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SURVIVAL SKILLS IN A BLIZZARD IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA - BACK TO BASICS

By
Real Estate Agent with Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate 303829;0225082372

OFTEN AMAZED AT THE INGENUITY OF THE HUMAN SPECIES, this morning I amazed myself. 

I was disappointed this a.m. to find that I HAD NO TELEVISION RECEPTION.  It started to go out about 7:00 p.m. last evening.   Not a problem.  However, this morning I wanted to see what the area was like with such a massive snow storm and a snow accumulation of about 2 feet plus and still coming down. 

Now I can be as rugged as anyone when it comes to rough weather and living conditions.  I have tent camped in Yellowstone for weeks at a time in June when it gets down to 25 F. overnight with ice on the picnic table, all to catch a few Cutthroat Trout.  I once hiked a total of 14 miles, 9 miles in and 5 miles out to catch a 6 inch trout in Lake Shoshone.  I'm as tough as anyone.  However, when I'm at home I want my TELEVISION TO WORK. 

NO TELEVISION! . . .   NOW THAT IS A TRUE CATASTROPHE!  

We have a lot of snow, about 2 feet and still snowing in Lovettsville, Virginia. 

         Snow in back yard

The fence in this scene is about 3 feet tall.  It appears that the snow is right up to the top level.

                     Deck in snow

                                               This is my deck.  That's a lot of snow at 7:00 a.m.

I was glad to find my electricity still working this a.m.  I fully expected it to be out and, in fact, still expect to lose electricity as soon as that branch on the tree across the road, laden with snow , to break off and fall on the line with expected results.  It wouldn't be the first time, but, so far so good.  When I realized that the television was out this a.m., I figured it would be that way until the snow stopped and the dish could get a signal.  However, a light went on in my brain!  Something told me this morning that perhaps all that snow on the dish could be part of the problem.  At least it was worth a try. 

Fortunately, the DirectTV dish is right outside one of the windows in my sunroom.  So, after opening the window, taking the screen out, I could access the dish easily.  Now what to do??  The dish is covered with packed snow, a good 6-8 inch layer all over it.  I needed a tool to remove the snow.  I wasn't really thinking high tech.  I just wanted to get the snow off the dish without doing damage to the dish or the parts that made it work.  I also didn't want to cause it to move.  Why?  I don't really know but it made sense at the time.  When coming into contact with a TV Satellite dish, first do no harm.

EUREKA, I FOUND IT!

     Snow remover       TV Dish

SUCCESS!  About the second I brushed the snow off the dish, I could hear the TV in the Family Room. 

                       TV Weather Map

So far, this is a mighty storm.  However, with my electricity still on and the TV and computer working,

I CAN ROUGH IT!

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988. 

 

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Comments (45)

Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Mark.  No snowmobiles for me.  I hope my post this a.m. was entertaining.  You have no idea how pleased I was to get my TV working. 

Now, I better go sweep the snow off the dish again.

Missy.  Not smart.  Just common sense and trying something that made sense.  I'm sure most folks would have known that to get reception, the dish has to be pretty clear.  When the TV went out last evening, I thought it was because the signal couldn't get through the snow.  That's how "smart" I was.

Gregory.  It's cooommmmminnnngggg.  Ooooooo.

Jim.  As nearly I can figure from weather underground, it's due to end about 4:00 p.m.  4 more hours.

Amy.  Thanks.  As long as the electricity is on, I don't mind being snowed in.  I'll get a lot of work done today and tomorrow.  Then I'll get a bit stir crazy.  I do miss getting to the trap range tomorrow.  I'm sure they'll be closed and I'm snowed in anyway.

Yvette.  Mmmm.  When I lived in Bethesda, the snow was hard on those old, old trees.  I lost electricity there too.

 

 

Feb 06, 2010 02:48 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Patricia.  I was up before 5:00.  I don't sleep late.  Never have.  I imagine DC will be a nightmare trying to remove all that snow.  It's not meling away for a while.

Steve.  HA!  Part of that great story was hiking in to Lake Shonone and then hiking out.  We were always on the lookout for bears.

Christine.  AH!  A kindred soul.  I hate it too.

Jeff.  I was fully expecting to lose electricity.  I'm still amazed that we have not and my fingers are crossed.

 

Feb 06, 2010 02:52 AM
Barb Szabo, CRS
RE/MAX Above & Beyond - Cleveland, OH
E-pro Realtor, Cleveland Ohio Homes

You are one tough and smart cookie Lenn. Hope you don't have to go anywhere this weekend. Enjoy the beauty!

Feb 06, 2010 03:35 AM
Shirley Parks
Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX
Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

All this snow may be inconvenient but it sure looks pretty!  Enjoy the view!

Feb 06, 2010 03:43 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Lenn, I am right there with you on that one.  No TV!!!!  I would be climbing the walls.  I even comment on AR while I am watching my favorite shows at night ............ LOL

Feb 06, 2010 03:52 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Barb.  HA!  I couldn't go anywhere if I wanted to.  I'm snowed in.  No idea when the guys that I have a snow removal contract will be able to get there.  They know that I don't have to get out.  So, they get to others before they get to me which I asked them to do a long time ago.  As long as I have electricty, I'm find.  Now if the electricity goes out, I'll be working the snow shovel which it would probably take me a week to shovel a path to the road.  I have a looooooong driveway.

My neighbors up the hill often shovel a path for me, but who knows when they'll get out. 

Shirley.  I don't enjoy anything about snow.  I just ignore it and work around it. 

