Housebound
 

Portland was hit overnight by an ice storm....frozen rain and snow. We're not quite out of it yet....will stay frozen tonight before warming up tomorrow. About 200 flights were canceled, and I just read that there were 141 reported car accidents today.

We're stuck in our house....kept a fire going in the fireplace, watched movies, football, college basketball, caught up on email, played games and tried not to eat our young.

Our street is steep and icy in both directions. There's no good route to a main road....and the main road has been quiet today. Even if we did get out....there'd be no getting back home.....the street is too steep to walk up on the ice, so we couldn't even park a car at the bottom.

Of course, I've never wanted Starbucks so badly in my life. :rolleyes: And I was supposed to go see Hotel Rwanda with a friend tonight. AND we were supposed to be going to Mt. Hood tomorrow. Ugh.

Here are some pics:

http://www.katu.com/stories/74178.html

Sending out warm vibes to sleepyjeff/spree and wendybeth and maybe even CP and GD....the news keeps mentioning Eastern Washington's freezing temps, but haven't mention Seattle.

Too bad you don't have a copy of the film, The Ice Storm to watch (after the kids went to bed, of course).

Take care, bundle up and hope for a thaw. You've had some pretty severe bouts of winter these past 2 years! Starbucks will still be there when you can get down the hill again.

And, if you can last together through the perilous part of your vacation, you will make it through this easily.

Take care!

Lisa

Virtual toddy being sent your way to keep you cats warm and cozy.

At least you still have power to watch tv and have heating, that would suck.

I'm sorry to hear about all bad weather y'all have been having. This past year has been the weirdest year for weather all around the globe. Take care out there.

Since Claire is trapped in her house, I decided to fly to Oregon and take some pictures and post it here show she can see what it looks like outside:

Here's a shot from outside your house, Claire. Your woodshed may need to be re-roofed.


Here's a shot of me, Ralphie, Ralphie's Aunt Gladys and Uncle Topsy. We thought we'd go into the icestorm and find the nearest Starbucks and grab some Frappucinos for Claire. No luck, I'm afraid.


We found this kid at the downtown Wal*Mart parking lot and checked to make sure it wasn't one of Claire's. She wasn't. She gave us the finger as we walked away from her.


Well, Claire, we didn't find you a Starbucks, but we did manage to find your Yugo in the snow.


Here's a picture of Uncle Topsy digging your driveway. He should be at your door at any time.


More to come, Claire. Hang in there.
:D

Lol, GC!!!!
Claire, we had a horrible ice storm here a few years back- nearly the entire city lost power, and some were out of power two weeks or more*. I feel for you! My dad lives down there- I'd better give him a call.... Sending warm thoughts and vibes your way!

*Luckily, Starbucks still had power.

Hahahaha!!! I'm dying laughing!!! You made my day, Brad!! :D

I just did a head count. That's not my kid in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Although, I admire her attitude.

And my Yugo...crap. When it was stolen, I didn't even bother to report it! My $100 deductible is more than the value of the car. :D

Uncle Topsy looks miiiiiiighty fine.....no wait. I've only been trapped indoors for 24 hours, not 24 years. I'm not that desperate.

Although I did paint my nails. That's a sign of pure boredom. AND I signed up for a LiveJournal.

I've never wanted a latte more than I do right now. :(

Here ya go- it's a triple, so I balanced it out with some Baileys.:D

TRI-MET LIES AND SUCKS!!!!!

The news this morning said buses would be running about 25 minutes behind schedule(they were quoting Tri-met sources)....so I decided, what the heck, I ll go into work this morning and just take the bus to spare my car the abuse. I stood at that bus stop(which is a good 12 blocks from my house) for exactly 2 HOURS from 9:20 AM till 11:20 AM(line 77, in case anyone cares) . This route is supposed to be served every 15 minutes. 15 plus 25 adds up to 40...not 120!

