Ice Storm

Last night we received an ice storm. I have lived here in Virginia for three and a half years and never experienced a storm like this before. Oh, I have heard about them from Virginia-dwellers but after actually experienced it...I believe every story ever told to me.

An ice storm happens when it rains small droplets of water but it is so cold that when the water hits the ground it then freezes. Yesterday afternoon I was doing some scrapbooking on the computer and had on the TV. During the time for commercials, the meterologist would come on and talk about the "rain" and then the traffic guy would tell about all the accidents, especially those on bridges and ramps. Five car pile-up, ten car pile-up, twenty car pile-up and show the pictures to prove it. Being the naive person that I am, I was sad that all those people were in accidents and stuck in traffic but didn't think it had anything to do with me. AND then I went to pick up SM from the metro.

Let's just say, I almost didn't make it to the car alive. As soon as I stepped on the front steps of our apartment building, I lost any traction my shoes usually have. One leg went back and the other went forward. The reason I know they went back and forth instead of side to side, it that I totally injured my toes when my foot bent on the toes and pushed them back farther than they are supposed to go. Ouch! I quickly tried to regain my balance by moving my feet again and this time I got closer to the edge of the front step. I grabbed at anything I could find and found myself hanging onto a large bush with every leaf covered in ice. It was really a creepy feeling.

Finally I realized I could manuver the sidewalk if I just slowly sloshed my feet forward without lifting them off the ground. And as I made it to the asphalt, I realized that there was no more ice...except all over the car. The ice had formed a coating about a fourth of an inch thick. I was worried I wouldn't be able to get the door open, but it opened without a problem. I found my ice scrapper and was delighted to find that the opposite side of the scrapper has these ridges that help break up ice that may sheet your whole car.

Finally I had all the windows cleared and I was ready to hit the roads. I was really worried but our city had already been out and put a de-icer on the roads. They were only wet...whew!! I was late picking SM up from the metro and so he decided to start walking home. The only problem with that was I drove right past him and didn't see him at all (of course it was dark and he was in a black coat) and so he had to walk back to the metro to find me. Oh well...what a night.

And because of my sore toes and the nasty weather outside, I didn't go to an Enrichment Night where we learn about different cultures and places. Last nights was on Italy. I would have loved to gone but I don't drive well in the dark, let alone under those icy conditions.