Yeah, see that. See what I did there ... the puns and witty word plays are comin out already. Don't lie you like it!
But in all seriousness I'm hilarious. And I'm gonna hilarity you right into some info about SNOW ... the dreaded white stuff. The bane of everyone's existence. Except mine. I keep posting on Facebook about how I am the real life Elf ... You know the Will Ferrell movie about a human who was raised by elves at the North Pole and he always says everything's his favorite ... SNOW'S MY FAVORITE. When asked your favorite season most people say Spring or Summer due to sun and warm temperatures. I say all of em. It's one of the best things about living in Ohio, we experience all 4 seasons. There are attributes about each season I truly love. And in winter, my favorite is snow. So I get really really confused when people talk about how much they hate it?! Aww ... poor snow. It gets such a bad wrap!
Now I'm pretty sure I've narrowed down where my love for snow comes from. I spent my entire childhood enjoying Northern Michigan. And when I say Northern Michigan I don't mean Detroit. I mean, woods, dirt roads, I mean snow plows?, I mean you take a snowmobile into town ... NORTHERN Michigan. Every year we would go up for winter break and some extended weekends to enjoy the wintery wooded bliss. And when I was a kid, snow was always associated with something good. School closings, Snowmobiling, downhill skiing, sledding, ice skating, fires, hot cocoa ... FUN!!! And the adults caring for me (my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles) had all been doing the same things since THEY were kids and were extremely proactive in the "get out in the snow and have fun" attitude. Maybe that's where everyone else in the world went awry ... no one ever told them snow is FUN!
That being said, I've spent a many a Christmas getting thick socks and mittens for pro LONGED fun in SNOW! But one of my most favorite things about snow is something I've learned in various science classes over my long scholastic ... er I mean DISTINGUISHED -- there that sounds better -- distinguished scholastic career. So most people know that clouds contain moisture. And when that moisture builds up, it is released from said clouds and that's how we experience precipitation. Now I understand that I'm going to have 8 meteorologists contact me on Facebook to let me know that that is incorrect and there's more to the story, but for Blog's sake let's role with it. So when air temperatures reach around 32 degrees ... I said around, alright! Blogging is not an exact science. Right, 32 degreesish ... the moisture in those clouds freezes and when released comes down as SNOW! ... Yep ... always gonna put SNOW! in CAPS with an exclamation point ... get used to it. Now here's the REALLY cool part ... and for those of you who know me -- which let's face it is all of you -- science and I don't get along. We never have since it did me that solid in the womb ... and to be honest it took a few short cuts ... WHY AM I NOT SMARTER?!?! But I digress ... I'm not a science girl, is my point, and this gets me geeked up. When water freezes it crystallizes. And every crystal that has ever formed is different. Think about that ... Every snowflake that has ever fallen in the history of ever (several billion tons of snow? Give or takeish?) is not like the others. I'm gonna let that sink in ... Just like people, God creates every snowflake differently and beautifully. I've never heard anyone ever see a snowflake and say ... DANG that's hideous! (Some people yes ... snowflakes no.) There is certainly a significant amount of beauty, cleanliness, and calm during snowfall. To just sit at a window and watch snow fall is one of the most serene activities. So that is first and foremost what I love about snow.
