“Colder by the hour, more dead with every breath.”
Cold isn’t enough of a descriptor for the weather today. Bone-chilling comes a bit closer but even that seems inadequate. Yesterday was “…Just spring when the world is mud-luscious.” The snow was soft, perfect for snowballs. The streets had reappeared and the icicles were melting from the roof. It was like a day in early March when the first green shoots start appearing and winter begins its swan song. Today, though, is pure winter. The snow is hard and the water of yesterday has frozen making it slippery especially along the sides of the road. I walked gingerly and carefully to the driveway to get my papers. The high today will be 20˚. The only bright spot is we will not be getting any snow. That will fall in the most unlikeliest places like the Virginias and the Carolinas where more than six inches are predicted. Forecasters have called this storm a once in a generation winter storm. I have to think kids will be thrilled with their first ever snow day.
I have errands, but they’ll have to wait until tomorrow because of the dump. It is closed on Tuesdays, and I really need a dump run so I might as well lump all of the errands together for tomorrow. I do fear the dump most of all. It is open ground and like the frozen tundra with the wind blowing and howling and with no place to find shelter. I will even wear my winter coat for the first time this season. I swear I saw a polar bear on the last dump run.
My mother used to keep her heat so high we wore t-shirts around the house when we visited her in winter. She was always cold. I finally understand why. The older we get the less resistant we are to the cold. I always wear a sweatshirt around the house now. I used to wear only a long-sleeve shirt and was plenty warm. That won’t do any more. Socks with my slippers are now a necessity. Nothing is worse than cold feet. I haven’t moved my thermostat any higher to combat the cold. I’ve decided to layer, even in the house.
I got an energy report from the gas company. It seems I burn more gas than my neighbors. That makes perfect sense considering four of the neighboring houses are empty most of the winter and my two closest neighbors heat with oil. I guess I win the prize by default.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: cold, dump run, errands, howling wind, layers, mud-luscious, once in a generation winter storm, Snow, socks, sweatshirts, tundra, winter
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
January 28, 2014 at 11:49 am
I don’t have the cold you do, being here in Austin, but my wife is amused that I cover up with a warm, fuzzy throw when we watch telly at night. She got me some moccasin-style house shoes for winter mornings that really hit the spot.
To highlight the difference from us to you: My dentist called and canceled the appt., since there MIGHT be some ice somewhere on the road. It is just a little under 30 and we did have some precip last night. We had some flurries last week, and that has everyone running scared. School was delayed a couple of hours. [But, we hit 77F a couple of days ago…and 83 earlier last week! Can you say, “Seesaw, Marjorie Daw?”]
Our retirement gift to ourselves was not only a refurbed house, but we finally got a mini-split heat pump upstairs! That makes our add-on upstairs bedroom liveable in summer and winter…for the first time since I bought the place in 1988!
Be careful when you’re out. Do they still make those things that elastic hold on your shoes that give you sharp teeth aimed downward to keep you from slipping so badly? If so, it sounds like you are a prime candidate. Beware the tundra…
January 28, 2014 at 12:15 pm
Rick,
I don’t use a fuzzy throw except every now and then when I decide to lie on the couch to watch TV.
I always figure because your part of the country doesn’t get all that much snow people might not know out to drive on it which is cause for delays and cancellation, but I think your dentist went just a bit overboard with his caution.
Some summer houses have no heat but do have fireplaces for late summer or early fall when a night or two might get chilly. I lower the heat considerably at night so I have a down comforter on the bed and a dog and a cat who lie close to me keeping me and them warm.
I think they still make them to go on shoes, but my walkway is clear. I use kind to paws de-icer on steps and the walkway so it clears of any potential hazards.
January 28, 2014 at 12:08 pm
Tony gets the same notice. I guess we don’t live close enough together to be considered your neighbor!
January 28, 2014 at 12:10 pm
Clare,
Because you are on a different street, I didn’t figure they counted you. Many of your neighbors are also seasonal so you look like the same gas hog I do.
January 28, 2014 at 12:35 pm
Kat, Here in beautiful Oakland Township, I have also received notice that I am a hog amongst hogs when it comes to energy consumption. I would like to find someone, anyone that received notice that they are a modest and totally admirable user, and conserver of energy – which was then made available to mega-hogs like me
January 28, 2014 at 12:48 pm
My Dear Hedley,
Perhaps the problem is not with us but in the standards used by the heating companies. I suggest they expect houses to be so cold you can see your breath. I keep my heat at 68˚. That is not extreme.
