I fear our luck with no heavy snowfall, this season, is about to come to an end.

[Siwsan]

I'm seeing forecasts for between 2 and 8" for the lower half of Michigan, by tomorrow. No offense, Ann Arbor and Metro Detroit, but I'm hoping the heaviest of that snow DOES fall to the south of Flint!!

I've been putting off taking the drive to renew my license plate tag until the roads were at my comfort level (admittedly, that's Mid-Summer road conditions) but they expired in 2 weeks so my procrastination meant I could either keep waiting, renew on-line and possibly go a week or longer unable to legally drive, OR put on my 'big girl' snow pants and take to the somewhat slick roads before they become REALLY scary. As it was, the 12 mile round trip on plowed but still VERY snow covered roads took about an hour. And, I almost got stuck in my driveway. Again. But, the tag is on the plate and that's what's important.

Well, other than that I really hate Winter.

Ok, I'm done whining.

[Rorey]

1. Is there a grace period?

Here in Colorado, there's a 30 day grace period from the expiration date.

Yeah, I'm over this whole winter thing too. At least the sun will be out today, so I'm thankful for that.

[Siwsan]

5. I don't believe there is. And there is a fine if you renew late.

Normally, that drive would be a breeze. The closest renewal kiosk is at a Kroger so I could have gotten some shopping done, too. BUT I didn't want to give traffic time to build. I hate it when someone in a big truck rides the back bumper, trying to pressure me into driving faster. I'm VERY skittish and ultra cautious on bad roads and fortunately there was barely any traffic on a road that is usually very busy.

I lost track of how many times my 'low traction' light came on. I think there was some ice beneath that last snowfall, and it's been too cold for salt to be effective.

We had sun, yesterday. It was still cold, but at least it was not grey and depressing.

[Rorey]

9. When someone's on my ass, I make sure they get the full experience

I slow down.

I'm the same way. I try to be a cautious driver, and hate it when someone is right on top of me. I went to a store on Saturday morning. It was a little slick, and the ONE car that was also on the road had to get way too close. It's pretty irritating.

[Siwsan]

12. The most beautiful thing I saw in the rear view mirror, on the last stretch, was NO cars

And that's a stretch of road that goes through one of the biggest retail areas in the entire county. I think I picked the perfect time for my trip because the stores weren't open, yet.

[mrs_p]

2. Feel you. Here in ND

There is hardly any snow. It’s too good to be true.

On the other hand, I am hoping to get some value from the snowplow company I hired to clear the driveway this winter. They have only had to come three times. We are averaging 150 bucks per plow at this point. Ugh.

[Rorey]

11. North Dakota - ah, the good ol' days

I'm just kidding. I grew up there and I always felt like I was in the wrong place. It just wasn't for me.

[mrs_p]

17. I am a transplant

And am a fish out of water for sure. We are counting down the years until we can move on.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

3. We could use that snow up here...

I’m what, maybe 100 miles north of you. We didn’t have real good snowfalls this winter. When your town counts on winter tourists, no snow is kinda a bummer.

I hate driving in winter too, car has been sitting in the driveway for 5 days now and our roads are clear.

[Siwsan]

6. I just saw the forecast map - VERY little for north of Bay City/Saginaw area

We are right on the line for between the 4 to 6" and the 6 to 8".

I've been making it a point to take short drives, every few days. The last time I let the car sit, in this cold weather, for 4 days, the battery died! And that battery isn't that old! And when the forecast is this awful, the car goes into the garage. That makes snow blowing the driveway a lot easier.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

16. I start the car every day when it's this cold...

let it run for a while. Maybe bad for the car and environment, you do what ya gotta do.
My garage is what we call our first floor basement. Along with the exercise equipment it’s our indoor garden. Yesterday was the seed starting day! One tent is full of various pepper seeds
yarrow, celery, onions. Other is full of cannabis.

Stay warm.

[gab13by13]

4. I have had to use my snow blower 3 times so far, here in Pa.

We are probably going to get from 8 inches to a foot today and tomorrow. It's funny because I live close to I-80 and the weather is different north or south of it, unfortunately I'm a bit north of it. Snow is better than ice though.

[Siwsan]

7. I've used mine 3 times, so far, this Winter.

Probably could have just shoveled, but I bought a new snow blower, last year, and only used it once. I wrenched my shoulder starting it the first time, this year, but now it fires right up. I'll probably go out late this afternoon and take care of what's falling today. That might help with tomorrow's collection. Fortunately, when the snow is really deep, my neighbor comes by with his BIG snow blower.

[gab13by13]

14. I had trouble starting mine the first time.

I even used Stabil in the gas but those engines don't like corn gasoline, it gums everything up.

[calguy]

8. Down here in Arkansas......

Woke up to 8 degree temps, heavy snowfall, about 4" accumulated so far and it's supposed to keep snowing into the afternoon.
Down here we don't do no snow shoveling. We just close everything up and hibernate until it all melts away.

[Siwsan]

10. Wow! I saw what's happening in Texas, too!

At least in Michigan we have the equipment to handle this kind of weather.

When I was stationed in Iceland, they had one of those '100 year' Winters where snow was drifting up to and over some of the airplane hangers! The wind was so strong, there were advisories for people weighing less than 135 lbs to NOT go outside. Other times the whiteouts were so bad, NOBODY was allowed outside. We were actually rewarded a ribbon for enduring that season.

[calguy]

13. Amazing

[frazzled]

18. Don't they have online or mail-in tag renewal where you are?

We do. They just mail you the new plates.

In fact, I was able to renew my driver's license online recently. (Drivers with good records can renew online in my state; mine is very good, since I rarely drive anymore.) Go online, a week or two later your license arrives in the mail. Same bad picture though.

[Siwsan]

19. They do, and the warned receipt would take longer than usual.

When I renewed my license on line, it took over a month to arrive so I why deal with the waiting for tags to arrive in time worry. My plan was to head to the kiosk at the Kroger a few weeks ahead of time of the tag expiring so I was going to do it this week, anyway. Normally that would be about a 20 minute round trip, unless I shopped, too. I just didn't figure a heavy snowfall into things. I could have waited until next week, but who knows if conditions would be any better. Serious procrastination mistake, on my part. I do wish they would place one of those kiosks somewhere on this side of the county.

Hopefully I'll be smarter, next year.