lindainks55 said:

 

You be careful Tracy. Wichita, as usual, is "on the line," so the weather people can say in advance we might get a lot or we might get none or maybe somewhere in between. We could have figured out that much without them!

I got aroundtoit over the weekend and made a lot of progress on the decorating! If the weather keeps me homebound I'll get it finished. Plus, I have some internet shopping to do so as long as the ice doesn't take out the power... Boy, that's a bad situation when the power goes out. We have gas logs in the fireplace but the vent has to be open (its actually a wood burning highly inefficient deal) so I think as much or more heat goes out the flue than into the room. Mainly a decorative thing and at today's prices we forgo the decorative fire most of the time.

 

Rox said:

 

I watched the list of school closings crawl across the TV screen last night and realized that Wichita had escaped the worst. Not that it will hold true come tomorrow, I'm sure.

Take care, Tracy, and everyone else. Lordy, I am not looking forward to a repeat of 1/05. We lost power for a week and moved in with the one daughter who had power. Family togetherness only goes so far for so long.

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Everyone out there needs to take care as Rox said. My concern, should we lose power for an extended period, is the vacuum pump that is doing good things for Mrs. VT. While it has a battery backup, we're not sure how long it will last; while the manual indicates up to 12 hours, the tech told us that it's good for 4 hours. The only thing "good" is that in 2005, we didn't lose power as most of our lines, etc., are underground. While I hope we don't have to find out, the forecast is not cheery on the ice part; and if we end up getting the ice that is "possible", there will be a lot of tree, etc., damage, as well as a lot of people without electricity.

Tracy, your admonition to bring the ice scraper with you from the car is a good one. I've been on the other side of that, as I suspect most have.

This (the weather conditions) is going to be interesting, I think. So far, so good; a look at the radar indicates nothing of immediate concern for Wichita, but Tracy needs to look out, as there seems to be a big mess headed his way again.

 

Rox said:

 

I was out early yesterday morning, taking my daughter to work. That one-hour round-trip drive. :) The city streets were still icy, but there was a small bit of evidence that sand had been scattered here and there. Luckily, being Sunday a.m., there was little traffic. I was definitely pleased when I drove the return trip to pick her up at 5:30, and the salt and sand had pretty much cleared the heavily traveled streets. Today she has 2 doctor appointments, so my fingers are crossed that this holds of until the second is done and over with.

VT, for your sake and Mrs. VT's, I hope your power isn't affected. Everyone is included in that hope.

I do wish more businesses would close when things like this happen. I know it can be a financial hardship for some people to miss work, but I find weighing my life against a day's loss of wages usually ends up favoring the former. :)

 

Tracy Phillips said:

 

At least one traffic death so far.
Saturday night on the "river bridge" just south of Erie.
I'm less than two miles from anyplace that I need to go, so it's not too bad for me.

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Well, in looking at the radars, I'd speculate that the freezing rain would not hit until after 2 or so, likely around 4, just in time to make going home just "so much fun". Ice is my least favorite weather condition in the winter, as I suspect it is for all of you.

The morning looks like the critical time tomorrow; I'll hazard a guess that if the forecasts are close to correct, there won't be much open then, including my office. Of course, the weather could just be peachy tomorrow here in Wichita, and Tracy will be iced in; such is Kansas.

 

Julie said:

 

I have scrapers in the car and in the garage and deicer in both places too.
I may just call in stuck tomorrow if it's as bad as they're saying.

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Well, the Independent School is taking no chances, as it has already canceled school for tomorrow. Sure thing, then, that it will be sunny and in the 40s. :-)

 

Wendy said:

 

Okay, so I am home today. Not because of the weather. The Monster apparently had an allergic reaction to SOMETHING (God knows what) at his dad's house this weekend, and his entire back and belly is currently covered in hives. And of course Daddy is not returning my phone calls. Imagine that. So I kept the kiddo home today to figure out what is going on with him and try to get things cleared up a bit.

