For the past two winters, my area has had about 100 inches of snow. This year was different. Yesterday we had temps in the mid 50s. Guys were out playing hoops and golfing. However, the news said a storm was on the way.

I got up about 6:00AM, started the coffee and went out for the paper. The temperature now had dropped over 30 degrees, and a light silt was falling, however you could still see the roads and grass.

Three hours have now passed. I noticed that the kids walking to the school bus stop were using the grass, it's getting slick. Most spots are now covered with snow and the 'hawk' is definitely out. Between now and 1:00PM we are to get 4 to 7 more inches, depending on how the jet-stream comes across Minnesota and Wisconsin.

I am now officially a pedestrian.

It's only eight miles to the gym, and I have faith that my V-8 F-150 can make it there, even wile away a few hours at the coffee bar. However, being the first major storm here, even our local yokels forget how to drive. It will be bumper-cars out there both during rush-hour and the commute home.

For those HRF members who live in California or below the Mason-Dixon line, you have no idea how great your lives will be today. The choice of staying home or throwing a leg o'er is in your hands. My fate, and even my life, is now firmly in the hands of Mother Nature and some clown who cannot drive, but is fully capable of killing me.

Betty and Spinner peacefully sleep, covered up in a huge dark warehouse, with hundreds of brothers and sisters waiting for the spring thaw. I have never missed them more.

Maybe this might be a wake up call, you should keep spinner at the house just in case there is a 50 degree day. At least you can jump on her and take a spin around town. That would definitely put a smile on your face!

I moved to a warmer climate. I ride 15k per year. Best move I ever made!

This year I would not do that for two very good reasons.

First, Spinner went in for an oil cooler. She was finished and tuned on the dyno, but this shop mandates the mechanics take test rides "in the real world." That wasn't done, I did not care, and off she went to cold storage.

The second reason is the biggee. Wisconsin now uses a "salt brine" on the highways as a preventive. If you've been driving here for a few weeks, there appears to be a white powder on the roads, and after a few days the tires wear it off and you can see the tracks.

In spring, I wait for several hard rains to wash the silt and salt off of the roads before I ride. A few days doesn't hurt my fun, and I do not want that slop in every nook and cranny of my bikes.

That's good enough reason for me, I don't think that I would like that on my bike either. It's to bad that you couldn't enjoy a little get out every now and then just to take the winter edge off.

We have pretty intense spring rains here. Two years ago we had nothing but rain for the first third of the riding season. I've lived here all of my life and it's still odd to look out and see snow, then hear lightning, get a soaking rain and an hour later have to use you A/C for the drive home. That's not an exaggeration. Last week I went to the gym with the heater on, and used my A/C to come home.

That's some wacky weather!

No kidding. I got up this mornning in the dark with the info that early temps would be 19 degrees. I slipped on a flannel shirt, a jacket, and gloves to get the morning paper. It actually felt calm and mild. That's Wisconsin weather for you. In my state, whether it's the forecast, gun related legislation or conservative politics, the citizens here greet every new wrinkle by first panicking.

If you don't melt down in sheer terror you don't really care. Oh, and that seven inches we were told to expect, well, it's two inches and barely that. In larger open areas where wind can make drifts it might cover your feet to the ankles.

BTW, I was a member of a forum that did not permit threads they classified as "TEOTWAWKI." Meaning, 'the end of the world as know it.' The entries had been so ridiculous that the mods just cracked down. The paranoid mind knows no limits. Amen. Come to Madison...

The news last night said that your area was going to get waist deep in snow glad to hear that you only got 2 inches. Rebel in another post referred to you and said he hopes that spring comes early for you, me too. Stay warm!

...well, I am waist deep in liberal pencil-neck whiners, so I'd rather have the snow...

I just looked out of my window and I can see grass poking up though the snow on my neighboor's lawn. The storm was minor. The temp is dropping, however.