"A raging inferno of wetness."
Jan. 4th, 2008 07:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gridloreThat's how the shipping guy at one of our regular vendors described the storm.
Yes, we're getting hit by the first three big storms of the season. The first missed us, for the most part, but today's was a direct hit. Howling winds that topped 90mph on some hilltops, pounding rain, creeks reaching flood stage in hours, this one has it all.
And I got to drive in it.
At least today was a fairly light day. But I had to drive up Vasco Road (which is a blood alley in good weather) and coming down Willow Pass I was in zero-visibility conditions... between the wind and the rain, I couldn't see twenty feet i8n front of my truck. Needless to say, I spent most of the day well below the posted speed limit. At least I missed the worst of it. To sum up, if you started your day in Marin County, you weren't leaving. If you wanted to get to Marin, go away, it's closed. Freeways closed, ferry service suspended, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge closed (after four big rigs were blown over on the eastbound deck).. Marin was not a happy place. Nor was much of the rest of the world. I was constantly dealing with standing water on the freeways, having sheets of water sluiced up onto my windshield, and idiots who didn't seem to notice the winter storm and were driving - with no lights, of course - like it was a pleasant summer's day.
Even though I got back in fairly early, I felt like I'd been driving for ten hours. All of the drivers felt that way, and we all bailed early. But not before I showed off my swag. The owner at above quoted vendor is a great guy, wonderfully laid back with a wicked sense of humor. As I was waiting for him to finish printing my invoices, I noticed a bottle of 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon from Windsor Vineyards. The bottles had a custom label indicating that they were from this vendor. I asked, and Jim said they give them out as gifts to good clients. He then asked if I liked wine, and when I answered yes, he gave me the bottle! We must get a Bag of Beef and have a nice dinner soon!
On an amusing note, I've become accepted by the community of homeless and near-homeless who hang out at my bus stop on Santa Clara. I walked up today and several folks greeted me, and wondered where I'd been. I explained that my arrival depended on when I left work. Fun group, even if most conversations tend to end up with comparisons of parole terms.
Got home to find the power was out. Came back on after a few hours, but now the cable is out, and it appears to be a region-wide thing. Ah, well, I have a good book (Coyote Rising by Allen Steele) and beer. No big loss.
Honestly, I kind of enjoyed reading by candlelight.
Yes, we're getting hit by the first three big storms of the season. The first missed us, for the most part, but today's was a direct hit. Howling winds that topped 90mph on some hilltops, pounding rain, creeks reaching flood stage in hours, this one has it all.
And I got to drive in it.
At least today was a fairly light day. But I had to drive up Vasco Road (which is a blood alley in good weather) and coming down Willow Pass I was in zero-visibility conditions... between the wind and the rain, I couldn't see twenty feet i8n front of my truck. Needless to say, I spent most of the day well below the posted speed limit. At least I missed the worst of it. To sum up, if you started your day in Marin County, you weren't leaving. If you wanted to get to Marin, go away, it's closed. Freeways closed, ferry service suspended, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge closed (after four big rigs were blown over on the eastbound deck).. Marin was not a happy place. Nor was much of the rest of the world. I was constantly dealing with standing water on the freeways, having sheets of water sluiced up onto my windshield, and idiots who didn't seem to notice the winter storm and were driving - with no lights, of course - like it was a pleasant summer's day.
Even though I got back in fairly early, I felt like I'd been driving for ten hours. All of the drivers felt that way, and we all bailed early. But not before I showed off my swag. The owner at above quoted vendor is a great guy, wonderfully laid back with a wicked sense of humor. As I was waiting for him to finish printing my invoices, I noticed a bottle of 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon from Windsor Vineyards. The bottles had a custom label indicating that they were from this vendor. I asked, and Jim said they give them out as gifts to good clients. He then asked if I liked wine, and when I answered yes, he gave me the bottle! We must get a Bag of Beef and have a nice dinner soon!
On an amusing note, I've become accepted by the community of homeless and near-homeless who hang out at my bus stop on Santa Clara. I walked up today and several folks greeted me, and wondered where I'd been. I explained that my arrival depended on when I left work. Fun group, even if most conversations tend to end up with comparisons of parole terms.
Got home to find the power was out. Came back on after a few hours, but now the cable is out, and it appears to be a region-wide thing. Ah, well, I have a good book (Coyote Rising by Allen Steele) and beer. No big loss.
Honestly, I kind of enjoyed reading by candlelight.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 5 Jan 2008 04:25 (UTC)You'll also have to let me know how the wine is. I've become even more into wine now that I'm playing a vintner in a LARP. Yes, I know- I'm a geek. I'm not a huge red fan (shocking that I'd prefer sweeter whites...), but a good Cabernet Sauvignon puts a smile on my face.
no subject
Date: 5 Jan 2008 04:46 (UTC)We only lost power for a minute or two this am. And our cable is working. Must be a subdivision type of thing.
Course I'm working on the computer this evening. Taking a break catching up on friends.
no subject
Date: 5 Jan 2008 05:01 (UTC)no subject
Date: 5 Jan 2008 05:23 (UTC)