The last ice storm I missed most of - I was in the hospital recovering from the birth of the monster. The first day I went home (I THINK it was the third...) we went to my Dad's house in RH. Late that afternoon the power went out. Dad said "Pack your bags, if it isn't back on in ten minutes we are leaving, I am not having a newborn in this house with no heat." Sure enough, as soon as we finished packing up and started loading the car (well, he started loading the car, I was on a 5lb weight restriction - good thing the monster was so small) the power came back on. Never did go back off. I had just bought my first house here in town and hadn't actually moved in yet (thought I still had a month to get all that done - turns out I didn't!) and the storm took out the cable line, but nothing else as far as I am aware - Dad went and checked one day and said i had power... crazy. Hopefully it mostly misses Wichita - not that that will help much on the work front as I handle claims in the Wichita area AND in the Columbia/Jeff City area of MO... used to handle Joplin - have to admit I am glad now that I don't anymore :) Sorry, Tracy... And I don't even think I HAVE a scraper right now - I think it got hijacked by the fiance for his work truck from when he was having to park in the drive and I had the garage (we can now fit both vehicles inside the garage)

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Hives; you have my sympathy, Wendy. Worst case of hives I ever had was after eating way too many strawberries at Dillons, "back in the day". I still contend it was worth it.

Heads up; downtown is beginning to get some very intermittent, light precip (just looked out the window).

 

gster said:

 

I'm sure looking forward to my 135 Slalom run later this afternoon. At least I was smart enough not to ride my cycle!

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

OK, now they've gone and done it! Listening to my favorite "college radio station", and the student DJ (why is she on? it's finals time) is playing a (shudder) C&W cover of "Piece of My Heart". It's sacrilege, I tell you. I may have to assume the fetal position the rest of the afternoon to recover from this...

 

Tracy Phillips said:

 

VeeTee, I hear ya'!
The song in question makes me ill.
One thing I truly despise is anything known as "new" country, or "hot" country.
Peee-yuke.
Sorry CMT fans, that is not country.
It's karioke with a bad twang.

 

Tracy Phillips said:

 

BTW, 31 degrees with a thunderstorm here right now.
Which reminds me of a good song.
Slip Sliden' Away.

Ya' know there is a song for every situaution in life, huh?

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Tracy, your observations on "new" or "hot" country mirror mine in toto.

Hmm, Toto; a rock group, yes?

 

lindainks55 said:

 

When you two get slap happy and silly it's fun to sit back and listen!

I just came from the nearby park. I decided Ginger needed a good run before we get homebound. She and I look like drowned rats, hair hanging down in our eyes, watery eyes, but we are smiling big! Did I mention it is raining!?

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Yep, it's raining all right; not freezing on Broadway or Douglas right now (thanks to the traffic), nor on the parts of the sidewalk which are close to buildings. Looking at the vehicles across the street in the parking lot, I can see the ice building on them.

 

Rox said:

 

Just got back from the second appt. It's still raining, but that's all. I dread what's expected to happen later. As I recall it, in '05 it started with rain. My soon-to-be-son-in-law was at McConnell, waiting to leave on deployment to UAE, and his flight was held up because of the rain. He finally did make it off...and then everything went to ice here. January 5, if memory serves me.

I remember that night (or was it the next night?) standing in the front yard and listening to the kabooms as transformers blew up, sparks shooting everywhere, and the crash of tree limbs falling. I told my kids that it made me realize why fireworks are used on the 4th of July, simulating the sounds and sights of cannons and war. (I think I already knew it, but it was a vivid reminder.) It was...erie.

 

lindainks55 said:

 

That was the eeriest sound! We were without power for five full days and it was so cold. We had hot water and I would stand in the shower until I thawed then wrap back up in layers and layers of clothes and blankets. We had propane stove for heating things up and I was pleasantly reminded how good coffee tastes from one of those old fashioned drip percolators. When the power finally came back on it took a long time to warm everything back up. When you take every iota of heat away you don't get toasty very quickly.

 

Rox said:

 

If you're at work and can leave early, now is the time to do it. I heard that the freezing will start around 5 and streets will get baaaaaad then.

I'm off to finish the last errand and pick up one granddaughter. Then I plan to hunker in and hope for the best.

Stay safe, everyone! Stay warm.

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

That's what makes freezing rain so insidious. The rain falls as liquid, due to the warmer temperatures of the atmosphere close to the ground, but then freezes on the colder surfaces. I know this from paying attention to the Weather Channel.

