Yes, it’s cold out. Which makes certain parts of the body perk up, and other parts of the body go hide. But that’s not my point.

The light dusting of snow a couple days ago and the predicted freezing rain for this evening lead to many things such as reporters standing on the Sylvan overpass, folks chaining up on wet pavement, and a bunch of SUV-driving soccer moms thinking that because they have 4WD they can go 50mph when it’s icy. Technically, they can. They just can’t stop.

And yes, we’re well aware that back in Chicago/New Yawk/wherever you moved here from, a little snow and ice wasn’t a big deal. Here, it is.

I saw this on another Portland-area “blog”:

We live up on the hill in West Linn (right off the 10th street exit), and driving home last night I was slipping and sliding all over the road. Driving at 20 MPH, I slid straight through a turn and almost crashed head-on with oncoming traffic.

To get to school, I have to drive down this giant hill and up through Lake Oswego over towards the Terwilliger curves.

Is it safe?

My response: if you have to ask, and apparently have demonstrated you can’t drive safely, please stay home. We all thank you.

I’m not sure I have one solid theme here… maybe it’s just “try not to do something stupid?” Think? Plan ahead? </optimism>