Well, it's done, switched the position of the lawnmower and snow blower in the garage for easy access. Sigh...

[NNadir]

The first snow accumulations of the year are predicted here in New Jersey tonight, and the predicted totals keep going up.

I plugged in the battery chargers to make sure they're ready for tomorrow.

Sigh...

I'm in no position to whine. When we lived in San Diego, we got bored with the good weather on most days of the year. When the weather wasn't good it was just rain.

In life, one generally, not always, gets what one deserves.

I love New Jersey, and prefer it to San Diego, but now as an old man, with a sidewalk in front of his house, well, I don't love snow like I did when I was a kid.

(Being old, I finally indulged in an electric snow blower, an Ego.)

OK. I'm ready. Whiny but ready.

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Had To Do That 3 Weeks Ago

I used the snowblower 5 times each that last 3 winters.
I've used it 4 times already this year & it's snowing today!

[LuckyCharms]

2. I have an EGO snow blower that is about 10 years old.

My EGO batteries are just as old.

Only one of the batteries have crapped over the past 10 years (a 2.5 amp hour battery).

I miss the 2.5 amp hour one because it is lighter, and I used it on my weed whacker and leaf blower.

So I run the snow blower on two 5 amp hour batteries, which can do my driveway, plus a portion of my neighbor's driveway before I have to switch out the batteries.

The snow blower is still running well after 10 years, but I'm going to have to do a little maintenance on it because the directional adjustment for the chute is getting a little sticky.

Also, I'm craving a self-propelled model that has larger wheels, since it is still sometimes difficult to push mine through heavy snow, and it gets harder every year as I age.

I just priced out the two stage self-propelled blowers, and they are way out of my price range, so I'll make do with my current one. It gets the job done.

Make sure you are well-hydrated before you tackle the snow. I've read that a major contributor to shoveling/snow blowing heart attacks is dehydration. Especially if you are working out there a long time. And I've been guilty of this...sometimes your mind plays tricks on you by making you think you do not need a lot of hydration because you are not out there in the summer heat...but the opposite is true.

Good luck and try not to over do it!

[NNadir]

5. I didn't know they had Ego tools 10 years ago, but it's nice to hear about the batteries lasting a long time.

Until two years ago, I insisted on shoveling manually because of my make-believe climate holiness. My back and hips informed me, emphatically, that this behavior is no longer acceptable to them and since I need them more than they need me, I had to concede the point.

I had one battery go bad, but it was under warranty, and they were wonderful at Ego about replacing it, no questions ask.

I have requested an Ego Chainsaw from Santa Claus, an 18 inch. We'll learn whether I've been naughty or nice. Ms. Claus, with whom I've been sleeping for 41 years, will let me know.

Thanks for the advice. At this point I have learned to respect my limits.

[quaint]

3. I've had to use a space heater after showering for a couple of days

...plus last week I had to get the fans back out of the closet.

NE Orange County in SoCal is quite nice, except for stuff like yesterday's email explaining how to save water during winter. Oh, and almost every winter day is a no-burn-day due to air quality. Sigh.

[Emile]

4. It started snowing here in Indiana shortly after

9 am, and it's still coming down heavy. We got around 5" so far.

[a kennedy]

6. I know...am hating Winter now that I've had both knees replaced.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE CLIMATE CHANGE!!!!! Fawk Winter. 🤬 🤬 🤬

[NNadir]

7. I can't love climate change. Frankly, bad hips and bad back, I prefer the snow. It's not about me but about the future.

A guy vastly more intelligent than I am, Freeman Dyson, thought it might be a good thing, but I disagreed.

I'm heading out to that snow in about an hour, and, on reflection, consider myself lucky, as I am able to afford a snow blower, and, in fact, a home.

I'll live.