Last night the warning stopped at the counties to our north. Now it's been extended through Genesee County - cutting off mid way at the I-69 corridor. I'm pretty much right on that corridor.

My guess is if anything happens, it won't be until the middle of Saturday night, when temperatures drop. After the massive power outage in 2013, they did a whole lot of limb trimming, so hopefully that will mitigate some of the risk. Although that was 4 years ago.

I filled up all of my gas cans so fingers crossed I'll be using that fuel in my car and lawn mowers, soon.

It's become very dark. It will rain all day, turn to snow overnight. I'm sooooo excited.

Admittedly, I am heading into a major freak out zone, because of my experience in December, 2013. I filled up all of my gas cans, checked my dwindling supply of firewood, and stocked up on purified water. Tonight I'll fill up gallon water jugs with tap water and make sure my phone is well charged.

My slender grasp on rationality will have me checking weather sites, non stop, today. Right now it looks like there is just a brief period, over night, where the air temps might get cold enough for ice to form so I am wondering if they extended the watch area out of a sense of caution. There isn't any snow in the forecast for this area.

They had to do so much limb trimming and equipment replacement after that 2013 power outage (my area was hit hard, and among the last to be brought back on line) so hopefully that will mitigate the potential for another nightmarish event.

I need a drink!!

I thought, yikes, something's brewing. I'm in the city so I'm not worried about a power outage (though it's possible - but we rarely get them), though it must be more worrisome in a rural area. But I do have to be somewhere about 30 miles from here tomorrow morning unless that event is canceled, and I'm not looking forward to driving through ice/snow/freezing rain.

What a crappy spring. There aren't even buds on the trees yet.

My neighborhood is right in the midst of the major retail area. That last week long power outage hit 4 days before Christmas, and a whole lot of the retail area missed out on the last minute shopping money. I was a little surprised it was among the last areas brought back on line.

I'm going to pull my car into the garage, get the candles, flashlights and oil lamps all set, bring in more firewood, and hope for the best. Oh, and eat a big meal, tonight, just in case. I learned from my massive mistakes leading up to that last ice storm that it can, and likely will, happen to me so best to be over prepared than under.

I'll text my family in the area to wish them the same.

We're used to spring hitting sometime in May. It's ABOVE zero, that matters!

Hunker in with book, tea or coffee (mix-in of choice) and a comfy throw blanket. And sing Jimmy Buffet 😘😁 It'll get here! 🌴

That's what I did 5 years ago. Read and sleep. The "funny" thing, then, was that the storm had been over for about an hour before our power went out.

And, as usual, all of the weather forecasting sites seem to be using different forecasting models so who know what to expect.

Well, fingers crossed nothing happens but, if it does, I am successful in getting that generator running, and can remember which switches to flip on the panel. The only things I had them connect were the sump/water pumps, kitchen, den (the fireplace has an insert) and garage freezer. I can use flashlights for any nighttime rambling around the house.

This is reinforcing my dream about moving very far south.

Lots of transplants here. We love 'em, they already know what to do! Our cold/dark is some longer, our warm/daylight a little shorter, that's all. And thank all the gods, goddesses, pixies, fairies and magic rings...... YOU KNOW HOW TO DRIVE IN IT!!!

I have helped "unsnowbank" exactly ONE Michigan car in 24+ years. For this alone, we bless you - ahhhMEN. And your preparation for the winter is damn near identical.

Spring will get here. When it does, let's have a Breakup Party.

Then we'll run away to Antigua.....

My plan is to make a quick run to the Dollar Tree to pick up a few more batteries and some of those little 'pop' lights. I keep them in the bathroom and anywhere that might need temporary, hands free illumination. Hopefully I'm ok until 9am!

Thanks for your lovely thoughts! Antigua sounds really nice, right about now!

I know I wouldn't be so freaked out, had it not been for my near death experience, 5 years ago, when the wind shifted and picked up, and blew the carbon monoxide straight into the house. We were afraid to move it further out, for fear of it being stolen. It's hard to rationalize something like that away.

so I tend to forget that is not the case elsewhere. Please, if possible, keep in touch.

Us damn DUers are worrywarts!

My hope is that all of the massive limb and tree cutting, and equipment repair they did after that big outage will help to mitigate problems. I live next to one of the biggest retail areas in Genesee County. There was a massive blow back when it took almost a week to bring the power back - it happened Christmas week. And now Consumers Energy has a big staging area right across the street from my neighborhood.

As you can tell, I'm trying to give myself a massive pep talk.

With the carbon monoxide poisoning? I'm so glad you are ok, but how did you survive it? What a terrifying experience!

Stay safe this time around!

We had the generator outside on the screened in porch, right in the open doorway, figuring that would be good. There was a big problem with people stealing generators, during that outage, so they figured it would be close, but safe. And it was for a while. Then the wind picked up, shifted and blew all of the fumes directly back through an apparently poorly insulated area, into the house. I spent most of the time pretty much supine, beneath feather comforters, trying to keep warm but every time I stood up, I got light headed. I figured it was gas fumes from the generator. I'd been without sufficient sleep and hadn't really eaten for several days, at this point, and wasn't thinking clearly.

My brother came over to spell me, on Christmas Day, so I could go elsewhere and get a shower (hadn't changed my clothes in 4 days). When I came back, all of the windows were open and the generator was dragged even further out to a patio. He headed out to get a carbon monoxide detector. The fumes had built up to right about eye level, for me. Had I been sitting up, more, or had he not figured out what was going on,when he did, I'd likely be dead.

It was a very old generator, which might have been part of the problem. I have a new one installed in an exterior extension, at the opposite end of the house from where I'd spend any outages. And I have a Carbon Monoxide detector plugged in, at all times.

Please be careful this time around. I know you will after that scare. I'm just really glad you survived that incident! Take care!

The first round of bad weather seems to have left us unscathed. Unfortunately the next round will probably arrived after dark.
I've got the generator fueled up and hopefully that will prove to have been unnecessary.

Be careful and stay safe!