Keith Browning Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 We have an October snow storm hitting us here in New Jersey and there are still a lot of leaves on the trees. I am up high enough to get as much as 8". This is going to be an interesting weekend. Maybe fun too. Trick or treat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 Snow is pretty much a Hallowe'en tradition here in the great white north... except that we've had some shirtsleeve weather as recently as last week... and rain in the last couple of days. This year continues to deliver surprise after surprise. What didn't burn down in May nearly floated away in July. September had me ride the scooter to Edmonton - the leathers and rain suit taking up more room in the bags than they eventually deserved. It was nearly too hot to ride the scooter on the highway and, once I got into that wonderful city traffic, I began to regret the lack of AC. The farmers almanac, I am told, predicts a harsh winter... The wildlife I see just doesn't look like they are expecting a harsh winter.... But then we could be just waiting for a high winter kill, too.... At least we seem to have made it to October 29th..... proving that the Mayans didn't run out of "days"... they ran out of rocks on which to carve the calendar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Clayton Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 Yeah, it done snowed here Thursday night, ruined my weekend motorbike ride! Two of our competing ski resorts are actually opening this weekend with a couple of trails open. I gotta move.....SOUTH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DwayneGorniak Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 At least we seem to have made it to October 29th..... proving that the Mayans didn't run out of "days"... they ran out of rocks on which to carve the calendar. I thought they were saying Dec.21/2012. I haven't followed this much at all. But, about a month and a half ago I walked into a shop and one of my customers started preaching to me about how I need to get my life and affairs in order before we enter the fifth portal of the solar system and life as we know will be over. He went on and on about this shit saying how we will have to redeem ourselves and all that shit while wearing his damned LED headlight on his head with his thick pop bottle eye glasses and curly red hair. Jim you don't have a brother do you? Just kiddin man. You would have a hayday with a guy like this. At first I thought he was joking but then very quickly realized that this fucker was off his rocker. I couldn't even argue with this retard about how all the same shit was talked about in 1999 (that would be about the world ending). Jim, what can you tell us about this dumb ass system that the Mayans have? Oops, Highjack! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 Everything I know about the Mayan calendar could be chiselled into a rock.... a very, very small rock. Why not stonehenge? But I guess stonehenge is more of a "time piece" like a clock or a sun dial on steroids than a calendar. Harold Camping has predicted the end of the world several times... not sure what calendar he is using. One of his predictions was this past May 21st... but Slave Lake burned down on the 15th of May. This must have upset some grand scheme of things and they rescheduled for Oct. 21st... which didn't seem to pan out. Originally, the Mayan calendar was supposed to fall off the edge of the stone tablet on Dec 21st, 2012... but was, AFAIK, revised twice to become yesterday... The only remarkable thing about yesterday was that Kenny bought beer... and it wasn't "gluten free" beer (this is a good thing). For my part, I don't see great googlymoogly ripping the earth to bits in the near future. I DO see defeating emissions control devices as one way to eventually eradicate the human race... But that might be the best thing that ever happened to planet earth. Thread highjacked in the second period with an assist from Dwayne the toolmonger.... stay tuned for the instant replay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted October 29, 2011 Author Share Posted October 29, 2011 My kids are are watching the snow fall and I think they are going to pop! Then the subject of Halloween came up and their faces got long. I don't know about them but I am dressing up and will be scaring the fuck outta the neighborhood bastards on Monday night!!! I just might have to break out my Killer Klown outfit. I am sure my daughters will be out of the door before me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 I had to buy a new water heater.... the old one is waterlogged... yes, you read that right.... I've been putting off the actual replacement - laziness is the reason but I'm sure I can find more palatable excuses. The empty box (2 foot X 2 foot X 5 foot) will find a prominent place on all hallows eve. Someone may or may nor be in it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DwayneGorniak Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 I drag out my coffin every Halloween and dress as Jason and lay in it. Yes, it is actually a real full size old fasioned pine coffin. I prop it up by he front door or the front walkway and when them little buggers come walking up, I jump out with a mashetti and a cleaver and scare the ever livin crap out of them. Man I love Halloween. Other than Christmas, it is mine and my wife's favourite time of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Clayton Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 Eh, not too much snow last night. This is my Honda Accord I do the commute thing in. My son had to get his Jeep towed out of a ditch last night due to the weather event. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 Today, Sunday, October 30th, I did something I have never done before on this date in Alberta. I cut my grass.... I did it as much to pick up leaves as cut the still green grass.... but, traditionally, this would be about the time for our first snow of the season. Hallowe'en is going to be strange looking this year asparents usually buy contumes to fit over snow suits. And all I heard the whole time I was cutting grass was the sound of scooters going by.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted October 31, 2011 Author Share Posted October 31, 2011 Okay, it's day three without power. The house is cold and quiet... well, when the kids are quiet it is. I also have water slowly leeching into my basement because the sump can't run. Interesting week ahead for sure. After the power went out Saturday I went outside and there was that deadened quiet you get when it is snowing. All you could hear was the distant sound of sirens and every 30 seconds a branch or limb cracking and falling off the trees. Schools are closed and driving in to work today was eerie. Every neighborhood is dark, some streets are unplowed or have trees and downed power lines blocking them off. This sucks. I have yet to see an active police vehicle, Power Company vehicle or tree service vehicle. I realize that this is an extraordinary situation and it is going to take time to clear things up and repair power lines and restore power but WTF? No police presence? I am mystified. It's just odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredsvt Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 Hi Keith Are you considering what I really need to get? A natural gas powered standby automatic generator. I have to get one to do the whole house. I priced them out at $3500 for a 16kw unit, then get it installed. With the water that I have to keep pumping out of the sumps, any power failure could cost me big dollars as Allstate won't cover ANY water damage unless the house burns from the water that gets in. I really have to get better homeowner's coverage. Luckily for here, it snowed like crazy Saturday from 11:30am to about 2, got about 4 inches, then the wind really kicked up, started pouring rain, which took all the stuff off the trees, then it snowed some more, we only got about 3" of extremely wet snow. When the hurricane hit, I was one of the few in Marlboro who had power. Most of the town was without power for nearly 10 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted November 1, 2011 Author Share Posted November 1, 2011 Fred I have my father in laws generator which is enough to get the sump pump running. A backup system for the house would be nice but I haven't got the coin to spare for that. Times are really tight now. We got whacked here in Mount Olive with about 8 or 9 inches that fell really hard and fast on Saturday and loaded up the trees rapidly. We have a ton of downed trees and power lines. Driving anywhere is a gamble with roads blocked off and detours here and there. If this had only happened a week or two later when more leaves were off the trees this nor'easter would not have been a problem. Still no power - 4 days and counting. Hopefully today will be the day. Kids have no school again and Trick-or-treating was postponed until Saturday. Could be worse... at least the town is not on fire or under water. (knock on wood) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredsvt Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Hi Keith, Tell me about it, with money being tight, that's why I keep ogling the standby generators. They sure look pretty! I was ready with bailing buckets and mops during the hurricane, so much water came in. If the power went out then, it would have been really bad. There wasn't a portable generator to be had anywhere around here after the hurricane went through. We lucked out with the brief switch to rain/wind that stripped about 80% of the leaves off and snow out of the trees Saturday afternoon. The next door neighbor lost a couple of oaks before that happened. With how much liquid fell, if it were cold enough, I bet it would have been as bad as the blizzard last year. Are you on JCP&L? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Meanwrench Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 Bought one of those nautral gas standby generators because the power would go out at least one a month leaving my sump pump dead....Fuckin' power has not gone out since I installed it a couple of years ago. Not complaining, just strange. As far as snow goes, sorry to hear you are in the dark and cold, that really sucks! I'll take whatever snow you don't want though. Love the snow.