Now I want to talk about why you shouldn't completely freak out when it does SNOW! Most of us have seen or heard about that video clip of that guy ranting about bread and milk. And when I was in Toledo, Ohio this past weekend, they surely displayed that video in real life to the fullest. (Do people not understand that milk will go bad whether or not there is a snomageddon?????? Don't stock up on milk.) So here's why you shouldn't panic in snow. A. If you're reading this you MOST LIKELY live in an area in or around snow ... lets say OHIO ... perhaps. It's winter ... we're gonna get snow. Whoa ... I just straight up blew your mind! Yeah I know I do that sometimes ... habit. But people always act like it's a giant surprise. Like they've never heard of this ... "SNOW" before. It comes every year ... and IF you're an Ohioan ... it comes for a majority of the year ... yeah we can get snow in October and make it last to April! BOOM ... SNOW! (And orange barrels) THAT'S WHAT OHIO DOES! (In case you're counting on your fingers like I am, that leaves 5 months we don't usually get snow) So people ... prepare! And I certainly don't mean on milk ... that's just annoying. I mean on proper winter apparel and know how. Gotta keep your mind sharp Jack! (I didn't steal that from Duck Dynasty at all ... #probablygonnagetsuedbya&e)
So what DO you need to know about snow ... more than just my ridiculous obsession with it. First and foremost you need to know more than what the local weather tells you about frostbite. Seriously. Local media is PAID to be dramatic which in turn makes people panic. Drama sells ... just ask AMC ... #walkingdead ... #idon'thavetwitter ... So the more dramatic the news the higher the ratings. Now I'm not saying they don't know what they're talking about or that they're ALWAYS wrong ... but I do know that weather people make the most money and keep their jobs longer than anyone else I've ever seen being so wrong all the time ... #blizzardbill ... So when chatting with people and they're talking about how cold it is and it only takes 5 minutes to get frostbite in these temperatures it makes me wonder why I don't have frostbite?! Seriously, I had my kids outside for half an hour today ... we're all fine ... and really happy to be out of the house to be honest. So here's what I've found from the NATIONAL Weather Service ... Frostbite Chart ... Now you all know I'm no genius ... hate you science ... but I DO know how to read a chart. With weather conditions where I live currently being -8.8 Degrees with winds at 6 mph ... it FEELS like -22 Degrees. (When weather people say FEELS like that means how long it takes heat to leave the skin making your body feel temperature ... read that somewhere ... today actually ... in my quest to learn about frostbite ... neat ...) So according to this chart ... from THE National Weather Service (that's a .gov in there you saw, it's a government website, not me telling you this) ... I can be out for 30 minutes and most likely will not get frostbite. THIRTY minutes ... in -22 degrees. That's a long time. Contrary to extremely popular belief, if you go outside, you won't die. Just ask the 50 other people coming in to work out where I work right now ... I even heard one patron say ... "My daughter went out today, I said what are you nuts? They said you're not supposed to go out." My thought, then why are YOU here and HOW did you get here if you didn't go out sir ... just saying.
Which brings me to my next question. Why is everyone so worried about their kids getting frostbite that they can't ride a heated bus for 20 minutes? Where I live they cancelled school (4 days in advance) for what the news says is snow ... but we have no new snow ... and is really closed for cold temperatures ... but kids only need to be exposed for minutes at a time? Does that not fall on the parents to dress your children appropriately? As a parent who willingly took her kid out today (Granted in warmer temps, but still) it's my job to tell her 2 things -- 1. if you don't leave your scarf up we're going inside ... and 2. when she's older it's MY job to tell her she'll get frostbite and die and show her pictures of frostbite to terrify her into never taking her mittens off til I tell her. Not suing a school for making my kid stand outside for 3 minutes to go learn. I'm kinda not sure where society is headed these days. And PS ... it's OKAY to close school ... it is NOT okay to close school 4 days in ADVANCE. You wake up, it's still cold, close school again. Repeat. It's not hard. What happens when it's 32 degrees one of the days you closed school ... ? Anyone? Yep. It's chilly out, no doubt about it, but you won't die. Frostbite has GOT to be one of THE MOST preventable things out there. (Learn more about frostbite here) And the best thing to do, aside from keeping your time spent outside to a minimum, is dress appropriately. Uuuuhhh Scarf anyone?? It's like people have forgotten what it's like to dress warm in cold. I've heard several people say 5 minutes ... 5 minutes if you're in a bikini probably. But if you cover exposed skin and as yet to be stated, dress appropriately, you'll be fine. How in the world has anyone EVER explored the arctic circle, lived in Alaska, or climbed Everest. HOW? Bottom line, you're not gonna die, you can in fact leave your house. And as long as you're covered up, you won't get frostbite in 5 minutes.
