If I am inside the car and turn it on, then get out, there is no possible way I can accidentally lock it because I have to unlock it in order to get out! The fact that I had gotten out meant that it was unlocked!!! It's a mystery.
Anyway, we finally got home about 8:30 pm. I was far too knackered, freezing and brain dead to get online and do anything! Today I feel knackered still. Ed and I went out for a Chinese lunch and we were going to do some shopping, but we were too tired to shop so we came home. I've been watching footie on TV and laying about like a vegetable. Tomorrow I will try to catch up with everything (again), and get back to replying to comments, reading my flist's entries, do some posts, etc., etc.
It feels good to be home!
HOWEVER, my daughter is supposed to be flying home to Toronto tomorrow night. She's coming from Vancouver. And my brother's daughter is supposed to be flying in from Korea, where she works and lives now. But the second part of the storm is supposed to hit us tomorrow. So I have no idea what is going to happen. I hope the girls can get here okay! Surprisingly, today was nice and sunny, although cold as hell. So none of yesterday's snow has melted. But the driving was easy. It's amazing what a great job the snowplows and snow removal service can do. Years ago we would have been snowed in until we could dig ourselves out or the snow melted. I'm not too traumatized by what happened, although I think it'll take me a few days to warm up again! LOL. I just apologize to my flist for being so much in absentia!
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no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 12:02 am (UTC)I know the reason because I love NO snow and winter!
Your story is horrible! I'm glad you are safe at home now and I hope the girls will come home safe too!
I cannot drive a car 'smiles' but here it is not necessary. I can go by bus or tram or metro or can take a taxy.
*hugs'
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 01:13 pm (UTC)Now today there is more storm already, and I am worried about my daughter coming tonight!
My niece is already here. She came a couple of days early - smart girl!
The snow removal services have been wonderful, so let's hope they will keep up the good work so that people can get around!
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 03:14 pm (UTC)I guess it looks all beautiful in white.
I'm so happy you are safe at home and the same I hope for your daughter.
Thanks to the snow removal service.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 03:18 pm (UTC)It is beautiful with all the snow, but so much snow! We have never seen so much of it as long as we have lived here!
I don't know what will happen with the flights, but right now I hope it will be delayed until tomorrow!
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 03:58 pm (UTC)I send all my good thought to your daughter's flight!
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 12:06 am (UTC)OMG, I was sure, that such situation are common just in Russia. I mean, when you call somewhere, they promise to be in several minutes, but they arrive either in several hours or do not arrive at all (and then say, that they were)... Grrrrrr!!
But anyway, I'm glad, that everything ended well. Hope, that tomorrow everything will be okay...
And I don't wanna think, what will be in Russia, when the nature remembers, that it's winter and it has to be snowing here.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 01:15 pm (UTC)The situation with the roadside assistance was horrible!
But the snow removal service has been wonderful!
The snow has started again and I don't know what will happen with the flights!
We will see how it all turns out!
Well, if winter is starting late for you in Russia, you are lucky! That means it will be shorter!
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 06:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-22 11:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 12:31 am (UTC)The only thing I knew, is that our car locks itself after 10 minutes, as well, when nothing is happening. But I don't know if it does when the radio and whatnot is running. Just when nothing is going on, so if you forget to lock it after taking something out of the car boot or 'cause you're talking to somebody, it locks itself after a while... Weird things.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 01:17 pm (UTC)Maybe that is what happened with my car, but it shouldn't be locking itself with the keys inside and the car running!
At least I will be keeping an extra set of keys in my office from now on!
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 01:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 01:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 03:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 01:19 pm (UTC)My niece got here OK, but my daughter is set to fly out in about 12 hours' time, and it is snowing again like crazy. You can't even see ten feet ahead of you. So we will wait and see if it stops by tonight.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 04:50 am (UTC)My jaw DROPPED when I got to the bit about getting locked out! Oh my goodness, that's awful! I'm glad everything got worked out in the end but ... wow, I can't even imagine how much it must have hurt to have been outside, especially at night. It's been painfully cold lately :o/
I hope your daughter and your neice get in on time, and safely! I've heard on the news that the airports (both Vancouver's and Toronto's) have been insane.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 01:21 pm (UTC)OMG *facepalm*. I was talking to my daughter last night and she's worried about her flight being delayed and the airport chaos. We will just have to wait and see. My niece is here, so that is good.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 12:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 01:23 pm (UTC)Crazy car, though! That was scary.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 02:41 pm (UTC)I can't believe you got locked out of your car. And I can't believe the tow trucks never showed up! What jerks! At least your husband came with another set of keys and you didn't run out of gas before you got to a station.
I hope your daughter is able to get in today.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 03:00 pm (UTC)OMG, I wonder what tonight is going to be like with the flights!!! In a way I hope my daughter is delayed until tomorrow!
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 08:31 pm (UTC)Hope the storm passes before Olivia's flight comes in.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-22 10:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 09:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-22 10:55 pm (UTC)