Winter Bound Folk: Writing Questions?

[3113]

I'm writing a scene in a snowbound city and, being that I've never lived for long in such a place, need some info.

What are the steps you usually take before in the morning before going to work? Like "Shovel the walk, de-ice the windshield..."

My character has a car and would certainly need to take such to work, but no garage to keep it in, and lives in a small, one-bedroom home that's part of a group of such homes.

Thanks!

 

[Dianthus]

Well, if it has snowed, it's more than de-icing the windshield. Leave 15-20 minutes to clean off the car, while the motor is running, defrosters on full, and you need a change of mittens afterwards.

http://fscomps.fotosearch.com/compc/AKS/AKS100/410ot_bf0010n001_h.jpg

 

[_Lynn_]

That depends on what happened during the night. If it snowed, and how much it snowed, would determine if they need to shovel the sidewalk . . . or they might just walk through it, depending on the style boots they are wearing (if they are wearing them, that is).

They might scrape the windows, unless they have an automatic starter for the car, which works with a remote from inside the house. They would leave the defrosters turned on the night before so they would melt any ice off the windshield before your character went outside. They might still have to do some scraping on the side glass or back window. Some people also just start the car, then let it run while they go back inside, leaving the defrosters on to work so they don't have to scrape.

 

[3113]

Well, if it has snowed, it's more than de-icing the windshield. Leave 15-20 minutes to clean off the car, while the motor is running, defrosters on full, and you need a change of mittens afterwards.

Thanks! That helps.

They might scrape the windows, unless they have an automatic starter

AH! Now that's information I really didn't have. I got my car before automatic starters and I hadn't even considered that use for them. What a great idea!

 

[_Lynn_]

Thanks! That helps.

AH! Now that's information I really didn't have. I got my car before automatic starters and I hadn't even considered that use for them. What a great idea!

I don't know the price for them, or for having them installed, but they are quite popular around here.

 

[PennLady]

It depends on where they live and how much snow they get, and even the type of snow. There's also the matter of how cold it got during the night.

If we get something like 2" or less, we may not immediately shovel the driveway. If we do, we may just kind of "plow" it ourselves with the shovels, pushing it to the side of the driveway.

For snow of say 3-5", we would probably have to shovel the driveway before we could drive out, and obviously we would for more snow than that.

If the car's been outside, we'd use an ice scraper if necessary, especially if we needed to leave soon. We'd probably couple that with starting the car and turning on the defroster, then leaving it for a few minutes both to clear the windshield and warm up the interior.

I'm not sure it matters what order you do it in. You could warm the car while you shovel the driveway, shovel then turn on the car, take care of the car and then shovel. It all has to get done, right?

 

[_Lynn_]

It depends on where they live and how much snow they get, and even the type of snow. There's also the matter of how cold it got during the night.

If we get something like 2" or less, we may not immediately shovel the driveway. If we do, we may just kind of "plow" it ourselves with the shovels, pushing it to the side of the driveway.

For snow of say 3-5", we would probably have to shovel the driveway before we could drive out, and obviously we would for more snow than that.

If the car's been outside, we'd use an ice scraper if necessary, especially if we needed to leave soon. We'd probably couple that with starting the car and turning on the defroster, then leaving it for a few minutes both to clear the windshield and warm up the interior.

I'm not sure it matters what order you do it in. You could warm the car while you shovel the driveway, shovel then turn on the car, take care of the car and then shovel. It all has to get done, right?

I'm in an apartment, so no shoveling, thankfully. I just have to deal with no garage.

 

[PennLady]

I'm in an apartment, so no shoveling, thankfully. I just have to deal with no garage.

Bummer.

 

[_Lynn_]

Bummer.

I know. There's plenty room for one. Cheap owners.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

So, brushing the snow off. Then scraping the ice off. All this after you try and start your car and wearing down the battery only to have it catch as the starter struggles to turn over the engine.

Once you have finished with the car you go in and warm up a little, get your coffee, etc. only to find that your car as been completely cover with snow again when the snow plow swooshed by as it plowed the street.

So, into the house to pull the shovel up from the basement and clear the snow around your car. Brush and scrap the windows again. Back inside, 'cuz your coffee is now cold with crystals of ice floating in it.

You finally get warm, coffee and whatever it is you bring to work. Your car is now all nicely warmed up. You get in, strap yourself down and slowly move away from the curb. Even though the street had been plowed, you still slip and slide your way to the major thoroughfare only to find it is bumper to bumper because all the traffic signals are blinking red.

Three hours later, you arrive at work to find no one there. Everyone was called to stay home. It's then you realize you don't have your cell phone. Another three hours in the car to get home and the asshole from across the street had his car in you spot while his clear spot is full of lawn chair to keep everyone out of his spot.

That's when the rage starts and end as you just rollover his fucking lawn chairs with a big grin on you face.

 

[3113]

I'm not sure it matters what order you do it in. You could warm the car while you shovel the driveway, shovel then turn on the car, take care of the car and then shovel. It all has to get done, right?

That's good to know as well—that order is personal preference. Though everyone seems to agree that letting the car run while doing other things inside is best. That makes sense and is not something I'd have thought of while writing about it here in the land where it's always warm and sunny.

That's when the rage starts and end as you just rollover his fucking lawn chairs with a big grin on you face.

LOL! Zeb, that was fucking beautiful. Thank you for those very clear and informative steps on surviving snowbound life.

 

[sr71plt]

When the snow is deep and if you live in a apartment house or line of townhouses with the parking spaces in front, be careful to shovel out the right car.

 

[lovecraft68]

If you are living in Boston-where very few have driveways and people park in the street-when you shovel out your spot you put a piece of furniture there to save it. IT is a well known fact that if you move said furniture and take the spot something bad is going to befall your car....and most cops will pretend they know nothing about it.