Dress appropriately?? How? Well ... your superhero has arrived YET again ... you're welcome ... please hold your applause. Here's how to dress in cold weather. Layers of loose warm clothing. Unless you're that absolutely insane runner I saw a few days ago out running in JUST running shorts, a long sleeve shirt and a stocking cap ... skin tight clothing doesn't allow for warm air to stay close to your skin. And in case you're unfamiliar, that's where frostbite happens ... your skin. Don't cram your feet into those boots that were too small 7 years ago. Tight spaces don't allow for good blood circulation and can help frostbite develop faster. Same goes for your hands. Wear mittens yo. Gloves were cool in the '90's but it's time to bring the mit back. When your fingers stay together instead of being separated, they stay warmer. Wear a hat that completely covers your ears. And scarves ... for heavens sake wear a scarf. This is cold people not rocket scientology! I don't care if you don't think it's cool, or fun, or if you don't like it. I'm tired of hearing you complain about how cold it is and go outside with a naked head. So wear your dang scarf! And I suppose I should pry put this in here too ... wear a jacket. Yeah turns out coats keep you ... ummm ... what's that word, oh yeah warm. I have to put a plug in here for Columbia jackets ... I have had the same coat for 10 years ... and I SWEAT when I wear it with a t-shirt in the winter. I RARELY bundle up when I put it on because I typically get too warm. And the great part about Columbia, they aren't NEARLY as expensive as North Face ... and my Jacket just says Columbia on it ... it's not a NR90xTripleZ2000 ... it's a coat, not a car. So go buy yourself a good winter coat. Okay I THINK I touched on everything ... if you have questions ... you know where to stalk me. OR! You can try this crazy new fangled thing called the Internets ... they let me use it, so ... ya know ... they'll pry let you too!
And lastly but most definitely not leastly. The other big complaint I hear about winter and SNOW! is driving in it. So let me first say that I've done my very fair share of driving in NASTY snowy conditions. I said SNOW is my favorite, not driving in it. There's a difference. But I was in outside sales for almost 2 years, I've driven in snow ... in a G6 ... not the plane, the car. The ole front wheel drive sleigh! Because lets be honest, Pontiac is about as front wheel as it gets. But let me give you some tips I used and or figured out while sliding my way around for work. First of all ... focus on yourself. Don't worry about what other people are doing ... we've ALL seen that one guy in his 8 ton Suburban blasting down the highway at 900 miles an hour getting all ticked at everyone else trying not to die. "Claaaark, I don't wanna spend the holiday's dead!" Don't worry about that guy ... let him tail you, or flip you off, or honk or whatever ... you focus on you. Especially if you're an anxious driver like I am. Next, start slowing by gently applying pressure, and then GENTLY pumping your breaks on upcoming stops. This will significantly diminish if not eliminate sliding. When you pump, do it slowly and gently about every 1-2 seconds. You don't need to push it all the way to the floor first try. And remember to start slowing down much earlier than you normally would. That being said, don't try to accelerate too quickly, coming off a stop or through a turn. That will make you slip and slide the most. So don't think, "yep I can make it before that car gets here" because no you can't. Or maybe yes you can but you just slammed into that other dude. Wait until you have enough time to safely and slowly make your move. Carry kitty litter in your trunk. Serious. Kitty litter is really good for a lot of things besides cat poo, but one of the best uses is to help give your tires traction if you ever get stuck. Nothin worse than spinnin a hole in some guys yard ... yeah I definitely did that once. Dump some litter on front and back of the tires that are struggling and "rock" your car by switching it quickly from drive to reverse while giving it a little gas. In addition to the kitty litter, it's always a good idea