Brrrrrr....

[RM]

Is the cold weather I'm hearing about as unusual as what's being reported ?

[BILLW]

Originally posted by RMD:
Is the cold weather I'm hearing about as unusual as what's being reported ? Nope - not unusual at all. In fact it's all due to global warming. (sorry I couldn't resist).

Locally here in Maryland, USA it's currently 9 F. That's a bit colder than normal for here.

Bill :)

[charlene]

We are colder than normal-righ after having record high temps a few weeks ago.
We're running the same temps Bill..8F and with wind chill (which has been brutal for several days) it's like minus 9 F.

So it is a safe bet to say that I will not be going out again today!
lol
brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Moosedog]

It's been super cold up here, but not all that unusual for this time of year. We typically get a few days like this every winter. -23 wind chill yesterday morning! My dog still insists on going for her (2) 2.5 mile walks everyday though, so I really have to bundle up! :eek:

Vickie

[Cathy]

It's cold here in Northern Maine, but it's not at all unusual for this time of year. I remember years where we had close to a month of sub-zero temps, with wind chills as low as -65. It seems to be getting milder just about every year.

[Auburn Annie]

At the moment it's 0/-9 here but was -7/-32 yesterday which is why they closed the schools. Normally it has to hit -20 (that's with wind chill) to close, and that's because so many kids wait for buses. Sometimes they'll have a one-hour delay, hoping it'll warm a little. Our school systems build in 3 "snow days" a year but seldom use them for snow. It's more often for extreme cold, the odd power outage or staff illness (there's a LOT of flu going around right now.)

[Jesse Joe]

http://www.canadaeast.com/storyImages/CEExport132500_59805.jpg

GREG AGNEW/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT



Here is a pic from this morning's paper... We are in a deep freeze. It use to be like Cathy said, down here too. But a month and half ago, it was 12C = 55F. That was not normal. To answer your question Ron. :)

[ February 07, 2007, 06:52: Message edited by: Jesse-Joe ]

[mnmouse]

We are in the thick of a normal northern Minnesota deep freeze! It is -25F here right now, we hit -30's the last several nights in a row. When the wind was up, we were getting wind chills of -44 and lower. It is unusual for *this* winter, as we have had above normal temps most of the season, but not unusual for winter up here as a general rule. What is not normal is the lack of any significant snowfall.

[Auburn Annie]

Same here - least snow in years. I think we've got about 4-5 inches on the ground, though north of us on the Tug Hill plateau (directly east of Lake Ontario) they measure in feet, about 5-6 feet in the last few days, on top of whatever they had before this storm. That's normal for them.

[RM]

Unbelievable.....you folks must be a hearty breed.

The question was prompted by the media coverage that suggested it was unusually cold in your parts, and that people were turning into popsicles.

Being a "desert rat" the vast majority of my life, I cannot relate. Correct me if I'm wrong, but what I've gathered from the replies so far is...a bit colder but not extreme.

[Peter Bro10]

Here in North Central Illinois we are currently at minus 18 F. wind chill is at minus 30 something. Technically speaking it's colder than a witches bottom!

Yesterday we got 5 inches of fluffy white stuff, sort of unusual when it's this cold.

[Auburn Annie]

Wowee! We're havin'a heat wave - it's 12 above!! Breakin' out the shorts - not!

[johnfowles]

Originally posted by Peter Bro10:
Here in North Central Illinois we are currently at minus 18 F. wind chill is at minus 30 something. Technically speaking it's colder than a witches bottom!
LOL Peter

OK New Jersey is chilly, but nothing like what I experienced in the 60's in Montreal.
I was telling Susan this morning the common practice if one's car got very cold overnight was to place the battery in the oven to warm up and hopefully restore a modicum of voltage together with removing the spark plugs
I initially had a superb 1962 Buick Special super-compact

http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/images/My_1962_Buick_Special_in_1964.jpg

