The day started out fine. The kitty boys begged me to play videos for cats, and they were exceptionally good kitties while the videos played.
=(^_^)=
Good fun for the kitty boys! And they were nice to each other while watching the videos.
Yeah. What I saw at 10 o’clock. That’s my black VW Sportwagen buried in a drift!
The day before I’d called the Good Samaritan office to let them know I needed to have the snow cleared so I could get to dialysis Wednesday, and that it needed to be done by at least 10 o’clock so I had adequate time to make the 11 o’clock start time. That, I figured, would give me extra time in case of getting stuck or other snow related issues.
By 10 o’clock Wednesday, no one had come to clear the snow. I WAS PISSED!
My neighbor, Gary, offered to help dig me out. His wife, Donna, told him he had no business exerting himself that way. I protested, too, telling him I expected Good Samaritan to do the job. NOW!
Gary pretended to have chest pains. Donna and I were not amused!
Here’s what the passenger side looked like. The snow was up to just about halfway to my knees.
Note that I park in a handicap parking spot. The Good Samaritan runs the apartment complex I live in, and they are responsible for clearing snow. Theoretically, they will clear snow first for people like me who have medical issues and have to make appointments. Dialysis isn’t optional!
Here’s the driver’s side of my car. The drift was crotch high! I didn’t know if I could even get into the car because the snow came up to a few inches above the bottom of the door.
I managed to get in the car. Gary walked down to the office to remind them in person I had asked for snow to be cleared the day before. Then a couple of maintenance people came over to help clear some of the snow around and behind my car off, but the main snow removal had to wait till the snow plow arrived from Hemingford, 19 miles away!
I tried to back up and got stuck. Gary and the maintenance people got me unstuck, and I drove down the lane and turned west on East 6th Street.
At the intersection of East 6th and Flack Avenue, I saw a pickup truck and a Bobcat blocking the intersection. There was a police car with lights flashing. It looked like an accident, but it might have been people clearing the snow at the intersection. Regardless, I couldn’t pass through the intersection to head north to the hospital. (Yes, I drew on my US Army vocabulary again to express feelings about that!)
I backed up to a turn off to the Good Samaritan parking lot, and headed east to what looked like the best way to get to 4th Street, which would take me to Flack, then the long way around to the hospital by 3rd Street, then Box Butte Avenue, two snow lanes that were cleared. Boyd Street looked impassable, so I turned down Lane 4, which had a path down it, thanks to a pickup.
Here I am on Lane 4…
…STUCK!
Yes, I was thoroughly wet, mad, and running out of time to get to dialysis.
The final trial: I waded through drifts up to my knees to get back to Lane 2 to try to run down a ride and to leave my keys with Gary and Donna so Gary could park my car in my spot after the snow was cleared and the car was unstuck.
I got thoroughly wet below the knees, and barely had the strength to make the full trek. Leroy, one of the maintenance guys, had to come to me for the final stretch to knock down a path for me to walk. I still barely made it. Yes, I cussed like a Sergeant Major all the way. Cleared my lungs, I tell you!
Donna called to find a ride for me. She eventually got the Handibus lined up, and I got to dialysis just slightly later than usual. (The Handibus is a city-run service used mostly by non-drivers, elderly, or handicapped people. You can get door-to-door service at a dollar per ride.)
Did I mention Gary and Donna are the neighbors who took care of the kitty boys for the two months and 10 days I was hospitalized, then in rehabilitation in 2016? Very good people! They helped turn my disastrous snow crisis into a successful trip to the hospital for dialysis.
I am glad you have good neighbors, Doug. Sometimes that makes all the difference when you can’t get help anywhere else. I would have sworn along with the best of them myself, had I been in your place.
I am blessed with the ability to get grudges under control before they consume me. Part of that process sometimes is blasphemous, sexcually explicit tirades shouted at top volume to Ye Gods. Not proud of that, of course, but the silver lining of good neighbors and a rational response to the problem that hadn’t occurred to me (call the Handibus, which I don’t need to use because I have a car) buried the grudge before it grew. In future, I’ll use the Handibus instead of getting stuck!
Wow never seen so much snow.Good uou arrive in hospital after all the problems.Happy you had such good neighbours
I am blessed with very thoughtful neighbors for sure! We don’t usually get that much snow, but there have been times in past that were significantly worse. There were a series of snowfalls and blizzards in November 1948-April 1949 that are collectively known as the ’79 blizzard, for example, that paralyzed the central part of the USA for months. Take a look at the photos in the link to see what I mean:
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=blizzard+of+1949+in+nebraska&qpvt=blizzard+of+1949+in+nebraska&qpvt=blizzard+of+1949+in+nebraska&qpvt=blizzard+of+1949+in+nebraska&FORM=IGRE
Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much snow in my life!! 😀 Yay for Gary and Donna, they sound like lovely people and great neighbours! I’m glad you got your dialysis, it would probably be even less fun if you missed it! :/ And the cats are so funny with their videos, I really must try that with mine! 😀 💚
I hope you do try the videos on your kitties! YouTube has lots of them for cats and dogs. I didn’t realize how much they enjoy them until very recently. And, yes, Gary and Donna are super neighbors!
