Go ask the lizard-guy something....

[Deepfreeze32]

So I may have to drive through Wyoming, northern Utah, southern Idaho, and eastern Oregon from Texas here in a few weeks...

How are the roads this time of year? I'm trying to move to western Oregon for a new job, and while I'd really rather not pay a moving company to move my valuables (like my giant desktop computer...), I don't know how well I can make the drive on my own either.

Car will very, very likely not have 4WD (I will be getting a new car if I attempt this, my 1996 Honda Civic is far too beaten up to make the trip), but I do have some experience driving on ice without chains (very slow going).

Any thoughts on the matter?

[Sstavix]

Sometimes, you love someone so much, you just want to punch them in spleen?

Erm... no. If you really, really love something, you should never be inclined to harm it. If you do feel these inclinations, you may want to seek professional help.

So I may have to drive through Wyoming, northern Utah, southern Idaho, and eastern Oregon from Texas here in a few weeks...

How are the roads this time of year? I'm trying to move to western Oregon for a new job, and while I'd really rather not pay a moving company to move my valuables (like my giant desktop computer...), I don't know how well I can make the drive on my own either.

Car will very, very likely not have 4WD (I will be getting a new car if I attempt this, my 1996 Honda Civic is far too beaten up to make the trip), but I do have some experience driving on ice without chains (very slow going).

Any thoughts on the matter?

I've pretty much spent my entire life in eastern Washington and northern Idaho, so I don't really have any experience with the southern portion of the state, especially in winters. That being said, though, keep an eye on the weather forecasts in the mountainous regions of Utah, if you're passing through them. There's a reason why the Winter Olympics took place there in 2002. As for eastern Oregon, the weather isn't too much different from eastern Washington, to the best of my knowledge. Perhaps a bit warmer and more humid, but not alarmingly so. As long as the forecast doesn't call for snow, you should be fine.

Edit: Since you mentioned passing into western Oregon, make sure you check mountain pass conditions very carefully. If it's anything like Washington State, you'll have to check these before you even attempt it. The weather and conditions could be fine on either side of the Cascades, but once you're in the mountains, pass conditions can get ugly very quick. Here is a link to cameras set up in the various passes of Oregon.

Travel safely!

[Chozon1]

What color is the sky in your world?

Because honestly, I have family member who is essentially my brother. I love him to death. But he's being a major fart right now, and there are times I'd like to unmercifully wedgie him. Or smack him with a wiffle ball bat. Painless vengeance.

Soap making?

[Sstavix]

What color is the sky in your world?

Lately, grey and heavy with the promise of snow.

Because honestly, I have family member who is essentially my brother. I love him to death. But he's being a major fart right now, and there are times I'd like to unmercifully wedgie him. Or smack him with a wiffle ball bat. Painless vengeance.

I don't know about that... whiffle bats can be potentially lethal.

Maybe not in the way you're using it, but....

Soap making?

My wife has dabbled in doing this in the past, but it's a slippery concept to work with. I've considered trying to make my own candles, though, which use a lot of the same scents from the collection we picked up a few years ago.

[Chozon1]

Nice. I've toyed around with candle making, but I haven't tried soap. I'm considering it.

Why does the Christmas have to end?

[Deepfreeze32]

So after considering what you said, as well as some personal testimonies, I think I'll end up taking a longer route through New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Fewer mountain passes, less chance of snow.

Still gonna visit Idaho one of these days, don't worry.


Any advice for moving long distances?

[Sstavix]

Why does the Christmas have to end?

Because if it didn't end, then it would never start again. But you can certainly keep the spirit of Christmas in your heart all year round!

So after considering what you said, as well as some personal testimonies, I think I'll end up taking a longer route through New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Fewer mountain passes, less chance of snow.

Probably safer that way, really. Winter driving can be unpredictable, especially in the part of the country where I live, where temperature variations over the course of the day can be as large as 50 degrees.

Still gonna visit Idaho one of these days, don't worry.

Take your time - it's not going anywhere.