 

lindainks55 said:

 

giggle

that weather channel

you've paid very close attention

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Yep, I have. My wife sighs every time I undertake extended viewing thereof (of course, she took intro to meteorology so the things I learn are mostly old hat to her), but so long as I'm not impeding her viewing of whatever it is she wants to see, it is just categorized as further evidence of my idiosyncrasies. :-)

 

Rox said:

 

Has anyone stopped to pick up a few provisions? Or something for dinner tonight?

We stopped at the Pawnee & Broadway Wal-Mart on our way home, since there wasn't a big choice of eats at the house and the Dillons on S. Seneca was packed. Nearly every package of meat in the meat department was GONE. The bagged potato bins were EMPTY. Not a single green pepper in sight. I'd stopped to pick up stuff to make chili, but there wasn't a package of ground beef of any size or type to be found. I did find a package of center cut pork chops, so I told my daughter I'd make Pork Chop Creole (chops, sliced onion, sliced green pepper rings, covered in tomato soup. Quick and easy and yummy), but no peppers means semi-Creole, I guess.

People go CRAAAAZY (think Steve Martin) when bad weather is expected to move in. We stood staring at the empty meat section, and my daughter turned to me and said, "If the power goes out, how do they expect to cook all that meat?" I don't know. Maybe a nice backyard barbecue?

Good grief.

 

lindainks55 said:

 

I went to the store this morning as I have that leisure being a retired person with no children who depend on me. I didn't need meat but fresh veggies and fruit, milk and bread. But I had a horrible experience. The store was crowded, most if not all the checkout lanes open and manned (some by mgmt. I noticed). My checkout clerk was playing and laughing and joking with the clerk right behind her. I noticed this when the customer in front of me was being checked out. Now, it's my turn. I went ahead and began sacking my purchases as I was just standing there anyway and there were NO sackers (they're mostly school kids who were in school). I began noticing purchases that weren't mine coming to the sack position and looked up to see that the clerk had moved right along to the purchases of the person behind me. I tried to get her attention, the customer behind me was trying also, but she was very busy laughing and playing with the male clerk behind her. Finally, I stepped between her and the guy clerk and asked, "May I pay before you ring up the next customer?" Before it was all over two managers had to be called. The first manager WAS NO HELP and before doing anything asked the customer behind me why she hadn't put a divider between our purchases. The customer told her not only had she put a divider but when the checkout clerk tossed it aside and began ringing up her purchases she had tried hard to get her attention and get her stopped. Anyway, I did get home with only those items I had put in my cart and I think thats all I paid for too. It was a three-ring circus situation made worse by the first mgr. The second manager told me if that ever happened again I should just leave with my purchases and let HER (pointing over his shoulder at the clerk) figure out how to pay for them! Wonder if she is still a Dillons employee?

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

"Back in the day" she wouldn't be, Linda. The "laughing and playing" would have taken care of it, and she wouldn't have been there to mess up with you and the customer behind you. Based upon my conversations with the managers at the Dillons "Marketplace" at Central and Rock, they are so grateful when the employees show up for work on time and on the days when they are scheduled that much of what used to be cause for termination is not any more, as there is no guarantee that any replacement that would be hired would be any better or as dependable.

I've some personal experience with the Dillons crew at that store, and while it is nothing to brag about, I've three scalps on my belt over the years. It really bugs the management when I (the old sacker) take charge and begin sacking my own groceries in the absence of a sacker. Of course, I learned how to sack with paper, and that's what I use. There a a few of the more mature checkers who like to see me when I come through, as I don't hassle them, and when all is busy, I sack my own, quietly, quickly and efficiently. Maybe that's my next career!

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

a a = are a

More coffee needed.

 

Wendy said:

 

Vaughn,

I HAVE to sack my own groceries. I worked in the hometown grocery store all through high school and in summers during the first two years of college. I cannot stand the way people sack nowadays. I usually shoo off the sacker, and do it myself. Otherwise I wind up with flat bread, broken eggs or a bag that just makes no sense at all. I use plastic mostly (we recycle them as trash bags for the small cans in the bathrooms and bedrooms) but prefer paper for the bread items, as they seem to fit better (because the best way to sack bread is upright FYI :) ) It's a major pet peeve of mine...

