West Michigan has disappeared. No longer does the state look like a mitten. It is being called the Alaska syndrome. Word has it that West Michigan does still exist but it is buried under several inches feet of snow. The city's started disappearing first. It has been reported that each neighbor kept shoveling mounds of snow so high on each side of the drive that avalanches have occur ed and buried entire neighborhoods.
Ok I am going to gripe. I'm unabashedly looking for pity. Most of you who know me, know that I don't complain. WELL I AM GOING TO COMPLAIN. I am sick to death of all this snow!! I get text messages sent to my phone whenever there is a weather alert. Mostly, it is for the summer because I have a nasty habit of driving into tornadoes. But I have been getting two and three weather alerts daily for weeks. Into the late hours of the night, my phone is going off.
This is my friend on a ride yesterday in Grand Haven, MI on a full size horse - not a pony!
This video was from last week when we went to get a CHRISTmas tree. This guy slid off the driveway where the trees were at. Of course he sees us in our 4WD and thinks life is good!! So did we. We love to help people out. USUALLY we just hook on a strap and pull them out in seconds flat. NO NOT THIS TIME! It was so icy that the 4WD couldn't dig in. We had to haul him along until he got to the drive so we could force him up. It was truly comical! We did end up getting the guy out--he tried to pay us but we wouldn't take it. I'm not taking money from someone when it cost me nothing to help him.
Today, I thought about canceling an appointment to show houses to a couple for the second time. I REALLY wanted to show them houses-they sounded like such nice kids. But I REALLY didn't want to end up in the ditch either. I finally decided to take the darn 4WD and just go!! On the way I saw about 12 cars in the ditch and the finale . . .a jack knifed semi on the highway! Flippin' lovely!
If you can believe it, it gets worse! We have a big snow blower that attaches to our garden tractor. Our drive is way beyond shoveling or even using a little snow blower! It would kill it quickly, there is just too much there. Our snow blower broke . .can you believe it?!!? The belt broke! Now just a belt breaking is not a big deal. I have a husband that can fix anything and I mean anything! BUT NO PLACE ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH CAN YOU PURCHASE THE STUPID BELT RIGHT NOW!! We have to order it!
ORDER IT!! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? It will take 3-4 days to get it. By then, we will be buried in snow. We are suppose to get 6 more inches tonight and it is suppose to keep coming tomorrow!! Do you know how much snow we already have???!?!! Look at the pictures. That was from last week folks!! It has been snowing for 5 solid days since then!!
Ok . . you all know I am an eternal optimist so I do have to look on the bright side. This is going to be awesome for Lake Michigan. Water levels have gone down so much that people are destroying props when they put their boats in. This will really help!
The other bright side is that the schools are off for Christmas so they aren't using up a ton of snow days so they have to keep going in June. My daughter would be beside herself . . she graduates in June!
Another bright side is that it will make for an awesome blog about our local cross country skiing and sledding place. I am already forming that one in my mind and have the cam corder primed and ready. I can't wait for you all to see it!
And see I just thought of another plus . . .I can get out my cross country skis. I haven't been able to use them for two years because we haven't had enough snow. WELL WE GOT ENOUGH NOW!
Allendale, MI 12/20/08 3 feet of snow!
<This was actually posted on 12/24/08, but there were some problems with it appearing. It was recommended I delete it and repost it to see what happens . . .so here it goes! By the way we are under yet another warning . .flood warning because now the snow is melting and dense fog advisory! Enough already!>
24 Comments on News Flash . . .West Michigan Disappears off the map!
DEC
26
2008
Wow. I don't know how you do it :). I would be completely miserable!! I"m allergic to all that white stuff! I like your channel name.....Too much snow.....cute.