to keep a car emergency kit, an extra blanket, gloves and a bottle of water in your trunk. True story, a woman I used to go to school with had her car break down with below 0 temps. It happens in real life and with no heat coming out of your car, it's a good idea to have somethin in your trunk ... both figuratively and literally. Don't forget the straighter your tires are when you drive, the more traction they have. My amazing and incredibly studly husband taught me that years ago. Makes sense when you think about it, but honestly how many of us actually think about it. Yeah. So when you approach a turn or slippery areas, try to ensure your tires are as aligned as possible in the direction you want to go. This includes being stuck. Don't turn your tires unless you're turning them to a straight position. Turning your wheels can dig your hole deeper and give your tires less traction. So just stay straight until you get out and then proceed to turn in any direction you need to head. Finally, when switching lanes, it can be tricky with all that "mashed potato" slush left over from where the plows don't get. Here's what I do for a safe maneuver every time. Turn on turn signal ... shocked ya with that step 1 didn't I? Then let off gas completely. Gently and slowly shift your car into the next lane. When completely clear of slush or car has returned to driving straight, resume pushing gas pedal slowly. You don't want to gas or break during a transition like that because it's much easier and more likely your car can slip. When in doubt ... let off the gas!
And here's the obvious, but maybe not because it happens. Last 2 things you need to do before winter driving. One. Make sure the tires on your car are in fact winter tires. Good tires can and do make all the difference when driving in crazy conditions. And B. Make sure your car has gas. Not just for long trips, but all the time. People want to run their cars as low as possible all the time, but this is more dangerous in winter because you will have a much more difficult time walking for gas.
So ... people ... don't freak out and hate up on snow. It's not snow's fault! We have brains and we can think but usually don't. Snow is just beautiful, sparkling and magnificent. Don't fear snow. Don't hate it. Accept it. Accept it for one of God's most amazing gifts. It is so majestic and brilliant and maybe ... just MAYBE this post will make you look at snow in a whole new light next time. There's NO fun like SNOW fun!!! ;) ENJOY winter everyone! ENJOY!
But in all seriousness I'm hilarious. And I'm gonna hilarity you right into some info about SNOW ... the dreaded white stuff. The bane of everyone's existence. Except mine. I keep posting on Facebook about how I am the real life Elf ... You know the Will Ferrell movie about a human who was raised by elves at the North Pole and he always says everything's his favorite ... SNOW'S MY FAVORITE. When asked your favorite season most people say Spring or Summer due to sun and warm temperatures. I say all of em. It's one of the best things about living in Ohio, we experience all 4 seasons. There are attributes about each season I truly love. And in winter, my favorite is snow. So I get really really confused when people talk about how much they hate it?! Aww ... poor snow. It gets such a bad wrap!
Now I'm pretty sure I've narrowed down where my love for snow comes from. I spent my entire childhood enjoying Northern Michigan. And when I say Northern Michigan I don't mean Detroit. I mean, woods, dirt roads, I mean snow plows?, I mean you take a snowmobile into town ... NORTHERN Michigan. Every year we would go up for winter break and some extended weekends to enjoy the wintery wooded bliss. And when I was a kid, snow was always associated with something good. School closings, Snowmobiling, downhill skiing, sledding, ice skating, fires, hot cocoa ... FUN!!! And the adults caring for me (my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles) had all been doing the same things since THEY were kids and were extremely proactive in the "get out in the snow and have fun" attitude. Maybe that's where everyone else in the world went awry ... no one ever told them snow is FUN!
