Those of us born and bred in Western NY accept the cold and snow as a part of life, but flooding in Southern California is a rare occurence. Besides, the snow will melt while mud is a lot harder to clean up.
Although I bet if you asked this question is Southern California, you'd get the opposite result! Myself, I happen to love winter and the winter weather. Driving in it is another matter entirely...
My first trip to California was to Los Angeles. It was pouring rain. I saw the measures that were utilized to keep hold back the mud slides. That evening, I turned on TV and watched a one hour program on how to drive in the rain.
Coming from our land of snowy roads, I found this odd.
I later learned that the highways, in CA, acquire a layer of oil from the constant traffic and no rain. When it does rain, the road surfaces have the same effect as our black ice.
Never once, in that program, did they explain what caused the roads to be dangerous. I guess the natives are aware of it, they just don't drive like they know (much like here when the roads have snow on them for the first time).
I'll take our snow any day of the week than the natural disasters that can, and do, hit California.
Frank Costanza: "Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way."
Cosmo Kramer: "What happened to the doll?"
Frank Costanza: "It was destroyed. But out of that a new holiday was born: A Festivus for the rest of us!"
When I moved to Western New York in 2007, I was truly afraid of winter. I had only visited the snow in California's winter, to play in it, drink hot cocoa, eat hot apple pie, then go home.
But I've found winter here doable, and I've grown fond of the cold weather. After years of burning under a hot summer sun, I like it that here most of the months are warm, cool or cold. The summer can be hot, but mainly because of the humidity, which is horrible, not Atlanta, but I still can't stand it. The bugs are bad, too.
But California weather can get pretty boring, which may seem like a high-class problem, but it's true. The El Nino weather is another matter. Its torrential rains and heavy flooding are scary. But the long, arid hot spells where the temperature is well over 100 in many places is awful, too.
Earthquakes are eerie, quiet and creepy. I've experienced several of them, but only one bad one, back in the '60s.
Here's a guardian angel story: Howard had gone off on a business trip when we lived in Ventura. When he arrived at LAX, he decided not to rent a ride and wanted me to pick him up instead.
This was the first and last time I ever did so. It was pouring rain and I drove on the highways an hour and a half to get there. I circled, and circled and circled some more -- around the loop at the terminals -- assuming he would see me from inside or he'd be outside under the eaves waiting for me.
No luck. I couldn't reach him by phone, but I don't remember why. I parked and went inside and searched and searched.
After these futile efforts, I left. Then for some reason, I brilliantly decided to go home via the Pacific Coast Highway, which narrowly hugs the coastline as it winds around Malibu and to Oxnard. Then I took local roads home.
I did get home safely.
But as I traveled along, the flooding rains continued. Gee, isn't Malibu famous for mudslides? So I'm going the speed limit and at a red light (yes, the PCH has those in several places) a Highway Patrol car pulls along side me and an officer motions for me to roll down my window.
He says "you're going too fast." I say "I'm driving the speed limit." He says "You're going too fast for this weather on this road. Slow down."
I heeded his warning and a couple of hundred feet ahead of me in the roadway was a giant boulder, as big as an African elephant, with rocks and mud all around it.
If I had gone blithely along, I'm sure I would have hit the boulder, careened into the Pacific Ocean and that would be that.
As it was, I saw it in time to carefully edge around the debris. I prayed nothing else came crashing down until I reached the farm fields of Camarillo/Oxnard. Nothing did.
I don't advise driving the Pacific Coast Highway at any point unless you have nerves of steel and a feckless attitude. Much less during a rainstorm.
Howard found his own dang ride home. I was mad as a wet hen when he called me later. But glad when the airport shuttle got him to our front door safely. It was worth the $50.
I am sure you were. I can imagine my wife's reaction. It would have all been my fault, the rain, mud, boulder, highway next to the ocean etc etc. LOL. Winter driving is handled similarly, slow down, don't over-react. I went from my house to Rochester to Macedon to Syracuse to Rochester and back home last night. Saw a lot of vehicles in the median and the ditches. For some reason as I was heading home, the 490 East was closed at Mt Read Blvd, fortunately I was heading west.
