The Fine Art of Snow Shoveling

[oregonpackfan]

I never realized there was an art to snow shoveling until I saw my teen-aged daughters(14 and 20) vainly trying to shovel snow. Of course, they did not have the "advantage" of being born and raised in a snow-weather climate like Wisconsin.

As many of you know, the Portland, OR Metro area has received 20 to 26" of snow over a week's time. In an effort to spread neighborhood kindness, my wife and I "recruited" our daughters to help us shovel out the driveways and sidewalks of several elderly couples on our street.

My daughters have always considered me eccentric(in many other ways we don't need to discuss here) for keeping three sets of snow shovels--a flat-shaped shovel, a C-shaped shovel, and a scoop shovel. Keep in mind that we have some winters out here where those shovels are never touched due to lack of snow.

After talking about ways to plan the shoveling, I was able to show them how each shovel has its own particular strength and weakness for a particular type of snow--powder, slush, and ice. Much of their own learning this week came for "hands-on" experience of course.

No, I won't get on the topic of using snow-blowers. There is definitely some skill and strategy involved in their use. Snow-blowers are a rarity in our part of Oregon because they would hardly be used. You will see them in our Cascade Mountains.

Yes, while you Wisconsites and ex-Wisconsinites shovel snow this winter, take pride in your skill than many other people don't possess!
:)

[oregonpackfan]

Here is a "diary" of a snow shoveler, I think you will find amusing:

Diary of a Snow Shoveler
>>>>
>>>> December 8: 6:00 PM.
>>>>
>>>> It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the
>>>> wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching
>>>> the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma
>>>> Moses Print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!
>>>>
>>>> December 9:
>>>>
>>>> We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow
>>>> covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there
>>>> be a more lovely place in the Whole World? Moving here was the best idea
>>>> I've ever had Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy
>>>> again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the
>>>> snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the
>>>> driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life.
>>>>
>>>> December 12:
>>>>
>>>> The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a
>>>> disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we'll definitely have
>>>> a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll
>>>> have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow
>>>> again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man I'm glad
>>>> he's our neighbor.
>>>>
>>>> December 14:
>>>>
>>>> Snow lovely snow! 8" last night. The temperature dropped
>>>> to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so The wind took my breath
>>>> away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is
>>>> the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything
>>>> again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling,
>>>> but
>>>> I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and
>>>> puff so.
>>>>
>>>> December 15:
>>>>
>>>> 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer.
>>>> Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the
>>>> freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I
>>>> think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska , after all.
>>>>
>>>> December 16:
>>>>
>>>> Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in the
>>>> driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an
>>>> hour,
>>>> which I think was very cruel.
>>>>
>>>> December 17:
>>>>
>>>> Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go
>>>> anywhere.
>>>> Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay
>>>> warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her.
>>>> Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God I
>>>> hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my
>>>> own
>>>> living room.
>>>>
>>>> December 20:
>>>>
>>>> Electricity's back on, but had another 14" of the damn
>>>> stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Damn snowplow came by
>>>> twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too
>>>> busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware
>>>> store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might
>>>> have another shipment in March I think they're lying. Bob says I have
>>>> to
>>>> shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.
>>>>
>>>> December 22:
>>>>
>>>> Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more
>>>> inches of the white shit fell today, and it's so cold it probably won't
>>>> melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to
>>>> shovel and then I had to pee By the time I got undressed, pee'd and
>>>> dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a
>>>> plow on his truck for the rest of the winter; but he says he's too busy.
>>>> I think the asshole is lying
>>>>
>>>> December 23:
>>>>
>>>> Only 2" of snow today. And it warmed up to 0o. The wife
>>>> wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she
>>>> nuts!!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did
>>>> but I think she's lying.
>>>>
>>>> December 24:
>>>>
>>>> 6". Snow packed so hard by snowplow, l broke the shovel.
>>>> Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the son of a bitch
>>>> who drives that snowplow, I'll drag him through the snow by his balls. I
>>>> know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and
>>>> then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all
>>>> over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas
>>>> Carols with her and open our presents, but I was busy watching for the
>>>> damn snowplow.
>>>>
>>>> December 25:
>>>>
>>>> Merry Christmas. 20 more inches of the !=3D@x@!x!x1 slop
>>>> tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God I
>>>> hate
>>>> the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I
>>>> hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad
>>>> attitude. I think she's an idiot. If I have to watch "It's a Wonderful
>>>> Life" one more time, I'm going to kill her.
>>>>
>>>> December 26:
>>>>
>>>> Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was
>>>> all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.
>>>>
>>>> December 27:
>>>>
>>>> Temperature dropped to -30o and the pipes froze.
>>>>
>>>> December 28:
>>>>
>>>> Warmed up to above -50. Still snowed in. The "little
>>>> woman"
>>>> is driving me crazy!!!!!
>>>>
>>>> December 29:
>>>>
>>>> 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it
>>>> could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he
>>>> think I am?
>>>>
>>>> December 30:
>>>>
>>>> Roof caved in. The snow plow driver is suing me for a
>>>> million dollars. The wife went home to her mother. 9" predicted.
>>>>
>>>> December 31:
>>>>
>>>> Set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.
>>>>
>>>> January 8:
>>>>
>>>> I feel so good. I just love those little white pills they
>>>> keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?
>>>>
>>>>

