Looking out my kitchen window, at the ice storm

[Siwsan]

Most of the power outages seem to be confined to the west side of the state. My cousins live in Grand Rapids, and they are in the dark.

I think the temps MIGHT just warm up enough to mitigate this situation. The 'future' map I looked at showed most everything out of the Flint area before 11, this morning. But, these weather conditions are anything but predictable. All of the schools are closed, and the accident reports are surprisingly low.

So while it isn't over UNTIL it's over, I still want to thank my friends on DU who really talked me off of a ledge, last night. I got lots of great advice and kind thoughts - one can not be valued over the other.

Hopefully I won't disappear from cyber space, later today. And also, hopefully, this weather isn't bad enough to delay me getting my car back, by another day. I have to admit, I'm going through some major 'Aldi' withdrawal. I usually stop there, to pick things up, several times a week. I hope they aren't worried about me!

[PJMcK]

1. Glad you're well!

Stay in touch.

[Siwsan]

2. Will do!

[MichMary]

3. Some northern Michigan schools

have been closed for eight consecutive school days. I've never seen anything like that. Looking at the forecast, I believe we are in for more bad weather over the next couple of days. I'm further west than you are, so maybe you won't get it.

[Siwsan]

4. The schools in the Flint area were closed all last week

And now, again, today.

One weather report shows more ice, tomorrow. But the others I've checked just show rain. And the snow forecast, for Tuesday, went from 3-5" to 1-3".

This has definitely been one weird winter.

[MichMary]

5. Very weird.

I'm originally from northern Wisconsin, so I'm used to very cold winter temps. I didn't mind the polar vortex last week. I realized that I missed that crisp coldness, and the way the snow squeaks when you walk on it. But, it never used to warm up by nearly 50 degrees within a few days!!

[Siwsan]

6. I love Michigan, 3 out of 4 seasons

If I didn't have these cats, I'd be snow-birding it, during the Winter. My nieces and nephews have all invited me to spend time with them, during the winter. 2 are in Florida and 1 in North Carolina. Maybe someday......

[Polly Hennessey]

7. I was worried about you.

As I sit here in Northern California with cold but ok weather, my thoughts often moved to you and the icy conditions you were/are facing. I was heartened by all of the DU support. Am glad to hear you are doing well and so far no problems. I have this image of you hauling water from your basement and I don’t know how you did it. 🤗

[Siwsan]

8. It looks like the heaviest precipitation hit by Lake Michigan

Most of the outages happened by 4 am. By the time the storm arrived in my part of the state, it had pretty much lightened the load. The storm in 2013 was an equal opportunity menace.

I just filled the bird feeder, and had to just slide my feet over the icy sidewalk and lawn, so it is very slick. However, it looks like it's warm enough to cause the ice, on the roads, to crush and crumble under the weight of the cars.

I've had to do that sump pump baling far too many times, in the past. It's the main reason I had a generator installed. Now I just need to get over my fear of running it. I can take the cold and I can take the heat, but I'm reaching the age where lugging those water filled buckets up the stairs is going to become a problem.

And I am always heartened by the support we all get from our friends on DU. The advice they offer can be priceless and the good vibes are a treasure.

[bif]

9. It was bad in the Detroit area.

But it was worse walking to my car than the hour drive in to work. The front porch and driveway were a sheet of ice. But the roads and highways were all salted.