apocalyptic weather and grocery experiences

In the Greater Toronto Area we are in the middle of the worst snowstorm of
the decade. More than three feet of snow have already fallen, which is more
snow than we get in an average *winter*--and winter doesn't even start for
another six days!

I shovelled snow twice today and my landlady is shovelling now, and in
between those times the basement tenant, who runs his own snow removal
business, did his bit with his industrial-grade snowblower prior to driving
out to do his contracts.

Against everyone's better judgment, I slugged through the accumulation
earlier today to go to the 24-hour Wal-Mart and got a few nice things from
the grocery section. The star of the show was packages containing half a
pound of cold cuts such as thinly-sliced kielbasa for 57 cents. Large cans
of navy beans in molasses are 73 cents, and sardines in lemon juice are 69
cents. I also found a half-gallon bottle of Wal-Mart's own branded vegetable
juice (like V8 but you don't pay for the label) for $1.83, which is an utter
steal around here. Finally, I found (but didn't spend my now-limited money
on) a half-gallon bottle of pure cranberry juice. It's about $3.50 but
finding pure cranberry juice at large Toronto grocery stores has proven a
fool's errand for me in the past. The only juices I've found are
cranberry-and-some-other-s*** blends.

And, to make things even better, there is the mid-high-end grocery store
Sobey's right next door to the Wal-Mart, and it's open 24 hours a day
year-round!

Miki

I saw two blizzards in Boston. It was an amazing sight to a California boy.
(not literally "boy")

There might have been a better time to go shopping, but that was probably
not the point. By hiking to Wally World you got the full experience of a
record snowfall.



"Miki Kocic" <malefrancesfarmer@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
news:13mb7a1olh1fo62@corp.supernews.com...
> In the Greater Toronto Area we are in the middle of the worst snowstorm of
> the decade. More than three feet of snow have already fallen, which is
> more snow than we get in an average *winter*--and winter doesn't even
> start for another six days!
>
> I shovelled snow twice today and my landlady is shovelling now, and in
> between those times the basement tenant, who runs his own snow removal
> business, did his bit with his industrial-grade snowblower prior to
> driving out to do his contracts.
>
> Against everyone's better judgment, I slugged through the accumulation
> earlier today to go to the 24-hour Wal-Mart and got a few nice things from
> the grocery section. The star of the show was packages containing half a
> pound of cold cuts such as thinly-sliced kielbasa for 57 cents. Large cans
> of navy beans in molasses are 73 cents, and sardines in lemon juice are 69
> cents. I also found a half-gallon bottle of Wal-Mart's own branded
> vegetable juice (like V8 but you don't pay for the label) for $1.83, which
> is an utter steal around here. Finally, I found (but didn't spend my
> now-limited money on) a half-gallon bottle of pure cranberry juice. It's
> about $3.50 but finding pure cranberry juice at large Toronto grocery
> stores has proven a fool's errand for me in the past. The only juices I've
> found are cranberry-and-some-other-s*** blends.
>
> And, to make things even better, there is the mid-high-end grocery store
> Sobey's right next door to the Wal-Mart, and it's open 24 hours a day
> year-round!
>
> Miki
>

"Quiet Neighbor" <private@spamless.net> wrote in message
news:F%i9j.6187$fl7.5054@newssvr22.news.prodigy.ne t...
>I saw two blizzards in Boston. It was an amazing sight to a California
>boy. (not literally "boy")
>
> There might have been a better time to go shopping, but that was probably
> not the point. By hiking to Wally World you got the full experience of a
> record snowfall.
>
>
>
> "Miki Kocic" <malefrancesfarmer@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
> news:13mb7a1olh1fo62@corp.supernews.com...
>> In the Greater Toronto Area we are in the middle of the worst snowstorm
>> of the decade. More than three feet of snow have already fallen, which is
>> more snow than we get in an average *winter*--and winter doesn't even
>> start for another six days!
>>
>> I shovelled snow twice today and my landlady is shovelling now, and in
>> between those times the basement tenant, who runs his own snow removal
>> business, did his bit with his industrial-grade snowblower prior to
>> driving out to do his contracts.
>>
>> Against everyone's better judgment, I slugged through the accumulation
>> earlier today to go to the 24-hour Wal-Mart and got a few nice things
>> from the grocery section. The star of the show was packages containing
>> half a pound of cold cuts such as thinly-sliced kielbasa for 57 cents.
>> Large cans of navy beans in molasses are 73 cents, and sardines in lemon
>> juice are 69 cents. I also found a half-gallon bottle of Wal-Mart's own
>> branded vegetable juice (like V8 but you don't pay for the label) for
>> $1.83, which is an utter steal around here. Finally, I found (but didn't
>> spend my now-limited money on) a half-gallon bottle of pure cranberry
>> juice. It's about $3.50 but finding pure cranberry juice at large Toronto
>> grocery stores has proven a fool's errand for me in the past. The only
>> juices I've found are cranberry-and-some-other-s*** blends.
>>
>> And, to make things even better, there is the mid-high-end grocery store
>> Sobey's right next door to the Wal-Mart, and it's open 24 hours a day
>> year-round!
>>
>> Miki

