Baby it’s cold outside — What are you doing to ride out the storms?

[Trudie]

We’re officially in a blizzard (Iowa). It didn’t stop us from going to a couple of basketball games today (sufficiently bundled - we live less than a mile from the colosseum). But other than that, it’s a real hellscape out there and we’re staying home. We’ll probably be inside a lot through next Wednesday. Wind chill is at -45 (classified as life threatening if you get stranded). Lots is canceled.

I know we’re not the only corner of the world dealing with this. How are the rest of you managing through the storms? Share your “nesting projects” and clever recipes.

[cannotWAIT]

We ventured out to our friends' house for lunch and games today, then came home and cooked a nice dinner and watched Bull Durham, which my partner had never seen. That movie is now 36 years old! I feel ancient . . .

[BlueMR2]

Decided to stay home.  As much as I enjoy the adventure of going out during Winter storms the things we would do were not within walking distance and it's pretty abusive on the car which I'd like to keep as long as possible...

[Metalcat]

I'm in Canada, but we're getting the same system. We had the worst of it yesterday.

We organized things to stay in. Went out today for groceries while it had died down and the city had removed a lot of the snow from the major artery street we live on. That said, winter storms are the norm here in the winter, so we're just kind of used to adjusting to them. Now that we both work from home, it's SOOOO much better than being forced to commute in this deadly shit.

Our condo complex takes care of the snow and we have a heated underground garage. We also have a gym, pool, stores, etc connected by tunnels. So basically, if it's bad weather, we just don't even notice it.

Because storms are common, our city infrastructure is well equipped to manage it. If you can stay off the roads for 24 hrs, they usually have it reasonably cleaned up. If you have to commute, things can be dangerous.

As for the cold, it's still snowing so it's very mild.

[Metalcat]

We ventured out to our friends' house for lunch and games today, then came home and cooked a nice dinner and watched Bull Durham, which my partner had never seen. That movie is now 36 years old! I feel ancient . . .

I was *just* scrolling movies yesterday and saw Bull Durham and thought that it's such a good movie and I hadn't seen it in ages.

[cannotWAIT]

We ventured out to our friends' house for lunch and games today, then came home and cooked a nice dinner and watched Bull Durham, which my partner had never seen. That movie is now 36 years old! I feel ancient . . .

I was *just* scrolling movies yesterday and saw Bull Durham and thought that it's such a good movie and I hadn't seen it in ages.

It really is! At the time it was a huge thing to have a woman in her 40s in such a sexual role and it wouldn't be today, so yay progress. I also didn't realize (or had completely forgotten) that she was partnered with Tim Robbins at the time. As I was watching the scenes with them I was thinking ew, this is not a believable pairing at all. Ha.

[mistymoney]

-7 here, not sure of windchill.

I really don't even try to go out in this weather, seems silly to tempt fate and can just wait for that balmy day when it reaches 17! So - staying put unless an emergency situation comes up or someone elses needs me to help them. Things can go wrong - like just a flat tire can put you in danger! or at home the heating goes out and you need to get on the list for a repair person asap or the pipes will freeze. Does not seem worth the risk.

Rationing out the wet cat food as I didn't stock up. I'll be out of most of my food soon, too, but I have enough to get by with although will be relatively uninspiring. Mostly lentil soup with whatever veg is available. Have nuts and dried fruit too.

Good time to relax on the sofa undercovers with tea or hot cocoa and books or movies.

[Trudie]

Still negative 45 here, but the roads are reasonably clear and it’s sunny today. We went for lunch within a couple of miles of our house, taking main roads to get there. It was good to get out, and we stopped at Aldi to get a gallon of milk and some chocolate. Now we’re home.

I’m rather enjoying lots of creative loafing. In anticipation of the storm (and in a break between storms), we stocked up at the stores last Thursday, so our cupboards are full. I’m enjoying cooking up pots of soup and freezer meals for later. I just read the Hannah Vogel mystery series by Rebecca Cantrell and am now about a fourth of the way through Stephen King’s “The Shining.” I feel like the last person on earth to read a King novel, even though I’ve known for some time that he’s a brilliant writer.

I’ve started organizing my income taxes and have finished the tax paperwork for our LLc. Keeping up with laundry and light cleaning, but that’s hardly work.

