Back home in Texas

[JimT]

Had a good run down from Oklahoma. Just after crossing the Red River I-35 South was a huge parking lot! No Movement. Took the side road even though it wasn't cleared and was icy. Drove slow. Passed the parking lot after 3 miles. Rest of the way home was peaceful. Further South I went the warmer it got. It's 66 degrees here at the house right now. I am loving it after the cold 'way up North!

[Scott Tschirhart]

Welcome home Jim!

[4t5]

1* in the morning , 14* as we speak , glad you made it ok !

[Ysabel Kid]

"Way" up north?

We are supposed to get hit this weekend. Anywhere from 3 inches of snow to 8!

[JimT]

"Way" up north?

We are supposed to get hit this weekend. Anywhere from 3 inches of snow to 8!

There was this old boy years ago from down around San Marcos I think it was. He was talking about the time he went "way up North .. All the way to Oklahoma City!" Said he never wanted to that far North again!

[High Desert Hunter]

Happy to hear you made it home safely!

Dave

[Streetstar]

Had a good run down from Oklahoma. Just after crossing the Red River I-35 South was a huge parking lot! No Movement. Took the side road even though it wasn't cleared and was icy. Drove slow. Passed the parking lot after 3 miles. Rest of the way home was peaceful. Further South I went the warmer it got. It's 66 degrees here at the house right now. I am loving it after the cold 'way up North!

Did you have to brave the crowds at the nudey book and naughty underwear establishment that was on that side road just inside the TX border?

In Oklahoma, we only allow casino's, poor road maintenance and a 49th education percenatile --- (i still think those #'s are biased ) === but we dont allow skin books

[.45colt]

Glad You made it Home Jim! Go do some shooting. It's -10 here right now We have a good foot of snow . All the ice fishermen are having a Great time. .

[JimT]

Did you have to brave the crowds at the nudey book and naughty underwear establishment that was on that side road just inside the TX border?

In Oklahoma, we only allow casino's, poor road maintenance and a 49th education percenatile --- (i still think those #'s are biased ) === but we dont allow skin books

No sir. I missed that completely. I was unaware of the establishment until now! No problem. At my age and my wife having passed, I have learned that there is no use starting your engine if you ain't gonna get in the race.

But I do have to commend you on your astute observation of the Oklahoma "high speed" highways! The first time I drove through there years ago I thought my tires had become octagonal instead of round! They have not improved in 35 years. After having driven roads built by Chinese slave labor in Africa, I would recommend them to your highway commission!

[Steve in MO]

Glad you made it home, Jim! It's supposed to get up to a whopping 24 degrees today, then down to 2 degrees tonight. The roads are clear, but most of the snow on the ground is hanging around. Had to clear a spot just so the chickens would come out of the coop.

[Bill in Oregon]

Glad you had a safe trip to visit to family Jim.
We're clawing our back to 60 under sunny skies here.
Had to take off my jacket during our morning walk picking up trash.
Just put up the Burpee and Ferry-Morse seed displays at Tractor Supply this past week and everybody has spring fever and gardens on their mind it seems. Rose bushes, lilacs, wisteria, etc. selling well.

[Walt]

Heck, if you think Oklahoma highways are bad, it's obvious you've never been to New Mexico.

[Ray]

Way back in the day I-40 from memphis to little rock was a runner-up for the "lunar landscape" poster child but last summer I-59 from gadsden to the georgia line took the title.

Glad you are back and it is rio san gabriel wading weather. Be careful of those slippery rocks.

[Ysabel Kid]

"Way" up north?

We are supposed to get hit this weekend. Anywhere from 3 inches of snow to 8!

There was this old boy years ago from down around San Marcos I think it was. He was talking about the time he went "way up North .. All the way to Oklahoma City!" Said he never wanted to that far North again!

It's all relative, I suppose.

[Streetstar]

Did you have to brave the crowds at the nudey book and naughty underwear establishment that was on that side road just inside the TX border?

In Oklahoma, we only allow casino's, poor road maintenance and a 49th education percenatile --- (i still think those #'s are biased ) === but we dont allow skin books

No sir. I missed that completely. I was unaware of the establishment until now! No problem. At my age and my wife having passed, I have learned that there is no use starting your engine if you ain't gonna get in the race.

But I do have to commend you on your astute observation of the Oklahoma "high speed" highways! The first time I drove through there years ago I thought my tires had become octagonal instead of round! They have not improved in 35 years. After having driven roads built by Chinese slave labor in Africa, I would recommend them to your highway commission!

This is a running insult to me from good friends who often visit me from Kansas --- about the roads . 3/4 of Kansas seems to be turnpike though --- if i was paying an extra 3$ or so a day to drive around -- which is over a thousand at years end --- i would want nice roads too
but Oklahoma and Texas both have their share of turnpikes -- unlike Kansas -- Oklahoma keeps I-35 gratis -- (so does TX mostly )

[samsi]

Heck, if you think Oklahoma highways are bad, it's obvious you've never been to New Mexico.

Quoted for truth. Every time I cross back into Arizona from NM it feels like the car instantly got new tires and shocks.

[AmBraCol]

Glad you made it home in one piece!

It always amuses me to hear folks up north complain about the "horrible roads"... you oughta come drive some of our toll roads here in Coffee Country! There's not a toll anywhere in the country under $2 US per 30 mile stretch, and many of them are well over that amount! Back in 2017 we headed south to Ecuador. Found four lane, well paved highways and every 30 miles or so we'd come up to a toll booth. "Juan dahluh" Every single one. We coughed it up gladly. On our return north we crossed the border and 30 miles or so later a toll booth. "Tree dahluh"!!! I tried to grit my teeth as I grudgingly handed them the money, but it's hard to grit your teeth when they've been shook loose!

I guess in the end it's like a family reunion. It's all relative! I look forward to driving up in the US when we go!

[Ysabel Kid]

Well, I moved south to get away from this!

SC is getting pummeled right now with the winter storm (second one in a week). First one was all ice here. This one is all snow, and a lot of it (even by yankee standards ). It's been snowing since dawn and hasn't stopped. A consistent drop, and we're at just under 10 inches here. Ranging from 8 - 12 in the area. I actually had to shovel the drive. Now, that is a once a decade thing usually here, but that is too much for my back. Snow isn't supposed to stop until 03:00 Sunday. Just read that I-85 north of Charlotte is shut down with a major pile-up. People need to stay home!

The weiner-dog liked playing it in early, but when she went out this evening to do her business, she wasn't having it. It's deeper than she is tall in a lot of places!

[piller]

My 15 year old chihuahua has been under a blanket for 2 weeks now. She comes out to eat or relieve herself, and then it is right back to the blanket. She loves 80° and up. I have seen her happily sleep on the grass at 100°. I live a short way South of Interstate 20 and Interstate 35E crossing. Rock throwing distance from Waxahachie city limits.

[JimT]

Passed by there on my way home.
It's 19 this morning. Supposed to hit the mid 50's this afternoon.

We are on the edge of Texas where they rate the severity of winter by how often they have to run the A/C.

[Ysabel Kid]

That is generally how we measure winters here in South Carolina as well.

It was 12 degrees when I got up this morning to hit the driveway again. We got another couple inches since I shoveled it last night. I measured 9 inches in total!

The windchill made it feel like 5. Older homes here were certainly not designed (or insulated) for single digits. "Modern" homes only marginally so.

But it will melt off this week.