I have never been so cold in my life. I was wearing more layers then I do when I go skiiing, but that east wind really took its toll---Claires pictures of ice on windows--imagine that on a columbia sportswear jacket ---that was me :( .........7 buses went the other way over that 2 hour period before I finally caught one coming my way :mad:

To make matters worse, I coulda sworn those lamebrained weather forcasters said it would warm up by 3 or so....so I had planned on a less then horrific trip home from work(which btw was a total waste of time as my total gross sales at the end of the day was a mere $56.00) but instead find that the ice melted just long enough to re-freeze and become UBER-SLICK......why oh why did I ever sell my ice skates???.........

Next time I am staying home no matter what ;)

Me predicts a baby boom in Portland in 9 months

Why? Uncle Topsy wasn't that hot!
;):p

Being snowed in sounds so fun! Of course, I'm in Arizona, so anything involving snow sounds fun. Enjoy it!

Jeff--that SUCKS!!! I know our buses (54 and 56) were NOT running as scheduled.....it's very very quiet here....I've heard nada on Capitol Highway all day and I walked to the end of our driveway to look and it was empty.

And you guys (eastside) got it worse than us, so I can just imagine. :( I was hating it just going to the end of the driveway. I would NOT be standing out in that stuff for two hours. I admire your gumption. Next time....stay home! I did see on the news that almost 40 buses broke down/wrecked/etc., so perhaps yours was one of them.

Mmmmm, Uncle Topsy is here. I must go procreate. :D

I love snow too......but we didn't get any :(

We had a temp inversion complicated by heavy winds funneled into our area by the Columbia River Gorge. The net effect is warm air aloft melting the snow long before it touches the ground but then it re-freezes just above surface level iciing up our whole world with no chance to make a snow man :( ...........it is 10 times more treacherous then any snow storm I have ever expeirenced(including a doozy we had last year at this time). Fortunatley, it is somewhat rare and they usually don't last too long.

What is really a bummer for the kids is that it is too dangerous to let them play in it(unless they have ice skates) and it happened on a Saturday so they had no school closed fun.

In lay person's terms: Ice Ice Baby...too cold. :D

Yeah, it is earie how queit it can get. We usually can hear the Airport noise and the general traffic sounds from I-84.....now it's just soooo quiet.....I just know the quiet is going to keep me awake ;)

I kept standing out in it because I kept thinking "the moment I walk/crawl away will be the moment it finally comes". This thinking chained me to my spot as the human ice cube of Halsey St. :) for those two very long hours.

I am going to try not going to work the next time this happens.....but sometimes the guilt just eats me alive.

Gosh, remember when we were kids and inclement weather was something to be rejoiced?

I'm obviously still there! :D

I made it to work this morning around 9:30 at VanMall and was shocked to find it busy! I asked a few of my customers and they actually said that they had figured that the mall would be slow because of the ice, so they'd check it out. Hello!!! ODOT, WSDOT, Washington State patrol; everyone were issuing official warnings to stay off the roads unless it was absolutely necessary, and these idiots went freaking shopping! They disgusted me even more than our mall General Manager, who decided to keep the mall open normal hours because he made it in okay. I finally decided, screw it, and told my closers to stay home and shut my store early (as did nearly everyone else.) I just don't think it's worth it to jeopardize my employees’ safety just to keep the store open. As it was, when I left at 5:30 my car was covered in ice sickles and the temp was shooting downward. Everyone who went to the mall today is absolutely retarded.

F-in ridiculous. All of them.

I really feel for the people who's managers wouldn't let them close early. They had to brave both the frozen roads at 10:00 pm, and all of the idiot drivers out on them.

I have to go to Disneyland to be a kid again......... :D

You know though, the Ice does look much better know that I am home and have no worries of work for the rest of the weekend. I shouldn't try to play the martyr and go out in this stuff but instead just stay home and enjoy it next time.....next time I will(hold me to it, lest I change my mind) :)

My Christmas lights are still on the house, maybe I will turn them on just for the fun of it...

I was an idiot manager today....but I came in alone and closed before 4.(think I like to play the martyr)..........never again.

Claire..that sucks! :mad:

Even though I'm jealous of your snow...it was a bright, sunny mid 60's day here! I really miss snow and cold weather!