 

[lovecraft68]

A good tip on a night like tonight where it is supposed to reach -4 degrees is to leave your car doors unlocked so they don't freeze.

If they do, a trick is heating up your key for a few seconds with a lighter

 

[3113]

A good tip on a night like tonight where it is supposed to reach -4 degrees is to leave your car doors unlocked so they don't freeze.

If they do, a trick is heating up your key for a few seconds with a lighter

That's a cool bit of info! And not anything that would be done where I live. You live your car unlocked here and you lose your car.

 

[sr71plt]

If your car was snowbound in -4 degree weather, I doubt there would be any car thieves out shopping.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

That's good to know as well—that order is personal preference. Though everyone seems to agree that letting the car run while doing other things inside is best. That makes sense and is not something I'd have thought of while writing about it here in the land where it's always warm and sunny.


LOL! Zeb, that was fucking beautiful. Thank you for those very clear and informative steps on surviving snowbound life.

You're welcome. Lived it for so many years...40 or so. I remember those days getting to work late, but being there first, except for the boss, 'cuz he only lived 5 blocks away from the office. I only lived 10 miles from it and on those days it snowed it took me 3 hours to get to work. It took a hour even when it wasn't snowing or raining...Chicago rush hours were a bitch.

 

[49greg]

You might also have a can of aerosol stuff that sprays into keyholes to unfreeze them. Remember be careful when you sweep snow off the hood, windshield and top, otherwise you get a face or chestful of the stuff depending on wind direction and velocity.

If you don't sweep it off the hood and grill you get surprised as great clumps of snow fly off and hit the windshield once you're up to speed.

Be sure to get your lights, front and rear. In northerly areas it is dark when you head out for work. Another trick if there is and ice storm forecast is not to set the parking/hand brake. I had one hit and freeze the underbody cables etc for the hand brake. I could release it in the car, but it didn't release the brake until things warmed up. My neighbors wondered why I was under my little Datsun pickup with my wife's hair dryer on an extension cord.

Of course some people only scrape a credit card sized area in the windshield and drive around that.

 

[49greg]

It depends on where they live and how much snow they get, and even the type of snow. There's also the matter of how cold it got during the night.

If we get something like 2" or less, we may not immediately shovel the driveway. If we do, we may just kind of "plow" it ourselves with the shovels, pushing it to the side of the driveway.

For snow of say 3-5", we would probably have to shovel the driveway before we could drive out, and obviously we would for more snow than that.

If the car's been outside, we'd use an ice scraper if necessary, especially if we needed to leave soon. We'd probably couple that with starting the car and turning on the defroster, then leaving it for a few minutes both to clear the windshield and warm up the interior.

I'm not sure it matters what order you do it in. You could warm the car while you shovel the driveway, shovel then turn on the car, take care of the car and then shovel. It all has to get done, right?

I've got two types of shovel. One is the typical shovel for snow or grain, the other is wide and not as deep, and curved. For pushing snow out of the way it's great. For really deep snow and for the berm of compacted snow the plow leaves at the end of the driveway I use the shovel.

Or you could get a snowblower, especially if you have sidewalks to clear, most towns require owners to clear sidewalks withing 24 hours or so. So if you buy a house, look for one in an area without sidewalks.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

A good tip on a night like tonight where it is supposed to reach -4 degrees is to leave your car doors unlocked so they don't freeze.

If they do, a trick is heating up your key for a few seconds with a lighter

Yeah, but with keyless entry why would you need to put a key in the lock? I know I'm old and remember having to open the car doors with keys, but now a days, you press a button and the doors magically unlock. Or is this period piece where there are no keyfobs?

 

[glynndah]

I remember driving to work through during a pretty intense winter storm and seeing not one, but two snowplows off in the ditch.

 

[robertreams]

There is a gizmo one can have installed in any car. It is an oil pan heater. costs about $100 installed. Merely plug it in and your car will start even on the coldest days. If you don't have it and its 10-30 below, your car probably won't start. Be sure to get a window scraper with a brush, scraper and squeegee. Keep the tank full. Make sure you have at least a battery charger, with a quick start option for those times when it won't start. No one is going to want to jump your car while THEY are shoveling out.

If the weather is really terrible, stay home.

 

[sr71plt]

I remember driving to work through during a pretty intense winter storm and seeing not one, but two snowplows off in the ditch.

And Jeeps and Land Rovers and all those big expensive SUVs, as my Subaru Forester putted past them.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I spent 1/2 winter at San Antonio TX and the weather is like here in Florida but a lil colder. The other 1/2 I spent in Illinois where the snow piles high because the wind is so strong. The next winter I spent in Vietnam where the temp fell to 90 degrees Christmas day. No snow. Winter 1970 I spent in Germany then Italy. In Germany the snow was deep and the roads were closed for several days. In Italy it snowed but melted as it hit the ground. 70/71 I spent in Spain where snow was rare but rain froze on everything. Frozen rain is worse than snow because the roads are covered with ice, as is your car...defrosters cant keep up with the ice formation. Plus the wind blows hard for a week at a time. Inside heat was useless, too.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I remember driving to work through during a pretty intense winter storm and seeing not one, but two snowplows off in the ditch.

I remember following a snow plow thinking he could see where I couldn't. We both wound up in the ditch.

At least the tow truck that came to get him also pulled me out too at no charge. It was a county works tow truck.

Then there was that horrible winter in Atlanta, of all places. The city shutdown. I was driving to work, sitting at a light facing uphill a 4-wheel drive pickup truck next to me. I was in a front wheel drive Pontiac 6000.

When the light turned green, off I went, while he/she sat there spinning all 4 wheels and going backwards. Some people just don't know how to drive in the snow no matter what kind of vehicle they drive.