Снег идёт в Вашингтоне!

[peacetraveler22]

The first snowflakes of the season are falling! My Russian friend arrived from Moscow on Sunday and since then cold, icy and snowy weather. It's great! Today I awoke to notification that my office and the Federal government are closed due to inclement weather. I looked out my window and saw some snowflakes but the roads are completely clear. This is Washington, DC! I'm a good girl and decided to go to the office anyway and captured this scene on the way with my iPhone. Plows on the road, but nothing to scrape. Danger - they might ruin our beautiful asphalt in the process!

The Russian is completely amazed at the closures. In my area, there's immediate panic in any type of snow because it's rare here and people don't know how to drive in such conditions. In order to avoid accidents and road back-ups, the Feds let us stay home. :) People from Minnesota and New England States like Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, where large snowfalls are common, think we are crazy. How did I know work was closed?

We receive instant notification via text message and also a telephone call with a voice mail recording informing of the closure. I explained before that in America everything is done with a lot of detail. Signs everywhere, long explanations about potential dangers on roads, construction sites, amusement park rides, high tides at the ocean... I haven't noticed so many signs or warnings in any other country. The same is true in business relations. Everything explained in detail so there's no confusion.

You can even track the location of snow plows in the area in which I live. Simply go to this site, and look at the interactive map. Your mind will be put at ease when you learn the plow is on its way to save the day!

Can you imagine such nonsense in Russia? Businesses, schools and work closed over a few snowflakes? Your country would be shut down for the entire winter! If Putin really wants to conquer Washington, DC there's a simple plan. Gather huge amounts of snow from Moscow, ship it here, and dump it on the streets of DC. The entire city will be paralyzed and the Russians will immediately capture the White House and rule the city. :))

On an unrelated note, many thanks to the loyal readers who nominated me for the "Top 100 Interesting Blogs in 2013." I made the final list, but it's necessary to place your final vote before 25 December 2013. You can vote here. Nominees are in alphabetical order, so I'm easy to find. If you enjoy the content of my blog, please take a second to vote.

Tomorrow we're off to Tennessee! Soon, interesting stories from this State.

Comments

[fareastener.livejournal.com]

This guy arrived at you, but he brought blizzard at us. I hope to ask him - WHY???
Sakhalin Island is winced, updated reserves of vodka and wait a very bad weather on next two days.

[fareastener.livejournal.com]

>>Can you imagine such nonsense in Russia? Businesses, schools and work closed over a few snowflakes?

Dear, I can imagine it. We have very hard blizzards at feb and march.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, but life on Sakhalin Island carries on in such conditions! There are no closures and the city does not come to a stand still like in DC. It's great he brought the snow and cold weather. You know I love it! :) And tomorrow we head South where it will be much warmer.

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

"
Gather huge amounts of snow from Moscow, ship it here, and dump it on the streets of DC.
"
Yes, very simple clima(c)tic weapon :))

Or just spray that substance, iodic silver or how it is called, in the skies so that all dispersed water condenses and falls.
This is routinely used around Moscow in days of important events to unload clouds before they reach the city.

I think that such areas are just not prepared for snow, you do not have winter tyres and some local roads are too steep (at least in Seattle) and cannot be used when it's slippery.

Poor Cathy, someone can call her and ask for assistance in making the weather better...

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Climatic attack! It's a brilliant war strategy. :) My car has no winter tires. It's not necessary, but they are extra bad because they're sports/performance tires and there's no traction. We had problems when we traveled in heavy snow last December in New England. We were forced to overnight in Massachusetts because driving conditions became too hazardous in my Audi. Regardless, it was a fun adventure and winter wonderland so I was happy. You can look here about New Hampshire, before you subscribed to my blog. http://peacetraveler22.livejournal.com/9017.html

[onkel-hans.livejournal.com]

Some governors in New England ban all traffic in the time of snowfalls. The police are given the right to take away the licenses from the drivers caught on the roads.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

America - land of safety and caution! Sometimes on a ludicrous scale. Oh, I love New England winter. Beauty!