Sorry your stuck in your house...which probably wouldn't be so bad if you weren't really stuck in your house! Friday I had to stay around most of the day waiting on a package from DHL (which I freakin hate!) and it drove me batty! But if I just stay home, it's so wonderful! But make me stay home, I revert into psycho chick!

Hugs and Latte wishes my friend! :cool:

Yes, but you're obviously not an idiot manager, for two reasons.

If you'd stayed all day, and made everyone else come in too, then I'd say that you have some issues to work out. But you're obviously not that cruel. (Just misguided.) ;) :D

Oh Claire. I can not even imagine that type of cold! My thermostat says it is almost 70 degrees but it feels like 60. No one will let me turn on the heater because I am the only one who is cold. :(

But, yes, I think you are lucky to still have power. I can not even imagine not having power. Ah, but, I have to say, a fireplace feels mighty fine. It just feels like it goes right into my bones.

I remember you having to deal with this last year, as well. Being on that hill, I remember the trouble you had with that.

I also remember how beautiful the pictures were you shared. :)

Gemini Cricket~ You crack me up. :cool:

Wow...I was thinking about the movie The Ice Storm the entire time I was reading your post. And then I was wondering if you could get your hands on a copy. And of course, now I'm thinking about coming up to Portland to throw in our key. Just to let you know in advance, my husband is Uncle Topsy. (And I'm Auntie Tipsy.) ;)

But seriously, I hope you are all doing okay and not driving each other crazy. My other main concern is that you have enough food in the house for a family of five. Everyone probably wants to eat out of boredom. That's always my main concern when I'm stuck anywhere without a car -- food!

Well, it's 12:39 and a balmy 14 degrees outside, but right now I'm feeling for Claire! We're used to snow and ice up here, but the conditions that cause an ice storm are not your normal ones. It's not like a snowstorm, where if you have good snowtires you can get around. An icestorm is just that- pure ice, everywhere, and there's no driving on that crap. Plus, it can down powerlines, take out old growth trees, and generally make life miserable. I'm thinking of you Claire- and remember, no matter how desperate things get- don't watch Regis!

Ugh! That sounds really sucky. It was cold here too, around 60. I really wished I had brought my jacket when we were walking home from the bar tonight. ;) Kidding! But I am singing Ice Ice Baby in your honor in my head right now.

And I was bitching about ants!

Ugh, that sounds awful. Moving south was the best thing I ever did--I hate snow. If I were there, I'd've sprained both my ankles by now.

Stay safe.

Yeah, I feel pretty lame having bitched about ants. However, I once lived in the land of the ice and snow, and then... well, then I left. :D I like snow, as long as you can get out of the house. Caged = sad.

Hope things get a little better out there, Claire!

I have a copy! Borders had it for $9.00. Of course, Claire can't just run out to Borders. :rolleyes:

The key scene is one that sticks.;)

I just love our weather forcasting out here.

Current conditions..........32 degrees

High today....................46 degrees

Low today....................40 degrees

How can the low be 8 degrees higher then the current? :rolleyes:

Eight degrees difference? WOW!

We're low of 47 (we're with you there) but high of 78! We just get several seasons on one day! :rolleyes:

Yes, I'm still waiting to reach the low here! :D It's still a sheet of ice on my street, but Capitol Highway sounds busy. A bus got stuck on it last night though....we could see it at the bottom of the hill.....with all the tree branches hanging feet lower than usual, we could actually see CH from our window! It's SO weird! Another bus came about 20 minutes later to pick up the passengers. I felt for them....the bus driver made them wait out of the bus....I'm assuming it was in case the bus got hit or something.....I don't know. We were just bored and made up scenarios.

Then we made apple martinis and watched SNL.

Today was supposed to be our day at Mt. Hood, too. :( Figures.

A good plan during any winter storm. :)

That, and cozying up by the fire!

I guess we are venturing out into the blinding whiteness today- Tori wants to spend some Limited Two gift cards, and we are taking her Grandma to see the Lemony Snicket movie. I hope we can get back up the hill later. (It sounds like we live on similar hills, Claire- we are also at the top of one, and all three access roads are steep). Eric is still sick, so he is staying home with the animals.

