Good morning, Netizens...

It is either feast or famine in the City of Spokane snow removal operation, if experiences this morning are to be given any credibility. After the first body-slam of snow one week ago last Thursday, it took four days before we saw a single snowplow coming rumbling down our street, and then it did a desultory, half-hearted job at that. The City of Spokane's pretty color-coordinated map located at http://www.spokanestreetdepartment.org/snowplow.htm never gave us a clue when the plows would be arriving, hence we could not be prepared and have our vehicles moved off the street.

However, at approximately 2:30 this morning, as if to make up for perceived lack of attention, two city plows came rumbling by the house a total of five times between 1 and 3 AM with their blades scraping the accumulated ice and snow off the street and piling it neatly beside the street. Of course, this created yet another big snow berm that will need to be dealt with before anyone goes to work today.

Unfortunately for some, two of our household will be working straight through the weekend, making up for the three work days they lost during the previous storm. Equally unfortunate, the weather forecast is now for rain mixed with snow or vice-versa, which promises an icy mix guaranteed to to delight drivers throughout the city.

At least now with temperatures hovering near 30 degrees at a quarter to four in the morning, the de-icer may function as it should, and perhaps city intersections will be better than they were when temperatures were hovering near zero.

Have your streets been plowed?

Dave

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