Sunday, December 7, 2008

Show and Tell


Show and Tell


Inspired by Geohde, today I am sharing a snow anecdote.



Last January, we had a series of snowstorms, which is somewhat unusual in this area. Mostly, we get ice storms, or snow storms of an inch or so. This does not inspire me to shovel our very long driveway. We live in a lovely little town where they plow our subdivision almost immediately. So one Friday, I picked up the little menace (uh, I mean, my daughter) after work (probably early, because it was snowing hard) and drove home. We were happily tucked in to the nice warm house, so I peeked out the window to check the state of the weather. There was about 5 inches of snow on the ground. Then I looked a little farther. I live at the end of a cul-de-sac, and it seems that the snow plow had come through. Normally, I see the pile of snow that ends up at the end of my driveway as just what happens when the snow plow goes by. But this time, there was a 6 foot snow mountain directly in front of my driveway. As you can see from the picture, it's not like they can't tell there's driveway there - they made a point of not covering up my mailbox. Also, across from me there is not a house, but rather a large stretch of my neighbor's front lawn (i.e. a perfect place to deposit excess snow).

It was at this time that I realized that I am completely crazy. I saw the snow mountain and I lost it. I got on the phone and called the public works director for my town. Now, he wasn't in, but I left him a lovely message. It was something on the order of this.

"I appreciate the speed with which you plow the streets in my subdivision. But, is there some reason that your drivers feel the need to deposit all the snow from the entire street in MY DRIVEWAY?!? Now I'm going to have to go out and clear a six foot snow mountain from the front of my driveway. By myself. With a shovel. In the future, I hope you will recognize that there is a large stretch of street with no driveways directly across from my driveway, and put your snow there."

By the time I finished, I was pretty much yelling into the phone. So, I took all of that energy (anger) and dug myself a path down the driveway. As I got about 1/10 of the snow mountain moved onto that pile around the mailbox, the snow plow pulled up. The guy sat there in his truck for a couple minutes - and at this time, I was practically crying with rage - then he got out and said, "Uh, we can move that snow for you." I said, "that's nice of you to offer, but I've already called your boss to complain about you leaving snow in my driveway. But if you'd like to move it, that would be great." So, while they moved the giant snow pile from the front of my driveway to the front of my house*, I continued to shovel the driveway. I hope, now that it's snowed 3 times already (just enough to make the grass a little white, nothing much), that they will remember not to plow the snow into my driveway this year.

Also, I did call back the public works director and apologize for screaming into the phone, and tell him that his guys had come to clear out my driveway. So, even though I'm crazy, I hope I remain polite. But, I'm pretty sure they just think I'm crazy, because when I called this summer to inquire about random drops in my water pressure, I never got a call back.

*The picture shows my 30" tall daughter standing amidst the snow mountains, which upon redistribution, were reduced to a mere 4 feet tall.

12 comments:

  1. There's a little girl in all that snow? Wow, some story. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Where I live they plow the street after we shovel out driveway... causing us to reshovel the drive way... It's certainly annoying.

    Great story. And wow for all the snow!

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  3. Maddening!

    We recently moved to a cul-de-sac, which is mostly great.

    Except for during snowstorms, when there is no place to put the snow.

    And that's when the city remembers to do our little patch of street.

    Good story!

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  4. Tee hee. I'm an inspiration in any kind of way?? :)

    I love reading about a healthy snark.

    J

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  5. That would have sent me off the deep end too! Glad they came back to clear it.

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  6. When I lived on the east coast, I owned a townhouse without covered parking. The plow people came and cleared the parking lot, pushing all the snow up AND OVER my car. Every big snowfall I had to dig my car out. SO much fun. Especially when you're perpetually late for work, like me.

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  7. Hello Again, I tagged you for a Meme, I hope you can play along, details on my blog. Thanks so much, Martha

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  8. That will certainly be a memorable snowfall!

    I hate to laugh, because I know it must have been an absolute pain and frustration!

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  9. am late for Show and Tell this week!! oooooh, you wont forget that one in a hurry and neither will he I am sure!! ha ha!!

    We just don't get that much snow here in the UK, or at least we haven't for a looooong time!

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  10. I absolutely would have done the same thing, even the sheepish apology. :0)

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  11. Is it terrible that I'm laughing? It's really a funny story.

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  12. WOW! That is some impressive snow. You sound so much like me - I have been known to fly into a blind rage a time or two. When I grab the phone Hubby is always quick to remind me that the person answering probably makes minimum wage and to take it easy on them. ARGH!!

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