[red]

is it true that you guys average 3 inches of snow a year?

thats what they said during the seahawks-jets game last week

[Freak Out]

I have shoveled so much snow in my life and over the years have perfected my technique so it is almost effortless.....snow shoveling is therapeutic in a way....zen like.....I could do it for hours and be happy just getting lost in memories.

[GrnBay007]

I have shoveled so much snow in my life and over the years have perfected my technique so it is almost effortless.....snow shoveling is therapeutic in a way....zen like.....I could do it for hours and be happy just getting lost in memories.

I enjoy doing it at night when it's all quiet.

[texaspackerbacker]

Maybe I'm old-fashioned or sexist or something, but it doesn't seem like 14 or 20 year old girls should get stuck shoveling snow--unless maybe they want to.

When I was a kid, on the other hand, I did consistently get stuck--as the oldest son--shoveling the driveway. My most vivid memory is just getting finished, and then having the damn snowplow come by and grade about a foot and a half back across where I'd just shoveled. I learned to cuss from experiences like that. I also learned a healthy hatred for government, local and otherwise, and its propensity to screw things up.

[packinpatland]

Oh Tex.......... :roll:


OPF..........here in CT, we just wait for the rain to come and wash all that snow away. Everything we got last week is gone..........green grass today....in the 50's.
Your girls shoveling..........you created wonderful memories.

[GrnBay007]

We ALL shovel here.....2 girls and a boy. :D

[MadtownPacker]

Haha, thats a great diary OPF!

[digitaldean]

just got done snow blowing my driveway/sidewalk and 3 other neighbors (2 very elderly). Plus used a roof rake to clean 2-1/2 to 3 feet drifts on my roof to get some weight off of it. Snow is frickin' waist deep in my yard.

I don't mind blowing snow. That being said, I think I've had enough of it to last me for a month.

Feel like a drowned rat (no pun intended) cause I had snow blowing back against the wind at me and on me when I had to clear snow off my roof.

[Iron Mike]

Just got done snow blowing my driveway/sidewalk and 3 other neighbors.

That's what kicks ass about living on a street that's only one block long....I figure if I'm gonna start up the snowblower, I may as well run it up and down the block.

That means that the next 3 or 4 times it snows, someone else will do my driveway/sidewalk for me. :D

[MJZiggy]

It's supposed to be in the sixties all weekend...

[GrnBay007]

Just got done snow blowing my driveway/sidewalk and 3 other neighbors.

That's what kicks ass about living on a street that's only one block long....I figure if I'm gonna start up the snowblower, I may as well run it up and down the block.


I used to live in a neighborhood like that. I loved guys like you two! :D

Now we just try to take care of the next door neighbor (retired couple)...shovels though, no blower.

[SkinBasket]

I'm the only asshole in my neighborhood who doesn't use a blower. A bottle of wine and some ipod music is just as good. Cold wind is good for the complexion.

[GrnBay007]

I'm the only asshole in my neighborhood who doesn't use a blower. A bottle of wine and some ipod music is just as good. Cold wind is good for the complexion.

Buy a case of wine and shovel your neighbors driveway too...it's good for the soul! :D

[digitaldean]

It's wild....

Yesterday, I scraping 2-1/2 to 3 foot drifts off my house and garage. Now the snow and ice is all gone.

Tons of melting today. I don't have to worry about flooding, but a lot of low lying areas could have an issue.