I checked out the first two DVDs in the “WKRP in Cincinnati “ tv series, but I keep getting drawn to reading.

We live in a condo with a heated garage and a workout room, so we’re not bothered at all by snow removal. I’m very satisfied with my life of creative loafing, so much so that I could be content this way for awhile.

[getsorted]

I am farther south, but we are below zero and in "feels like" even further below zero. I have ice on the inside of my windows. We have humidifiers running and a pot boiling on the stove because it's painfully dry.

We both have colds, so it is a convenient excuse to radically overdo screen time. I have one of those cheesy space heaters that look like a wood stove and I swear that red glow makes me feel warmer.

[Kris]

Husband, electric blanket, cat, and a stack of books. Bliss.

[Sibley]

Spent a decent chunk of yesterday shoveling snow at 2 houses. Luckily, we didn't get much. Otherwise, today I am being a lump on the couch with an electric blanket, a cat, and a book. WFH Monday and Tuesday so I can avoid the cold too. Furnace is running a lot of course but it's keeping up fine.

In order to ride out the extreme cold, when the temps are going to 0F I turn off the water in the utility room, open the sink taps, and close the door. I can't stop the pipes from freezing when it goes below 0, so I don't try. I just prepare them so they can freeze without damage. That room doesn't retain heat at all so I just isolate it as best I can.

Parents are staying home as well, their house is newer and has wall insulation so they're fine.

[GuitarStv]

We took a four hour family hike with the dog today.  Lots of fresh show down and was -5 to -6 with a windchill somewhere around -15, so chilly but not miserable with the right clothing.  Came home and warmed up with some hot chocolate and a thick crockpot stew . . . our son wants to watch Star Wars again tonight, so we'll probably do that for the rest of the evening.

[Metalcat]

It's starting to get a bit colder now that the snow has stopped, but still not at all the normal level of cold we have this time of year.

It's about -18C/0F right now, but we still don't have the heat in except for an IR space heater for the cats who don't have fur. It has to get down below -25C/-13F for us to need more than the heat we get from sharing 5 walls with other heated units.

Usually having the old LCD TV on for awhile is enough to make the apartment toasty.

And we're not people who tolerate a cold house, I mean that without turning the heat on, I can walk around in bare feet and a t-shirt most of the time.

[Josiecat22222]

Baking bread and making soup. And reading with my dog who is basically a lap blanket.  He's 100lbs, but likes to lie on me.

[Metalcat]

Baking bread and making soup. And reading with my dog who is basically a lap blanket.  He's 100lbs, but likes to lie on me.

We made bread and soup today too, but our dog is 6lb

[jrhampt]

We’ve had high temps with torrential downpours for months now - three storms just in the past week with temps in the 50s and 60s that caused lots of flooding throughout the northeast, so I’m just happy the temperatures have finally dropped to freezing so we will get snow instead of rain for a bit.  Can’t take anymore rain, the ground is just too saturated and the water table is very high.  I’ve been working through my collection of library books, mixing old fashioneds, and pumping my basement.

[TreeLeaf]

I filled up the gas tanks for both of my vehicles before the freeze came, and am thankful that I heavily invested in my home gym and treadmill and cancelled my gym membership last year.

Now I can stay inside and exercise when it's horribly cold outside. :)

[Adventine]

We live in an area that doesn't get a lot of snow most years, so people were panic buying groceries and getting all stressed about their car commutes. Our pantry was already stocked before the scary-sounding forecast, so we only went to the grocery for fun stuff, during non-peak hours.

We haven't needed to drive anywhere this weekend. Still, I double-checked prepped the emergency bag in our car (blankets, nonperishable food and a first aid kit). I also charged our power banks and laptops.

I've finished five books so far over the past two days while enjoying multiple variations of my favorite comfort food: piping hot bowls of congee topped with potstickers/eggs/sliced beef/good soy sauce. Yum.

[tygertygertyger]

-7 F here right now. I'm finishing knitting a Christmas stocking for my dog, and watching YouTube home tours of remote Finland and Alaska properties. My partner and I just made a batch of veggie empanadas that will go into the freezer.

During the days, we are doing walks outside in the woods (note: we live in a suburban area with lots of forest preserves). Our dog LOVES this weather so much, so we layer up and are often the only ones outside. Dog happily rolls and digs in the snow, attempts to run (but is leashed... we are holding him back from greatness).