[alex winter (from livejournal.com)]

зимней резины никто на этот случай не покупает?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

People in Washington, DC don't usually have winter tires. They are not needed here, because it doesn't snow often. However, people in Minnesota and New England States usually have snow tires. In these regions, there's A LOT of snow.

[a-nimaida.livejournal.com]

Americans can now be able to understand the Russian people?))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I didn't see many snow plows in Russia during my visit last February. The most amazing thing to me are the workers who use those sharp objects to break all the ice on sidewalks near restaurants! This must be the worst job on the planet. Seems like an ancient way to remove ice, and a very labor intensive job!

[yarowind.livejournal.com]

>>My Russian friend arrived from Moscow on Sunday and since then cold, icy and snowy weather. It's great!

I think, Alex don't think so:))

>>You can vote here

no problem:)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, he isn't happy but I am! :) Thanks for your vote.

[alsh4ka.livejournal.com]

Я в детстве не ходила в школу, если температура была ниже -26 градусов... Увы, на работу это правило не распространяется)))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

- 26, perfect temperature! :)) Brrrrr....time to wear wonderful hats, scarves and mittens! Look at the Russian kids in this photo. Maybe they're walking to school? :)

[moonrainbow.livejournal.com]

Well, we are always amazed by America's inability to cope with snow. It's a topic of regular amusement here. Even my colleague from the UK joined the fun. :)

I could imagine if the Washington DC authorities managed a northern Russian city like Norilsk, they'd evacuate it from September till June.

Meanwhile, it's chilly -12 in Moscow with clear skies; and it is more than 10 cm of snow already in the first weeks of winter. That will easily turn into half a meter in January. I like snowy winters. :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Hi Slava! Happy holidays to you and Maria. Hope to see you both in the New Year!

[asharky.livejournal.com]

"...You can even track the location of snow plows in the area in which I live. Simply go to this site , and look at the interactive map..."

Look!

http://www.navsy.ru/kbdh/ - St.Petersburg

http://vpiter.com/web-cameras/
http://vpiter.com/web-camera-palace-square/

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Cool! Yes, St. Petersburg is a wonderful Russian city. I like it very much. :) And they have the same tracking for Moscow?

[rider3099.livejournal.com]

Voted :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thank you!!

[k-netalie.livejournal.com]

i can hardly stand the cold, it is such a tornment to get to the job every day in winter, to take kids to music school... so i love Washington DC))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Now I'm in Tennessee. Much warmer here!

[nar-row.livejournal.com]

Wow, In my childhood we didn't go to school only if it was -30 °C or less. :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It will never be that cold in Virginia! The problem wasn't the temperature, but the little bit of snow we received. Sent everyone into a panic. :)

[anna-sollanna.livejournal.com]

Voted. And congratulations with the first snow!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Many thanks!

Я - победитель этого маленького соревнования

[andrey-kaminsky.livejournal.com]

When i was a schoolboy,i didn't have to go to school at a temperature below -35. But it was a very formal approach, because under heavy frost it has always been very sunny and windless. And at -25 very unpleasant wind could be ... And now I'm in Leipzig, no snow, and the entire German people is so actively drinking mulled wine, it is not clear how will it be possible to drink without disgust before the onset of Christmas. I think the secret lies in the high prices for public transport (as a reason), and the widespread use of bicycles (on the bike you can ride in any condition)

Re: Я - победитель этого маленького соревнования

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Mulled wine...yummy! :) Sadly we don't have nice Christmas markets in America. And you're away from the motherland? Do you miss it?

[real-marsel.livejournal.com]

Very beautiful photo! And I do not want to discuss about russian government care for people: this is endless theme.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

This is just an iPhone photo, but snow is always beautiful when it first falls. :)

[aspasia-roma.livejournal.com]

Я была в Вашингтоне в июле. Жарища!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes! Summers here are very hot and humid. I do not like it.

[nagolny.livejournal.com]

Gather huge amounts of snow from Moscow, ship it here, and dump it on the streets of DC
Very good, Leutenant Fox! Your contribution will be mentioned in our weekly report to the Central KGB office.

PS Do you like foxes btw?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Many people on LJ believe I'm a secret spy!! :)) Yes, foxes are beautiful and interesting animals but I like bears better.