Driving Conditions

On December 22nd, many of the hood members had a hard time getting home due to extreme icy conditions.

However, our wonderful network of friends and neighbors kept in constant contact until everyone made it home. (Mike, Stella and Jackie were burning up the phone lines.)

Becky was stuck in traffic on highway 40 for over five hours. At one point, Dave Buchanan called her and said that he was on St Rd 42...just miles from home. One hour later he called her again and said "We are not getting home tonight". State Road 42 was "closed down". He soon found out that State Road 243 was also closed. A very persistent Dave kept trying different routes until he was finally able to get through.

After Becky talked to Dave she turned around and headed back to Plainfield. She spent the night at her parent's home that had been winterized (they are in Florida)...that means it was very cold and had no water.

The three most unlucky hood members were stuck on 70 and 243 until 6:00 am. Jim, Bernie and Al spent the night in their car, but safely arrived home the next day.

Can't we all just move to California?

Driving Conditions

I love the hood

Love my neighbors

Love the lake

Love the rural setting

Hate the winter drive to work!

Took me three hours to get home last night.

Winter 2008

It started out as one of those "kind of days". Much too cold to go outside! What to do?

However soon fate would decide our schedule. The electricity went off. In the country, the electricity goes off anytime there is a slight breeze. On the second hour of no electricity, we decided that maybe it was as cold outside as inside. So I started calling my friends to see who was willing to play outside.

.......I called Miss Stella. She decided that she would climb back into bed, cover up and wait out the electrical shortage.

.......We then called Bernie. He was at Jim’s house picking up some wood to put in his fireplace to stay warm.

.......Mike drove by, but never stopped. Rumor is that he was going to drive around in his warm truck until the lights came back on.

What did we decide to do? Brave the cold. We bundled up and went out knee-boarding. Yes I think this actually confirms that we are hillbillies. We didn’t discriminate --- we gave all the neighbors a good, old fashioned "YARD JOB". We stopped sledding after Tony swerved me into a tree---"head on". I was able to take the brunt of the force by holding my hands straight out….the only problem is that my arms are several inches shorter. Ouch!

Who was brave enough to battle the weather. We saw Tray actually riding his bike. We talked to Mr. Kenny, who stayed outside twenty minutes without gloves. (Probably is in the hospital with frost bite.)




Miss Maddy was making snow angles and Miss Jessica was making a snow dragon.

We then decided to go to the lake to feed our old pal "lucky ducky". Unfortunately for "Lucky" the cataract lake seagulls came to town cleaning up Lucky’s scraps.

Much to our surprise a young lady started walking down the hill. Who could this be? It was "Miss Breezy". As much as I tried to get her to let us take her home --- she declined. She may still be on the hill --- frozen.

Then we saw Mr. Dave who also decided to take a little trip to see "Lucky Ducky". Can you see why we call her "Lucky"? Very special gal!

Al and Tray also got out their ATV and Mr. Tray went sledding.

We then decided it was much too cold to be outside. When it is faster to chill the beer by putting it outside than in the refrigerator---it’s too cold. Think I'll turn on my electric blanket and crawl back into bed.