Good luck to you! I'm jealous! :) Have fun! Go to Starbucks for me.....my husband was digging in the ice around his Explorer earlier, so I suspected he was going to try to get out to get me a latte, but, alas, he came back in and made another pot of coffee. :rolleyes:

Our street names here should be called Steep (a bit out of the way, but worth making it to if we could), Steeper (the shortest route), and Steepest (our street). Unfortunately, we live on Steepest, so we're not going anywhere.

Lol- Claire! I'm taking the camera today so I can get some pics of what I like to call "Mount Doom". I'll post them later!

Claire ~ I feel your pain! I'm not sure how well I'd be doing without my daily latte fix either ~ I'd probably look like :mad: or maybe :eek: !

I know this isn't going to score me points, but I'm actually hoping that the ice doesn't melt so that I can score a paid day of tomorrow.

But, I'm sure that it will, just in time for me to go back to work having been trapped indoors on my day off. :(

Claire, wendybeth, sleepyjeff, and Jazzman - I dub you, "The Walt Disney's Frozen Head" Clique, or WDFHC for short. Congratulations!

Definitely the coolest clique at the LoT! :cool:

That's great! Lol- I'm putting that in my sig line!

Great Idea :D

Lol, Jeff!

Well, we hit the mall and it was totally packed. Where the hell did all these people come from? Don't they know I was counting on them being too wussie to drive, so we could have the theater to ourselves? It took nearly 20 minutes just to find a parking spot. We wound up missing the movie, but the Girl scored three shirts, some cool jeans with glitter and applique's all over them, and a tiara. Then, we went to Denny's, where I scored some heartburn! We barely made it back up the hill- my tires were spinning and the car was going about .5 miles per hour.

People like the mall durring bad weather...be it a heat wave or a snow/ice storm. Malls are like like perfect little outdoor worlds that seem to always be a nice 72 degrees :D

That reminds me, I need to pick up a new tiara.

What happened to your old one? It seemed perfectly servicable to me! ;)

They're half-price at the Limited Too! :D

*clutches pearls* Well, there's serviceable, and then there's fashionable. I would never wear last season's tiara.

Hey- it's now our turn for an ice-storm! Well, ice glazing would be more accurate. Woke up to the sound of crystals hitting the roof, and I guess the roads are a mess. It's supposed to continue all day, and then warm up tonight and turn into slush. Very weird weather.

Okay, alllll morning I've been trying to figure out why Wendy was a member of the WDFHC and what it stood for.....I thought it was the Walt Disney Fag Hag Club. :D And I'm a member! Didn't even know! Perhaps I should have come back and checked on my own thread a little sooner.....

Funniest post ever....especially when looking at that avatar that never fails to crack me up!!! :D

Warm up Wendy!!! We're heading out after lunch......if I ever make lunch, that is. ;) It'll be my first outing in three days. It was raining like crazy until a few minutes ago. Ugh.

Lol, CLaire! I know- Gn2's avatar is the best- he must never change it. :D

Glad you guys are all about to get out of the house today!! <<doing a celebratory cabbage patch for ya>> :p

And Claire, thanks for making me spit my coffee out in an uncontrolled fit of laughter over your "walt disney fag hag" line!! :D

I just came back inside from meeting with a roofer and I am HOT! No, not that kind of hot, warm Hot. It's in the 80's here. I feel for the ice storms and such, but I'd really prefer some WEATHER, people! 80-something degrees is NOT "weather".

Claire? If you're hitting Starbucks, I'd like a 16 oz triple shot sugar-free vanilla latte, iced. Thanks, you're the best!



Oh, poor NA! I almost felt just the slightest twinge of sympathy for you, until I realised I am stuck at home with a pouty child who wanted to go to Claire's today to shop for earrings. She is sulking mightily on the couch right now.

As long as there is a Lounge of Tomorrow, there will be a Commodore Swank!

