Sunday, January 21, 2007

11 Incidents

That’s how many car accidents (including cars that skidded and ended up facing the wrong way)I counted in a 30 mile radius on the Dulles Toll Road (for those in the urea). A friend and I headed to the Leesburg outlets so I could exchange a pair of shoes I’d bought before the Christmas holidays and didn’t see a drop of snow or even rain in D.C. When we reached the toll road we saw some flurries but nothing major. In Leesburg, an hour from DC the snow was coming down so we decided exchange the shoes and run into one other store before heading home. We were at the outlet stores for maybe 45 minutes and then headed up only to find the highway had accumulated at least an inch of snow. My silver bullet is great and reliable but isn’t a snowmobile so I kept my speed to about 40 mph.

Unfortunately there were a bunch of other Bozos who figured they should keep at the regular posted speed limit and ended up on the side of the road, in a ditch or with a jacked up car. I was anxious to get home, it was after all a snowy Sunday afternoon which means sitting in my pjs watching TV and drinking hot cocoa but despite my interest in getting home quickly I had no interest in dying so I keep it slow.

This is our first snow fall of the winter season and people in the DC metro area are notorious for loosing their minds when it snows. What I don’t understand is why won’t folks just SLOW DOWN! Ain’t nothing at the end of the journey to risk my life or someone else’s for. The folks with the SUVs are also notorious for speeding during inclement weather in these parts; I haven’t read anywhere where SUV manufacturers say they’re safe to drive fast in snow and icy conditions.

Let’s talk about the supermarkets; I walked into a Safeway near my house for Empanada fixings and quickly walked out. The lines were at least 30 minutes long. No way, when I didn’t need to have Empanadas tonight. Armageddon is not here, so I can’t understand why EVERYONE had to be at the grocery store today even though it was snowing. I figure the majority of the patrons lived in the area so that means there are also at least 2 mini market/bodegas/7-11 type stores within a two or three block radius of everyplace in DC proper so there’s no threat of starving to death if folks run out of milk or bread.

I’m hoping for more snow so I can work from home and if that happens I’ll just walk to the local mini market or grocery store if I run out of food.

7 comments:

The OE said...

Thankfully you have internet access. Shoot us an email with the silver bullet if it goes out in the storm.

Janet Kincaid said...

Oh, if only more of the folk in D.C. thought as rationally as you do. I skipped out on Sunday dinner at my parents in Fairfax because I didn't want to be on the road with all the idiots who can't seem to get it in their noggins to slow down. As for BMTP (bread, milk and toilet paper) panics, those will never end. After paying for college by working at Giant, I took a vow never, ever, ever to go to the store on a BMTP run before snow. If I survived with bread or milk for days before the snow, I'll survive for days after. As for TP, there's always the newspaper.

Anonymous said...

Did you get to stay home today?

Anonymous said...

I'm late but I was on the toll road on Sunday as well. It was a mess. The only thing worse is actually seeing the accidents. Earlier that afternoon, right when it started really coming down, I was on 28N and saw about 6 accidents on the south bound side and about 6 wrecked ones...which was why I took the toll road on the way bak to Alexandria!

Gunfighter said...

Hiya honest!

My daughter and I were almost the victims of some clown who didn't get the memo about not braking really hard when the road is covered with snow.

We were on our way to our church for a children's event, and all I could do was slowly move to the side of the road as he went spinning past and smahed into the guardrail.

The DC area is the most amazing place I have ever seen when the white stuff falls from the sky.

Oh, and I like your blog... I found you via JMK's comment area.

GF

Anonymous said...

Travel safe tomorrow chica!

Unknown said...

so DC Metro area... gotta love it...