January 23, 2007
owning boots is not the same as being prepared
I’ve had it with winter. I know, I know, we’ve hardly had any winter at all, in comparison to, say, people in Minnesota, but the thing is that here in Oklahoma, we’re not PREPARED for winter. We don’t have enough snow plows, for example, so it takes days for the streets to clear. Even after the snow and ice melt, the streets are still hazardous, as we have to dodge the ginormous pot holes that appeared during the freeze. Most of us don’t own snow shovels, so our driveways are still covered in ice. Our kids don’t have snowboots or ski pants because they would never wear them, in a normal winter.
We’ve lost our pioneer spirit, I think.
The door on my side of the garage (yes, I have a side) isn’t working properly, hasn’t been since the ice storm. It opens about six inches and then closes again. But it won’t STAY closed, no no, you have to manually STOP it at the bottom of its arc, or it just keeps popping back up, but only six or so inches, not enough to get the car out, just enough to let the neighbor’s cat in. It is infuriating. In the morning, I go out in the garage, manually open the door, load the kids in the car, pull out into the driveway, get out of the car and manually close the door. This closing part is hard as there is no handle on the outside of the door, only the inside, and our north-facing driveway is still a solid sheet of ice. Every morning I pray that this will not be the day I fall flat on my ass trying to slam the door without smashing my fingers.
I really should teach the boys how to call 911.
When I come home, after I slide up into the frozen tundra of our driveway, I have to pick my way up the walk to go in the front door. Every day, I worry that THIS is the day I will not have my house keys with me and I will wind up locked out. Again. I leave my car in the driveway for the rest of the day, and then Wade pulls it into the garage at night, and spends five or ten minutes trying to figure out what’s wrong with the opener. Last night we stood in the freezing cold and discussed what the significance of a GREEN light on one sensor and a YELLOW light on the other might be.
In the end, we agreed that we had no idea. Also, that it was cold in our garage.
I’m not a good winter person. My very cute down jacket doesn’t cover my ass, so I’m always cold; I had to buy gloves at Target today because I don’t own any. My skin is dry and itchy, and I’m tired of wearing my snow boots every day.
I am completely unprepared for winter.
Posted by Susan @ 12:32 pm • Uncategorized
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January 23rd, 2007 at 1:59 pm, MamaChristy Says:
Perhaps the sensors aren’t lined up properly and therefore think that something is in the way of the door? It’s been ages since it snowed here and it pisses me off to no end then our garage door opener doesn’t work.
Oh, and I’m thinking that you and Wade should switch sides if his opener is working. He who leaves and enters just once a day - without kids, I might add - can open and close that beast of a door. Good luck!
January 23rd, 2007 at 2:09 pm, mek Says:
Up here in MN we actually haven’t had much of a winter - a little cold, a little snow (but not until January!). Some people are a little envious of the rest of the Midwest…not me.
It sounds like, as mamachristy suggested, your sensors are not lined up properly - they should both be the same color. We had a similar problem and wiggled the offending sensor around (the receiver unit, the looser one) to find where it should be and then wedged a piece of wood in behind it (and later screwed that piece of wood to the wall when it started wiggling free again.)
Good luck!
January 23rd, 2007 at 2:40 pm, Karly Says:
You haven’t made him switch you sides yet? Huh. My husband would love you.
January 23rd, 2007 at 2:59 pm, standing still Says:
Okay. Married to a mechanical engineer here, so don’t understand how a husband stands for 10 minutes and doesn’t fix something … but nevertheless …
First of all … call someone and get that fucking garage door fixed. Call someone immediately.
Next, like others have said, switch sides.
Third, if you want a care package from minnesota, let me know. I think Target has all the snowpants/boots/mittens still in stock here … but it would boggle the mind if they didn’t see the weather coming and didn’t stock up your Target there. Money is money, no matter what weather emergency earns it.