I have believed in guardian angels since as a child I witnessed an event that I prefer to think ended well due to divine guidance. If not, it was a pretty wild coincidence.
The thing about the snow is - even if it snows 3 FEET of snow - when Spring comes, and the snow melts - THERE'S YOUR HOUSE - right where you LEFT IT !!!!!
Pachuco and Howard have discovered a fun snow game. Our dog loves cold weather and snow. The dog was frisking around in the yard and Howard made a snowball and threw it. Pachuco ran for it, saw it plop in the snow, scooped up a mouthful of snow and ran back to Howard. He did this over and over and got to where he could catch the snowball in mid-air.
In previous Winters, I would throw a snow ball and Pachuco would run to the spot where it disappeared and look around all confused? "Where the hell did that ball go?"
This year, he started running to the spot, scooping up a mouth of snow and running back, as if he actually picked up the ball.
And if he runs out ahead of my throw, he'll then "catch" the snow ball ... of course, it disintegrates as soon as it hits his mouth.
Winter is definitely his favorite time of year. He would not do well in California's heat.
I was born and raised in Southern California where you went an played in the snow up in Big Bear for a few hours and then went home. Then in 2001 I was stationed at a remote Marine Corps training base in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. That was my first taste of living in the snow it was also the worst snow or weather conditions I have ever experienced. The weather out here is bearable. Not my favorite though.
Well, this poll isn't going
Well, this poll isn't going the way I expected.
And I realize if I thought of it sooner, maybe I should have done a poll on Festivus -- like "Do you celebrate Festivus?"
Or what's your favorite part of Festivus, the feats of strength or the airing of grievances?
Those of us born and bred in
Those of us born and bred in Western NY accept the cold and snow as a part of life, but flooding in Southern California is a rare occurence. Besides, the snow will melt while mud is a lot harder to clean up.
Although I bet if you asked
Although I bet if you asked this question is Southern California, you'd get the opposite result! Myself, I happen to love winter and the winter weather. Driving in it is another matter entirely...
As long as you include "What
As long as you include "What the *&@! is Festivus" as a choice.
I'm with Randy, I don't like the snow and cold, but it'll get warm again and snow melts, mud and mildew stay.
You forget to add: Fires,
You forget to add: Fires, Earthquakes, land slides and hurricanes to the Cali list!
I'll take the snow any day over that :)
My first trip to California
My first trip to California was to Los Angeles. It was pouring rain. I saw the measures that were utilized to keep hold back the mud slides. That evening, I turned on TV and watched a one hour program on how to drive in the rain.
Coming from our land of snowy roads, I found this odd.
I later learned that the highways, in CA, acquire a layer of oil from the constant traffic and no rain. When it does rain, the road surfaces have the same effect as our black ice.
Never once, in that program, did they explain what caused the roads to be dangerous. I guess the natives are aware of it, they just don't drive like they know (much like here when the roads have snow on them for the first time).
I'll take our snow any day of the week than the natural disasters that can, and do, hit California.
Frank Costanza: "Many
Frank Costanza: "Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way."
Cosmo Kramer: "What happened to the doll?"
Frank Costanza: "It was destroyed. But out of that a new holiday was born: A Festivus for the rest of us!"
Also, floods.
Anyone can dress for the snow
Anyone can dress for the snow and cold, but how do you dress for a mud slide ?
When I moved to Western New
When I moved to Western New York in 2007, I was truly afraid of winter. I had only visited the snow in California's winter, to play in it, drink hot cocoa, eat hot apple pie, then go home.
But I've found winter here doable, and I've grown fond of the cold weather. After years of burning under a hot summer sun, I like it that here most of the months are warm, cool or cold. The summer can be hot, but mainly because of the humidity, which is horrible, not Atlanta, but I still can't stand it. The bugs are bad, too.
But California weather can get pretty boring, which may seem like a high-class problem, but it's true. The El Nino weather is another matter. Its torrential rains and heavy flooding are scary. But the long, arid hot spells where the temperature is well over 100 in many places is awful, too.