I think I did a sudoku puzzle today. I am basically surrounded on my couch with creature comforts - tea, water bottle, book, knitting. I enjoy this time of year, despite the frost creeping up the inside of our windows.

[crocheted_stache]

Living in a part of California where it's mild enough that we were passed by a shirtless jogger while we were out walking this evening. For those of us who run a little cooler (me), there are a extra layers of blankets and sweaters, and more soup and baking is happening now than usually does in summer.

Stay warm and safe, all, and check back in July or August for the rant about the off-the-charts heat and/or wildfire smoke.

[Trudie]

I love all these stories of nesting, contentment, and creative loafing. Since I'm FIREd, I no longer have the "dreads" about my long commute -especially on Sunday nights.

I do need to go out for a few hours tomorrow to work at the community free market.

[Metalcat]

Living in a part of California where it's mild enough that we were passed by a shirtless jogger while we were out walking this evening. For those of us who run a little cooler (me), there are a extra layers of blankets and sweaters, and more soup and baking is happening now than usually does in summer.

Stay warm and safe, all, and check back in July or August for the rant about the off-the-charts heat and/or wildfire smoke.

Fun thing about where I live in that we get monster storms, deadly cold AND deadly heat and fires. Temps here range from colder than Mars to as hot as Miami in July.

We actually run away in the summers now, which lets us escape the heat, which is nice since we haven't had AC for a few years thanks to balcony repairs.

We're like reverse snow birds. We seasonally go to the locations with the "worse" weather. We spend our summers in rural Newfoundland where it can snow in June, and then we spend our winters in Easter Ontario where it's much, much colder and gets much nastier snow than our NL town. They have hurricane winds though, so snow storms and extreme cold are a reasonable trade off.

BUT, the combo means we get to do spring twice and fall twice.

[LD_TAndK]

...
Since I'm FIREd, I no longer have the "dreads" about my long commute -especially on Sunday nights.
...

There was a period where I could just as easily work from home, but it wasn't socially accepted yet. So I'd be vigorously checking the weather at 5 AM figuring out if I want risk accident and injury to look like a "team player" by coming in to the office. But there was no real benefit to taking that risk. ugh

[Laserjet3051]

XC skiied most of the weekend; glorious packed powder wilderness trails were to be had in every direction. When your heart is pumping fast enough, -15°F (w/WC) doesnt even register. Also spent an entire morning manually digging out from the storm (muscle over motor) as it had piled up high enough to prevent our doors from opening.

[LaineyAZ]

...

I do need to go out for a few hours tomorrow to work at the community free market.

Curious - what is the community free market?

[Metalcat]

...
Since I'm FIREd, I no longer have the "dreads" about my long commute -especially on Sunday nights.
...

There was a period where I could just as easily work from home, but it wasn't socially accepted yet. So I'd be vigorously checking the weather at 5 AM figuring out if I want risk accident and injury to look like a "team player" by coming in to the office. But there was no real benefit to taking that risk. ugh

It's so insane.

When you live somewhere where winter storms are normal, it's just seen as a totally normal thing to risk your life to report to the office. Like what the actual fuck??

I used to get in my car at 6:45am to hear on the radio that there were already 90 accidents that morning.

Granted, I had a job where I absolutely could not work from home, but now that I don't, I can't imagine going back to that reality. Fucking insanity.

[Trudie]

...

I do need to go out for a few hours tomorrow to work at the community free market.

Curious - what is the community free market?

The community free market is sponsored by a local group. They get donations from local grocery stores, restaurants, catering companies, and food service at the university, Basically, it’s a lot of produce that’s close to its sell by date but is still very usable. People are given numbers when they arrive and move through while we fill their bags and carts with free groceries. It’s a wonderful service and not only feeds people but keeps massive amounts of food waste out of landfills. The same organization also serves a free hot meal every day — no questions asked. When all of the guests have been served the volunteers can shop what’s left.

[Trudie]

...
Since I'm FIREd, I no longer have the "dreads" about my long commute -especially on Sunday nights.
...

There was a period where I could just as easily work from home, but it wasn't socially accepted yet. So I'd be vigorously checking the weather at 5 AM figuring out if I want risk accident and injury to look like a "team player" by coming in to the office. But there was no real benefit to taking that risk. ugh

It's so insane.

