Wanted: Dead or Alive

I was inspired to share this story after reading Sharon aka The True Urban Queen's Blog.

About one month ago. I was at my best friend's house. She was going to make a run, but as she left and got down stairs she called me. "Can you come help me clean the snow off of my car?" Now it had snowed greatly for a day and a half straight so there was a significant amount of snow (The picture below is of my car taken the same day as this story took place. Gotta Love Chicago weather in the winter). So I replied "Sure I'll be right down." I didn't think I would take long so I didn't grab my coat.

As I come down I realized I should have grabbed the coat as the windows were coated with ice then snow on top of that. So, I got to scraping the ice and snow off of the truck. It took me longer than expected, but eventually I get most of it off, all but one window on the passenger side. But it was enough so that she could drive. Now as I was finishing up I noticed out of the corner of my eye a little old [black] lady with a cane slowly trekking past me in the snow. Now I couldn't tell where she was heading at first. There was a car close that had no snow on it, also she could have just been walking past. But I said in my mind I'm thinking "I know this lady isn't about to get in one of these cars with snow on them."

So I finished with the snow removal and I go to head back upstairs. So as I turn back I notice BFF is struggling to get the truck out of the parking space. So I go back and got in the car and pulled it out of the space. Now keep in mind that in the time from when I first saw the old lady to when I pulled the truck out of the space I saw at least 3 able bodied men pass by. I must assume they saw the old lady as they really couldn't have missed her given where she was standing. So, once I get the truck out I look over and asked my BFF "Is that old lady brushing the snow off her car?" She says "I can't tell from where I'm at." I tell her to give me the snow brush before she leaves and I head over to help the lady.

Now this lady had to easily be in her mid 70's if not older. But I kid you not, as I walked up to the car the lady is pushing the snow off of her car with her cane! I immediately asked if she needed any help. She says [use your best old lady voice here] "Well I was trying to do it, but it's just so much snow and ice." She said she had a snow brush in the car, I tell her I got one already and proceeded to work on the ice. I started on the windshield and she got her brush and started on the drivers side of the very same windshield. Now I'm scraping my ass off and not seeming to make any leeway. But then I had to be easy as I wasn't trying to have an ice chunk fly up and hit the old lady in the eye or something. I tried to tell her to just either sit in the car or go back to the door and wait while I get the snow and ice off. Thinking about it, I wanted to take a break myself and warm up. Remember I still had no coat on.

But back to the lady. Now although she was trying hard, her efforts were not even putting a dent into removing the snow let alone the caked on ice. However, the lady seemed to be very self sufficient and insisted on helping as well. My great grandmother was this same way, so the fact she wanted to help and or do it herself I totally understood. So I proceeded to go to the back window and let her work on the front. I let her know she should put on the defrost, so she stops brushing the snow. As I turned to walk to the rear of the car she started to turn towards the driver's side door. Next thing I know I look over and she's losing her balance. The lady lets out an "Oh Lord!" and I see her fall over!

I quickly ran over to the driver's side and make sure the lady is okay. She said she was fine. So I proceeded to help the lady up onto her feet. She then said "I'm done, I'm just going to let car warm up and defrost on it's own." I asked if she wanted me to try to finish she said "that's okay I'm not in a rush I'll just let it defrost." So I told the lady to at least let me walk her back to the door. Arm in arm we take baby steps over the snow and ice up to the front door.

Next, the lady told me "I have to go upstairs and get you a little something for helping me out." I immediately replied to her that there was no need for any financial reward I didn't mind helping her out at all. She said "Well thank God you were here young man, because I would still be on the ground in that snow if you weren't. Just last year I had the same thing happen and I broke my hip." She started to go on about how her people usually come to do stuff like this for her but no one has come to do it, so she had to do it herself. I asked one last time if she needed anything else and she said no so I proceeded back upstairs.