What a lot of snow
This was the biggest one of the season here.
Here’s hoping all goes well for your next dialysis sessions.
Snow removal went well all over and there’s been no new snow. I should be OK getting to dialysis for the foreseeable future, too, as there’s no snow in the forecast for over a week.
That sounds promising !
It’s much better on the roads today, though it will continue to be dangerous driving till they melt off some more.
Oh, fark! That was a bad situation.Thank goodness (and good neighbours) you made it for your dialysis session. You don’t need that sort of stress on top of everything else.
I might stop whining about 35°C when I see how much snow you got, and the effects of it.
All’s well that ends well! Writing about it, I started out mad at the person who failed (apparently) to either pass on the word or sufficiently emphasize the word that I needed to be dug out so I could get to dialysis. After writing it, it became apparent that there were several people who came to my aid, a blessing. I feel much better about that than bac[d about the failure of the message to clear the snow.
Wow what an “adventure” living up north. Glad to hear that your neighbors are really neighborly. Handouts to the rescue. I was surprised that you got to the hospital sort of on time with all the delays.
Don’t think I wasn’t amazed myself! Ordinarily, I leave about half an hour early so (if the nurses are ready to start my shift or patients) I actually get hooked up before I’m officially supposed to be there. If here hadn’t been problems hooking ,me up yesterday (getting a needle into the fistula), I would have begun dialysis within five minuts of the usual time.
Sorry to hear about the needle problems. On top of all the other problems. At least you didn’t have to drive home by yourself in the snow again. Did our sunrays arrive? Or didn’t they put a dent in it?
Yes, we finally got those Florida sunrays, and thank you! I think the next few days are supposed to be mostly sunny or party so, so I hope there’s some significant melting.
Very good, we keep forwarding them then towards you :).
I’ll accept them!
That was quite the ordeal. I am glad you were able to get to dialysis.
Me, too. I have experienced a week without dialysis because of catheter issues, and you definitely feel the effects it.
What a Day! Glad you made it through and I’m sure the boyz are too. My heartfelt thank you to Donna and Gary too
Yes, they were super!
That’s wayyyy too much snow. No way would I venture out!
I haven’t today, though I will have to tough it tomorrow, a dialysis day….
Oh my… 😞. I see where you’re coming from…
It’ll be cold, but no new snow storms are predicted for days.
Phew! Hugs to you, Andy and Dougy ❤
Always welcome! Thanks, Persia! Andy, Dougy and I send hugs back to you and Max!
Well done, Gary and Donna!!
Life savers! Great neighbors for sure!
Sorry ’bout all da snow purrobs. We hate snow. Fankfully we don’t get a lot, but any is more than we would like. MOL And we’re glad you made your ‘pointment. Hope you can stay in with da boys and warm and toasty da rest of da week. Big hugs.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
Nottot worry! I did just that, though I have to go out again tomorrow for dialysis.
No fun there. But at least you have good furiends and help. Stay safe.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
Thanks! I can’t say enough good things about Donna and Gary. They’ve helped me many times in past and Donna periodically sends Gary over with baked gods and yummy soups and chili. I’d like to find a way to show them my appreciation for their help and concern that is tangible, but haven’t so far.
Most offen those kinds of peeps ‘purreciate a meowsy big Fank you over purretty much anythin’ else. Mommy says, an occasional just cuz card is somethin’ she’s sent dat was much purreciated as well. We don’t really have anythin’ but when da oppurrtunity purrsents fur mommy to give, she really luvs knowin’ dat it was purreciated and bein’ told a sincere fank you. Big hugs
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
That’s very nice to do!
Good Glory! What a harrowing ordeal!
That it was!
I hope you don’t need to go through that again!
Gad! Me, too! I think my best bet in future will be to simply call the Handibus first thing instead of messing with snow.
I think that would be a wise choice. Have a fabulous day!
Thanks! You, too!
doodz…..de food servizz gurl wooda been cuzzin like a sailor two; may bee knot yur dad’z branch oh de servizz ; but a cuzzin any way… thatz bS they couldna haz sum one ther ta kleer out de snowz….thanx two de “good Samaritans” >>>> GARY & DONNA… for helpin yur dad ! ♥♥♥
Much appreciated help it was, too!
