Unbelievable bad luck :( - DPChallenge Forums

01/14/2007 07:35:00 PM · #51

Linda, I'm sending you $25.00 in the next 24 hours. I feel your pain trust me....I'm living in a similar situation in Washington State. The ice/snow slid off my house ripping the pipe from my basement pellet stove vent off the face of the outer house. Now I can't heat the basement and we are facing subzero temps. I have a propane stove, but previous owners placed the tank under the roof so the snow piles up on top of that thing and it leaked a few weeks ago from a torn line. Talk about dangerous! It's fixed at least.

The snow/ice ripped my satellite dish from the garage and I've been without TV news for the past 7 weeks.

I know this pales in comparison to the issues you are facing. Living in rural areas is not everyone's cup of tea, but I do know one thing Linda.. you are brave and strong and I admire you for facing the challenges of living in a rural area. Nothings easy out here in snow country.

Good luck with your problems. Write to me if you ever need to talk....I've been there, done that. Tackle your problems one by one, and soon they will be gone. Be sure to watch an eagle or two to lift your spirits and to remind yourself of why you live in such a remote area!!

Also, wear a mask while removing the ruined snow. Take breaks and back away breathing in good, fresh air. Hire a local teen that is a mountaineer so he/she has the proper equipment to climb your roof. Is anyone bonded in your area? Its hard to find someone for snow removal.

Good luck and God Speed to ya! :)

Darlene

01/14/2007 07:48:17 PM · #52

Originally posted by riversong:

Darlene - you sound like you're in the same boat as me...I really appreciate every one here and the help they have offered. Please folks - if you yourself are in the same boat take care of your needs. I will be fine and don't want you all feeling you have to come to my rescue. Your friendship is more valuable then anything else.
I have a guy coming to go up on the roof tomorrow. I would go up myself, but I don't have health insurance until February and with my luck I'd fall off and break my neck.
My neighbor and I have come up with a plan for the snow removal. She has a snowblower and a 4x4 truck...we're gonna lift the ice slabs into the truck, then snowblow the snow from the entire area into the bed of her truck. What we do with the snow - well that'll be our secret. lol

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

01/14/2007 08:01:04 PM · #53

Hi Linda, great idea to blow the snow off your roof. Don't worry about me, I've been thru this kinda stuff for the past 10 years. This year is especially hard with the amount of snow we've had and the melting/freezing that goes along with a warm day/cold night. Same for you guys, in fact its the frigid air from the Gulf of Alaska that is responsible for our subzero temps! How cold is it there?

This year has been a better year for me than some in the past. I want to help you out! I was just letting you know you have a fellow comrad of sorts that understands the troubles you are going thru first hand. :)

best to ya,
Darlene

ps. Let the swing of the ax do the work for you. Carefully aim and let it hit hard. I've chopped 40 cords of wood, not bad for a grandma! I've hurt my shoulder plenty of times chopping wood though.

GentleSoul

Canon EOS-30D

01/14/2007 08:07:26 PM · #54

Please add me to the "sent" list. :)

Linda, keep thinking positive - it's all going to be all right. {HUGS}

Love,
Liz

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

01/14/2007 08:09:20 PM · #55

Originally posted by GentleSoul:

Please add me to the "sent" list. :)

Linda, keep thinking positive - it's all going to be all right. {HUGS}

Love,
Liz

This is giving me the warm fuzzies!
:-)

colyla

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM II

01/14/2007 08:14:10 PM · #56

just sent ya another $25 via paypal

Hang in there....it does get better :) Hope your house is warmer!

01/14/2007 08:18:17 PM · #57

Originally posted by riversong:

How cold is it there?

it was -32 two nights in a row. That caused the water pipes to burst. Then it warmed up and the ice/snow slide killed the fuel.

the snow we're gonna use the snowblower on is the stuff on the ground that is full of diesel fuel. I gotta get it out of here before it leeches into the ground. As long as the temps stay cold enough I should have time.

fotomann_forever

01/14/2007 09:51:59 PM · #58

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Originally posted by GentleSoul:
Please add me to the "sent" list. :)

Linda, keep thinking positive - it's all going to be all right. {HUGS}

Love,
Liz

This is giving me the warm fuzzies!
:-)

Hey, I just noticed that you grew your "junk" back :-)

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED

01/14/2007 10:04:28 PM · #59

Linda,

I didn't mean to come across as a know it all. I'm certain you know how to live in Alaska. I learned the hard way and I typically think people want to hear how to do it, My Way. There are too many variables when one lives in a rural area, no matter how prepared you can be.

Hopefully warmer weather will come your way soon. Good luck with all your chores. Thanks for sharing your ordeal with us. May it all work out for you. Stay warm, okay?

I'm glad you have friends, aqaintances and a wonderful local community in Alaska to help you out in your time of need. We all need a shoulder to lean on. This gives us all faith in humanity which is a good thing. So maybe something good has come out of your sorrow after all.

Darlene

Message edited by author 2007-01-14 22:05:42.

rider64

Nikon D200

01/14/2007 10:17:55 PM · #60

Put me on the sent list. I wish you the best of luck.

