It's cccccCOLD!

So many things happening around the world, and I'm consumed with the Weather. Again? Still?
No, this is NOT Wisconsin. It's the Antarctic, where it's so cold the water freezes the instant it meets the air. It's not that cold here. And while I think it's cold, I was just reading about the North East, and how those people are having really cold weather and NO POWER! That is so much worse than what we're experiencing that it's not even the same category. However, here's MY latest weather story...

Last week we had snow. Lots of snow piled everywhere from clearing the roads and sidewalks. I figured it was the beginning of a long, White Winter. We were having temps in the low 20's. Typical Winter Weather.

Yesterday, a warm front came through. 45 degrees!! and RAIN! Lots of rain. It took those piles of snow down to half their size, and exposed all the dirt and debris under that cover of pretty white.

Immediately behind the warm front, was a cold front. The temperature plummeted to 11 degrees in a short period of time, freezing the rain and melted snow. Oh Boy! With the cold temperatures, came 40mph winds, which brought the temp with windchill in the -20's.

Today it is sunny, but bitterly cold. Even with the sunshine, the temperature is not even a degree. The current temp is .3, and with the windchill figured in, it's -17. I don't have to go to work until 2pm, so I'll be staying in the house. I'm afraid of the cold!

Our Winter Advisory is in effect until later today, when the wind will calm down. Once that happens, the temperature is supposed to go up, enough that it can snow tomorrow. It doesn't snow when it's this bitterly cold, and now I actually WANT it to snow, to cover all these dirty snowbanks with clean, sparkling White!

Weather Report

I'm not complaining. I'm merely reporting the conditions. The deplorable conditions!
We got 3-5 inches of snow today. That's ok. It's Winter, It Snows! However, the forecast for the next 5 days is frightening! The highs are in the LOW 20's, and the lows are in the single digits and low teens!
It's going to be a LONG winter if this is any indication of things to come.

Six more Inches!

The weather continues to define my reality. When it's snowing, I prefer to stay home. When it's really cold out, I prefer to stay at home. Guess I've become something of a recluse this winter. I leave the house to go to work only because I need to pay for the house. It is no hardship being at home. The computer connects me to the world, and I have movies and books and art supplies. I can always cook, or clean. I'm rather content.

My husband is another story. He is the social one, Being a double Gemini, he LOVES to talk, and these enforced retreats leave him desperate for conversation. He wears my ears out after the first hour. Guess that's why they created cell phones. He wanders through the house, talking and gesturing, and getting his fix.

No more snow in the forecast this week. But lots of cold. So I'll lay in more provisions, and plan to snuggle in my nest and make the best of it. If I'm being truthful, I sort of enjoy it!

Oh me, Oh my...

Just read the forecast for the next few days. More snow on the way. Big whoop. I have quit freaking out every time it happens. It's Winter, this is Wisconsin...Snow is normal. I'm getting used to it.

What has me worried this time is the COLD that is coming after the snow. Friday night the cold begins, and the low, with wind chill will be 17 - 27 degrees BELOW zero! The high on Saturday is going to be 2 degrees! It is supposed to be sunny, so that is some consolation. Sunday will be about the same. The high might get all the way to 4 degrees. Guess it's time to buy the additive to keep the fuel line from freezing.

What was I thinking when I agreed to leave San Diego for a life in Wisconsin?

One Extreme to the Other

For many years, I've not cared, especially, for Summer. It's too hot, too many people on vacation messing up the traffic flow and the line for ice cream. This may have started when summer quit being a carefree respite from school and became just another season to live through.

Then we moved to Wisconsin and suddenly Summer is a gift! I still dislike extreme heat, but prefer the heat to the cold that is coming now that we're nearing the end of August. Part of me is in the panic mode, but I remember surviving FIVE winters, and figure I'll endure another one.

Every year I get the same thought. Wouldn't it be nice to bottle the sunshine, intense heat and smell of summer. Then in January when it seems that the cold will NEVER go away, we could open a bottle and be struck in the face with the essence of Summer? Conversely, we could bottle that mind numbing cold of February to blast us in July. A/C and Central Heat are just not the same experience.


Now, if I could only figure out a way to achieve this, I think my fortune would be secured!

WINTER

December was the kind of winter I enjoy. The temperatures were mostly in the 40's (high) and 20's (low). We had lots of sun and I was thinking, "this isn't so hard!" Then came January. It's been 20's (high) and single digit lows. We still have sunshine (thank goodness, or I'd be depressed as well as cold) but more wind. So, the temperature with the windchill is something I can't even think about. Now, the forecast for the beginning of February is for single digit highs!! With wind!!! Who knows what the lows will be. If it's going to be this cold, it doesn't matter if the sun shines or not. I'm depressed. I really don't like the cold. So what am I doing in Wisconsin? I keep telling myself to remember that we're required to endure Winter to enjoy Spring. Right now it doesn't seem like a great tradeoff, but I'll sing a different tune come April. And how is the weather in YOUR neck of the woods?