To tell ya the truth it really wasnt that bad.....because about EVERY 9e flight cancelled tonite! And Screw Scheduling ACTUALLY CALLED ME 15 MINUTES AFTER MY CANCELLATION TO SAY I"M RELEASED. HAVE A NICE NIGHT AT HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not that I didn't already have my foot out the door anyways! But it really was one of the smoothest mass-cancellation events I've ever experienced here, complete with polite schedulers.

Count me and the doggy in.....but we're usually around (or in) Patriot Lake.

 

Mooney... Saucer.... off all week...

 

That's funny raht there! Oh how sad, but true, eh?

 

I think the difference down here (besides people not being used to it) is that the temp is hovering just below freezing and it takes the ground a long time to cool off, so the roads don't get hard packed (aka drivable) like the do in MSP... it's all wet snow/slush, kinda like trying to drive a car through a muddy field.

240 is down to one "lane" in each direction... you just have to hunt for the middle!

 

They'll be handing out a lot of Triple A awards for dealing with the 'harsh MEM conditions.' My 9E DTW/MSP brothers and sisters always got a laugh out of what was normal ops for us.

 

I was already to my crashpad by the time scheduling called to release me. Now, I'm going to stay holed up here so I don't have to deal with the crazys in Memphis.

 

Be safe out there guys/gals! We dont need more bad headlines on the news!

 

One of my friends posted this on Facebook... ha ha:

"I just got home from a friend's house, and apparently I missed the class on how to drive in the snow. From what I learned tonight, here's how you are supposed to handle snow in Memphis:

1. You must drive with your brights on. Since everyone else drives with them on, the only proper thing to do is follow the leader. Plus, everyone knows snow isn't reflective or anything. It's just like fog.

2. You may not drive in the right-hand lane. You may not drive in the left-hand lane. You may only drive on top of the white dashed line. Weaving is a plus.

3. You may not reduce speed accordingly. In most cities, the more snow there is, the slower you go. Not so in Memphrica. When the first signs of snow appear, the speed limit automatically reduces to 30. If the interstate is fairly clear, the speed limit may be increased to 35, provided the driver is between two lanes.

4. When turning, you must hit the brakes or gas. This is to facilitate a sliding action. If your vehicle makes a turn without sliding in some form or fashion, you suck at life, and should quit.

5. When braking, you must not allow your tires to continue spinning. Everyone knows sliding tires stop faster. If you can stop solely by colliding with objects harder/heavier than your car, consider yourself an excellent driver. Pedestrians, bushes, and small animals count too.

6. If you can successfully complete rules 1-5 while talking on your cell phone, you are a genious and should work for the DMV."

 

more rules....


7. When the guy ahead of you is driving a reasonable speed in the right lane for the conditions, and you are a mile in trail of him and in a hurry in the left lane, be sure to do 85 mph till you catch up to him and then slow to match his speed, remaining in his blind spot for the rest of the journey.

8. We all know bridges and overpasses ice over faster than the regular road. So when driving 75 MPH on a relatively clear strech of highway, be sure to SLAM on your brakes as soon as you get on the icy brigde. Not before, wait till you are ON THE ICE to try to turn and slow down at the same time.

9. when approaching a slick hill, if it is uphill, slow down to a crawl so you no longer have momentum to carry you up the hill and you slide back down. If going downhill, speed up before the hill so you are not able to stop at the red light at the bottom of the hill.

I'd keep going but my blood pressure is rising.

 

Mem was in trouble well before this storm. The dusting of snow may make the place look better.