For those not in my local area, I live near Pittsburgh PA and I drive across the city daily to work. The trip is not so bad because I work a late shift and miss all of the 'rush hour' traffic that happens on weekdays.

Ok, I think snow is pretty to look at... but not at all fun to drive in. Where I work, they didn't offer to let ANYONE go home early Friday 2/05. So, by the time I got to leave, my trip home took about 4 hours insted of the normal 35 minutes. I had planned to get a few last minute supplies at WalMart as I had to drive by Robinsin Town Center. However, when I saw the SUV blocking the exit ramp, sideways, I decided that little Grand Am would not get up the hill. I figured that I may make it to Giant Eagle at home... maybe. I kept going. I had to sit in traffic for a really long time due to 'Accident at milemarker 55.8" (I think that was the number) that blocked all lanes. It was just after the Carnegie exit going toward the city. There was still snow laying all over the road and lots of people who obviously didn't know how to drive at all in it. Many cars were just sitting there spinning their tires after stopping. They looked like they didn't understand to put the car in low gear and tap the gas gently. While I was sitting in the barely moving traffic I got a phone call from a co-worker. She let me know that she was a few cars behind me in the other lane. My lane apparently moved more than hers so when I saw anything to help her out, I called to let her know once I was stopped again and not trying to drive.

After the accident that finally got cleared up, I continued through the city at a pace of about 20-25 MPH. Some people in trucks and SUVs were driving by faster but the last thing I wanted was to start sliding or something and be going too fast. So, I took it slow and careful only speeding up to about 35-40 inside the 2 tunnels where there was no snow to slide on.

When I got almost to the Fort Pit tunnel, I saw that the hillside leading up out of the city going South was just packed with cars and trucks mostly sideways and not moving. When I got near the Oakland exit, I was also happy Jon was not working becuause the ramp there also looked like a bunch of parked cars. There were lots of people pulled over and not moving between the city and Squirrel Hill Tunnels. I kept going slowly and got through. After the tunnel, the roads got progressively worse. When I got to my exit, I could not get off due to the snow. I went straight down 22 and found another road to turn around on. I never got to Giant Eagle at all. I am sure it was closed by that time.

Once almost home, I got stuck breifly turning at the traffic light to Gateway High School. After I dug my front tires out with my snow scraper and got going, I could not see a parking space to get into at home. I attempted to get into another lot on our complex and could not get up the little hill. I got stuck. This time worse. I called Jon cause I was literally at the end of our street and Flanowa cause he lives just up the street too for help. Between them and some random really nice guy in a white truck, we got my car turned around and in a safer position. I was parked as close to the curb as I could get pretty much at the McBeth and King Lear intersection. I left my car there for the night. I dropped off the rent check since I was halfway to the office anyway and went home.


Today I went and had to dig out my car so we can get Jon to work tomorrow. We have no snow shovel, I live in an apartment and have not needed one since moving here years ago. I used the dust pan from our broom and a small trash can to move snow away from around and on my car.

This evening, I was able to get my car out of the little hole it was in and go to Sheetz and GetGo for gas and foods. Everything else was pretty much closed. I ended up parking in the lot I tried to get into last night in a space I am pretty sure I will be able to get out of in the morning. I kind of parked angled and facing up a small incline so that when I start the car in the morning, I will be able to back down and then should be able to drive. Pretty much every 'empty' parking space in our complex was filled with snow and I'm glad I could park where I did.

My drive home from work 2/05 was really long and really scary at times. But I made it home and I hope everything melts soon. Now after the stressful driving and digging out my car, I just kind of feel so tired I could sleep all week. (for that reason, please excuse any typing errors today, I am too tired to try to edit)