 

Feb 06, 2010 03:53 AM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Lenn, Now that is an impressive amount of snow, even if you do just mostly ignore it. When I see pictures like that, I fantasize a roaring fire and a good book. The problem is when it did snow like that where I grew up, as a youngster, it was more the feeling of being snow bound. So my remedy was to get all bundled up and then just get out in it. It would be so cold and so much snow that even sledding was lousy. Falling down and making snow angels was really stupid because then being covered in snow, we would be even colder. So we would trek back into the house for the inevitable scolding that we made everything wet as we peeled off the layers. There was no winning this constant battle.

Thus then the fantasy for the roaring fire and a book was born out of need , but that was never what actually happened. It was more the meeting of the challenge to overcome what was not to be overcome, the amount of snow and the grey skies and total boredom of being stuck inside.

As an adult now with a career, I think because I already do so much work from home, these could be high work production days of reading, learning but more likley lots of phone time, talking all about how much snow there was and how cold it is as if the person on the other end of the line would either already know it or not really care, LOL.

While I was writing this to you , I was at the same time experiencing many memories and visuals from my past. So thanks for that! It was fun!

Just having the driveway and walkway cleared ( shoveled out) as I recall did help to at least make you feel like you could escape if you wanted to. Mostly, adults didn't really seem excited about doing that and kids didn't need the path in the first place. In some areas though, it is the law that the walkways have to be cleared within a reasonable time after the snow. ( or unreasonable as the case may be)  chuckle

 

Feb 06, 2010 04:54 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

George.  HA!  I do the same. In fact, sometimes I have 4 TVs going at the same time so I can follow from room to room and my gym in the basement.

William.  If I never have to see or feel snow again, I'll not complain.  I am snowbound and don't care.  As a child, I was smart enough to hate the snow.  Of course, being a girl, the boys, indescribably horrid creatures they can be wanted to see who could hit me with the hardest snowball.  Now, as an adult, the guys with the Prius vehicles want to see how fast they can careen down the highway in the snow and head for my vehicle driving at a reasonable speed.

Thanks but no thanks.  My snow removal guys will be here sooner or later. In the meantime, I'm happy to be snowbound.  After all, I have TV in almost every room.

And my computer to reach out to the world and my dear friends in California.

Feb 06, 2010 05:19 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Lenn, Beauty abounds as long as we have internet and electricity. Thank goodness for a backup generator which turned on only once during the night. Only one of the four TV's are working. My snow shovel and I are having multiple dates today. I will be posting in a little while. Figure by the time I shovel the driveway (no time soon) and my front steps..almost there, the plow might get here.

Stay safe and warm.

Feb 06, 2010 05:31 AM
C. Lloyd McKenzie
Living Albuquerque - Albuquerque, NM
Living Albuquerque

Lenn: I think you might have just created a new line of business.  Your awesome pictures could make some great postcards.  Stay warm!

Feb 06, 2010 08:19 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Margaret.  So far so good.  The road in fron of my house was just scraped.  The only thing left is my driveway.  Soon. 

C.Lloyd.  Thanks.  I can't resist recording this adventure.

Feb 06, 2010 08:30 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Lenn we would get along great.  Anyone who is that much of a TV nut is a person after my own heart :)

Feb 06, 2010 09:53 AM
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Lenn--WOW!!!  Glad you have TV reception again and it sounds like you will survive no matter what Mother Nature sends your way.  At least you have electricity and internet. 

I can remember an evening of playing monopoly by candelight during a power outage.  FUN!

Feb 06, 2010 01:00 PM
Nancy Williams
Coldwell Banker Homestead Group Select Professionals - Harrisburg, PA

Such Puritan-inspired industriousness, even if unknowingly applied as to outcome, should be as well rewarded as you were with restoration of your television service!  Isn't it odd how such "random acts of caring" end up solving a problem that you knew was a problem, but had no clue that an otherly motivated act--just get that snow off the Dish/it's the right thing to do--would prove to be the solution?

Here in Harrisburg, Pa, we got off "lightly" with only 15-20 inches. 

Feb 06, 2010 04:29 PM
FN LN
Toronto, ON

Lenn - Ever thought of having a set of emergency rabbit ear antennas and possibly digital over the air TV receivers for situations where your satellite TV reception is not working?  I always like to have backup mechanisms.

Feb 06, 2010 04:38 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Marc.  My house is surrounded by higher ground.  Can't get reception by any method other than Satellite.

Nancy.  Your comment is priceless.  Actually, my simple solution to the problem isn't surprising since I am the original simple minded person. 

Mary.  No electricity just might send me to a hotel, IF I can get out, which, to date, I cannot.

George.  Indeed, I am an avowed TV addict.  Love it. 

Feb 06, 2010 09:42 PM
Maria Morton
Platinum Realty - Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Real Estate 816-560-3758

Lenn, what beautiful snow! I'm with you on the electricity and TV and computer all working when at home.

Feb 07, 2010 04:16 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Maria.  Still working.  Fingers are crossed.

Feb 07, 2010 04:26 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Lenn,

That's funny. We can take anything... but we need TV, and the Internet.

Hurricanes of 2004 we stayed in a condo, and because the wire to the condo is undergraund, we actually have electricity, and TV was working all the time. And that'w how we knew what was happening in the area.

Behind the window there was a mess, and not much to see if anything, but TV was giving us allthe information.

Feb 07, 2010 02:55 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Jon.  Indeed.  I love my TV.  I love and need my computer.  Give me some electricity and I'm happy.

Back in about 2004 when Isabel came through Bethesda where I lived at the time, I lost electricity for 5 days.  Thanks goodness I had lots of batteries and a good fireplace. 

I have a fireplace in my present home but it's in a family room with a 2 story celiing.  I don't believe I get much benefit except within about 10 feet of the fire.

Oh well.

Feb 07, 2010 10:34 PM