04/26/24
January 27, 2015
SportsFilter: The Tuesday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
For once a storm lives up to its billing. This has to be the most snow I've seen in one go in the 15 years I've lived here (I suppose you'd call this "Wednesday" back in Rochester where I spent 3 decades over the course of 4 years) and it's not supposed to quit until tomorrow morning. I'm starting to question my personal philosophy of always forgetting to tune/ change the oil on the snowblower because it's June and who cares?
posted by yerfatma at 02:12 PM on January 27, 2015
Having grown up in Florida, I hate it when they frickin' name a storm in January. Hurricane season ends in late November. And it's even worse when they dip into Roman mythology. Winter Storm Juno? Really? Let's have a real live woman's name. OK, or man's name. I'll bet there are darned few babies in the South that have been named Camille since 1969.
The naming of blizzards is coming from the Weather Channel. The National Weather service has nothing to do with the namings and refuses to acknowledge them. Rest easy, my friend.
Oh, and I do have a friend named Camille because of the legendary hurricane, but funnily enough, she's from North Dakota. However, I know her from down here in North Carolina.
posted by NoMich at 02:14 PM on January 27, 2015
yerfatma, my average measured snow height during round one was 32". Just above the top of the gas tank on my venerable rebuilt snowblower. I'm halfway between Bost. and Worcester. I think you and Howard have it worse.
Beautiful snow to blow. The powder swirls and envelops the adventurer. You feel like you're backstage with Duff McKagan.
Dale Jr. sez: yer snowblower oal may be OK for the time being, but check them belts and shear bolts.
My local power equipment parts place has all their replacement belts hung from an old ceiling beam way overhead. It took me years of handing them my money before they let me get the pistol grip pole picker snatch grabber from its secret hiding place and take belts down from the display all by myself. I felt like I'd been ushered into a secret brotherhood. I think there's a membership initiation. You have to prove that you own and regularly listen to the classic Best of Bobby Goldsboro collection on 8 track.
posted by beaverboard at 02:53 PM on January 27, 2015
Dale Jr. sez: yer snowblower oal may be OK for the time being, but check them belts and shear bolts.
In the first week of December in 2010, London Ontario had 2 meters (79in) fall in 3 days. While plowing the driveway for the first of 5 times in that period, my plow hit SOMETHING under the snow (a kid's toy? a kid?) and broke a shear bolt. It took me 50 minutes (without gloves) to clear off the snow from the blade, push out the remnant of the bolt from the hole, and then try to push the new bolt through the quickly-icing-over hole.
Since then, any time I use the snowblower I am beyond fearful of having that happen again.
posted by grum@work at 03:15 PM on January 27, 2015
By way of penance, let me heartily endorse the work of the good folks at Ariens. I've had the poor bastard snow blower for 9 years, I dunno if I've changed the oil once and I've eaten a ton of rocks (one of our two driveways* is untamped stone) and three walkway lights. None of it has stopped that champ. Today was only the second time I ever could have used a snorkle as I almost stalled it out going too far under a drift. And that was just the pre-game prep so I can get everybody out of the house so I can do the proper cleanup as time allows.
And now it turns out I wasted some time opening the front walk to the street as the state has cancelled postal delivery. So much for that promise. Thanks Obama. (In reality I spent most of the day wondering what the hell the point would be unless it was Social Security check day and even then the banks are closed and you wouldn't want those old codgers trundling down the drifty sidewalks.)
* The other one is shared with the neighbor, it's not like it's a palatial estate or something.
posted by yerfatma at 03:31 PM on January 27, 2015
I did have to replace the drive shaft which just gave up the ghost one incredibly cold morning a few years back. Of course they don't make the part anymore so the recommended replacement was some "adjustable" shaft from a lawn tractor that pretty much works. Unless you liked having reverse. At some point I should probably fix that too.
posted by yerfatma at 03:33 PM on January 27, 2015
The Hall of Fame case for Larry Walker (why do we even need one?)
posted by yerfatma at 04:22 PM on January 27, 2015
grum, I feel your pain, because who has ever had to replace a shear bolt in conditions other than the frozen hell you perfectly described.
my plow hit SOMETHING under the snow
Local wags are fond of saying that their snowblowers can handle a daily newspaper without too much trouble, but aren't quite up to the challenge of swallowing the Sunday paper.