Ah such sweet memories!!!
which featured GM's then revolutionary 3.5 litre aluminium V8.
Yes it was in Canada so it was aluminium whatever the makers thought the metal's correct name was!You know aluminium just like sodium and not at all like cadmum!!
(that engine was later made down under as the Brabham/Repco V8 and built by Land Rover in the UK:I had strongly suspected that current Range Rovers, now part of the Ford range still use "my" engine but no the inevitable wiki
shows in a great write up at:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_V8_engine
that now the Jaguar V8 is used
Anyway the engine was shoe horned in making access to the two rearmost spark plugs "tricky"
This meant that after a few winter's plug removal and the subseqent wear on the threads from inadvertently cross threading,
not hard with frozen fingers, and a series of thread inserts installallations it became impossible to remove those two plugs for
fettling and I then had a V6!!!
Would anyone from say Edmonton care to comment here
In Montreal we took solace from the story that over there it got so insanely cold that it was customary to plug your engine's dipstick replacement oil heater into upstands in car parks which had electrical sockets
(My Buick did have a sort of plug in hotplate under the battery)
I also still shiver at the thought of one February morning when Montreal was minus 24 degrees Fahrenheit
and I was the only one of my class of 6 beginners who turned up for our weekly 2-hour ski lesson at Sun Valley in the Laurentians at
St Adele
http://www.vivelaneige.com/galerie/albums/old/sunvalley/Copie_de_Sun_Valley_1980-81.JPG

but in a necessarily shortened hour one to one with my French Canadian ski instructor I leaned more than in any ten other lessons
Warning ski pix to follow when i find some more spare time!

[DJ in MJ]

Sweden is back in the deep freeze after a very mild early winter, then a brief cold snap, then moderate temps, and now we have real winter for only the second time this year. It was -22C when I got up this morn, but by the time I had my tea it had warmed to -21.5, so off I went outside to feed the animals and collect some wood. I have to admit my fingertips got cold, but that was about it.

The only time I have ever really felt COLD was late last year and early this year when I was recovering from that little spot of bother with my head. I must be healthy again as today didn't seem so bad.

Mind you, I'll still be happy when spring gets itself over here.

[ February 07, 2007, 13:03: Message edited by: David (djb) ]

[Auburn Annie]

I think we're having January weather in February, which means (groundhog aside) we won't see spring until May. Sigh. The seasons do seem to be pushing forward a month or so.

[Cathy]

Originally posted by Auburn Annie:
Same here - least snow in years. I think we've got about 4-5 inches on the ground, though north of us on the Tug Hill plateau (directly east of Lake Ontario) they measure in feet, about 5-6 feet in the last few days, on top of whatever they had before this storm. That's normal for them. I hear on the news today that they could get up to 100 inches of snow by Sunday. 100 inches of snow! That's equal to our yearly total.

[Peter Bro10]

Originally posted by timetraveler:
. To me, it feels like it's colder than a ditch diggers toes in a bottomless well. . exactly how cold is the ditch diggers toes in a bottomless well, eh??

[johnfowles]

Originally posted by Peter Bro10:
quote:Originally posted by timetraveler:
. To me, it feels like it's colder than a ditch diggers toes in a bottomless well. . exactly how cold is the ditch diggers toes in a bottomless well, eh?? [/QUOTE]A very good question young man
all I could find using Google was this fine photograph
http://josephburnett.com/photos/2006/ladakh/lad-10.jpg
on Joseph's blog page at:-
http://josephburnett.com/content/blogcategory/14/36/
which links to:-
http://josephburnett.com/content/view/33/36/
if it is any help the caption to that photo is:-
"However it was that these Ladakhi Farmers decided where and how this ditch should go, it seems like they had fun doing it.
My sister thought that I should title this one "drunken ditch diggers"
Also on that blog is another link to this Buddist picture
http://josephburnett.com/photos/2006/ladakh/lad-05.jpg
Fortuitiously the caption to that picture includes
"Blue toes? Why not"
So I submit,Peter that at the bottom of the well it is cold enough to turn Budda's
toenails blue!!!

[johnfowles]

if you explore it you might find that Mr Burnett has an interesting site
I did and found this "funny" that Jenney might enjoy
http://josephburnett.com/photos/2006/feature/DPP_0210.JPG
caption
"So ... where can I park, how should I park, and for how long?"

[Dream Street Rose]

Please don't boo me but I am so spoiled. :D I have been a California girl all my life(55 years). I don't seem to tolerate the extreme heat or cold to well. Arthritis has set in to my whole body so I guess that is why. I think the states where it is so cold in the winter are truly beautiful and I wish we had real seasons. I have always talked about moving out of state. Maybe someday the timing will be right. If anyone need me to send them an electric blanket or socks (my feet are always cold), please let me know. :)

[brink-]

We had down to -42 a couple weeks ago. It was a cold spell and lasted about 10 days, not -40's all the time but we were hovering in the -30's.
now we are having a heat wave it was 18 degrees today!!