That being said, I've spent a many a Christmas getting thick socks and mittens for pro LONGED fun in SNOW! But one of my most favorite things about snow is something I've learned in various science classes over my long scholastic ... er I mean DISTINGUISHED -- there that sounds better -- distinguished scholastic career. So most people know that clouds contain moisture. And when that moisture builds up, it is released from said clouds and that's how we experience precipitation. Now I understand that I'm going to have 8 meteorologists contact me on Facebook to let me know that that is incorrect and there's more to the story, but for Blog's sake let's role with it. So when air temperatures reach around 32 degrees ... I said around, alright! Blogging is not an exact science. Right, 32 degreesish ... the moisture in those clouds freezes and when released comes down as SNOW! ... Yep ... always gonna put SNOW! in CAPS with an exclamation point ... get used to it. Now here's the REALLY cool part ... and for those of you who know me -- which let's face it is all of you -- science and I don't get along. We never have since it did me that solid in the womb ... and to be honest it took a few short cuts ... WHY AM I NOT SMARTER?!?! But I digress ... I'm not a science girl, is my point, and this gets me geeked up. When water freezes it crystallizes. And every crystal that has ever formed is different. Think about that ... Every snowflake that has ever fallen in the history of ever (several billion tons of snow? Give or takeish?) is not like the others. I'm gonna let that sink in ... Just like people, God creates every snowflake differently and beautifully. I've never heard anyone ever see a snowflake and say ... DANG that's hideous! (Some people yes ... snowflakes no.) There is certainly a significant amount of beauty, cleanliness, and calm during snowfall. To just sit at a window and watch snow fall is one of the most serene activities. So that is first and foremost what I love about snow.
Now I want to talk about why you shouldn't completely freak out when it does SNOW! Most of us have seen or heard about that video clip of that guy ranting about bread and milk. And when I was in Toledo, Ohio this past weekend, they surely displayed that video in real life to the fullest. (Do people not understand that milk will go bad whether or not there is a snomageddon?????? Don't stock up on milk.) So here's why you shouldn't panic in snow. A. If you're reading this you MOST LIKELY live in an area in or around snow ... lets say OHIO ... perhaps. It's winter ... we're gonna get snow. Whoa ... I just straight up blew your mind! Yeah I know I do that sometimes ... habit. But people always act like it's a giant surprise. Like they've never heard of this ... "SNOW" before. It comes every year ... and IF you're an Ohioan ... it comes for a majority of the year ... yeah we can get snow in October and make it last to April! BOOM ... SNOW! (And orange barrels) THAT'S WHAT OHIO DOES! (In case you're counting on your fingers like I am, that leaves 5 months we don't usually get snow) So people ... prepare! And I certainly don't mean on milk ... that's just annoying. I mean on proper winter apparel and know how. Gotta keep your mind sharp Jack! (I didn't steal that from Duck Dynasty at all ... #probablygonnagetsuedbya&e)
So what DO you need to know about snow ... more than just my ridiculous obsession with it. First and foremost you need to know more than what the local weather tells you about frostbite. Seriously. Local media is PAID to be dramatic which in turn makes people panic. Drama sells ... just ask AMC ... #walkingdead ... #idon'thavetwitter ... So the more dramatic the news the higher the ratings. Now I'm not saying they don't know what they're talking about or that they're ALWAYS wrong ... but I do know that weather people make the most money and keep their jobs longer than anyone else I've ever seen being so wrong all the time ... #blizzardbill ... So when chatting with people and they're talking about how cold it is and it only takes 5 minutes to get frostbite in these temperatures it makes me wonder why I don't have frostbite?! Seriously, I had my kids outside for half an hour today ... we're all fine ... and really happy to be out of the house to be honest. So here's what I've found from the NATIONAL Weather Service ... Frostbite Chart ... Now you all know I'm no genius ... hate you science ... but I DO know how to read a chart. With weather conditions where I live currently being -8.8 Degrees with winds at 6 mph ... it FEELS like -22 Degrees. (When weather people say FEELS like that means how long it takes heat to leave the skin making your body feel temperature ... read that somewhere ... today actually ... in my quest to learn about frostbite ... neat ...) So according to this chart ... from THE National Weather Service (that's a .gov in there you saw, it's a government website, not me telling you this) ... I can be out for 30 minutes and most likely will not get frostbite. THIRTY minutes ... in -22 degrees. That's a long time. Contrary to extremely popular belief, if you go outside, you won't die. Just ask the 50 other people coming in to work out where I work right now ... I even heard one patron say ... "My daughter went out today, I said what are you nuts? They said you're not supposed to go out." My thought, then why are YOU here and HOW did you get here if you didn't go out sir ... just saying.
