Disaster strikes in the foothills

Nothing spurs terror in a Californian like the sight of snow where it usually isn't. People run for their cars to head home and bunker down.

Trees fall, there are sweeping electricity outages, there are mass collections of spin outs on the roads and everyone runs around screaming "Armageddon!

I don't ever remember my cable or my power going out following two inches of snow in MIssoula. If that was the case, my power would have been out all the time.

I have to admit, this mentality is contagious. I remember growing up I wouldn't think of anything of getting in my little two-wheel drive Subaru Justy and moshing through drifts of snow. In fact, when I was in high school, my dad would actually tow me out of the driveway and send me off onto the roads.

Yet last night while I was at the gym, I actually left early when I saw it had started to snow. I held off for awhile, but then the sense of dread about having to wrestle with my chains or not be able to get into my driveway won out. I made it home before the snow started collecting on the roads.

This morning it's mayhem. The roads are rivers of slushy, melting snow. Trees are down everywhere. No one's power is on. The cable is out. Everyone in my apartment complex walked to work.

It's lunch and there still is no electricity at my place.

This was all kind of fun and different at first, but I'm over it. Life is just so hard without modern convenience.

Lesson learned: Good thing we don't get hurricanes here.

Hold on mom

Here's a shout out to my mom, who as I write is stuck in her car going over Donner Pass. She had driven to Yosemite for a skate ski race this weekend, and left at noon to return home. It's been pouring rain here all day, which means snow up high, so I guess it's pretty slow going.

She called to vent her frustration just a bit ago. I don't blame her. I would be going crazy if I had just spent nine and a half hours in the car, too. And she doesn't have the CD player to blast like I do.

Good luck mom. Just remember my driving tips. And here is a new one for snowy conditions: Chains double well as whips for those drivers who pass too close.

Lesson learned: I love my cozy warm couch.

Let it snow

I think I spoke a little too soon when I said winter forgot us. I think it was just late. It snowed in town last night — which is really rare here. The scanner at work has been going crazy all day yesterday and this morning.

My mom was coming through town on her way to a skate ski race in Yosemite last night, so we were out to dinner when it started. Luckily, we made it home safe, but we couldn't make it up the steep driveway into my apartment complex.

Most of the snow is melted off now, but it's still pretty chilly.

Lesson learned: I was wrong. Winter is still on.