It snowed here today.
It's very unusual for it to snow before Thanksgiving. But every news outlet said it would be a minor snow, maybe a dusting, washed away by the rain. No plows were prepped, and the roads were lightly salted, if at all.
What we got by the time I had to leave to pick Li'l Z up at school was 3-4" of heavy, wet, icy snow.
Which also means I got stuck in the middle of the street right out my my driveway. Tires spinning, no traction, even when I got the shovel and SHOVELED THE DAMN STREET myself.
At this point I should mention I just discovered my front tires have almost no tread. The place Mr. Z had been taking my car to get the oil changed hasn't been rotating my tires. I didn't realize this until about a week ago, and I didn't think to ask because every other place I've been to did that with the oil change.
Then a very kind stranger with 4-wheel drive saw me in trouble, helped me get my car safely back into my driveway, and very kindly offered to drive me to the elementary school to pick up Li'l Z (which I was already late), and drive us home. I was going to walk (thankfully his school is a 15 minute walk in good weather), but he very kindly insisted.
So Li'l Z and I are safe at home. The car is stuck in the driveway because 1) our driveway has a slight incline, 2) I cleared a path with the shovel, but the ice is so slushly, even if I pound the gas, I won't go forward, and 3) well, not enough tread to catch. And Mr. Z is literally stuck at his office because the roads are even worse there. Fantastic.