In case you are wondering how the weather is here....we wore shorts yesterday it was so warm. KM
Tami, Being an Ohioan I feel your pain. In April of this year we got 3 feet which we tried to shovel because one teeny tiny piece on the snowblower broke off, but since we are at that "heart attack" age we gave up and called my favorite snow plow man. Keep looking on the bright side and you can tell me the same thing when it hits Ohio!
Sure Kristin just rub it in a little further why don't you!!!! I have a friend from school who lives in TX now--don't know what part but she is on my Facebook.
Shirley - I think I ate to much icing then cause it is making me ill!!! LOL
Fran - I just love you!!!
Barb - We get it so darn bad because of the lake effect snow. There is no way you would get me out there shoveling--I send out the son child . . lol
Tami ~ I am smiling right now because I just love the pictures you included, especially of your friend on her horse (not pony)! It is just gorgeous!! We have about 3 or 4 inches but it is melting fast! Hang in there and drive safely, watch out for those who don't take it easy on the roads!
Tami, Gripe all you want--I thought WE had it bad! Our snow turned to ice--my least favorite thing. When the weather is really bad I will reschedule....I've had too many treacherous trips through the years! Isn't spring just around the corner?? :)
Sounds like this problem certainly hit several states! We in Oregon had some snow/ice which cancelled the alst week of school before Christmas. Then we had more snow - and lots of ice . . . causing our trees to lose large limbs or crack - we have probably the equivalent of 5 full sized oak trees that are down in our yard, destroying the smaller shrubs/trees below. The clincher was when we lost power from 12/20 through 12/26. No water/elec/heat/cooking -- how fun is Christmas in a 45 degree house? My daughter says she is NEVER wishing for a white Christmas again!
Tami- Oh my....forget the truck, I was shocked how the snow came up so far on the Horse..but my question is whay didn't you just ride your horse to show LOL :) Seriously,.,.,,you are a much braver soul than me, I would have canceled.....hate driving in the snow, and especially as much as you have :)
With all that snow, it did feel sort of like we disappeared over here in West Michigan! Today, it's over 50 degrees. That's what I love about this state...the weather is never boring. :) Despite the relative warmth...our snow piles are still pretty high.
Lola - They are pretty high. The river is coming up fast over here. My husband said it was going over the service road out on the State Land behind us.
Hi Tami, It looks like a mega Hot Chocolate Alert to me! I grew up in Portage (next door to Kalamazoo). We had a huge blizzard, then everyone was snowed in in the late '70's. On the 2nd snowed in day I decided to ride my black Morgan horse to the store a couple of miles away. I called a few of the neighbors to see if anyone was out of staples- you know, bread, milk or baby food. Someone wanted me to pick up candy. Another neighbor wanted cigarettes! Needless to say, they didn't get them! My horse (and best friend) Laddie plowed his way through the chest deep snow all the way to the store and carried me back home safely. Of course he got extra apples that day. Thanks for the memory. Many of my family live on the west side of Michigan, in Mattawan, Lawton, w. Kalamazoo. Like you, they have all had way too much snow and it's not even New Year's yet! Be well.
Fellow Horse Girl ~ Marian
Tami, Connecting with a horse is truly a gift, isn't it? What's that old saying "The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man". Be well ~ Marian
My dad used to live in the UP when he was younger. He used to talk of snow over the roof...I still want to see it. I have never been farther north than Detroit in the winter.
I am sure living there you are sick of the white stuff.....hang in there. Spring will come soon.
Tami,
You must be close to the lake and get the lake effect snow? I think it might be fun to have a lot of snow but then I would want it off the roads....
Wishing you a fine 2009!
Ann
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Ok I am going to gripe. I'm unabashedly looking for pity. Most of you who know me, know that I don't complain. WELL I AM GOING TO COMPLAIN. I am sick to death of all this snow!! I get text messages sent to my phone whenever there is a weather alert. Mostly, it is for the summer because I have a nasty habit of driving into tornadoes. But I have been getting two and three weather alerts daily for weeks. Into the late hours of the night, my phone is going off.
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