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About that ice – be afraid – be very afraid

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605

YakTraxThose of you who read me regularly know that I generally post something about weekend events….This week didn’t blog much and there was  a reason. I happen to live in a home that has a “challenging” driveway.  It’s a long winding gravel driveway.  This driveway became the bane of my existence during the last ice storm – and a near death trap before I was done.

The ice was so thick, the person who usually plows my driveway couldn’t quite manage the curve and as a result there was a lot of ice between me and the road.  I was able to get the car on the road on Thursday to do some errands, although I knew getting it back UP the driveway was going to be problematic – I proceeded with my errands.  When I got home – as predicted, there were problems.  The car got mired in the ice and yours truly spent over 2 hours trying to free the wheels.  in the process – I suddenly heard a very ominous hissing sound…Yup – somehow I punctured a tire!

So far this was somewhat funny though very frustrating. It was definitely impacting a client of mine – though that person waited until today to go out – which was very kind of them.

The next day we got the donut on the car and I tried to go about my business…. There was a salt shortage county wide and so I was still dealing with a solid block of ice for half the driveway.  When I got home I had a couple of bags to remove from the car. I could not get the car all the way up the drive – but that didn’t worry me. What I didn’t expect was that the ground was so slippery that the brakes wouldn’t hold. Unfortunately, the car started to move when I was out of it pulling groceries from the passenger seat. I was pulled down to the ground and almost run over by my own car!  Fortunately the skidding of the car stopped just in time.  I was damn near killed…

 

At the end of the day – I had quite a few bruises and severe muscle strain from struggling to escape from the car.  In truth from trying to shovel and chip ice off the driveway and from trying to dig my car out a solid block of ice and being thrown to the ground by my moving car – I still feel like I’ve been hit by a truck….which is why I haven’t written much over the past few days.  I may need a new car door and I needed a new tire and about 200 lbs of salt for the driveway.  But my point is this:  Snow is one thing – but this ice is another matter.   Right now it is slushy but things are supposed to freeze up again towards the middle of the week.  BE CAREFUL.

On a more positive note:  As everyone knows – I am an avid walker. I take my dogs for walks all the time and huskies like to pull. The best thing for icy pathways is Yak Trax. The pair that I have now keep me stable even when the dogs want to chase rabbits and squirrels.  Truly they are the best for keeping stable on slippery terrain.  I don’t know how practical they would be for running – but for walking they are terrific.

© 2011 - Ruthmarie G. Hicks - http://thewestchesterview.com - All rights reserved.

About that ice – be afraid – be very afraid

Comments (17)

Maureen Fukumoto
Help-U-Sell Realty Pro - Mililani, HI
Maureen

Be careful Ruthmarie, I remember how dangerous that ice can be.  No errand is worth risking your health.

Feb 06, 2011 07:52 PM
Jim Hale
ACTIONAGENTS.NET - Eugene, OR
Eugene Oregon's Best Home Search Website

Car chains for people....people's feet to be precise.  Who knew?

We barely have chains for cars here.

Feb 06, 2011 09:43 PM
Navona Hart
Century 21 Realty @ Home - Farmville, VA
Selling the Best Properties in Central Virginia

Ruthmarie, I hope you get a very warm sunny day soon to melt your driveway,  Stay home and be safe until then.

Feb 06, 2011 10:20 PM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi RuthMarie, yes there is "ice cleats " for people that walk on ice. Look in mountain climbing stores and catalogs. Ans yes we all need to be very careful out side even if it's not wet or icy.

Clint McKie

Feb 06, 2011 10:23 PM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

I am fortunate to NOT have to leave my home unless and until the ice has melted * dangers of ice are a great concern for many as it should be!!!

Feb 06, 2011 10:36 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

OMG, you poor thing. That is so aweful and so scary.  I'm so glad you're okay.  The weather here his year has been horrendous.  I think everyone is looking forward to spring.

Feb 06, 2011 10:41 PM
Renee Marrs Caperton
Marrs & Associates - Corsicana, TX
Realtor - Corsicana Texas Real Estate

This has really been a harsh winter for many, as with every year, I can not wait until spring.  Stay safe and good luck with the icy conditions! 

Feb 07, 2011 12:08 AM
Christine Smith
Buyers Brokers Only LLC - www.BuyersBrokersOnly.com - Canton, MA
Exclusive Buyer Agent & Attorney, Canton, MA

That is scary - glad you are okay.  We were lucky to get some melting of the ice yesterday & a little more today.  I hope yours melts soon too.

Feb 07, 2011 12:54 AM
Gail Robinson
William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT
CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT

Ruthmarie - I'm so sorry you got so banged up and I hope you are feeling better.  That was a very narrow escape you had.  This has been a killer winter, literally.  I had to give up my daily walks, not so much for the ice, but because I'd have to walk in the street.  The city has only cleared some of the sidewalks along the waterfront parkland.

Feb 07, 2011 02:14 AM
Ruthmarie Hicks
Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605 - White Plains, NY

Hi Maureen - I'm being very careful... The trouble is that this isn't ending any time soon and I can't stay home all winter and survive financially.

Hi Jim - they work great but after that ice incident with my car - I'm leary of too much walking where there is ice because another car might have the same trouble mine did - and then I'd be in the way....But paths that aren't trafficed are Ok.  The issue there is keeping your footing because those are very icy...Hence my YakTrax promotional.  I've used several types of grippers on my shoes...these are the best by far.

Hi Navona - The best I can do is keep working on it to minimize the risk....that's all any of us can do.  We aren't bears - so we can't hibernate all winter.

 

Hi Clint - I have never really seen it like this before - never ever.

 

Hi Wallace - in your area its a way of life!!!  Around here it is very much the exception. As I said before - I've never seen anything like it.  I just want people to be careful!

 

Hi Debbie - I just think people need to be very, very careful...VERY careful.  Between the shoveling and chipping of the ice and struggling to get out from (nearly) under my car on solid ice - I feel as though a I was hit by an 18-wheeler.  Everything hurts.  But there were no serious injuries for which I am truly grateful.

Hi Renee - I normally like the snow!  Really I do!  But not this year!

 

Hi Christine - We have some melting but not nearly enough!  When things freeze up tonight I'm out there with the rest of my salt and some sand.  The bottom of my driveway is on a busy street - though my house faces a quiet side street.  So I want plenty of traction at the bottom of that driveway.  I seem to be able to purchase salt now - for extortionary prices....

Hi Gail - Just VERY stiff and sore. But a lot of that was from trying to chip massive slabs  of ice.  It has been a killer - which is why I posted that.  People don't know how dangerous this is until something happens.  I can believe that you had to stop your walks temporarily!  I can totally understand that.  Around here there are lots of paths and shoulders that the city has given up on. Can't say I blame them!  There is no place to put the stuff!

 

Feb 07, 2011 05:19 AM
Joelle Embres
jsellhomes@live.com - Parkland, FL
Re/Max Advisors

Hi Ruthmarie, Glad you are alright!!! Sounds like the kind of day you need to go back to bed and pull the covers over your head!! I hope you have a beautiful warm,sunny day soon. Take care and be careful!

Feb 07, 2011 10:38 AM
Ruthmarie Hicks
Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605 - White Plains, NY

Thanks Joelie - Its snowing again....why am I even surprised?

Feb 07, 2011 03:01 PM
Sandy Fenton
Keller Williams NY Realty * Licensed Associate Broker - Mount Kisco, NY
ABR, ASP, CDPE, GRI -Westchester NY - Condos to Luxury Homes

Hi Ruthmarie - what a story!  I am glad you are okay and that everything is alright for the moment.  Yesterday showed signs of melting activity - today is a completely different story.  I am convinced we'll be looking at piles of snow until May!  :-/

Feb 08, 2011 06:11 AM
Ruthmarie Hicks
Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605 - White Plains, NY

Hi Sandy - I told Monique about it today - she was shuddering.  i have to say I had to summon all my courage to get on the road again.  I was a tad traumatized. But that is a horse you have to get back on immediately.

Feb 08, 2011 12:35 PM
Judith Abbott
Coldwell Banker Residential - Dallas, TX

What a story!  Thanks for sharing.  I followed the link to the Yak Trak site, never having heard of the product.  Great idea.  You wouldn't think that we would need something like that in Texas but about once a year it would be a good thing!

Feb 09, 2011 09:56 AM
Ruthmarie Hicks
Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605 - White Plains, NY

Hi Judith - What little you do get is probably very slippery.  Snow itself is not the problem.  Your shoes will grip in snow. The problem is when the temp hovers around freezing and you get freeze- thaw, freeze-thaw.

Feb 09, 2011 02:31 PM
Carla Harbert
www.LorainCountyHomeSales.com - Avon, OH
RE/MAX Omega: Lorain-Medina County Area

Oh my goodness sakes - what a story and a half to tell! I'm glad our weather in Ohio is finally breaking free of frigid temps. Stay safe!!

Feb 17, 2011 11:32 AM