January 23rd, 2007 at 3:52 pm, Tricia Says:
Our doors do the same thing if a cobweb is in the sensors way. Have you tried taking a blow dryer to it? Maybe there is some ice lodged somewhere.
January 23rd, 2007 at 3:57 pm, rachel Says:
gah. hope winter leaves you soon!
I cheered when I moved south - as soon as I reached states where there are reflectors on the roads I was thrilled - it meant that no plows could work!
I guess I never thought of the downside, though. ugh. This is a really weird winter, and I hope it passes very quickly.
January 23rd, 2007 at 3:58 pm, rachel Says:
Oh - and we have enough mittens, hats, boots, etc to outfit a small army, so I’m happy to send some on.
Your boys love pink & lavendar, right?
January 23rd, 2007 at 4:15 pm, Kellie Says:
Living in northern NY, I have PLENTY of winter gear. Cute jackets, cute hats, fantabulous boots and a wide selection of gloves, mittens and scarves to coordinate with the jackets. Want me to ship them to you?
January 23rd, 2007 at 4:35 pm, Susan Says:
In Wade’s defense, he totally WOULD trade sides of the garage with me, but it’s virtually impossible to get the kids in and out on his side (I can’t even begin to explain why; you just have to trust me on this one). Also, I have those damn boots and he’s wearing dress shoes every day, so really I’m in a better position to slog through the driveway.
Ahem.
And yes, Christy is right, my sensors certainly aren’t lined up correctly. Nor are the ones for the garage door.
Ha ha ha.
January 23rd, 2007 at 6:35 pm, scribbit Says:
I can get what you mean. I’m so not used to heat that when it got to 85 last summer I thought I was dying.
Go ahead and laugh, I know I’m a whimp.
January 23rd, 2007 at 6:38 pm, Velma Says:
I knew it! You are a robot! A multi-function English Literature Instruction Robot loaded with an extra strength Fashion Database module and a caffeine-powered M.O.M. chip!
January 23rd, 2007 at 11:28 pm, SJ Says:
Since the cold snap arrived oh about 2 months ago in Colorado and has since decided to stick around for god knows how long (it’s still cold and it’s still snowing on a regular basis!) our garage door is doing this bullshit too. Everyday it’s the same stuff and it is very frustrating. I feel your pain. But I think it’s because it’s cold, I really do. And I agree, I’m tired of wearing snow boots and I’m tired of the snow. Springtime where are you?
And our Targets already have bathing suits out ……. I gather I’m not the ONLY one ready to move on, but in January? Really?
January 24th, 2007 at 10:13 am, Granny Says:
I am not a fan of cold or snow at all. I’m not sure if we set records for cold here but we came close.
This is California. It’s not supposed to happen. I came very close to to sliding down a slanting sidewalk the other day when I mistook black ice for water. My car at the curb saved me when I crashed into it instead of landing on my well padded butt.
If I wanted all this, I would have stayed in the middle of New York State.
January 24th, 2007 at 12:13 pm, Rayne of Terror Says:
You’ve got to fix the sensors or have someone out to fix them right away. If they are exposed to elements for very long they will begin to corrode. Then you will need new sensors, which if the door repairman has used will be reasonable but if he has to use new you might as well get an entire new door system for the $$$.
January 28th, 2007 at 3:18 pm, Jack's Raging Mommy Says:
We only have an opener for one side of our garage, and only one opener at that. A lot of planning goes into who takes what vehicle in bad weather for that very reason. I can relate
January 16th, 2008 at 8:06 pm, Nicole Says:
Pennsylvania winters can be harsh, but I would say we’re prepared. If you need warm clothing try Cabela’s at Cabelas.com they have everything you need for winter. As far as the garage door goes, until you get it professionally fixed, pull the release handle on the overhead bar and just use the door manually in the meantime. Oh, and of couse, switch sides of the garage, it would only be the gentlemanly thing to do on your husband’s part. When we only had a one car garage my husband parked outside even though he always left earlier than I did. Good Luck.