Cold snap

[NCMUFan]

My first car was a 1959 Mercedes 190 diesel, which I bought my senior year at MU. In one winter cold snap in the Chicago burbs, the temperature fell well below zero. It was aroung Christmas and none of family members' cars would start, but....mine did!   

Sounds like you had phenomenal glow plugs.

[Scoop Snoop]

Sounds like you had phenomenal glow plugs.

Yep. People who were not familiar with diesels were fascinated that I had to pull out a small lever and wait for the orange glow before starting the engine. There was a rubber shade mounted in front of the radiator in the engine compartment with a chain/linkage to the driver's area inside the car. When the shade was in place, it kept the wind out of the radiator and also allowed for the interior to warm up faster, but you needed to remember to lower it so that you did not overheat the "huge" 55 h.p. engine. 

 I could barely make it up a long, but not overly steep grade with "the pedal to the metal". By the time I reached the top, I had lost about 10 mph. Some of today's riding mowers probably have more powerful engines than my beloved Benz. When I saw it for sale in Milwaukee, it was love at first sight. Red leather interior, and a body style that was so different and distinctive (and, to me, appealing) from American cars. Obviously, I was not a "muscle" car kind of guy.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

It's near 8:00pm Eastern and I easily have 18" here in Southern Connecticut and it's still snowing.  I had to shovel an area twice just so the dog could go do his business.

[Scoop Snoop]

It's near 8:00pm Eastern and I easily have 18" here in Southern Connecticut and it's still snowing.  I had to shovel an area twice just so the dog could go do his business.

Yeow! Our original forecast was 20" but kept getting reduced. We probably have only 4" and most importantly, no ice accumulation yet. Alleluia!

We could still get hit with ice in the next 12 hours but it is looking like somehow we are in a protected pocket. Go figure.

Your dog has always loved you, so you should be happy to provide a poop plot.

[dgies9156]

Let's talk again when hurricane season is back. A week of crappy weather beats Hell out of having your house destroyed by 100+ mph winds. 

Fair enough Snoop. We retreat to Chicago for August and September! It helps to live in a relatively recently built (2007) concrete bunker with impact resistent windows.

But you are right, hurricanes suck!