Which brings me to my next question. Why is everyone so worried about their kids getting frostbite that they can't ride a heated bus for 20 minutes? Where I live they cancelled school (4 days in advance) for what the news says is snow ... but we have no new snow ... and is really closed for cold temperatures ... but kids only need to be exposed for minutes at a time? Does that not fall on the parents to dress your children appropriately? As a parent who willingly took her kid out today (Granted in warmer temps, but still) it's my job to tell her 2 things -- 1. if you don't leave your scarf up we're going inside ... and 2. when she's older it's MY job to tell her she'll get frostbite and die and show her pictures of frostbite to terrify her into never taking her mittens off til I tell her. Not suing a school for making my kid stand outside for 3 minutes to go learn. I'm kinda not sure where society is headed these days. And PS ... it's OKAY to close school ... it is NOT okay to close school 4 days in ADVANCE. You wake up, it's still cold, close school again. Repeat. It's not hard. What happens when it's 32 degrees one of the days you closed school ... ? Anyone? Yep. It's chilly out, no doubt about it, but you won't die. Frostbite has GOT to be one of THE MOST preventable things out there. (Learn more about frostbite here) And the best thing to do, aside from keeping your time spent outside to a minimum, is dress appropriately. Uuuuhhh Scarf anyone?? It's like people have forgotten what it's like to dress warm in cold. I've heard several people say 5 minutes ... 5 minutes if you're in a bikini probably. But if you cover exposed skin and as yet to be stated, dress appropriately, you'll be fine. How in the world has anyone EVER explored the arctic circle, lived in Alaska, or climbed Everest. HOW? Bottom line, you're not gonna die, you can in fact leave your house. And as long as you're covered up, you won't get frostbite in 5 minutes.
Dress appropriately?? How? Well ... your superhero has arrived YET again ... you're welcome ... please hold your applause. Here's how to dress in cold weather. Layers of loose warm clothing. Unless you're that absolutely insane runner I saw a few days ago out running in JUST running shorts, a long sleeve shirt and a stocking cap ... skin tight clothing doesn't allow for warm air to stay close to your skin. And in case you're unfamiliar, that's where frostbite happens ... your skin. Don't cram your feet into those boots that were too small 7 years ago. Tight spaces don't allow for good blood circulation and can help frostbite develop faster. Same goes for your hands. Wear mittens yo. Gloves were cool in the '90's but it's time to bring the mit back. When your fingers stay together instead of being separated, they stay warmer. Wear a hat that completely covers your ears. And scarves ... for heavens sake wear a scarf. This is cold people not rocket scientology! I don't care if you don't think it's cool, or fun, or if you don't like it. I'm tired of hearing you complain about how cold it is and go outside with a naked head. So wear your dang scarf! And I suppose I should pry put this in here too ... wear a jacket. Yeah turns out coats keep you ... ummm ... what's that word, oh yeah warm. I have to put a plug in here for Columbia jackets ... I have had the same coat for 10 years ... and I SWEAT when I wear it with a t-shirt in the winter. I RARELY bundle up when I put it on because I typically get too warm. And the great part about Columbia, they aren't NEARLY as expensive as North Face ... and my Jacket just says Columbia on it ... it's not a NR90xTripleZ2000 ... it's a coat, not a car. So go buy yourself a good winter coat. Okay I THINK I touched on everything ... if you have questions ... you know where to stalk me. OR! You can try this crazy new fangled thing called the Internets ... they let me use it, so ... ya know ... they'll pry let you too!