Whoah, what a way to start the day!! I hate depending on others to do the shovelling but I can no longer do it…like you. Peeps are not necessarily dependable. I try to make my appointments for the afternoon or around lunch in the winter. The city can be very slow. Nevertheless, my plan doesn’t always work and I’ve been seen sliding down the road on extremely snowy days so I feel for ya Doug.
Jean
Exactly! I used to have a snow shovel, but digging out snow is problematic for me. In a pinch I could do it, bit I’d probably be clutching my chest like Gary in that photo, but for real!
That is enough excitement for a few more>
More than I care for. I don’t like depending on others for the reason that others can’t appreciate the danger to me if I miss dialysis.
My right arm cannot get punched or other things like that. The head nurse never asked or any thing like that. She said well it won’t be any time soon.
Whew!
Yes.
You have a terrible sense of humour and a huge courage. Sa brave, Weggie boy – Do take some rest – and your neighbours too.
amitiés – france 🙂
We are all taking a break from snow adventures today. I try to use humor to deal with adversity, but yesterday was more adversity than I was prepared to handle. I was let down by the people who were supposed to dig me out of the snow. Now that I know I can’t depend on them in future, I will call the Handibus first and know I’ll get good service when they know I need the rig=de to get to the hospital!
omg. I had been so worried about whether or not you made it to dialysis in that snow but I didn’t want to say anything on FB. I am SO GLAD AND THANKFUL for your wonderful neighbors!! Woof! Love, Maggie and Liz
Yes, as I noted in the post, they were the people who took carfe of Andy and Dougy while I was in hospital, then rehabilitation. Another friend helped, too (Judy) when Gary and Donna were out of town for his medical appointments. Like you and Chris, all of these friends just did it, something that makes me all the more grateful!
Oh! All that snow! I wouldn’t go out at all if I were you
I’m staying inside today for sure!
So glad you have good neighbours. Stay warm out there brrr! Adorable photos of the boys 😁
They are sweet when they are occupied wit4h videos! LOL!
What a day you had. I don’t miss the snow one bit.
I thought when I moved to this retirement village I wouldn’t have to deal with snow again! I hat the stuff when it comes to digging out my car or driving in it.
I moved to Florida for that reason.
I’d have problems with the hurricanes.
Very rare around Tamp Bay.
I don’t think I’d be comfortable with them.
What a journey!
You should really train your kitties to wear saddle and girdle so you can ride on them whenever driving is difficult 😉
Yeah, or harness them up and have them pull the sled!
😀 It would be a memorable sight for sure!
I’m trying to imagine how many kitties it would take to equal a typical dogsled team….! More than that, I’m trying to imagine how that many kitties would get along with each other or if some would pull, and others would refuse to get up so ended up getting dragged. The thought is pretty amusing!
Wow, that was a nail biter. Hooray for Gary and Donna! Good Samaritan, get it together guys! But so glad you got there in the end!
Yes, the Good Samaritans actually live across the lane from me! They’ve been excellent neighbors, and have done lots for me when I was in need. They are well known for this sort of thing. When I mention I live across from them, people who know them always say things like, “Yes, they are very thoughtful people!” Or ” They are very nice!”
Oh wait. Did I say “Hell”?
I meant “Fun”.
That was a play on “it’s no fun” (s’no fun). Nothing like your day, though!
Geez! Where I live we get snow about every 20 years or so…most of the time even in winter it is shorts and a shirt….My border collie loves Hulk Hogan…when she hears his voice she will stop and watch the tube until he is off….she also knows the difference between bad bacon and good…..have a good day my friend….chuq
I can’t imagine your pup’s interest in Hulk Hogan, but that’s cute! I was in cargo shorts and a light jacket over a tropical-weight short sleeve shirt until middle December. My change over point to long pants is roughly 4°F, though wind chill is a bigger factor than ambient temperature. Once I had dialysis, I had my better day! When I arrived at the hospital, though, my blood pressure was 202 over something also high. I typically have low blood pressure (95/68 would be typical), but they keep me there4 until my blood pressure is at least 100/70 or so. at the end of dialysis, I was 85/57. Ugh! They gave me a pill to knock it up into the release level, which I finally reached.
I do hope all is better now…be well and be safe….chuq
Since I had dialysis, I am fine. One ca miss a session, but it is problematic. Specifically, you bloat, you become more and more befuddled, and your body starts shutting down because you are being poisoned with your own body’s waste.
I am so sorry for your problems…chuq
I deal with them and put them behind me.
Between Prius 13 and Snow Hell I’m not sure which was more stressful. I think you win on that (more stress that is). But you get off cheaper.
I’d put the Prius issues ahead of mine, Chris…. Reading your account, the first thing that came to mind was “LOTS of dollars!”