Considering that there are still people stuck on parts of 78 and 80, I’m glad I didn’t run to Philly on Wednesday.  I saw a ridiculous number of rolled, spun, and otherwise stuck cars on the local roads for what basically amounted to some icy roads.  When did we forget to drive in the snow?  We’re Pennsylvanians, for chrissake.  This is nothing.  We should be having this much trouble only when we begin measuring snowfall in feet per hour.

Storms generally break up and circle around Harrisburg to the north and south (I blame TMI), and this was no exception.  Beginning around Liverpool and Pottsville, northern PA had it far worse.  I had yesterday off and really wanted to head as far north as the roads would allow, but wound up spending the day breaking out of the three-foot-tall ice mountain deposited in my driveway by my community’s plow (thanks).

Once again, I have to rave about my car.  The thing is absolutely invincible in bad weather.  Weighing in at two tons and sitting on a footprint somewhere between a Civic and a CRX, driving the Honda Element (it’s 4WD; why do people never believe me on that?) over snow is like driving a snowmobile.  Granted, no vehicle can really do much on ice, but my Element is the best I’ve ever driven.  And with the waterproof vinyl/rubber flooring, I was actually TRYING to track snow and ice into the car, just so I could dry it out with the feet heat (I’m pretty sure the Element has a nuclear furnace for a heater).

So between stomping around unplowed country backroads and watching hood rats in pimped-out ‘99 Excursions spin hilariously out of control downtown, this snow — as minor as it’s been — has been a lot of fun.  When do we get the real stuff?