Ok it’s probably not really a blizzard, but it might as well be! Here in southwestern Ohio, we’ve been hit hard with winter weather in the next couple of days.
Yesterday morning, it didn’t seem too awful outside, and I knew today was going to be worse, so I decided to brave it and head into work. I have about a 40 minute commute… 40 minutes on narrow, curvy country roads that are not #1 priority for the county’s snow clearing teams. “Not priority” as in they might get to them by spring. So even though we didn’t have tons of snow, the roads I was on were pretty covered. I was doing just fine, though, until I started going down a little hill, and I totally lost control of the car.
I slammed on the brakes and did exactly the opposite of everything I should have done in that situation, and hit one of these head on:
Fortunately for me, the sign was enough to stop my car from going any further. Unfortunately for the sign, my car snapped it right in half.
I was able to get out of the ditch I landed in before any other cars came down over the hill. But I didn’t think twice about turning right around and heading home. No way was I going to work – that was enough excitement for me! I wasn’t hurt at all and my car was only damaged slightly (at least as far as I can tell. Futher evaluation by my favorite mechanic, Bobby Rapson, will be necessary), but it scared me to death! I was really shaky the rest of the way home. In the midst of my nervousness, though, I did lament the fact that I didn’t have a camera with me so I could post a picture of the sign I took out! You might be a blogger if…
But actually, our excitement for the day wasn’t quite over – when I got home, the garage door wouldn’t close. It would go down about 2 inches and go right back up. So after trying every fix I could find on Google (and everything some very kind Twitters suggested!), we called the repair man – the same one we had to have put new springs on our door a couple months ago – and he came out and put a brand new opener on. To the tune of $550.
So between the garage door and the car, we had a very expensive day.
Overnight last night, we got about eight hours of freezing rain to add to the mix, and this morning none of us are going anywhere. Andy and Kate had snow days, of course, and unbelievably I did too (which is unprecedented, I believe). So, we’ve already feasted on chocolate donuts, and pretty soon Kate and I are going out to build a snowman. I can’t wait to take Sammy out in the snow for a few minutes as well!
How are the rest of you Ohioans faring this morning? Anyone have a good story to tell?
Stay warm and safe!
I got to sleep in! woo hoo!
I have loved my two snow days!!! We have hibernated inside. I have to say, though, if I can’t leave my house again tomorrow, I will officially go stir-crazy.
It’s situations like the one you had yesterday when the tidbits learned in cartoons are invaluable. In the words of Doc Hudson to Lightning McQueen, “Turn right to go left.” I actually kept myself from fishtailing by remembering that line!
And as for forgetting your camera…an unidentified teenager broke mine, so of coarse I have missed out on a million once in a lifetime blog worthy pictures!
Cookie decorating and building LEGOS in Cincinnati 🙂 Really like your blog too!!
My hubby got up and dug and scraped his way out of our driveway….which took an hour….and inched his way up and down our Kentucky hills to work like the faithful employee he is. Minutes after he called me to tell me he’d safely arrived in the parking garage, his boss called here too. To tell him that he could just stay home and still get paid for it. Oh, he made it IN? she was thrilled- lots of work to be done. Since most everybody else is snug in their houses, taking naps and shoveling at their leisure.
Waaaaahhhhh!!!! Poor man. Poor me. Poor 3-year old, who could be outside playing in the snow with Daddy instead of stuck inside with Mommy & little brother. Oh well.
Don’t feel bad. The WHIO news truck hit a wall this morning too.
I’m staying inside today. I watched my DH and BekahBoo play outside from the window. I was surprised what good pictures my camera took. I opened up the window but not the screen and the camera zoomed past the screen on most of the shots.
All seven kids home and accounted for AND out shoveling snow with dad – who canceled work for his employees! It is beautiful outside!
Glad you’re okay! There are some employers who could cancel work, but never do.
good to hear you are okay. here in philly its very icy!!!
Sorry you had all that stress yesterday. I had a similar accident years ago. I’m glad you were okay!
Glad you’re ok after your little run-in w/the sign. You do have a windy drive in from where you are.
We’re ok here in Lebanon. I just spent 1.5 hours clearing the driveway, etc, with all three kids “helping” me.
Ummm…please don’t, m’kay kids? Tossing snow boulders on the just-shoveled drive to watch them smash into pieces makes Mommy twitchy.
Bet Sammy loved the snow!! Take care!
Last time it snowed really bad I lost control on a hill and hit a pole. Unfortunately I did over $4000 in damage to my car. I wish I hit a sign instead! :/
But seriously, losing control of a car is the scariest feeling ever. Just thank God that you are okay!
I’m an Ohioan by default for one night – stranded in Cleveland when my connecting flight to Philadelphia was canceled tonight. But other than that, doing peachy. 🙂
We’re doing great here. Sunny and 78. Might rain a bit today, but that’s ok, everything is very dry.
Sorry about your little wreck. I stayed home, they ended up with a level 3 snow emergency in the city and work had to send everyone home around 11.