Today...

[Sheherezade]

As someone that also moved from Florida to first the northeast and now the Midwest, I totally sympathize with your stress. I remember it so well. Nothing like being thrust back into a teenage state of driving anxiety when you should be well past that.

My advice is to take it slow and shrug off any comments you may hear about "all these people that don't know how to drive in the snow". That used to make me so crazy because believe me, I didn't want to be driving in the snow either, but sometimes this is the hand life deals you and you have to do your best. It's not an option to call in "I can't drive in the snow" to work and public transportation doesn't get you everywhere. The people mean well, but they have no concept of what it is like to move to a place that assumes a totally new life skill.

That said, if you can find a winter driving skills weekend course to give you a few tips. You'll be able to practice and learn in a safer environment. I never did that and learned anyway, though.

Drive slower, but maintain momentum. (Don't stop or you won't get going again sometimes!). Don't brake hard but start braking early. Leave lots of stopping distance. Be prepared that your back end might slide out when making turns on slippery corners, so leave space for a wider arc just in case. If you get stuck in snow, put the car in second gear and accelerate slowly. The faster you spin the tires the more you will dig yourself in.

You'll do great! It's just a new thing to learn. Sorry it's stessful.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[MAPPLEBUM]

Alright, so I've gotta find someone, not DH to help me find a deserted parking lot. Thank you guys for your help. I'm sure you the know tendency people have, whenever I mention driving in the snow their immediate reaction is to tell horror stories. They always like to end the conversation talking about black ice too which has me wondering if it's so insidious why are people driving 70 mph on the highway in the evenings...and it really is crazy. I've driven through category two hurricanes (not recommended) and yet the skills for driving in a monsoon are so completely different from cold weather roads. One day down 10 more to go. Thanks again.

[Thirteen]

Yup, a large, empty parking lot in the winter is how we taught DD1 to drive in the ice and snow. Hugely helpful, particularly since we're now in the mountains so it's not all nice and flat like the Midwest.

My parents did this as well.

Basics on ice:

1) Use manual instead of standard, if you can, and stay in 1st/2nd gear (what you are comfortable with), depending on severity of conditions/speed limit
2) No hard breaking or quick steering maneuvers
3) If you feel yourself sliding or fishtailing, take your foot off the gas/break and "coast" a bit until you feel the vehicle regain traction/stop sliding
4) If you start to rotate, turn into the spin. It seems counterintuitive, but it works. Also, see #3.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[corn poffi]

5) Leave plenty of space between you and the car in front of you. Even if it pisses off the moron in the pickup truck behind you.

[MAPPLEBUM]

Ah, yes! I actually saw a car getting honked at for going slow the day it was snowing. On a road with a 25mph speed limit...wth?!

I watched the street cam of a 30+ car pileup on a portion of the highway I drive twice a week...I'll attach it below for those of you who are interested. Since I have my first service in Green Bay today there's no time to go to a parking lot, so I think I'm going to see if my dad can put me in a hotel with his points for a night or two. I do expect my impulse would be to correct the wheel if I hit ice, which is terrifying. I've also decided if I don't feel any more comfortable by the end of the holiday season / after practice sessions with friend I'm going to invest in some snow tires. (I drive a Honda Fit so it excels in sliding)

Thanks again, ladies.

http://www.jrn.com/tmj4/news/Video-c...235142141.html

[corn poffi]

I love that video! Hahaha we watched it on Monday at work and we were just like "seriously?" That was a case of a lot of dummies driving way too fast for conditions. And don't get me started on the dopes that got out of the car and are loitering in the middle of the effing interstate!!!!

[SoonerTexan]

http://www.slate.com/blogs/lexicon_v...et_a_date.html

I may have snorted out loud in my cube at this one

[SuzySunshine]

Today DH is operating on a good/old friends' husband for what should be a textbook back surgery. I really hope all goes according to plan. She posted on fb about it, I responded without any inclination that I knew who or what the surgery was for and then she laid it out that DH was doing it so now I REALLY hope all goes according to plan.

[DrBandMe]

Where did you live? I'm in Milwaukee and going back and forth to Green Bay this week . At least it's not Minnesota, right?

Mapplebum, DrBtobe and I really liked Milwaukee when he interviewed there! Lovely city!!

[HouseofWool]

I lived in MKE for 5 years and really missed it when we left.

[alotofyarn]

Tonight is my first night alone with Elizabeth - MIL was here the last week while hubby was working nights. My mom offered to come stay, but I need to figure this whole parenting thing out on my own eventually. Thankfully he just has one more week of nights for a bit, and it's only every other night! Hopefully she doesn't scream too much though...we're slowly figuring out how to soothe her more quickly without always shoving the boob in her face.

[OrionGrad]

Tonight is my first night alone with Elizabeth - MIL was here the last week while hubby was working nights. My mom offered to come stay, but I need to figure this whole parenting thing out on my own eventually. Thankfully he just has one more week of nights for a bit, and it's only every other night! Hopefully she doesn't scream too much though...we're slowly figuring out how to soothe her more quickly without always shoving the boob in her face.

Good luck! I still remember my first night alone with DS like it was yesterday. Hoping for an uneventful night.

[alotofyarn]

No luck so far. I don't know why my child hates sleep so much.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

[MAPPLEBUM]

poky, I was going to ask if you're close by but then a friend in nyc said they saw that clip on their news channel. Funny so many people are familiar with an area that was completely new to me one year ago. MKE is a great town, even if (as one of the musicians said tonight, whom I'd just met) "it gets so cold your boogers freeze." !! tonight is a very cold one in Green Bay. Thanks again for your support ladies and hang in there alotofyarn. No words of wisdom here just hope you guys are sleeping well.

[DrBandMe]

My today is actually a yesterday... Mom came home from the hospital yesterday! So thankful she got out before he and I travel to Oregon tomorrow.