Housebound

[Claire]

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. 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.

[Not Afraid]

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

[€uroMeinke]

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

[Freaky Tiki]

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

[HTHBellcaptain]

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.

[Gemini Cricket]

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.

[wendybeth]

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.

[Claire]

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

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.

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.

[wendybeth]

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

[sleepyjeff]

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

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