ice queen
So you may have heard that Dallas got quite the ice storm last week. I know northerners think we’re all a bunch of pansies when it comes to winter. And you’re right - at least in my case. If my 3,000 lb car has the potential to become a giant hockey puck, I don’t want any part of driving. So when I went downstairs to go to work at 7:20 that morning and my door was frozen shut and the parking lot looked like an ice rink, I peaced out and went back inside. I may have a short commute, but a good bit of that commute involves crossing bridges.
I hung around the apartment until about 10 when it had warmed up to 27 degrees, then I went outside and chipped the ice away from my door with my key and pried the door open. I blasted the heater and the heated seats and went to work on the windshield with a credit card. After about half an hour, the windows were mostly clear, so I decided to give it a shot.
Of the four or five bridges I cross on my way to work, only one had gravel, so there was a lot of fishtailing going on around me. I finally made it to work and walked in to see two of my co-workers.
“What time did y’all come in?” I asked.
“Oh 7:20 or so.” they said.
“What?” I felt like a weenie.
“Well I’m from Wisconsin so I’m used to it. We just heated up some water and poured it on the car a couple of times.”
“Oh.” Blink. Blink. That would’ve been the smart way to do it, huh? I guess that’s why I live in Texas. At least I know how to achieve frizz-free hair in 80% humidity.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:08 pm
I would have done the same thing except I wouldn’t have used a credit card for the windshield. There is some really neat stuff in a can that you spray on the glass and the ice magically disappears! You can get this wonderful stuff from Wal-Mart. Icy roads are scary and Texans should not drive on them! Northerns can just be quiet, can they handle our summers???
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:29 pm
I used to be such a good winter driver when I lived in Michigan. Now, in Seattle, I’m sucktastic at driving on snow and ice.
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:53 am
“I peaced out and went back inside”…love it!!
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:45 am
Why is it that when there is ice I am suddenly transported back in time to when I was a kid hoping that we could get an ICE DAY?! I felt exactly the same way last week as I did when I was 9 years old watching KBTX hoping they would say “Bryan ISD is closed today”
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Just don’t pour hot water on your windshield or you will have a cracked windshield. I think you were smart to wait to go to work. I would have just walked to work.
February 4th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Most of the people in my office NEVER came in that day. Don’t feel bad.
February 5th, 2009 at 11:04 am
I’m commenting! I don’t want you to think that I don’t read your stuff. And I would have “peaced out” for the entire day! But that’s because I’m lazy…
February 8th, 2009 at 12:55 am
I would never in a million years have thought about pouring hot water on the car. Next time I’m totally tossing a coffee pot on it.