Unexpected Ice Skating

I heard a car screeeeech out of my street as I was scraping the truck off this morning. So I thought, take note, it's a little slick. I finally got the windshield clear enough to see, and started on my way. Fine pulling out. Then I went to get into the left lane. One second I was looking over my shoulder at the left lane the next I was flying down Admiral sideways toward the sidewalk! Sorta awkward, but I righted myself quickly. I'm not good at a lot my staying calm in winter driving is a skill I possess.

Basically the truck, while looking tough, is possibly the worst vehicle in icy conditions. The back just floats around seeming to pull the tiny cab wherever it wants to go. The roads were absolutely glistening with black ice. As I started up the hill to get on the West Seattle bridge I started to chant encouragement at the truck. Knowing if I stopped midway it would be hard to regain any sort of momentum. Unfortunately right where I needed to merge, at the peak of the hill, a huge truck followed by a line of cars was going just a little faster then my little white death trap truck. I tried to sped up a smidge, started to slip. I was almost about to get ahead of the truck when he sped up to cut me off. Knowing I couldn't stop, I just blared my horn over and over until I merged in. What else could I do?

Seattle winters are confusing, it doesn't really make sense to get winter tires. But there are a few mornings when I wish I had the studded snow tires that make any car invincible. Growing up, my dad would always put the studded snow tires on the minivan, and now he puts them on whichever car is the oldest junk-bucket. Once he puts the tires on, he says for the rest of the season that the car "can climb trees". What I wouldn't have given for that truck to have tree climbing power this morning.