01/14/2007 10:42:40 PM · #61

Originally posted by riversong:

Linda,

Darlene

Not taken that way at all!! I appreciate all your help and suggestions. It really is a learning experience here in Alaska. I've been told that those who come here either leave after the first winter and never come back, or stay and never look back. I plan on staying - just have to get through the first rough winter here.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

01/14/2007 11:02:02 PM · #62

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

Originally posted by riversong:
Linda,

Darlene

Not taken that way at all!! I appreciate all your help and suggestions. It really is a learning experience here in Alaska. I've been told that those who come here either leave after the first winter and never come back, or stay and never look back. I plan on staying - just have to get through the first rough winter here.

Oh good, cuz I've lived in the wilderness for the past 10 years, learning the hard way of course, since I'm so dang hardheaded. This is a bad winter by my standards. Locals call these winters, "winter weeders". I'll probably never leave the wilderness either! Guess I'm one of those hardy weeds.

Best to ya. It'll get better and makes for some good story telling at a much, much later date!! I promise.

EBJones

Nikon D200

01/14/2007 11:30:32 PM · #63

Ok, add me to the list of sent. Linda, I spent two years in Alaska, and I know how the weather can play havoc with you life. Please, take care of yourself and those you love! (be they two legged or four! :)

You are fortunate in that you have a truly wonderful community of friends here to support you.

As an aside, I really want to give credit to those of you who have given to a friend that you may never meet in person! That's what family is all about, I suppose. I'm hoping to be a part of this particular family for a long time to come. (Granted, I'll be the untalented, black sheep of the family, but family nonetheless.! :)

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

01/15/2007 12:07:27 AM · #64

Originally posted by EBJones:

EB - yes, I am very fortunate to have such wonderful friends here at DPC. I am still in awe of all those who have paypaled money to help. Really - totally overwhelmed with emotion!
I hope that one day I can meet each and everyone of you in person and give you a great big hug - or for those who aren't huggers, a big thank you. If you ever want to visit Alaska - each and every one of you - you have a place to stay, free room and board...and I promise with heat and water.

oh and EB - you cannot steal my position here as the untalented black sheep, but I will share that spot with you my friend.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

01/15/2007 12:54:26 AM · #65

Wow, you have been having a bad time this week!
If you can contain the fuel contaminated snow until it thaws out, the fuel will float to the top, and you can recover almost all that is in the snow. First, siphon or drain or pump most of the water from the bottom, then you can put the remaining fuel into containers and it will be fine with a little filtering. Some kind of deep containers like 55 gallon drums would be ideal for this operation. Maybe there are some available nearby.
I am glad that your internet is still working. I don't have any suggestions about getting the fuel vapor and smell out of your house in that cold temperature. I hope that it does not give you pneumonia. Divers can not use compressors that have petrolium based oil in them because the oil gets vaporized into the air and causes lung trouble. Try to keep enough fresh air somehow.
I am so happy that you didn't have to post that your home had burned due to the fuel leaks.
Hugs from swampy S Florida. Wish we could email sunshine and $ too.
M M

sher

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

01/15/2007 12:56:20 AM · #66

i know what it's like to feel depressed and desperate so you are definitely in my thoughts and prayers. i can't afford to send as much as $25 but i have $10 extra this week and it's yours...sent.

wavelength

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

01/15/2007 01:10:32 AM · #67

Dang, Lin! I just saw this thread. I feel for ya, it always seems like the worst hits all in a row for us, too. Like Erin's windshield wipers going out during the longest sleet storm ever :( I'm waiting for the next thing after that.

Hope things get better.

Message edited by author 2007-01-15 01:11:14.

fotomann_forever

01/15/2007 01:25:12 AM · #68

Originally posted by EBJones:

(Granted, I'll be the untalented, black sheep of the family, but family nonetheless.! :)

Hey that's my position :-P

roba

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/15/2007 01:39:33 AM · #69

Put me on the DONE list. $25 sent.

Remember... as crazy as it sounds, you will come out stronger for having gone through this.

rob

MikeJ

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/15/2007 01:47:22 AM · #70

Originally posted by roba:

Remember... as crazy as it sounds, you will come out stronger for having gone through this.

rob

You aren't kidding there. After all the shoveling she's been doing, and firewood she's been cutting and lugging around, she's bound to be stronger.

;D

Mike

Sigma 18-250 f/3.5 - 6.3 DC OS HSM

01/15/2007 02:04:19 AM · #71

Originally posted by MikeJ:

Originally posted by roba:

Remember... as crazy as it sounds, you will come out stronger for having gone through this.

rob

You aren't kidding there. After all the shoveling she's been doing, and firewood she's been cutting and lugging around, she's bound to be stronger.

;D

Mike

exactly...and the loading the huge ice slabs and contaminated snow I have to get rid of now

NathanWert

Canon EOS-90D

01/15/2007 08:35:13 AM · #72

I only spent one summer up in Alaska and we'd LOVE to be able to move up there. Maybe we can move in with you (there's only: me, the wife, the kid, and a rabbit)?

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

01/15/2007 10:07:00 AM · #73

Hope you and family are still ok. You are in a different time zone than most of us, so keep us posted when you get moving around today.
(bump with a message) : )

C-Fox

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/15/2007 11:32:54 AM · #74

There is always wherever you pump normal gass from. The land there will already be contaminated.