And lastly but most definitely not leastly. The other big complaint I hear about winter and SNOW! is driving in it. So let me first say that I've done my very fair share of driving in NASTY snowy conditions. I said SNOW is my favorite, not driving in it. There's a difference. But I was in outside sales for almost 2 years, I've driven in snow ... in a G6 ... not the plane, the car. The ole front wheel drive sleigh! Because lets be honest, Pontiac is about as front wheel as it gets. But let me give you some tips I used and or figured out while sliding my way around for work. First of all ... focus on yourself. Don't worry about what other people are doing ... we've ALL seen that one guy in his 8 ton Suburban blasting down the highway at 900 miles an hour getting all ticked at everyone else trying not to die. "Claaaark, I don't wanna spend the holiday's dead!" Don't worry about that guy ... let him tail you, or flip you off, or honk or whatever ... you focus on you. Especially if you're an anxious driver like I am. Next, start slowing by gently applying pressure, and then GENTLY pumping your breaks on upcoming stops. This will significantly diminish if not eliminate sliding. When you pump, do it slowly and gently about every 1-2 seconds. You don't need to push it all the way to the floor first try. And remember to start slowing down much earlier than you normally would. That being said, don't try to accelerate too quickly, coming off a stop or through a turn. That will make you slip and slide the most. So don't think, "yep I can make it before that car gets here" because no you can't. Or maybe yes you can but you just slammed into that other dude. Wait until you have enough time to safely and slowly make your move. Carry kitty litter in your trunk. Serious. Kitty litter is really good for a lot of things besides cat poo, but one of the best uses is to help give your tires traction if you ever get stuck. Nothin worse than spinnin a hole in some guys yard ... yeah I definitely did that once. Dump some litter on front and back of the tires that are struggling and "rock" your car by switching it quickly from drive to reverse while giving it a little gas. In addition to the kitty litter, it's always a good idea to keep a car emergency kit, an extra blanket, gloves and a bottle of water in your trunk. True story, a woman I used to go to school with had her car break down with below 0 temps. It happens in real life and with no heat coming out of your car, it's a good idea to have somethin in your trunk ... both figuratively and literally. Don't forget the straighter your tires are when you drive, the more traction they have. My amazing and incredibly studly husband taught me that years ago. Makes sense when you think about it, but honestly how many of us actually think about it. Yeah. So when you approach a turn or slippery areas, try to ensure your tires are as aligned as possible in the direction you want to go. This includes being stuck. Don't turn your tires unless you're turning them to a straight position. Turning your wheels can dig your hole deeper and give your tires less traction. So just stay straight until you get out and then proceed to turn in any direction you need to head. Finally, when switching lanes, it can be tricky with all that "mashed potato" slush left over from where the plows don't get. Here's what I do for a safe maneuver every time. Turn on turn signal ... shocked ya with that step 1 didn't I? Then let off gas completely. Gently and slowly shift your car into the next lane. When completely clear of slush or car has returned to driving straight, resume pushing gas pedal slowly. You don't want to gas or break during a transition like that because it's much easier and more likely your car can slip. When in doubt ... let off the gas!
And here's the obvious, but maybe not because it happens. Last 2 things you need to do before winter driving. One. Make sure the tires on your car are in fact winter tires. Good tires can and do make all the difference when driving in crazy conditions. And B. Make sure your car has gas. Not just for long trips, but all the time. People want to run their cars as low as possible all the time, but this is more dangerous in winter because you will have a much more difficult time walking for gas.
So ... people ... don't freak out and hate up on snow. It's not snow's fault! We have brains and we can think but usually don't. Snow is just beautiful, sparkling and magnificent. Don't fear snow. Don't hate it. Accept it. Accept it for one of God's most amazing gifts. It is so majestic and brilliant and maybe ... just MAYBE this post will make you look at snow in a whole new light next time. There's NO fun like SNOW fun!!! ;) ENJOY winter everyone! ENJOY!