I don’t think admirable users live in their houses other than a weekend here and there.
January 28, 2014 at 2:31 pm
Kat, our cars read -12F this morning, and we are 5/8th of an inch from the snowiest month ever in Michigan, February 1904 (careful)
I keep the house at 70F, my bill for the last 35 days was $450.00 I guess that is the measure of a utility hog.
The biggest impact is the high level of fatigue with my team. We are trying to think of fun things to pick up everyone’s spirits but it hasn’t been easy.
January 28, 2014 at 3:11 pm
MDH,
I must be on your team as I feel the same way. Luckily my friends came and I had a wonderful weekend, but here I am two days later back to ennui and just waking up from an afternoon nap.
70˚ isn’t all that much more than my 68˚, maybe a bit cozier. I don’t think we have been as cold as you at all this winter. We have been down to single digits but not minus degrees.
I do not believe that we should sit in our houses and be cold. If I want more heat, I’ll turn up the heat.
January 28, 2014 at 1:01 pm
Same weather here…except that weather down south will skirt us here at the Jersey Shore, so we might get an inch or two…THAT I can handle.
Got a giggle out of your last paragraph…I never understand why people wear t-shirts and run the heat high in the winter…guess I am a child of the 1970’s energy crisis….
January 28, 2014 at 1:10 pm
Coleen,
An inch or two is broom it away snow.
I keep it at the same temperature I have pretty much since I bought the house in 1977, but I got older and colder.
January 28, 2014 at 1:23 pm
They had predicted low temperatures today so it was a pleasant surprtise when we reached 32F! It was so nice and warm after all these cold weeks. The ever blowing wind however is still here, IOt never seems to lose energy and just continues and continues and continues.
I still onkly wear tshirts indoors, the stove in my kitchen keeps my cottage warm enough all day and night. I do however put on a fleece sweater in the morning because by then tghe last warmth from the day before is gone.
Have a great day!
Christer.
January 28, 2014 at 3:14 pm
Christer,
Today is just too, too cold a day. We should never have had that warm day as it spoiled us.
No wind here today luckily.
MY house is set to go down to 62 at night then in the morning it goes up to 65˚ then 68˚ by 8 in the morning. I put my sweatshirt on right away so I don’t get cold.
I’m glad you stay comfy and warm.
Have a great evening!
January 28, 2014 at 2:01 pm
Hi Kat,
Rocky had a vet appointment yesterday afternoon. By the time we were done the temperatures had started to fall and the wind had picked up. I could practically see the water in the puddles starting to get frozen. It had that not quite slushy look that soda gets when it’s been in the freezer for a little bit.
Today we had to go out again because of grooming appointment. It was even colder. While Rocky was getting all clean and brushed, I did some errands at the mall. 17ºF with a stiff wind is certainly interesting on the upper parking deck.
I have never gotten an energy report that I know of. I’m probably greedy, too, but not more greedy than the neighbors. I keep it at 68 and I have several rooms that are closed off as well so not as much square footage to heat.
The sun is out, sort of, today. It’s nowhere near warm and the sun isn’t doing anything to get it there.
Enjoy the day and stay warm.
January 28, 2014 at 3:32 pm
Hi Caryn,
I remember the scene in The Day After Tomorrow when the ice comes and freezes everything including people. It was like a wave of freezing air and maybe a little bit like what you described.
I give you credit for going out again today. I just couldn’t do it. Cozy and warm were the order of the day for me.
I have to think the gas company has no idea what is appropriate to heat the house. 68˚ is not all that high; lower is just too cold. I wonder how many gas employees aren’t gas hogs.
No sun today at all.
Have a great rest of the day!
January 28, 2014 at 5:30 pm
I was installing a stair railing at a house today where the temp inside must have been 72 or more. I was actually sweating and glad to leave when I was done. The owners are 81 and 60+, and Saturday they leave for Florida for three months.
If your neighbors don’t use any gas now, you are just using their share as well. Don’t sweat it (ha-ha).
January 28, 2014 at 9:21 pm
Bill.
72˚ is about what my mother’s house was, and we were always too hot.
They stayed around most of the winter. I would think you’d leave in December at the latest to avoid the winter.
That’s why I knew you’d like that joke!!
January 29, 2014 at 10:37 am
They did stay around which is curious. They are having their Infinity shipped to Florida and are leaving the Mercedes convertible here. (Pardon me!)
January 29, 2014 at 12:07 pm
Bill,
You’d think the convertible would be for Florida this time of year. Maybe when you’re beyond 80 you tend to get confused!