Hahaha, yes, we went there today....the girls had hot chocolates and cookies, we sat out on the patio (covered, thank goodness....the place was packed) and I sipped my pumpkiny goodness (okay, slurped) and was so grateful to be out of the house again that I didn't care that it was 40 degrees out. :D Tell Tory not to pout about coming to my house to shop for earrings.....we weren't home and my earrings aren't for sale anyway. Oh? You meant the store at the mall.....duh.

And Tina, I did the running man (mentally) when I pulled the car out of the driveway and didn't plummet down the hill to my death. :D

Well, we're back from Seattle. It was pretty cold. When we arrived on Saturday, it was raining, which turned into ice pellets (like 1/8 inch, if that big), and even a few flakes that never reached the ground. The fountain in front of the hotel in Redmond was freezing over. Up in some of the hillier areas in the NW it was icy/slushy. But that's as bad as it got. Sunday it was chilly, but I'd say no colder than mid-30s, and not a drop of rain. Today, it rained pretty good through the afternoon, but again not all that cold.

We did hear on Saturday that flights to Portland were being canceled/diverted to Sea-Tac because of the ice.

So so glad that you didn't plummet down Death Drive!!! :D I'm surprised you showed restraint and only indulged in one latte! I bow to your restraint!!

Yes! I'm an official clique member!

Woo hoo! And a charter member to boot!!!!

Look out cyber world, the Jazzman has officially arrived!

:D :D

Now, what flavor's the Kool-Aid?

Ooohhh, so you're one of those Ice Storm Mall Rats, eh?

:mad: :mad: :mad:

May your unmentionables grow ice sickles, your nose runneth like a river and your favorite stores have no sales.

Grrrrrr....

;)

I live in the town with no weather. It's very Truman Show.

Ice pellets? WTF? Sounds like something I would put in a glass of iced tea and we call it....get this....ice.


Claire..please get some video of the "running man". A must see I'm sure.

Yeah. Cold in Seattle. A long sleeve shirt, a sweater, a jacket, still cold. I enjoyed the novelty of it. What a total tourist I am.

Does the mailman really show up during ice storms?

Funniest. Post. Ever.

Hey, like- chill, man!;) This was the day before our ice storm, when all we had going was a foot of snow. Yesterday was the ice storm, but now we have 40 degree weather. Way weird.

CP- The storm here happened on a holiday, but they do deliver through snow storms, etc. A few years back we had a really bad ice storm that knocked the entire city on it's ass, yet the Post Office still delivered.

I took these pics last week, but forgot to post them.

Snowbound on Mount Doom

Wendy~ When I click on the link for your pictures, a password is required for viewing. Am I doing something wrong? I'd love to see your pics. :)

Whoops! Sorry- try again, and let me know if it works!:D

Cool!!!!

I feet completly different about snow than people who have to live in it.

I could see them now! :snap: Wow, you got a lot of snow! It must be hell to drive in it. But I've gotta' say -- Mt. Doom looks beeeyoooooteeeful!

Does T (and your furry kids) like to play in it? I love playing in the snow! :)

PS~ I was in Spokane years ago for the World's Fair. Did you live there at the time?

I like snow, I even like playing in it- for the first day or two. Then, it gets dreary, and I get sick of being cold and sliding all over the place, and my car is a muddy mess. The pics are deceptive- it is actually a steep, curvy street, and if you don't get a good running start, you're screwed.

I've lived here, off and on, all my life. Expo '74 was fun- we had season passes and practically lived at Riverfront Park that summer!

I went to Expo 74! I was 9 months old. ;) My aunt got married in Spokane during it and it was a huge ordeal for them. She and my uncle were Gonzaga students. I have pictures of my dad in a groovy paisley shirt holding me at some event during Expo.

Our postal workers do NOT deliver on our street during snow or ice. There's just no way they could. It's way too steep. It's not even safe to do it on foot. :rolleyes:

Wendy--I LOVE your pics! So purdy! I'm hoping we'll get our weekend in the snow THIS weekend....this will be our third attempt--first the ice storm, then the big melt. The snow levels on Mt. Hood are at 10k feet, but supposed to drop to 3k feet by Thursday. There's no snow! It's the saddest, weirdest winter!!!

We had a white cat, with one green eye and one blue eye, that we named Expo '74. :rolleyes: