This Was a Week for the Weather

As they like to say:  "Don't like the weather?  Wait a day."

FEBRUARY 22, THURSDAY

It was so warm (58 degrees and sunny) and nice that my buddy Frank and I ate out on his deck overlooking a channel of the Chain o' Lakes.

FEBRUARY 23, FRIDAY

Still sunny but temps dropping to 40s and lower.  Down later to 30s and we had snow.  I figure about at least an inch on the ground by Saturday morning.  Cold and blustery.

Over the weekend it started warming up until we had temps to upper 60s by Tuesday, Feb, 27.

FEBRUARY 28, WEDNESDAY,

Like, Brrrrrrr!  We got another inch of snow on ground (probably more because a lot of it melted.  Plus, we had thunder and lightning as a cold front moved in.  Eleven tornadoes reported to the south of us.

FEBRUARY 29, LEAP YEAR THURSDAY

Temp at 22 degrees this morning, but warmed up to 30s.

It is supposed to get back to the 60s by next week.

One Strange February.  --RoadWeather

Still More New Names for Chicago Snowplows

Sister Jean's Machine

Skilling It

Snower Wacker Drive

Snowprah Windfrey

Super Bowl Shovel

Taylor Drift

Thawsome Sauce

The Magnificent Pile

The Salt Shedder

The Unslushabls

These were just too good.  --RoadPlow

Naming Chicago's New Snowplows-- Part 4: Salternate Reality

Just idea after idea. All good and most really having a Chicago angle.

Nat King Cold

Oh Snow You Didn't

Pablo Picassnow

Plowdineira

Plowed Gate

Salternate Reality

Scoop Dogg

Saltsa N Chips

And, It Was 69 Degrees On My Deck Just a Few Minutes Ago.  Oh, Well.  Just Something I'll Have to Learn to Live With.  --RoadNoSnow

Naming Chicago's New Snowplows-- Part 3: Ferris Buehler's Scrape Off

Ferris Buehler's Scrape Off

Jesse Whiteout

Kevin McPlowster

Little Dibbie

Looper Scooper

Lost Shaker of Salt

Maxwell Street Plowish Sausage

Micicle Jordan

Mies van der Snow

Minnie MiNosnow

Here's to Jimmy B.  Miss You.  --RoadDog

Naming Chicago's New Snowplows-- Part 2: Deep Dish Plowza

Buddy Guy-cicle

Casimir Plowaski

Celery Salter

Chance the Scraper

Chicago My Home Plow

Chicago Plowhawks

ChiPlowgo

City of Big Shovels

CTRL-SALT-DELETE

Deep Dish Plowza

Earth, Wind and Plower

Ernie Snowbanks

Too Funny.  --RoadDog

Naming the New Snowplows in Chicago-- Part 1 Say What? 'Chillinois'

From the January 26, 2024, Chicago Tribune "Chillinois,' 'Taylor Drift,' 'Skilling It.'  by Kate Armanini.

These are a few of the creative offerings folks around here have offered in Chicago's second annual "You Name A Snowplow" contest. For some reason, it has been known to snow around here and we need these things to clear the white stuff off.  Why not have some fun while doing it?

Of course, Swifties will get the "Taylor Drift."  And, longtime weatherman, and town favorite Tom Skilling is retiring from WGN soon.  So, he's "Skilling It."

Here are some other good ones:

Above the Thaw

Arctic Institute of Chicago

Bad, Bad Leroy Plow

Better Call Salt

Bill Flurry

Buckingham Plowtain

Some More in the Next Post.  Great Sense of Humor Those Chicago Folks.  --RoadDog

Every Blooming THing: Mid-April 2023

As we shiver around here today.  Last week, we had four days with sun and temps in the 80s and higher.  This morning, woke up to about an inch of snow on the ground, snow flurries in the morning and temps in the upper 30s.  Like they say, if you don't like the weather around Chicago right now, wait a little bit.

Grass is green and I was smiling Saturday when the lawn tractor started right away.  Trees are budding out.

The Bradford pear trees are blooming big time white.  I have three of them.  The crabapples are budding out.

Plenty of twigs and limbs still to be moved from the ice storm a short time ago (we lost electricity for 17 hours).

Right now the daffodils and hyacinths are blooming and I have a lot of them.

--RoadFlower

First Weekend of 2022

SATURDAY, JANUARY 1

Started snowing early and continued all day so just stayed home.  Watched Bowl Games, Yellowstone and the movie "The Magnificent Seven."

SUNDAY, JANUARY 2

"Binge watched" TV for the first time.  We don't have any of those streaming services, but Paramount Channel was running the "Yellowstone" series, so caught up on background. Great show but way too much cussin'.

Listened to Da Bears win on the radio and went over to the McHenry American Legion.

The new neighbor and his young son came over and cleared the snow off our driveway and sidewalk.  Mighty neighborly of them.

--RoadDog

THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SAY:  I like you.  You remind me of when I was young and stupid.

JSS: One Tough Winter-- Truck Bed and Deck-- Front Porch Sidewalk-- Driveway

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  ONE TOUGH WINTER--  Even though we didn't have any 12+ snowfalls, there were several 5-8 inchers and a lot of lesser ones.  he big problem was the temperatures which rarely got over freezing the last two months.  What fell, stayed.  On several occasions it was a mix of rain and snow which froze to make for some fun removing the ice.

2.  TRUCK BED AND DECK--  The truck bed (parked outside) was filled to the top with snow and I am just now getting to see the bedliner.  The same with the deck which was impassable with all the snow, but now about half clear.

3.  FRONT PORCH --  The front porch sidewalk is still covered with snow/ice to about a foot high.  I'm waiting for mother nature to take care of it.

4.  DRIVEWAY--  I also totally lost in my efforts to keep the driveway cleared.  Much of February and January, I had maybe a little over one lane open out of the two and a half.  And that was with a whole lot of ice chopping.  The snowblower couldn't keep up with it.

Like I said, One Tough Winter.  --RoadNoMoreSnow

STUDENT TEST ANSWERS:  Science is material  Religion is immaterial.

JSS: Gone But Not Forgotten-- Still Choppin'-- If We Could Just Get Snow To...

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN--  At 9 am today, CST, Bob Stroud is going to have his annual Gone But Not Forgotten Salute on his Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, The Drive.  It streams and goes to noon.  Of course, I have written about most if not all of these artists in this blog, but Bob always has interesting things to say about them and, of course, plays a song or two by them.

I don't know, but this year, two shows might be needed.  Quite a few deaths.

Worth a listen.

2.  STILL CHOPPIN'--  And are my arms, shoulders and especially my wrists really sore.  That snow we got last week was really heavy and between just the regular amount of it on the driveway and especially that huge amount deposited at the foot of it by the street, my poor little snow blower was completely outgunned.  

As a result, I have been out chopping ice most every day so far this week.

3.  IF WE COULD JUST GET SNOW TO...    If we could just get snow to stop falling on driveways, sidewalks, streets and roads, I would be a big fan of it.  But never when I have to deal with it.  It's really pretty on the yards and bushes this time of the year.  And, of course there are those times where the snow attaches itself to trees and bushes that are unbelievably pretty.  I call it "Nature's Done Been Painting."

Or, I wouldn't mind it if those folks who really love winter would come over and clear my driveway and sidewalks before they go out and have fun in it, I'd definitely be okay with that.  But, whenever I ask a skier or snowmobiler to do that, I just get a blank stare and sometimes a "kind" word or two.

Snowy, Snowy.  Stay Off My Stuff!!  --RoadDog

STUDENT TEST ANSWERS:  The people of India are divided into casts and outcasts.

JSS: Ice Chopping-- How Come?-- A Disgrace Yesterday

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  ICE CHOPPING--  We were hit with 4 inches of snow the other day which would gave been more, except that it turned to sleet near the end.  However, that made the snow really heavy and overpowered my poor snow blower so I couldn't get the driveway cleared off.  And, driving on it has now caused it to turn to ice.

I have been out chopping it and are my wrists sore.

2.  HOW COME?  How come I get 2/3 of the snow on my side of the street when the snowplow comes by and the people on the other side get just 1.3.  Not fair.  They should get more.

3.  A DISGRACE YESTERDAY--  What happened in Washington, D.C. yesterday was a disgrace.  To think a group of people could get that far when our elected officials are conducting business is scary.

However, it was interesting to note how the liberal press was calling it as a riot when they would not call BLM's days of rampage, rioting, burning and looting anything other than civil unrest.

Come on Guys!  A Riot is a riot is a riot!!  

--RoadDog

JSS: A to Z Continues-- Snowblower Started-- Snow-- Didn't 'Woke' But Found My Gloves, Boots and Knit Hat

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  A TO Z CONTINUES

The Drive's Rock A to Z continues and is up to the letter "L" right now with Peter Frampton's "Lines On My Face: playing.  They are thinking it might end on Monday, Jan.5, at this time.  Great music done alphabetically.  It streams at www.wdrv.com.  Give it a listen.  "Listen to Her Heart" by Tom Petty right now.  "Listen to the Music"--  Doobie Brothers.  "Listen to What the Man Said"--  Paul McCartney & Wings.

2.  SNOWBLOWER STARTED

Always a scary thing this time of the year.  Will the snowblower start after sitting idle (and without gas/oil mixture with the two-stroke engine).  I found out the hard way about ten years ago that you HAD BETTER run the mixture out or getting it started the next season is not going to be easy.