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Dadgum right, Wendy; the only way, IMO, to properly sack bread is in paper, so it may stand upright. The young'uns these days have no concept as to how to properly sack anything, much less whether it is in paper or plastic. I can go on for extended periods on this subject.....

We also reuse the plastic sacks as trash bags in the small cans, as do you; (Target plastic sacks are superior to those of Dillons and others, in our opinion, for this purpose). Thus, we do ask for plastic from time to time as the supply drops at home. We reuse the paper sacks at Dillons (and get the five cent per bag refund for each) until they become unusable for that purpose, then the same are used for trash.

I once attempted to explain to a sacker what he wasn't doing correctly in sacking my order (whatever happened to the art of having two sacks going at once, to balance weight, etc.), only to be treated in a most uncivil manner; his is one of the scalps I mentioned.

Wendy, whenever I shoo the sacker away, I end up with a manager breathing down my neck inquiring about what the problem might be; wanting to sack my own isn't an acceptable reason, it appears. Hey, the sacker might as well get paid to watch me, s/he might learn something, like NOT putting cans on top of eggs.....

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

A war story from "back in the day". In Wellington, we had a most particular customer whose order generally was sacked by the store manager (you might wonder why; she came into the store infrequently, but when she did, she spent well in excess of $100 in 1966-1968 dollars) to satisfy her. One day, the manager wasn't available, and it was my turn in the barrel. She stood there, lecturing me as to how it was to be done. I take orders well, I guess, because thereafter, no matter how busy it was, no matter what time, I was always her requested sacker.

Ah, the memories; all meat together in sacks containing meat only; the produce was to be in its own sack(s); canned goods one level, then lighter "stuff" on top; etc., etc. When she was in the store, we were on high alert, and when she proceeded to the checkout, I was ready, with at least four sacks open, with more in easily located reserve, to deal with her. That was also when there were insulated sacks to use for ice cream, which were also to be used on her order for all frozen foods, juices, etc. I became quite accomplished, if I do say so myself, in handling her order, often finishing the job just as the checker was closing the drawer. Those were the days when one could estimate (in general) one large sack for each $5 of the order, so using 20-30 sacks was not uncommon (together with the carts needed to take the order to her vehicle). This experience allowed me to become proficient in handling three carts (baskets) across the parking lot, etc., as well as sacking.

 

Wendy said:

 

Vaughn,

We had customers like that as well. I mostly checked, but if they were small to medium orders and the customers did not want help out to the car I would sack as well, and could usually finish up before they finished making out their checks. Yep, we took checks back in those days. In fact, we didn't get debit card machines there until I was in college already... Ah, the good old days. I do miss them.

And I agree, Target bags make the best trash bags - thos typically go in the trashcans in my son's room and guest bath, as they are the most used cans...

 

lindainks55 said:

 

The first manager (the one who was NO HELP but quite quick to criticize customers) said if I had not sacked my order there wouldn't have been this problem. And, now that I've gone through the experience, if the checkout clerk had needed to sack my order after she rang it up maybe she wouldn't have hurried on to the next customer. It wouldn't have taken more time either (a fact I didn't know until I went thru the unbelievable; I really thought I was helping to speed things up). I still contend that the manager first jumping on the customer behind me for not using a divider and then jumping on me for sacking my order had her priorities a bit confused.

I always unload my cart with an eye to how it should be sacked. Frozen foods together, meat together, produce together, soap products separated appropriately, bread and eggs at the very last. Seldom does it work, but I continue to try.

 

Wendy said:

 

Linda,

Absolutely the manager who blamed the customers was in the wrong, especially if you BOTH tried to get the clerks attention and she was too busy chatting with the boy in the next booth over to pay attention to either one of you. I certainly would not have been polite about it, and when the manager tried to put it on me, wouldn't have been polite with her either. In fact, I probably would have said something along the lines of "Haven't you ever heard the customer is always right?" and then pointed out that you have more than one witness to the fact that the clerk was NOT paying attention to what she was doing. AND I would have pointed out that you were simply trying to move the line along by HELPING sack your items, rather than tie things up further by waiting on her to do it (since it likely wouldn't have happened anyways even if you HADN'T started sacking your own items) for you.