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 I bought a small Yamaha genset (1200 watt) when I bought my holiday trailer. This was back before the prices took a real tumble - damned near a buck a watt is what I paid and about three years later, well... what can I say (or is that watt can I say?)? Mine is big enough to run most everything I have but not at the same time. I can heat up dinner in the microwave, or I can watch a DVD.. but not both. It's major saving grace is that we can stand beside it and talk without shouting. Today, a genset similar (actually, it appears identical)to mine can be had for under 25 cents a watt CAD. Canadian Tire boasts a 6500 watt continuous duty (7800 peak) genset for less than I paid for my little guy (not sure about the noise component). FWIW, there are a LOT of websites displaying what many people have done in regards to utilizing wind power for home electricity gneration as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted November 20, 2011 Author Share Posted November 20, 2011 Bought one of those natural gas standby generators because the power would go out at least one a month leaving my sump pump dead....Fuckin' power has not gone out since I installed it a couple of years ago. Not complaining, just strange. As far as snow goes, sorry to hear you are in the dark and cold, that really sucks! I'll take whatever snow you don't want though. Love the snow.. I love snow too and was quite excited when it began falling. Then it fell at an alrming rate, big heavy flakes too. Look at it this way, you fixed your power outage problem right? Now that his is a few weeks behind us I was just amazed at the widespread damage that early snow storm caused. The real problem was just that, and there were just so many tress down that took out power lines, downed utility poles, blocked roadways and such. It just took time to get it all cleared and repaired. Fortunately my in-laws had a 2000 Watt Honda generator they lent us that allowed me and the wife to stop back at the house twice a day to run the sump pump and keep things dry. All in all we only lost some frozen veggies and a bit of sleep. It is what it is. I would love to have a generator in storage for just such occasions but as usual, it's not in the budget. Maybe Obama can send me one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 I love snow too You guys are phuquing wierd.... Rain isn't all bad... at least you don't have to shovel rain.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted November 20, 2011 Author Share Posted November 20, 2011 You guys are phuquing wierd.... Rain isn't all bad... at least you don't have to shovel rain.... Perhaps the difference between you and I when it comes to snow is that you see a more significant amount of it than I do. I still enjoy tinkering with my snow thrower and playing with my kids. I admit that a winter like last year where we seemed to have a decent storm ever week for almost 2 months it did begin to get old but it didn't crush my enthusiasm. This summer I picked up one of those fire pit thingies at the Home Depot. I don't live in the woods so these are necessary in the suburbs if you want a fire in your back yard to sit around. I envision myself sitting in my lawn chair drinking beer in front of a fire with snow all around me. At least once anyway. Hey what the heck, I use the grill in snow storms so why not? And cleaning the yard this fall with a fire going was nice too. I enjoy the smell and the ability to warm up every so often. ... now that I think about this more, I can sit in my back yard, drinking beer by the fire as I watch my kids shovel snow! Yeah, that's it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 I have a fire pit in the back yard, too - I even cook over it even in the winter when I get the urge. A steaming pot of hot chocolate is a nice add-on. Most locals have a snow machine for winter and a quad for not-so-much-winter. The rest of us have scooters - which a bit tough to ride, some months. My son bought his own house so he wouldn't have to shovel my driveway. My last snow blower died an excrutiating death - every year I vow to buy a new one when they come on sale at the end of the season... but at the end of the season, I no longer need a snow blower - so I don't buy one.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmorris Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 My last snow blower died an excrutiating death - every year I vow to buy a new one when they come on sale at the end of the season... but at the end of the season, I no longer need a snow blower - so I don't buy one.... And the next big dump of snow we get, we all say, "!!!Dammit!!!, should'a bought that one when it went on sale. Oh well, next year for sure." And the cycle continues........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredsvt Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 Rain isn't all bad, except..... When you get more than 10" in 12 hours and quite a bit of it ends up in your basement. Even with 2 pumps moving 150,000 gallons a day. No fun... I finally bought a snow blower, and now it'll never snow again... My luck. No fire pit thingys here, my town has ruled ALL outdoor burning is illegal, subject to a $1000 fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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