Yesterday, it would not start.  Last night we got 3-4 inches of heavy snow.  Just a short time ago, it started on first pull.  Yea for me.

3.  SNOW

Like I said, the imminent arrival of forecast snow got me to moving on the snowblower project yesterday.  We've been fortunate so far this winter season and only had about an inch in one snowfall.  Last year we had two snowfalls of 5-6 inchers before December:  one on Halloween and one on Veterans Day.

We ended up with 3-4 inches of snow.

4.  DIDN'T "WOKE" BUT FOUND MY GLOVES, BOOTS AND KNIT HAT

Another tradition this time of the year is finding out where I put my knit hat, gloves and snow boots.   You tend to forget over the spring, summer and fall.  I have plenty of those hats and gloves because of many purchases in the past, but for some reason, they can still find a place to hide come search time.

But, this year I found one pair of gloves and one knit hat within a reasonable time.

--RoadDog

STUDENT TEST GUESSES:  The Pyramids are a range of mountains between France and Spain.

Every Blooming THing, Early November

Keeping true to my goal of having something blooming with big color all the way between April and October, the yard has a lot of color right now.

Several hundred yellow and orange mums are still in bloom.  The sedum have the dark heads and yellow stalks.  Burning bushes are burning red.  Plus, my lone remaining Bradford pear tree has just gotten it autumnal tones.  However, I do have several Bradford pear tree seedlings growing.

Just finished raking pine straw up into my two pine islands; great mulch, but a whole lot of raking, especially with all the wind we've been having so that pine straw was spread out over a really bit area.  Hoping that I cut the grass for the last time.

Rolled up the front yard hose onto the reel (200 feet of hose) and will get to the backyard hose later this month after I finish burning limbs and twigs.  

We've been having a great Indian Summer around here with temperatures in the lower 70s for the last six days.  Last year this time, we had already had a Halloween surprise snow storm that dropped six inches on the ground and then there was another surprise Veterans Day six inches.  No snow this year, but we have had a couple frosts.

--RoadDog

JSS: So Tired of Cyber Monday-- New Christmas Movies-- My Favorite Christmas Movies-- Snow Didn't Stick-- The Drive In Lights

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  SO TIRED OF CYBER MONDAY--  If I heard it or saw it once....  They just don't give it up.  By the way, I didn't order anything over the internet Monday or even leave the house on Friday.  Sorry guys, you lost that bit of your advertising dollar.

2.  NEW CHRISTMAS MOVIES--  I heard that Hallmark Channel has 40 new Christmas movies.  One of these days I might have to watch one of their Christmas movies.

3.  MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES--  I have added a fifth to my list of favorites.  It is "Scrooged."  Hey, Bill Murray.

4.  SNOW DIDN'T STICK--  It snowed over night on Monday, but did not stick on the driveway, sidewalks or street. I sure don't mind snow when I don't have to mess with it.

5.  THE DRIVE IN LIGHTS--  One of the three Chicago radio stations I listen to, WDRV, 97.1, 96.9 FM, the Drive, has a contest where the winner gets $1,000 if they have the best WDRV lights up in their yard.

Thinking About It.  --RoadDrive

DID YOU KNOW.  Telly Savalas and Louis Armstrong died on their birthdays.

JSS: Winter Arrives Early-- Halloween Decorations-- Even Cold in Myrtle Beach-- How About That Wall MR. PRESIDENT?

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  WINTER ARRIVES EARLY--   It definitely has arrived early.  We had 5 inches of snow on Halloween and another 5 inches  yesterday.  And today, temps never much got past 20 degrees all day.

2.  HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS-- Unfortunately, I had taken down the Halloween outside decorations but not brought them inside.  Now they are covered with snow.  I'll have to wait for a warm up.  I sure hope it gets a bit warmer.

3.  EVEN COLD IN MYRTLE BEACH--  I usually listen to WVCO, 94.9 the Surf in North Myrtle Beach most mornings and they are talking of temperatures below freezing and wind chill tomorrow of around 20 degrees.  So, I don't feel so bad.

4.  HOW ABOUT THAT WALL, MR. PRESIDENT?--  I know our president would like to build a wall along our border with Mexico.  But I have a better idea for a wall.  Let's build it where an even bigger problem exists, and that would be along our northern border.

Now, don't get me wrong, I like Canadians, BUT I sure don't like THEIR WEATHER!!!  I think they should keep their weather on their own side of the wall and quit sending it to us.

Come On, Mr. President.  Build That Wall.  --RoadWall

*******************

DID YOU KNOW:  The symbol on the "pound" key (#) is called an octothorpe.

Don't octothorpe me.

JSS: Merry Halloween-- No Snowblower-- Pine Straw Still Down-- Flowers Still Out-- Haunted Driveway?

Well, it would appear that winter has arrived here in the Midwest.

