<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzElm4oy8iI/AAAAAAAABjQ/2wL7Lpi-HvQ/s1600-h/310671394_2579f8c1ce_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZVufRlMtzM/SzElm4oy8iI/AAAAAAAABjQ/2wL7Lpi-HvQ/s640/310671394_2579f8c1ce_b.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmtulsa/">From jmtulsa on Flickr</a>&nbsp;- pretty, no?</i></span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.kjrh.com/content/weather/local/forecast/story/2NEWS-HD-Certified-Forecast-tulsa-weather/PbV9uyGLmESA0hLpr15-kA.cspx">According to local meteorologist Julie Chin's latest forecast</a>, Santa might just have more to land on than sand, clay and lakes when he visits Green Country Thursday night.<br /><br />That's right, kids - snow is in the forecast.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4206304427/" title="Snow Day 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Snow Day 2009" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4206304427_4cf4b07c2d.jpg" width="375" /></a><br /></div><br />Right now Julie's not seeing much snow coming our way - <a href="http://www.kjrh.com/content/weather/local/forecast/story/2NEWS-HD-Certified-Forecast-tulsa-weather/PbV9uyGLmESA0hLpr15-kA.cspx">an inch at best, with possibly more along the Oklahoma-Kansas state line</a>.<br /><br />Having spent the last 26 years in T-Town, though, something tells me that this forecast for light snow isn't going to stop my fellow Okies from positively freaking out in one way or another.<br /><br />For one, it's well-known and oft-observed by out-of-towners that we're not such good drivers in the weather. This applies to rain, sure, since we Oklahomans tend to go long periods without having to drive in any. But when the snow comes, this city practically shuts down.<br /><br />No one goes anywhere unless it's to Wal-Mart for ice scrapers and groceries (and beer, of course - what other beverage would an Okie choose to help while away a snow day?), to the local hardware store for a generator (as anyone with a t-shirt that says, "I lived through Ice Storm 2007 and all I got was this lousy t-shirt" could understand) or to leave work early to avoid traffic.<br /><br />By "traffic" what I really mean is Tulsans who sit high and confident in trucks and SUVs with four-wheel drive. By "confident" I mean driving like bats out of hell. I agree, four-wheel drive works wonders in the snow. Still, snow driving requires just as much experience as it does equipment, and opportunities to gain that type of experience here in the Tulsa area don't happen that often.<br /><br />So, snow frightens us a little. Ice scares the living daylights out of us.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tashadoestulsa/4206304301/" title="Snow Day 2009 by Tasha Does Tulsa, on Flickr"><img alt="Snow Day 2009" height="375" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4206304301_339afc03f2.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />See? If you're an Oklahoman, you just had a heart attack. <br /><br />We can handle cold temperatures with the best of 'em in the northeast, but winter precipitation? Count us in the house huddled around our DVRs or count us out.<br /><br />Native Okies/Tulsans: What do you do when there's snow in the forecast? Those of you not from 'round these parts: What do you do when there's snow in the forecast? That is, when you're not staring mouth agape at us stocking up double on canned cranberry sauce and eggnog for Christmas this year.<br /><br />Hey, you never know. Eating another can of cranberry sauce is much better than having to eat the dog that froze a week ago in an ice storm no one thought would be that bad. I'm just sayin'.