Whenever I find myself outdoors on my hands and knees in the snow, bare fingered, and cursing cold metal while trying to revive a piece of equipment, I remind myself of the Nova episode entitled "B29 Frozen in Time". The discovery, salvage, and restoration of an abandoned and long forgotten bomber on a frozen lake bed in Greenland. The only way to get the plane out of there was to make it airworthy and fly it out after having sat there for 50 or so years. Only way to reach the lake bed was via a vintage Caribou supply/transport aircraft.
I recommend this episode to all who haven't seen it. Viewable online at YouTube and elsewhere. Provides a healthy, hearty dose of perspective whenever you fancy yourself as doing something heroically resourceful or think you have problems that no one else could comprehend or endure. (Those who have seen it, please don't reveal the ending to those who haven't seen it.)
I'll bet that all the race teams that participate in the 24 Hours of LeMons have probably seen that show.
posted by beaverboard at 04:28 PM on January 27, 2015
I could show up at Howard or yerfatma's place with my dog toting a small keg of brandy under her chin
Come on over , beaverboard, but make it a large keg. Son and his girlfriend are hunkered down with my wife and I. Only problem with this is that my kitchen has been taken over while the young'uns bake cookies, and the TV is stuck on chick flicks.
After supper I will put my new Toro to its biggest test so far. I fueled it and checked the oil after using it for the "warmup" act last week. Two spare shear bolts are on hand in the garage, so I think I'll be OK. My old Yard Machines beast gave me about 10 years before the auger clutch burned out while the machine was trying to eat some ice last year. Right now kid and girlfriend are out with shovels trying to get a start on things. I think they're bored. The official total is about 27 inches here in Nashua (we're on the NH-MA line on the west bank of the Merrimack River), and it's still coming down pretty well. My biggest problem is Reynaud's Syndrome. It means my circulatory system has problems pushing blood to the extremities. 20 minutes in the cold, even with gloves, means 15 minutes indoors to get some semblance of feeling back in my fingers.
would be unless it was Social Security check day and even then the banks are closed and you wouldn't want those old codgers trundling down the drifty sidewalks
Direct deposit is the way I go. And watch who you call an old codger. I'm not a codger, just old. yerfatma, I think you might be getting a bit more snow than I am getting, since you are a lot closer to the coast.
While we are passing out accolades for snowblower manufacturers and the like, I want to commend the Public Works guys here in Nashua. The plow drivers have been out since before midnight last night, and they have come by our back street 2 or 3 times since. I guess the routes and driver combinations are kept constant from year to year. I asked the guy who does our neighborhood to try not to pile the snow up too high at the end of our sidewalk (I live on a corner) so I could move the snow a little more easily. I want to keep the way to the street clear since the kids who go to the nearby elementary school use the walk and would otherwise have to walk in the street. The plow driver takes care of it every storm. These same guys also drive the trash trucks, so a week like this can be a man-killer. Lots of overtime, but a killer nonetheless. Thanks, guys.
posted by Howard_T at 04:50 PM on January 27, 2015
Still showing up at about 1"/hour here. Apparently Nashua's approach to snow clearing is a bit different from Dover's, where they usually wait until it all stops to plow and sand in honor of Charles Darwin. That said, they've been at it since early last night and I don't envy them. You know how once a decade or so you spout a quip worth keeping (maybe it's more often for you all)? When I first moved to this state I said to my wife, in reference to a coworker with man troubles, "Never have a baby with a plow guy. Between the two of them you'll never get a decent night's sleep again."
posted by yerfatma at 06:54 PM on January 27, 2015
my kitchen has been taken over while the young'uns bake cookies, and the TV is stuck on chick flicks
I had the same problem. Only one child left still living at home; she's a senior in high school. And in full charge of the TV.