Something tells me that a "California boy" (as you call yourself) might not
appreciate what a pain in the tushie snow is once it ceases to be a novelty.
And the biting wind blowing frozen snow grains in my face was not fun.

Tell you what, QN: Come up to visit me some time before winter is over and
we can go cross-country skiing at the zoo. (Yes, the zoo just northeast of
here is big enough to have cross-country skiing trails.) After that you'll
be so happy to be back in The Land of Hot Sex (Cali+Fornia) that you will
kiss the pavement the moment you disbark the Greyhound back home.

Miki

I miss seeing the snow, I haven't seen it in years. I don't miss
driving in it, though.

penguin

<pengwin2@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:22187-4765C61E-328@storefull-3176.bay.webtv.net...
>
> I miss seeing the snow, I haven't seen it in years. I don't miss
> driving in it, though.
>
> penguin
>

Driving in snow was scary and fun. Big chance of hitting something, but the
steering wheel wiggles to go uphill, and planning 500 feet ahead for
stopping, were challenges.

It was amazing to see meek little old ladies spinning their wheels and
taking turns like an Indy driver.

I had a little, lightweight, tiny 2 seater sports car and it spun around
completely in the snow at an intersection one time. Luckily I didn't
hit anyone.

penguin

Miki....
W0W.
Three feet of snow.

Some years ago we had a three feet fall of snow.
It was devestating.
Power loss, Hopless road conditions as the snow drifts were over six
feet.
Or snow plows are simply not capable of plowing throgh six feet.

Once, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains going through one of the few passe
that allow entrance or exit to California I saw snow that was the roof
of the Grayhound Bus I was in.

Snowplows had plow faces that were just as big too....

Another time up near Buffalo, where they get the Lake Effect Snow?
For foreigners.....
we're all foreigners.....
The prevailing westerlies blow across the fresh water Great lakes and
the poor innoscents on the south side of those wonderous natural
declarations get snow.
BAD snow..al winter.
Worse then Toronto and the Canadian northern lake shores.

Three feet of snow is life threatening , Miki.
I hope you have stores of food in your apartment.

I'll worry about you.

Everyone, do you understand what three feet of snow means?
It means roofs collase under the weight.

It means trucks can't make delivery of milk and other friendly
commodities.

It becomes a struggle for life.
Heat was lost for us. But we had a woodstove and some kerosene heaters.
The water pipes froze shut so we lost water.

If my memory serves me correctly, which it rarely does lately.....
it was maybe seven days before the roads were even opened, and then by
construction equiptment. Plows were useless.

Buffalo has plows with big faces, bigger then we have in Jersey.

Maybe they can drive across the bridges and give you Torontoans a hand.
People will die, Miki, with such an exceptional snowfall.
Die frozen or asphyfixated in stranded cars, remotote houses, downtown
from collapsed roofs and heat loss.

Buffaloian plows could handle three feet...
Of course....Buffalo N.Y. is likely dealng with its own snow emergency.

The stores even in mild snowfals often run out of milk and bread and
similar items, down here, in Jersey.

Take pictures. You have a News Event happening in Toranto.

Keep us posted as to any major fires or highway disasters please.

For folks who live in southern climes....
a bad snowfall prevents firetrucks from getting out.
That means that fires are likely to go unattended.
Bad fires happen, and roofs collapse when an unusal three feet of snow
thumps down on you.
You can't get to medical care, no ambulances. No cops. Medidcal supplies
are often unattainable.
Help is not available.