[joveski]

86'F here and sunny :D

[BILLW]

Originally posted by joveski:
86'F here and sunny :D Sounds great, smarta**, LOL. Wish we were there !!!

Bill :)

[Peter Bro10]

hey joveski, is that a global warming issue??? or is that typical for this time of year??

[joveski]

typical for this time... it can be colder or hotter. we've had a few days this year where its gotten close to 110'F!

[Peter Bro10]

that would be a bit toasty in my book!

[vlmagee]

We had several weeks of cold weather here in Denver (well, Denver South suburbs and at 6400 feet), starting with the first big snow (in mid-December). And, for the first time in years, the snow didn't melt. It looked like a Saratoga winter ... when they had snow. They do have a cold spell now, but no snow.

It warmed up about a week ago. On Monday I noticed that it got to 60. So Tuesday and Wednesday I went biking, leaving home once it was over 50, and dodging the piles of snow in the street. Most streets were pretty clear. Today it didn't get over about 45, so I didn't bike, but I have my fingers crossed.

The 2 feet of snow in my yard is down to about 8". Here's hoping.

[Jesse Joe]

Do you have a same hobby of mine, Val, Mountain Biking? Or are you talking something else? :)

[Jennifer]

Originally posted by timetraveler:
To me, it feels like it's colder than a ditch diggers toes in a bottomless well. . Very akin to one of my favorite sayings, which happens to be quite appropriate right about now.

It's colder than a well-diggers ass in January!

[johnfowles]

Originally posted by Jennifer:
Very akin to one of my favorite sayings, which happens to be quite appropriate right about now.

It's colder than a well-diggers ass in January! OK I took up the challenge of more googling and found this
http://www.lindamoran.net/images/snowshoveling.jpg
on
http://www.fansinblack.com/x/showthread.php?t=19338
which led mre to
http://www.fansinblack.com/x/showthread.php?p=155389#post155389
where above that picture is this "caption"
"But it's colder than a well diggers a$$ at 40ft. . need that hot coffee this am
And for good measure I then google image searched for "Buddha's a$$" and was rewarded with this picture
http://www.daa.com.au/~trs80/chem/photos/ay_buddha.jpg
whose caption is
"This is the 12m wide by 17m high Buddha at Ayuttaya"
where Ayuttaya is in Thailand but if you hover over the picture you get the HTML "alt" title
"One big-ass Buddha at Ayutthaya"
Fulsome apologies if this offends anybody because of its religious implications and any Buddhists reading this of course

[ February 10, 2007, 10:24: Message edited by: johnfowles ]

[Dream Street Rose]

Hi timetraveler,

How do you make "housesocks"? :D They sound warm even just hearing the name. :)

[johnfowles]

Originally posted by timetraveler:
They're not too hard to make, really. See, I started making them when I found a neat little thing from a company in Utah. The product name is Knifty Knitters. ) Read all about it at:-
http://decoraccentsinc.com/knifty_knitters.html
or read
http://www.feedshow.com/show_items-feed=b96af7bfb5bcfcaf4308727650f57bd0
where I read
"I have also order Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino for my sockret pal's socks, the yarn will make comfy housesocks for this winter but unfortunately the colors are all pastels so I intend to overdye."
an another message on the same forum
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/83/269037569_1ed916d2f4.jpg?v=0

The postman delivered a wonderful box from my KTS swap pal Samantha at mrspao.com today. It came all the way from the UK and
included 100g of wool nylon sock yarn from a small English company called Curious Yarns in a deep winter colorway (I can see
myself wearing these socks this winter),
Fascinating stuff ladies

[Dream Street Rose]

timetraveler and johnfowles,

Thank you both so much. Having never joined a chat group(this one is probably special), I can't believe people who don't know me could be so helpful. I am an artist and color is one of my passions. Listening to Gordon sing and making housesocks sounds like a little bit of heaven. I have a Wal-Mart down the street and can hardly wait to check this out. :) Thank you both so much again. I'll let you know what I make. :D

[DJ in MJ]

Hi DSR,

The folks here are the finest group of people I have ever known. It's wonderful you can join us, and I'm sure you'll love it here.

