[poconopundit]

The worst snow storms of the year can come in the month of April.  Plenty of moisture in the air, and a good solid Yukon Clipper blast comes out of Canada, and FOOP, down it comes with wind behind, leaving snowdrifts that are impassible.

* * * Ah yes, alloysteel, I lived it.

I remember such a April surprise in the Boston outskirts of Newton.  Snow and sleet came down so fast I was forced to sleep in the office 30 minutes from home.  When I drove home in the morning, the driveway was 18 inches deep with the heaviest slush I ever had to shovel out.

But it turned into a valuable learning experience.  I showed my neighbor, a corporate consultant, how I'd discovered a new technique.  Rather than break my back lifting the slush, I pushed the shovel under a pile, dragged a shovelful out, and pulled it a few yards to a place on the side of the road where I merely jerked back the handle to separate the shovel from its load.

My consultant friend loved the idea: "Ha! Process improvement!"

* * *

Sure enough, the Japanese have long used snow scoops to clear heavy snow off roofs in their mountain towns.

[GOPJ]

I remember such a April surprise in the Boston outskirts of Newton. Snow and sleet came down so fast I was forced to sleep in the office 30 minutes from home. When I drove home in the morning, the driveway was 18 inches deep with the heaviest slush I ever had to shovel out.

You write well - ever thought of doing a 'great American' novel?