It cracks me up how whole major Texas cities will practically shut down in the event of a little snow or especially ice. Easier here to get a day off school or work when it snows, though. Then again, Texas drivers are scary enough when they're not slipping and sliding in wintery weather.
The reasons major Texas cities (as well as others in typically warm climates) shut down with snow and ice, is the lack/shortage of infrastructure to make roads relatively safe to drive. This includes de-icing equipment as well as the omni-present chains and studded tires common to folks in cooler (and mountainous!) areas.
Truthfully in my 28 years in Texas, I saw snow accumulate thrice: at a whopping 1 inch each time. Ice storms were more common (albeit rare), and driving on ice just plain silly.
To illustrate the rarity of snow & ice equipment in Texas, my best man (32 yrs old, and a lifelong Texan) was on a business trip to Minnesota, and saw a snow plow. He was amused by it, and wondered what it was initially.
I recall when one of these ice storms hit about 6 years ago in Central Texas. News outlets were showing people attempting to drive UPHILL on icy roads in downtown Austin.
On the snow front... we in the Seattle metro area are "bracing" for our first snow of the year this weekend.
But what one thing does Ragnarok mean? The final battle in Norse Mythology? A killer sword or airship from Final Fantasy? If that latter, I'm cool with that.
Big Tex, not to mention, there are always those people from colder climates moving to Texas and thinking it's a joke the streets are closed, they go out anyway, and find out the hard way we don't have the infrastructure. That's MY reason for staying home on snowy days! ;-)
With the Catholic News sites discussing the Vatican's move to reform the LCWR, I pulled this slim volume written back in 1986 off the shelf to re-read. It's a quick and amusing read: a satirical view of the breakdown and renewal of reli...
I'd never read any Henry James before, though I did see the Nicole Kidman movie adaptation of Portrait of a Lady some years ago because... well, because it was a costume drama with Nicole Kidman in it.
This was one of those novels I ...
If you, like me, have been reared on tales of the second World War as the just and virtuous struggle of the "greatest generation", Evelyn Waugh's arch novels (based loosely on his own war experiences) are an important and darkly enjoyabl...
This was the first time in some years that I've re-read this Austen novel, one of the quieter and shorter ones, but one which has ranked among my favorites. It was striking me, on this pass, that it rather shows the effects of having be...
10 comments:
Oh my goodness gracious me!!!!!! Not what I associate with Texas at all!!!!
I've always heard it said that it would snow Texas the day anyone messed with the Illinois political machine.
By chance did you happen to notice any pigs flying by your window?
Man, I was hoping to escape the cold this weekend by traveling to Texas, not get a another flesh blast of it.
It cracks me up how whole major Texas cities will practically shut down in the event of a little snow or especially ice. Easier here to get a day off school or work when it snows, though. Then again, Texas drivers are scary enough when they're not slipping and sliding in wintery weather.
I've always heard it said that it would snow Texas the day anyone messed with the Illinois political machine.
I could have sworn it was somewhere else that was supposed to freeze over at that point...
The reasons major Texas cities (as well as others in typically warm climates) shut down with snow and ice, is the lack/shortage of infrastructure to make roads relatively safe to drive. This includes de-icing equipment as well as the omni-present chains and studded tires common to folks in cooler (and mountainous!) areas.
Truthfully in my 28 years in Texas, I saw snow accumulate thrice: at a whopping 1 inch each time. Ice storms were more common (albeit rare), and driving on ice just plain silly.
To illustrate the rarity of snow & ice equipment in Texas, my best man (32 yrs old, and a lifelong Texan) was on a business trip to Minnesota, and saw a snow plow. He was amused by it, and wondered what it was initially.
I recall when one of these ice storms hit about 6 years ago in Central Texas. News outlets were showing people attempting to drive UPHILL on icy roads in downtown Austin.
On the snow front... we in the Seattle metro area are "bracing" for our first snow of the year this weekend.
I could have sworn it was somewhere else that was supposed to freeze over at that point...
The place you're thinking of will see snow when someone upsets the Washington D.C. political machine.
The Blackadder Says:
This can only mean one thing. Ragnarok.
We are all doomed.
This can only mean one thing. Ragnarok.
But what one thing does Ragnarok mean? The final battle in Norse Mythology? A killer sword or airship from Final Fantasy? If that latter, I'm cool with that.
Big Tex, not to mention, there are always those people from colder climates moving to Texas and thinking it's a joke the streets are closed, they go out anyway, and find out the hard way we don't have the infrastructure. That's MY reason for staying home on snowy days! ;-)
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