So there you have it. Chivalry at it's finest. So it can't be dead. Right? Unfortunately, I am only one man amongst billions and can only speak for myself. Well scratch that, my brother as well since we were raised by the same parents. In that raising we were brought up to be gentlemen. My grandfather probably instilled this more than anyone. But honestly, I just look at situations like the above story from the perspective of what if it was my grandmother, mom, cousin or best friend? I would hope that a man would lend them a hand in that situation. I'm sure that there are plenty of other men that open doors for women, will give up their seat on the bus for a woman or even help a damsel in distress as I did. Now don't go asking me where they are at because that I wouldn't be able to tell you. LoL. But this does go to show you that chivalry isn't dead. Although at times it may seem to be on life support, it is not dead. So ladies please don't sign that DNR (Do not Resuscitate) form and pull the plug on chivalry.
--C-Recks--

Today's Forecast

Images such as the one to my left are very beautiful and display some of Mother Nature's finest work. However, that may be where it stops for me when it comes to snow.

Someone that's use to tropical temparatures asked me the other day if it was snowing by me. I replied "not yet, but I really don't care for the snow anyways." They then replied "you may be the first American I know that dislikes snow." Well one would think that having lived in Chicago for all these years, I would be used to the snow by now and prepared to deal with it year by year. However, I must admit that I am never quite prepared for it. I can deal with the cold all day long but the snow just changes up the game.

There was once up a time when I lived in Southern, California. And as we all know Tony, Toni, Tone said, it never rains there, so you know for damn sure it's not snowing. So back then especially being that I was younger I did miss the snow. But since I've been old enough to drive (which is basically how long I've consecutively lived in Chicago a little over 10 years), I've disliked and sometimes hated the snow. Now I'm sure some of you, especially those in climates that don't get much snow, are wondering what is so bad about the snow? Well I'm glad you've asked and I'm sure if you've read any of my blogs you know that a list is coming so here it is:

Cleaning off the car

Yes when it's winter time, so I'm used to having to go down and warm/start up my car before I leave out for work in the morning. However, I hate having to spend an extra 10-20 minutes to brush snow and scrape ice off my car windows. Then I can't forget about the lovely Chicago winds. So as I brush tthe snow off it blows right back in my face. Uggh!!

Black Ice

Better watch where you step. The ground may look like sidwalk, but you can easily end up flat on your ass if you step in the wrong place. I've never personally hit the ground when slipping on black ice. However, as my brother described I've had many Idon'twantanyonetoseemefallitis moments. In fact, just yesterday I got out of the car and slipped as I was walking up to the office. Luckily no one saw me so I was cool. Too cool to be embarrassed. lol.

Can't Drive in the snow

Most people can barely drive with no type of adverse weather; therefore, you find yourself driving defensively the majority of the time. However, when it snows (at least in Chicago) people just can't drive at all. They either go way too slow or way too fast. Also, I'm guilty of this one. Some don't clean all the snow off the top of their cars. So, as they speed past you get a windshield full of snow.

No plowed streets

Of course they only plow/salt the major streets when the snow first falls. Therefore, if you live on a side street don't expect a plowed street for a couple of days. Then when they finally do plow the side streets they bury your car under 1-2 feet of snow. Therefore, you not only have to clean the snow of your car again, but you now have to dig your car out from under the snow.

Secured Parking Spots

Speaking of Cars burried in snow. How about having to dig your car out of the snow and then having someone potentially steal your parking spot. As a security measure [here in Chicago] people will place different objects in the parking spot to claim it as their own. I remember one year even our Mayor Daley was on TV telling people that they can't do this. Think it stopped them? Hell No! You dig out a parking spot then it's your spot at least until the snow melts.

Slush

Speaking of melting snow. I absolutely hate when the snow and ice begins to melt, whether from the salt or the sun and rising temperatures. The streets become all slushy and it's a mess to walk through. By then it's so dirty that as you drive through it and it splashes on your car that it leaves your car filthy. Then you have to get your car washed again. But you probably just got it washed because you didn't want the salt to start eating away at the paint on your car.

Clumps of snow

I don't even know why or have a reasonable explanation for this one. But I absolutely hate when the snow clumps up behind my tire. I guess it just looks dirty or something to me. But I usually find myself kicking this until it breaks up. Even though it always seems to reappear after I drive again.

