Again with the No Degrees

It's 2 out right now at 7:20pm.  That's 2F.  Earlier today as I was shoveling the few inches of snow we got the last couple of days, it was 17, but the wind was coming up.  A wind, once it really gets howling later on tonight, could pretty much kill you.

Because it's going to be -20 without the wind.  Yeah, -20.  And the wind is going pretty good right now as it is.  I'm glad I got the new windows in last year.

Now, I'm in the wussy East part of the state in the Twin Cities, not the manly Western parts near the Dakotas that are getting real blizzard-die-die-die conditions right now.  So, I'll probably be able to see the road tomorrow as I head into work.  Of course, everyone with kids is going to no-doubt have to deal with school closings again, so at least I'll get a good parking space.

A couple of weeks ago it was -24 when I woke up at 7am or so.  -24.  But that was a pretty calm day.  I don't envy me, my morning.

It seems like every day since December 1st, save 4 or 5, has been either below zero, snowing, or both.

No point to any of this, really, I just like to remind myself about the people who handled all this 200 years ago in sod huts.

"Danger, Will Robinson!"

From www.Weather.com for my zip code:

"A Winter Storm Warning is in effect.

A significant winter storm or hazardous winter weather is occurring, imminent, or likely, and is a threat to life and property. Stay vigilant for severe weather."

Today's forecast:

"Wintry Mix, High 35 degrees

Snowfall:
<1 in
Snow accumulations less than one inch"

Tonight:

"Rain/Snow, Low 33 degrees

Snowfall:
0 in
No significant snow accumulations"

Tomorrow:

"Rain/Snow, High 35 degrees

Snowfall:
<1 in
Snow accumulations less than one inch"

Some of these things are not like the others. Usually by the end of February I'm looking forward to the end of snow and sub-zero temps, this winter I get as excited as a ten-year-old at the prospect of a mere flurry.

Snowpocalypse Now

The Twin Cities are being warned about a possible eleventy-million inches of snow this weekend. Or something.

I, having partaken in the blind luck of taking this Friday off, and having nothing of import planned for this weekend, and having a full liquor cabinet, humidor, firewood stack, and a dog who loves snow like Ron Jeremy loves gullible checkout counter floozies, will consider this a solid win.

Happy snowfall, fellow babies!

Bring Me My Sunspots!

So it's -5 now. -5. I just had to run out and run my car for a little bit, just to be on the safe side. The scary part is that it didn't actually feel that bad. Didn't feel good, but not real bad.

Last week, Friday I think, it was 9F. Felt like a bloody heat wave.

Where are my susnpots? Where are my precious degrees?

"No Degrees Allowed (Or Birds)..."

-12 out now (1am)

Gonna be -1 tomorrow for a bright & sunny high, then dropping to -20 tomorrow night.

That's -20F without any wind chill, just a straight shot of ultra-frozen boogers in your nose with your first breath.

Yay, Minnesota. I can't figure out why no one wants to visit me in January or February...

Where Did All the Degrees Go?

So it's 1:50pm CST and it's 2 out. 2. Wind chill apparently down around -15 or so. Tonight it'll get down to around -4. Subract another 15-20 degrees if the breeze is still up and that's what I'll be coming home to after I leave work at midnight. And it's only DECEMBER. I'm not used to this crap starting this early - that nasty Canuckian Cold Stuff doesn't usually crash the border until mid-January.

O Mighty SunSpot Gods, Hearken To My Chattery Voice And Give To Me My Sunspots Back, I Beseech Thee!

C'mon, old Sol, you need me to dance for you or sumfink?

He's Mister White Xmas, He's Mister 10 Below!

Remember boys & girls: Mister Snow Miser sez that four-wheel drive helps us go; it doesn't help us stop.

Climate Change Activists Freeze Asses Off At DC Protest

I don't want to start another debate on global warming. Well, not today, anyway.

Still, its amusing that the folks from Capitol Climate Action -- currently engaged in a protest against a DC coal plant -- posted this on their blog:

"People are bundled up in their warmest coats and staying active by chanting."

Also on the same page, one of the intended participants writes:

"I don’t want to travel to DC from Frederick in the snow today."

I wonder if just a couple of them are thinking "A little warming would be OK, right about now."

He's Mister Snow Miser

Last several years? "Hmm, I live in Minnesota. 6-8" of snow, I think I'll hope that, assuming I can get home at all, I don't get stuck in an 8" drift because my Saturn has about 3" of ground clearance and they don't plow very well the first night on my back streets and will I make it up the alleyway to my driveway and over the plow-ridge or will I be able to make it UP the little hill so I can come DOWN the alleyway and try to make that tight turn in lots of churned-up snow with no momentum and I think I wore the right shoes for shoveling my car out at 12:30am."

Tonight? "Hmm, I live in Minnesota. 6-8" of snow, I'll just pop the Jeep into 4WD and - Holy Crap! By Finnegan's shiny tunic, I'm home already."

Mileage? Immeasurably low.

Satisfaction? Immeasurably high.

We'll Always Have January

Every year now around January/February two phrases come out of my mouth with depressing frequency:

"Exactly why did I move here again?"

and

"FUCK!"


These testimonials can usually be heard by those around me whenever I open a door to the outside.

Shoveling, Shoveling, Shoveling

My mom's town in Massachusetts was crushed by last week's ice storm, and more storms this weekend aren't anything to sneeze at. Here in Minnesota I've shoveled my walk and driveway for the 4th time in two weeks, and more is coming tomorrow, along with a plunge to -5 degrees tonight that will stay a few days (darn that "global warming").

I'm whiney about this weather in 2008 - how did the pioneers and settlers deal with this crap in connestogas and sod houses?

As every generation says, I guess, there were giants in those days. Better men than me, at any rate.