Earthquakes are eerie, quiet and creepy. I've experienced several of them, but only one bad one, back in the '60s.
Here's a guardian angel story: Howard had gone off on a business trip when we lived in Ventura. When he arrived at LAX, he decided not to rent a ride and wanted me to pick him up instead.
This was the first and last time I ever did so. It was pouring rain and I drove on the highways an hour and a half to get there. I circled, and circled and circled some more -- around the loop at the terminals -- assuming he would see me from inside or he'd be outside under the eaves waiting for me.
No luck. I couldn't reach him by phone, but I don't remember why. I parked and went inside and searched and searched.
After these futile efforts, I left. Then for some reason, I brilliantly decided to go home via the Pacific Coast Highway, which narrowly hugs the coastline as it winds around Malibu and to Oxnard. Then I took local roads home.
I did get home safely.
But as I traveled along, the flooding rains continued. Gee, isn't Malibu famous for mudslides? So I'm going the speed limit and at a red light (yes, the PCH has those in several places) a Highway Patrol car pulls along side me and an officer motions for me to roll down my window.
He says "you're going too fast." I say "I'm driving the speed limit." He says "You're going too fast for this weather on this road. Slow down."
I heeded his warning and a couple of hundred feet ahead of me in the roadway was a giant boulder, as big as an African elephant, with rocks and mud all around it.
If I had gone blithely along, I'm sure I would have hit the boulder, careened into the Pacific Ocean and that would be that.
As it was, I saw it in time to carefully edge around the debris. I prayed nothing else came crashing down until I reached the farm fields of Camarillo/Oxnard. Nothing did.
I don't advise driving the Pacific Coast Highway at any point unless you have nerves of steel and a feckless attitude. Much less during a rainstorm.
So.......how did Howard get
So.......how did Howard get home?
Howard found his own dang
Howard found his own dang ride home. I was mad as a wet hen when he called me later. But glad when the airport shuttle got him to our front door safely. It was worth the $50.
I am sure you were. I can
I am sure you were. I can imagine my wife's reaction. It would have all been my fault, the rain, mud, boulder, highway next to the ocean etc etc. LOL. Winter driving is handled similarly, slow down, don't over-react. I went from my house to Rochester to Macedon to Syracuse to Rochester and back home last night. Saw a lot of vehicles in the median and the ditches. For some reason as I was heading home, the 490 East was closed at Mt Read Blvd, fortunately I was heading west.
I have believed in guardian angels since as a child I witnessed an event that I prefer to think ended well due to divine guidance. If not, it was a pretty wild coincidence.
The thing about the snow is -
The thing about the snow is - even if it snows 3 FEET of snow - when Spring comes, and the snow melts - THERE'S YOUR HOUSE - right where you LEFT IT !!!!!
Pachuco and Howard have
Pachuco and Howard have discovered a fun snow game. Our dog loves cold weather and snow. The dog was frisking around in the yard and Howard made a snowball and threw it. Pachuco ran for it, saw it plop in the snow, scooped up a mouthful of snow and ran back to Howard. He did this over and over and got to where he could catch the snowball in mid-air.
Dave, it was all my fault.
Dave, it was all my fault. To this day.
Now, for the rest of the
Now, for the rest of the story --
In previous Winters, I would throw a snow ball and Pachuco would run to the spot where it disappeared and look around all confused? "Where the hell did that ball go?"
This year, he started running to the spot, scooping up a mouth of snow and running back, as if he actually picked up the ball.
And if he runs out ahead of my throw, he'll then "catch" the snow ball ... of course, it disintegrates as soon as it hits his mouth.
Winter is definitely his favorite time of year. He would not do well in California's heat.
I was born and raised in
I was born and raised in Southern California where you went an played in the snow up in Big Bear for a few hours and then went home. Then in 2001 I was stationed at a remote Marine Corps training base in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. That was my first taste of living in the snow it was also the worst snow or weather conditions I have ever experienced. The weather out here is bearable. Not my favorite though.