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  MERRY HALLOWEEN--  All we want for Halloween is snow.  Wait, that's for Christmas.  It started snowing last night and has continued until now at 2:12 p.m..  I'm figuring we have at least 4 inches of snow on the ground.

2.  NO SNOWBLOWER--  And, I haven't gotten my snowblower working yet and am really hoping a ran off the gas-oil mixture this summer, but can't remember.  Will find out soon enough.

3.  PINE STRAW STILL DOWN--  And, I had just begun to rake the pine straw from around the pine islands.  Can't see the pine straw anymore.

4.  FLOWERS STILL OUT--  And, I still have some flowers out in pots.  But, I have taken the ones I want to overwinter inside.

5.  HAUNTED DRIVEWAY?--  Well, my driveway has snow on it.  The folks across the street?  Their driveways have no snow on them.  Mine must be haunted.

Too Soon for Snow.  --RoadSnow

Final Boating?, Civil War, SNOW, Stucky's and Sunnyside

FRIDAY, APRIL 26

Had my favorite breakfast meal at McDonald's, the steak, egg and cheese bagel.  And, they use real steak.  And those caramelized onions!!    Drove to Hebron and picked up the boat where we kept it in a barn over the winter.  Since we are planning on selling it this spring, this could be the last time.  We have been boaters since 1985, but that time is ending. Met the Usual Suspects at the Legion for 50-50.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

Drove to Crystal Lake for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group, topic the Battle of Shiloh.  Then took the truck into the emission testing station where it passed.  All week the weather had predicted a snow storm.  The rain turned  to snow about 10:30, but didn't stick on the roads.  We ended up with three inches on the deck rails and a white covering on the grass.

SUNDAY, APRIL 28

Big meltdown of the snow.  None left by evening.  We went to Stucky's and watched NASCAR and the Chicago Cubs and White Sox games..  A couple we know came in with their two six-month-old huskie (NIU spelling) puppies so had to go out and play with them on the deck.  Also, a former student of mine came in and remembered "Demerit Points."  Something all my former students remember.

Snow At the End of April?  Don't Even Think About Calling It Warming!!  --RoadDog

A PLETHORA OF TIDBITS:  A cardigan worn by a man is sometimes called a mandigan.

JSS: 3 Inches of Snow This Morning-- Got Limbs?-- Squirrel Wars, Part 2

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  3 INCHES OF SNOW THIS MORNING--  It was just so wonderful to wake up to 3 inches of snow on the ground this morning.  DON'T even think about calling it Global You-Know-What!!!  At least the white stuff was nice enough to stay off the roads, drive ways and sidewalks.

And we had another 8 inches of snow on April 14.

2.  GOT LIMBS?--  I've got plenty.  And since it rained and snowed all day yesterday and is in the process of melting today, not likely I'll get a chance to do any burning this weekend.  We can only burn on the weekends in April and May.

3.  SQUIRREL WARS,  PART 2--  Well, after being overwhelmed by three squirrels intent on getting at the bird feeders (and their close allies, the chipmunks) a few weeks back, I brought in the big guns, two store bought feeders designed specifically to thwart those bushy-tailed rats.

So far, success, but I'm sure they'll figure out a way to get that seed.

Good Thing I Kinda Like Those Squirrel Varmints.  --RoadDog

Is It Spring? Nope, Not Yet

I just came in from raking pine straw up by the east pine island and am thawing my fingers out.  Man, it is real cold out there and a big wind blowing the cold on you as well as overcast.  I started seeing stuff falling off the pines, or so I thought.  Must be pollen, but wait!!!  They are white.  It was SNOW.  My working agreement clearly states that I do not have to do raking in the snow, so I came inside to thaw out.

Temperature is 38 degrees.

Yesterday and Monday, we had sun and low 70s.  Very nice and everyone was getting spring fever.  Now this!!!

Sunday I brought in three daffodils from the yard and have some others blooming and several hundred getting ready to bloom.  Hyacinths are getting ready to bloom as well.  Plus, all the rain on Sunday and the grass has turned green all over the place.

Spring or Not Spring.  Make Up Your Mind Mother Nature!!!!  --RoadDog

JSS-- Sorry For the Patriots?-- Christmas Decs-- Snow in N.C.

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  SORRY FOR THE PATRIOTS?--   We loved the end of that Patriots-Dolphins game Sunday.  Somehow no one around here feels sorry for New England. As a matter of fact there was much cheering.  Let's see that again.

2.  CHRISTMAS DECS--  Just now getting the outside Christmas decorations up as between the cold and snow, but especially the C-O-L-D I haven't had much opportunity.

3.  SNOW IN N.C.--  Sorry to hear about all that snow in North Carolina.  I know even a ten-inch snowfall fouls us up here in northern Illinois, but twenty inches there?  Good luck with that one.

Anybody But the Patriots!!!  --RoadDog