Ice, ice and more ice

[fenchurch]

I think I've developed a very low tolerance for being trapped at home... I'm sure it was the month or so from the first of the year when I couldn't go anywhere unless someone drove me that did it. But really, one day trapped by the icy roads and I was about to climb the walls. Today I ventured out to do a bit of shopping... as well as just walking up and down the aisles at Fred Meyer to get at least a little bit of exercise. The route to the YMCA isn't terribly long, but it's right through one of the worst places for compact ice and snow in the area and I didn't think it was worth dealing with.

The roads were a real mixed bag... in our little neighborhood section, they were awful -- layers upon layers of ice, with ridges and ice sheets. Not fun. But out on the more major streets? Not bad. I still went slow (as did everyone else) but there was very little sliding to worry about. There's also a fairly large spot right now in our cul-de-sac without the layers of ice... from the leak in the water main. There were more utility workers out there today, with some odd looking machinery, no doubt trying to track down the source of the problem.

I also made it by Trader Joe's, only to discover that they've come out with a totally evil new product: Candy Cane Joe Joes. I'm already a big fan of TJ's Joe-Joes... a sort of Oreo knock-off that's better than the real thing (cheaper and with better ingredients), but oh... imagine an Oreo made with good cocoa in the wafer and real vanilla and sugar in the white filling, and then add in crushed candy cane bits. Mmm... I'm actually rather glad these are seasonal, so I won't be tempted by them year round.

We're getting the next wave of snow right now... but as I was sort of expecting, it doesn't appear to be anywhere near as bad as they were predicting. Besides, it's not the snow that causes the real problems here, it's the ice. Unless it warms up a LOT overnight, though, the roads should be horrible in the morning. Layers of ice with fresh snow and possible freezing rain on top of it all. Ick.

Comments

[cindergal.livejournal.com]

I ventured out yesterday, but it was slow going and slippery, and cinderhub said today it's worse.

And try being trapped for four days with two stir crazy kids and your bored parents. Ahhhhhhh!

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Yikes! And you're up in the area that isn't getting nearly as much relief today... the ice on our roads has mostly melted off today, but I've heard nothing but horror stories about the road conditions up your way.

[dolphinchatter.livejournal.com]

It's raining now, so you should be out soon.

[queenofattolia.livejournal.com]

I also made it by Trader Joe's, only to discover that they've come out with a totally evil new product: Candy Cane Joe Joes.

OMG. I bought a box of these the day after Thanksgiving, and as disgusted with myself as I am, I finished the box in four days. Alone. They are too good, and as the Brits say, totally more-ish.

I was trying to convince my nephew to use these instead of pretzels to dip in chocolate and decorate for his teachers' gift bags, but he didn't like them! Rats. Now I have no excuse (other than my own gluttony) to buy another box. Trader Joe's rules, but it is also evil.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I bought a box of these the day after Thanksgiving, and as disgusted with myself as I am, I finished the box in four days. Alone.

That is *exactly* why I'm glad they're seasonal. I've done a pretty decent job of not plowing through the box, but it hasn't been easy!

I was trying to convince my nephew to use these instead of pretzels to dip in chocolate

Oh wow... that sounds simply divine! I may have to give it a try...

[shapinglight]

It sounds horrible. Mind you, everyone sounds a lot more prepared for that kind of thing where you are.

it just has to snow a little bit in England (as opposed to Scotland) and the whole country grinds to a standstill.

[jerusha]

Hang in there. It sucks being stuck. *hugs*

[pmgoose.livejournal.com]

Yikes. *HUGS*

Those Oreos sound positively amazing.

[rosiewook.livejournal.com]

Wow. You're giving me flashbacks to The Great Ice Storm of 1999. Absolute misery because you could never quite get rid of the dang ice. (And living in a Southern house with no electricity? A wee bit nippy.)

Hopefully you'll have enough of a dry warm-up stretch to get rid of the ice so you can just deal with regular snow.

And they just opened a Trader Joe's here in Atlanta. I don't want to go. It sounds like they pretty much have you in their grasp when you go and you can never escape!

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Yeah. We've definitely had worse snow storms (everything shut down for three days back in 1996 and roofs collapsed because we had so much snow), but ice storms are awful no matter what.

And they just opened a Trader Joe's here in Atlanta. I don't want to go. It sounds like they pretty much have you in their grasp when you go and you can never escape!

Oh, you definitely want to go! The wonderful thing about Trader Joe's is that not only do they carry fantastic food, but the prices are really reasonable, as well. It's the first stop I make whenever I'm doing my grocery shopping... and there's very little I end up having to get anywhere else. Plus, you're not likely to find anything in that place with high fructose corn syrup in it, which is a big part of the appeal for me.

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

I thought I'd warned everyone about those evil, evil Joe-Joe's. Sorry I missed you. They are so very much better than Oreos, though, without the addictive bad-for-you parts that make it so easy to get obsessed with just one more cookie (like unto Tootsie Rolls, Oreos taste almost-good, and the next one might be better?).

Thawed here and rained most of the night, but still just above freezing. Ugh.

Julia, hating on cold weather and slippery surfaces

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I'd been considering stocking up on the Candy Cane Joe-Joe's before they disappear for the year, but now I'm not so sure it would be a good idea. I'd have to keep them in some sort of locked cabinet and give the key to someone else so I wouldn't be able to get at them!

Actually, I'm thinking of taking queenofattolia's suggestion and dipping them in chocolate to add to the goodie plates we're planning to hand out at Christmas-time.

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

I LOVE Joe Joe's. I have to try and avoid the cookie aisle at Trader Joe's otherwise I'll get 'em all the time.

You probably would laugh to have heard Barb saying it was freezing in the house... it dropped all the way to 62 degrees inside. Brrr!

*wink*

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

That *is* cold for inside the house, though! But yeah... if it were 62 outside, I'd be a happy camper. I could go walking around the neighborhood without a jacket!

Joe-Joe's really are the best... but the Candy Cane ones are pure evil in their deliciousness.

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

Are you mad? That's at LEAST jacket weather! *g*

Now I have to go over to Trader Joe's, you realize...