And back to Brrrrr for a moment. My feet and a** were a tad on the cold side today too. I had to work early today, and there are no early commuter trains on the weekend, so I had to wait on two very cold streets for a couple of busses. I think both Uppsala and Stockholm were in the -15C to -20C range between 5.30am and 7am this morn.

When I hit the office, the hot coffee (or six) got poured down me very quickly! :D

[Dream Street Rose]

Hello all,

It's me the California girl. we are leaving for Philadelphia Tuesday. There has not been very much snow there this year but the storm is suppose to start Tuesday. Sure wish I had time to make my houseshoes. The nights are suppose to be in the mid teens and mid 30ish during the day. :) Good thing I own a lot of socks. Already looking forward to getting back home and playing with my Knifty Knitters stuff.

Thanks again Jessie-Joe and Sir John :)

[johnfowles]

Originally posted by Dream Street Rose:
Thanks again Jessie-Joe and Sir John :)
--------------------
I'm much too young to feel this damn old.
You got that wrong DSR
surely your signature should be tada tada!!
--------------------
I'm much too young to feel this damn cold.

[Dream Street Rose]

Okay John,

That plane went right over my head. :redface:
I guess I will have to ask my husband to explain it to me. :)

[Dream Street Rose]

Okay, sometimes Rose is dreaming. Sorry John. :redface: Now I am laughing so hard my stomach hurts. I love to laugh and people here have a wonderful sense of humor. :D


I'm old and cold. :D

[johnfowles]

Originally posted by Dream Street Rose:
Okay, sometimes Rose is dreaming. Sorry John. :redface: Now I am laughing so hard my stomach hurts. I love to laugh and people here have a wonderful sense of humor. :D


I'm old and cold. :D i am very pleased you got it Rose eventually and enjoyed my jest. Just one small point though,
Being British born and bread I have a wonderful sense of humoUr, so watch it!!

Lots of great British comedy clips here:-
http://rankin.chez-alice.fr/porridge/pics/grind.jpg (http://rankin.chez-alice.fr/porridge/videos.html)
Just click each thumbnail on the page thst should open.
a British television sitcom called "Porridge" just right for a COLD morning!!
(in the UK being in prison is called "doing porridge")
My favoUrites are the second and third from the top row

[ February 12, 2007, 05:45: Message edited by: johnfowles ]

[joveski]

big fan of ronnie barker here!

[DJ in MJ]

Loved Porridge. Great show.

[joveski]

open all hours was better ;)

[Jennifer]

Originally posted by johnfowles:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/83/269037569_1ed916d2f4.jpg?v=0

I imagine the focal point of this pic is the yarn, but what stood out to me immediately is the 2 bars of Lindt "Excellence" Dark Chocolate, 70% cocoa none the less :D Ooooooh....... This is my favorite brand of chocolate. :D

[Jennifer]

Originally posted by timetraveler:
I also thought of another way of keeping warm on some of these nasty cold days. First, you get into your flannel pj's, then grab a big bowl of either chili, chicken noodle soup or dumplings, or a nice hearty beef stew or soup. or all of them, depending on just how cold it is. :D Then, you grab yourself a big mug of hot coffee, tea, or hot cocoa & wrap up in the biggest quilt that you can find. For me, that cuts the frosty feeling real good. Yeah thats what we've been doing, along with keeping the fireplace going. Still colder than a well-diggers ass here and a blizzard-warning in effect to boot. Can't wait until next week, where the only arse I'll be thinking of is my own baking on the beach of Cancun, Mexico!! :D I leave on the 21st - not soon enough!

[Auburn Annie]

We've got that nor'easter boring down on us, so our pantry is replenished, the shovels are at hand, and I'm hoping there's a snow day tomorrow so I can sleep in, lol. We're expecting 12-24". [correction: now 18-36"]

One of my favorite investments from years ago was an electric mattress pad. It fits over the mattress and under the bottom sheet, warms in zones (warmest at the feet, cooler as it rises) and is dual control, one for each side of the bed if your honey likes it warmer or cooler. Preset that baby to 5 a half hour before bed and you're good to go for the night, or any time. Our front bedrooms get the north winds, so I bought one for each bed in those rooms.