Gilmore Girls isn't over. They're just not making any new episodes.
If I call "The Blind Side" a chick flick just because Sandra, the matron saint of chick flicks is in it, nobody will get to watch it.
If my neighbor, who was snowblowing at the same time I was, had come over to ask me why I seemed to be attacking the snow with such vigor and relish, I would have told him that after watching just 20 minutes of Fashion Police, I felt like I was fully capable of indiscriminate aggravated assault.
posted by beaverboard at 08:43 AM on January 28, 2015
Here up north temperatures have been above freezing and the snow has completely melted in areas. It's been raining most of the last week as it is today. Really sucks as it kills all winter outdoor activities.
Would take 4 feet of snow and -20C temperatures over our current conditions any day.
posted by cixelsyd at 09:57 AM on January 28, 2015
Put the final exam on the Toro last night and again today (Wednesday). It passed with flying colors, but I did learn one thing about Briggs and Stratton engines. They do not run worth a shit without fuel in the tank. Problem was I filled it before the storm, then did the driveway Tuesday night, Had to redo the driveway a bit after the plow came by, but not too bad. Also gave the guy across the street a break by taking the plow pile off his driveway. Finished the sidewalk this morning. Where the plows had banked the snow, the piles were about 5 feet high. Got about 3/4 of the way through the sidewalk when it quit, so I had to stop and refuel. When the business end of the snow blower is only about 2 feet high, tackling a 5-foot pile is not easy. Push the machine in, undercut as far as possible, lift the front end in order to bring down the overhead, reverse it out, go back forward to pick up some more. Lather, rinse, repeat. FWIW, Nashua got 33.2 inches -- most in NH and it broke a 126-year record that even I am not old enough to remember. yerfatma and beaverboard, I would sing a chorus of We are the Champions, but I don't have the energy.
posted by Howard_T at 05:18 PM on January 28, 2015
I found my mailbox about an hour ago.
I found the post late last night.
I want to stop digging because I'm afraid I'll unearth a well preserved hominid and then I'll be obliged to do an on-camera interview with Geraldo.
posted by beaverboard at 06:45 PM on January 28, 2015
What is this "snow" thing I keep hearing about?
posted by owlhouse at 09:20 PM on January 28, 2015
What is this "snow" thing I keep hearing about?
Think of the worst sandstorm you have ever experienced on the Outback. Then think that the sand isn't coming from the ground, but it is somehow being transported from outside Australia. Next, think that it is very slippery, very cold, very windy, and there is the possibility that your electrical power will fail. Finally, remember that you will have to move all that has piled up so you can get to work the next day. Of course, if you are a lazy retired bum like me, you could leave it until April or May and just let it melt.
posted by Howard_T at 10:52 PM on January 28, 2015
Just completed round one of significant snow removal in pastoral New England. New York is spared the worst but the more Northerly states suffer - that feels like a couple of recent Super Bowl outcomes. The Belgian ale and Polish potato vodka that I buried in the snow in the overnight have been retrieved and are not being taken for granted. The goal is to become temporarily DQ'ed from being able to operate power equipment. Temporarily.
I never ever want to be in a position where the good people of Buffalo feel sorry for me. We're nowhere near that yet. I could show up at Howard or yerfatma's place with my dog toting a small keg of brandy under her chin if it gets worse. I just need to line up a couple of sponsors.
I do resent how anything over 12" of snow in the nation's media and financial epicenter in the Northeast is a national crisis, whereas up to 5 feet around the Great Lakes is just another day at the office. Those people don't count?
Having grown up in Florida, I hate it when they frickin' name a storm in January. Hurricane season ends in late November. And it's even worse when they dip into Roman mythology. Winter Storm Juno? Really? Let's have a real live woman's name. OK, or man's name. I'll bet there are darned few babies in the South that have been named Camille since 1969. Or Hugo for that matter. I had the most wonderful GF named Katrina at one time and I feel very bad that her name got dragged through so much human misery.
This is properly "huddle" venting, but if it carries on too much further, I may have to file under the 'Extreme" category.