If its a drifting snow and you're in a city, drifted streets can have
snow several stories deep while other street sections are almost blown
free of snow...especialy if Miki' three feet snow is of the drifting
variety.
The eskimoes and penguins likely have a name for it.
Hi Arizona Penguin!.

Good luck Miki.
Plan for a long haul.
Thats my advice.

Sprained Brain

The Great Lakes are quite profound.

Dan, I'm sorry to have alarmed you, but in fact my downstairs neighbour
tells me we got ONE foot of snow. I'm just so inexperienced with these
things that I misestimated the drifts. The drifts are indeed almost up to my
chest and I'm 5'6".

Miki

"Deep Thoughts" <brainsprained@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:25947-47668E4D-774@storefull-3238.bay.webtv.net...
> Miki....
> W0W.
> Three feet of snow.
>
> Some years ago we had a three feet fall of snow.
> It was devestating.
> Power loss, Hopless road conditions as the snow drifts were over six
> feet.
> Or snow plows are simply not capable of plowing throgh six feet.
>
> Once, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains going through one of the few passe
> that allow entrance or exit to California I saw snow that was the roof
> of the Grayhound Bus I was in.
>
> Snowplows had plow faces that were just as big too....
>
> Another time up near Buffalo, where they get the Lake Effect Snow?
> For foreigners.....
> we're all foreigners.....
> The prevailing westerlies blow across the fresh water Great lakes and
> the poor innoscents on the south side of those wonderous natural
> declarations get snow.
> BAD snow..al winter.
> Worse then Toronto and the Canadian northern lake shores.
>
> Three feet of snow is life threatening , Miki.
> I hope you have stores of food in your apartment.
>
> I'll worry about you.
>
> Everyone, do you understand what three feet of snow means?
> It means roofs collase under the weight.
>
> It means trucks can't make delivery of milk and other friendly
> commodities.
>
> It becomes a struggle for life.
> Heat was lost for us. But we had a woodstove and some kerosene heaters.
> The water pipes froze shut so we lost water.
>
> If my memory serves me correctly, which it rarely does lately.....
> it was maybe seven days before the roads were even opened, and then by
> construction equiptment. Plows were useless.
>
> Buffalo has plows with big faces, bigger then we have in Jersey.
>
> Maybe they can drive across the bridges and give you Torontoans a hand.
> People will die, Miki, with such an exceptional snowfall.
> Die frozen or asphyfixated in stranded cars, remotote houses, downtown
> from collapsed roofs and heat loss.
>
> Buffaloian plows could handle three feet...
> Of course....Buffalo N.Y. is likely dealng with its own snow emergency.
>
> The stores even in mild snowfals often run out of milk and bread and
> similar items, down here, in Jersey.
>
> Take pictures. You have a News Event happening in Toranto.
>
> Keep us posted as to any major fires or highway disasters please.
>
> For folks who live in southern climes....
> a bad snowfall prevents firetrucks from getting out.
> That means that fires are likely to go unattended.
> Bad fires happen, and roofs collapse when an unusal three feet of snow
> thumps down on you.
> You can't get to medical care, no ambulances. No cops. Medidcal supplies
> are often unattainable.
> Help is not available.
>
> If its a drifting snow and you're in a city, drifted streets can have
> snow several stories deep while other street sections are almost blown
> free of snow...especialy if Miki' three feet snow is of the drifting
> variety.
> The eskimoes and penguins likely have a name for it.
> Hi Arizona Penguin!.
>
> Good luck Miki.
> Plan for a long haul.
> Thats my advice.
>
> Sprained Brain
>
> The Great Lakes are quite profound.
>
>
>
>

Short guy, heh?

wuh, one foot of snow can grow into a five-foot drift in a blizzard,
Wally.

That's really great there is nearby Wal Mart.
Near your place, Miki.
I explore their food section often, when I get near a wal mart.

My watch, a pocket watch, I bought it for 10 dollars at wal mart some
years ago.

I'm sorry they are wiping out the "main street" businesses but no way
can I manage without Wal Mart and stores like that.

SOMETIMES drug stores, big chain drug stores can have some good price in
their food section.
Not all I recently discovered, some though.

Wal Mart has lots of cheap stuff from coffee machines to laundry
detergent to crockpots to blank CDs to widgets, dohickys and gizmos.

SBK