So there you have it. Although snow usually means building snowmen, making snow angels, sledding, etc. I say that stuff is for kids. I'm sure its great for them especially if they have a chance to miss a day of school. But as an adult snow doesn't mean I don't have to go to work. So, it's more of a burden to me. Side note: I just checked today's weather forecast and they say are calling for snow today and most of this week. (Oh Joy lucky me!).

Now I'm sure most of you may be wondering if I hate the snow so much why I don't move to a warmer climate? Well unfortunately, that's not an option for me at this time. However, I'll be on vacation in 2 weeks, but sadly can't afford to go any where. LoL. But if anyone wants to contribute to my vacation fund. Hit me up. LoL

--C-Recks--

New World Water

So I'm sitting in my room last night, about to go to sleep when I hear an unmistakable sound. It couldn't be! Not possible! I get up, and look out the window. No F-ing way! I quickly try and throw some clothes. Get my shorts on. (No shirt still). Is it done? I look back outside, damn, its still there. Throw a shirt on, throw my shoes on. Now its been at least 45 seconds. Is it over? Gotta look one more time. Damn, its still there. I race downstairs, go to the back porch. AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! I make it just in time to enjoy sweet raindrops.

Now some of you may be thinking, this fool is trippin. Well, just to let those of you know, I recently moved to Phoenix, Arizona. And what I experienced was a little slice of heaven sent down from God himself. See, I've lived in Los Angeles probably half my life. I know that some of you may have heard the Tony! Toni! Tone! song "It Never Rains (in Southern California)", but that's not entirely the truth. See it rarely rains in Southern California. Well, if 3T ever decides to make a comeback, I personally give them permission to use the title "It Never Rains (in Phoenix, Arizona). (They really don't have to change any of the words, it still sounds about right).

What do we all know about Phoenix? Yes, its 100 degrees consistently out here. But one of the little discussed aspects of being in a place like this is the lack of rainfall. And I don't know if you're like me or not, but Summers include just a tad bit of precipitation. Growing up in Chicago, you'd get at minimum, during the summers, a few days in which it would rain for maybe an hour or so. Just long enough to cool things off, give you time to grab a sandwich, and make your way back outside to finish playing. Not in Phoenix! From about 7am until the sun begins to fade around 7pm, all you get is blistering heat. Soul agonizing, make you wanna personally peel your own skin off heat. Or to piggyback what my brother has previously mentioned, "make you wanna slap somebody" heat.

Inevitably, I had to do some research on Phoenix's climate, and the facts were astounding. Trust me, it doesn't make me feel good knowing that I'll be here for the foreseeable future. The all-time record high temperature in Phoenix is 122 degrees set back in 1990. (The all-time high recorded in Baghdad,Iraq is also 122 degrees). The temperature reaches or exceeds 100 degrees on average 89 days per year. That's basically 1/4 of the calendar. The average annual rainfall is a scant 8.3 inches per year.

So now that you have the background information about Phoenix's climate, let me ask you a question. How does the weather affect you where you live? Do you complain about it being too hot? Do you feel like it rains too much? Well, trust me, the grass is definitely greener where you are. (Partly because its so hot out here that grass really doesn't grow). Hopefully reading this will make appreciate where you are just a little bit more. And for that rainfall that I experienced last night, I made it to the porch just in time to sit down, and the rainfall came to an end. So 3 minutes of rain. I'm gonna guess that was maybe .1 of our yearly total. (Hell, maybe more than that. Kinda scary actually). And of course, I wake up this morning to 90 degrees and sunshine. (85% of Phoenix's days in a year are sunny). Its alright though, come December, I'll appreciate that sunshine and lack of precipitation! But if its 100 degrees on Jesus' birthday, God is just gonna have to forgive me because I will be using some obscenities to describe how I feel.

This has been your weather update, I'm Dallas Rains, or Amy Freeze (or whatever corny Weather person name) signing off!

--DrizaDre--