snow snow snow

[raven]

So, you might have noticed the enormous snowstorm threatening to hit most of the eastern United States. Four inches or so overnight, with a foot and a half predicted for tomorrow. I really, really love my snow boots, I've said this before and I'm saying it again but oh my feet, they're warm. Of course, the university is dead macho, right unperturbed by climatic events, and will probably not close, despite the fact the bus services are sailing past the northern stops - they fill up well before they reach anywhere near campus, and sail past marked "Bus full", and besides the one I was trying to get on came within an inch of being hit by a snow plough going faster than it was - and there are cars rolling downhill, so maybe walking is the way to go. It took me about forty minutes this morning, but at least my feet are dry, thank you very much LL Bean. I have no idea what people who can't walk a couple of miles through a foot of snow are supposed to do.

The funny thing is, it's not actually cold to walk in, which is something. (Insulating effect of all that snow? I have no idea.) It's about minus five, minus six outside, which was okay to walk through if I kept moving, and I only landed on my arse once! Small things. I am now curled up in my carrel wondering whether I'll have to walk home, but at least I am somewhere safe and warm reading about the congressional budget process, and don't live driving distance off campus. Things could be much worse.

In other news, I have been back a bit more than a week, but it feels like forever; my new apartment, barring a slight incident involving WATER EVERYWHERE, is rather nice, touch wood; it's now two thirty and thus too late for me to get coffee in the law school. Expedition! Into the snow! Etc. Hope you are all surviving snowmageddon. I am looking forward to a rock 'n' roll evening of hot drinks and Deep Space Nine, if I ever do make it. And doing laundry. Hurrah.

Comments

[eruthros]

The university admin people say that most students live in walking distance so it should be fine for everyone to keep the school open in giant storms! They do not think that this penalizes people who live further away (=cheaper, =with families) and people who can't walk, because that is such a small proportion of the students there's no point in shutting down just for them!

They once closed campus at noon in a giant storm, which was awful, because it meant lots of people who were there were suddenly kicked out of the libraries into the storm, and the cars and buses were all leaving at once and skidding down the streets, and if they had just closed in the morning nobody would've been at risk for being hit by cars or slipping down the hills. It made me really cranky, but it was telling about how dead macho they are.

[raven]

Yes! Yes, this! Part of what makes me cranky is how the whole thing is explained by (my bit of) the administration to international students (even ones from Canada, Sweden and Norway): it's part of being American, right, this determination to keep on going no matter what. And I'm just like... yeah, okay, what-the-hell-ever.

[gamesiplay.livejournal.com]

OMG SNOW LAUNDRY; such an adventure, let me tell you.

Apparently we haven't canceled classes due to snow since the 1950s or something. Oh, Northeast. You think you're so cool. Back in the mid-Atlantic, we cancel school when someone says "snow." :)

I am--possibly a little sadistically?--kind of pleased that you've gotten to see a Real Life Winter with us here. Heee.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

I know, right? Same here! They're all WE NEVER CLOSE EVER and I'm just thinking, you know, who does this help. Really. I mean, it doesn't help students who rely on public transport, it doesn't help students who have never driven in snow, it doesn't help students with disabilities, it doesn't help the ones with childcare issues. I mean. Really. We can do extra classes in April when the weather's good. Right now.... yeah.

This is certainly the most... memorable winter of my life. Memorable. That's the word. :P

[the-acrobat.livejournal.com]

you know, who does this help. Really. I mean, it doesn't help students who rely on public transport, it doesn't help students who have never driven in snow, it doesn't help students with disabilities, it doesn't help the ones with childcare issues.

YES. EXACTLY. THIS.

Plus, it's also a safety issue. Perhaps this is "universal design" of snow management, but it's really dangerous to drive in a blizzard. When you require your employees (I'm thinking teachers, but parents, students, shopkeepers, lawyers) to go to work/school in that weather, you're really asking them to take their lives into their own hands, whether they're driving, taking transit and letting someone else drive, or walking and risking getting hit by a snowplough.

They cancel school/university quite readily over this in NB, but out here, they also have that "We Never Close" attitude, and I do not approve!

[gamesiplay.livejournal.com]

*Real Live

[littlered2.livejournal.com]

Good luck with snowmageddon! I hope Ithaca doesn't get too buried.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

It hasn't been so far. The lethal ice, on the other hand, is a bit of a problem...

[bekkypk.livejournal.com]

I always had to laugh (As the only person in the lab who walks to work) at the fact it was never *me* who complained when we had all that snow last month. I whimpered a bit when I fell on my knees the once, but I was quite warm and happy walking. Everybody who drove came in going "Oooh ai it cold?!"
-_-
xx