[ February 13, 2007, 18:19: Message edited by: Auburn Annie ]

[Jesse Joe]

Jennifer
Member
Member # 1398

posted 02-13-2007 04:39 PM
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Can't wait until next week, where the only arse I'll be thinking of is my own baking on the beach of Cancun, Mexico!! I leave on the 21st - not soon enough!




Have a great time Jennifer and, Take care, Stay Safe!!~Jesse~ :cool: :)

[Dream Street Rose]

Okay, they tell me the cold stuff coming out of the sky in Philly is snow, sleet and freezing rain. The low temperature tomorrow is 0 with a high of frigid. :eek: :eek:
For those of you who live where it is really cold this might seem like a heat wave. My husband is trying to thaw our little dog out. He just put her in the microwave. :D

Rose is a total tease. But this is very cold to us. Hopefully, our show will go well and we can thaw out next week.

Jenifer, have a great time in Cancun.
:)

[Gitchigumee]

Originally posted by timetraveler:
You are most welcome Dream Street. I also thought of another way of keeping warm on some of these nasty cold days. First, you get into your flannel pj's, then grab a big bowl of either chili, chicken noodle soup or dumplings, or a nice hearty beef stew or soup. or all of them, depending on just how cold it is. :D Then, you grab yourself a big mug of hot coffee, tea, or hot cocoa & wrap up in the biggest quilt that you can find. For me, that cuts the frosty feeling real good. 2 shots of brandy in my Diet Pepsi, my comfy recliner & remote, and an afghan is how I've been spending my Wisconsin evenings recently. Too dang cold to do anything else.

[Gitchigumee]

Jennifer, I was there in April. Check out my review of our hotel, and have a wonderful time!!

http://cancun-hotels.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g150807-d566509-r4993247-Oasis_Palm_Beach-Cancun_Yucatan_Peninsula.html

[joveski]

100'F today and 105'F on satuday/sunday :(

[Jennifer]

Thank you Jesse Joe and Gitchigumee. And thanks GG for sharing that review. My hubby and I are staying here.

http://www.dreamsresorts.com/cancun/

It's the first time my beloved hubby and I have taken off alone together in a loooong while. I am looking forward to a romantic trip and re-connecting. I'm sure we'll have a wonderful time! :) Thanks again.

[Auburn Annie]

Finally the sun is shining here and the temps have risen into the 20s. Now where to put the 20" or more of snow? It'll be nice when Upstate New York is no longer the place with the worst weather in the U.S. on the national news. During the heaviest snows on Vanetine's Day I hand-shovelled our back deck, walks and driveway (the first 25' anyway) 7 times. Small wonder my wrists still ache. Rich worked double shifts to plow out work. He's just now finisihed clearing the back end of our driveway so our neighbor doesn't have to park her truck on the street (we have alternate side parking which is a pain.)

[Dream Street Rose]

Hello Sir John and timetraveler,

Just wanted to let you know I finally got my Knifty Knitter rings. I am so excited and can't wait to start. I'll let you know if I ever really start and finish anything. :)

[Jennifer]

Hey guys, I've been busy since I returned but Cancun was AWESOME, just simply paradise. Mexico is beautiful and the people were so warm and friendly. I did get a little sunburn despite my generous use of sunscreen. That sun is pretty intense.

I want you to know, I had a pina colada for each and every one of you. Heck, maybe even 2 for each and every one of you considering that often I started drinking them for "breakfast" at 10 a.m.!!! Really I did!! :D

While it is nice to vacation it is always nice to return to home sweet home as well.

Cheers!

[Jennifer]

Oh, and I danced with Pirates on Isla Mujeres... how cool is that!? ARRRRR! :cool: :D

[charlene]

Well Jennifer - are you sure you really danced with pirates...??? :)
Pina Coladas for brekkie and the hot equatorial sun can make one see things!
lol
Was one of the pirates Johnny Depp??
;)

[Gitchigumee]

:D Jennifer, welcome back. Glad you had a good time.

[Jennifer]

Thanks for the welcome back charlene and GG. Yes I really danced with pirates. I swear it was not just some hallucination brought on by too many pina coladas and the hot mexican sun beating down on my noggin. LOL!

The pirates I danced with were part of the Pirate Cruise we went on. Lots o' fun!

Johnny Depp? Oh, I wish... :) He's quite dreamy ;)

[charlene]

oh lordy I remember the Pirate Cruises in the Caribbean off Antigua and Barbados...well I have pictures that help me remember ..lol
;)