Baby, It’s COLD Outside
OK, not really. I mean, it was 34 degrees when I went for a walk this morning, which was enough to make me wish I had worn my hat, but not enough to make me turn around and go get it. And it’s supposed to heat up again over the next few days, so we’ll again be in the mid 60s for highs by the end of the week. Those of you in Wisconsin, Toronto, and New Hampshire, please, don’t kill me. I know, 34 is NOT cold, and for mid 60s right about now, you’d probably sacrifice a calf or something.
When I go out in weather like this, though, I realize that my body has adjusted, and is no longer used to truly cold weather. When we lived in Philly, 34 was no big deal. 7? Yes, that was a big deal. When I lived in Fairbanks, we unzipped our jackets and talked about the heat wave if it got to 10 in January. I do remember it being -40. My mom told stories of it being -70 once when we were there, and you hear all kinds of stories of what -70 does to your tires, to your nose hairs, to your gold earrings, etc. But -70 didn’t feel any different to me than -40, or -20 for that matter, because I was a kid, and I was inside, where I belonged.
Last year, when I spent some time in Anchorage in February, I remembered what cold weather was like. I bundled up in my snow jacket and hat and went out for walks before going to visit my mom in the hospital, and I remember once or twice wondering if that was such a good idea. I felt like a fool for slipping on the ice, like somehow only Californians were clumsy enough to do that. Then in the hospital one of the nurses told me they had quite a few broken bones from people slipping, as it had gotten warm enough to melt the snow, and then another cold snap came along and froze it up again. And I was reminded of how our bodies adjust when I went to lunch with Blogging Queen Michelle, who lives in Anchorage, and mentions from time to time on her blog how she is always cold. Well, her body is much more used to that weather than mine, because despite the snow on the ground and the icy streets, she was wearing short sleeves under her jacket. I was wearing a shirt and a sweater under my jacket.
So yes, it’s 34 degrees, and it’s COLD to me. I’m thinking I’ll wait until it’s over 60 to hop on my bike and go for a ride.
9 Comments
Ted
If I ride my bike in 34 degree weather, my gloves aren’t insulated enough to block the cold and, well, my fingers become stiff and painful. Plus, I need one of these so my face doesn’t fall off: http://www.amazon.com/Louis-Garneau-2008-Balaclava-1014002-020/dp/B000O3WAPG?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1223936235&sr=1-1
Winter biking can be fun, but there’s a lot of clothing that goes into it. There’s less prep time in winter walking, but … layers! 🙂
Michelle at Scribbit
That is cold for you–not much warmer than what we’ve got here. Keep warm!
Starshine
Stay warm up there! Hubs and I are heading to the mountains today, and I ended up buying a delicious parka yesterday, because I knew I’d need it! BRRR!
xoxo
Linda Atkins
I must know: What does happen to gold earrings when it’s 70 below? I like cold weather a lot–as a child in Michigan, I was notorious in my immediate neighborhood for walking around without a coat on in winter, and here in San Francisco currently, I am loving the cold bike rides to work in the morning in just a t-shirt (well, and also pants and underpants :-). But what Ted wrote reminded me of when I arrived at work this morning and noticed that my fingers felt slightly not as they usually do; I realized they were a bit stiff from the cold.
J
Linda, they don’t actually do any worse in -70 than they do in -20…they freeze and it’s painful. Gives me a headache. 🙂 I didn’t have pierced ears back then, though. Oh, glasses on the bridge of your nose aren’t comfy, either. If they’re metal frames, esp.
ML
I agree, you do adjust. We went down to southern Utah – St. George – a couple years ago and visited with some friends. It was 85 degrees and very pleasant. They thought it was freezing because they’re used to 100 – 120 degree heat every day. We thought they were nuts! So go figure.
apathy lounge
34 is cold to me, too. So is 28..which is what it’s been here during the last day or so.
Jimmy
39 here on the east coast of NC as I type! Hell yeah, it’s cold!
I’m ready for the apostrophe/punctuation/grammer police now!!!!!LOL!!!!!
msmamma
It’s so weird. Winter is so long that when 30 breaks I take the dogs outside without a jacket and remark how warm it seems! 40 and people are driving with their windows open.