Any advice for moving long distances?

Bring along some music and/or books to listen to along the way. And if you're in a truck, check the rear view mirror often, just to make sure things aren't falling out of the bed!

[Chozon1]

Oh Charles Dickens. May his writing never be forgotten.

Unexpected zombie attacks?

[Sstavix]

Oh Charles Dickens. May his writing never be forgotten.

Ugh. The only decent thing Dickens ever wrote was "A Christmas Carol." The rest of his works were overly-wordy dreck.

Unexpected zombie attacks?

Those are only slightly more annoying than pre-scheduled, expected zombie attacks.

[Deepfreeze32]

So I know you're not a huge fan of Lord of the Rings, so let me ask you a question about The Hobbit.

I recently re-read it, and...not so impressed. Sure, it's a nice story to read at bed time, or on an airplane, but the prose is so...flat. It's blunt, it doesn't take any pleasure in getting there, and by golly, it is downright tiresome at times. The characters other than Bilbo are barely fleshed out at all, and even Gandalf (who is a major player in Lord of the Rings) serves little other purpose than the occasional Deus Ex Machina. I just felt like I was reading a good story with bland prose and sorely underdeveloped characters.

In some circles this would be heresy, but since you've already indicated a slight un-fondness of Tolkien, Agree or disagree?

[Sstavix]

So I know you're not a huge fan of Lord of the Rings, so let me ask you a question about The Hobbit.

I recently re-read it, and...not so impressed. Sure, it's a nice story to read at bed time, or on an airplane, but the prose is so...flat. It's blunt, it doesn't take any pleasure in getting there, and by golly, it is downright tiresome at times. The characters other than Bilbo are barely fleshed out at all, and even Gandalf (who is a major player in Lord of the Rings) serves little other purpose than the occasional Deus Ex Machina. I just felt like I was reading a good story with bland prose and sorely underdeveloped characters.

In some circles this would be heresy, but since you've already indicated a slight un-fondness of Tolkien, Agree or disagree?

You also have to remember that I was pretty young when I read "Lord of the Rings." Like, grade school young. So my tastes have likely changed since then!

But at the time, I did read "The Hobbit," and I did enjoy it more than Tolkien's trilogy. And it probably was due to the focus on one central character throughout the novel. I do remember not liking the big battle sequence between the soldiers and the dragon because it was too technical for me (the same reason there are some aspects of Tom Clancy novels I gloss over, incidentally), but those elements that focused on Bilbo, I did enjoy.

I keep telling myself, now that I'm older, that I should re-read "Lord of the Rings" and see if it makes more sense to me now. The challenge is finding the time....

[Chozon1]

Oh Charles Dickens. May his writing never be forgotten.

Ugh. The only decent thing Dickens ever wrote was "A Christmas Carol." The rest of his works were overly-wordy dreck.

I wouldn't know, considering I've never read anything of his. And yet I'll stand by my statement, considering A Christmas Carol is basically the bombiest of all Christmas stories. Long live Dickens.

Peach Nehi?

[Sstavix]

Oh Charles Dickens. May his writing never be forgotten.

Ugh. The only decent thing Dickens ever wrote was "A Christmas Carol." The rest of his works were overly-wordy dreck.

I wouldn't know, considering I've never read anything of his. And yet I'll stand by my statement, considering A Christmas Carol is basically the bombiest of all Christmas stories. Long live Dickens.

It is a great Christmas story, I'll readily agree to that. As for Dickens' works, he was paid by the word, and it really shows. He is probably one of the few instances where the movie is better than the book.

Peach Nehi?

I don't think I've ever had it. So I can't really form an opinion one way or the other.

[Chozon1]

Same as Victor Hugo. I'll have to get around to reading at least one of Dickens' books, one day.

Unintentional naps?

[Sstavix]

Unintentional naps?

Those can be dangerous. Especially while driving. Or office meetings.

Sometimes I find myself falling asleep while playing games. That could be a sign that I'm tired... or that the game isn't very good.