When you live somewhere where winter storms are normal, it's just seen as a totally normal thing to risk your life to report to the office. Like what the actual fuck??

I used to get in my car at 6:45am to hear on the radio that there were already 90 accidents that morning.

Granted, I had a job where I absolutely could not work from home, but now that I don't, I can't imagine going back to that reality. Fucking insanity.

I was in finance and accounting for a small company and unable to work remotely (although I’m sure they were forced to reckon with it during Covid — after I had left. The first two weeks of January always coincided with horrible weather but were precisely the times I couldn’t be absent. I spent far too much time on treacherous rural roads. The place was toxic in other ways too. Glad to be done.

After we FIREd and moved I hardly drive. I walk lots of places and rely on the excellent public bus system right outside my door. Not that it matters, but I don’t think others get this about me. I absolutely love the bus and the extra walking it requires. I’m so relaxed when I’m on it and my mind goes to more creative places.

[Metalcat]

...
Since I'm FIREd, I no longer have the "dreads" about my long commute -especially on Sunday nights.
...

There was a period where I could just as easily work from home, but it wasn't socially accepted yet. So I'd be vigorously checking the weather at 5 AM figuring out if I want risk accident and injury to look like a "team player" by coming in to the office. But there was no real benefit to taking that risk. ugh

It's so insane.

When you live somewhere where winter storms are normal, it's just seen as a totally normal thing to risk your life to report to the office. Like what the actual fuck??

I used to get in my car at 6:45am to hear on the radio that there were already 90 accidents that morning.

Granted, I had a job where I absolutely could not work from home, but now that I don't, I can't imagine going back to that reality. Fucking insanity.

I was in finance and accounting for a small company and unable to work remotely (although I’m sure they were forced to reckon with it during Covid — after I had left. The first two weeks of January always coincided with horrible weather but were precisely the times I couldn’t be absent. I spent far too much time on treacherous rural roads. The place was toxic in other ways too. Glad to be done.

After we FIREd and moved I hardly drive. I walk lots of places and rely on the excellent public bus system right outside my door. Not that it matters, but I don’t think others get this about me. I absolutely love the bus and the extra walking it requires. I’m so relaxed when I’m on it and my mind goes to more creative places.

For sure, if my legs worked I would love public transit. I used to enjoy the bus when I wasn't in a rush to get anywhere.

[Sibley]

The funny thing about accounting is sections of the field are perfectly setup to work from home and have been for a long time. They have to be, because they work from client's offices all the time. I was 100% able to work from home in 2007 because I was able to work from a client's office. But it just wasn't a thing.

Bookkeeping type work is a little harder because if you're processing invoices then you need the invoices. But, companies and firms have been going paperless for at least 20 years now because it's cheaper than shuffling all the paper. Which means that you need a handful of people onsite to scan in the paper that arrives, but 95% of the work can be done from anywhere.

The reason finance and accounting "can't work from home" is because large numbers of the people, often the older generations, are workaholics and control freaks.

[GuitarStv]

The reason finance and accounting "can't work from home" is because large numbers of the people, often the older generations, are workaholics and control freaks.

I've usually found that the reason people who should be able to work from home can't is shit management.  If you're a horrible manager who has no idea what the people under you are doing at work, it seems to be the default to rely on actually seeing asses in seats to gauge work being done.  That's something that the dumbest managers really like to focus on.

[getsorted]

The reason finance and accounting "can't work from home" is because large numbers of the people, often the older generations, are workaholics and control freaks.

I've usually found that the reason people who should be able to work from home can't is shit management.  If you're a horrible manager who has no idea what the people under you are doing at work, it seems to be the default to rely on actually seeing asses in seats to gauge work being done.  That's something that the dumbest managers really like to focus on.

Plus, an absolutely shocking number of people came through an entire pandemic without ever learning to properly use remote management tools. I have managers who don't know how to create a Teams meeting.

[Cranky]

We had three rounds of snow in 5 days and there’s a lot of snow. The streets have been plowed but it’s too cold for salt to be effective so they remain snowpacked.

We’ve been to the grocery store but have otherwise stayed in. We did online church yesterday and commented on how much better that has gotten since 2020!

I’m sort of glum about how much harder it will be to get around for the next 6 weeks. A friend fell on the ice last week and has been in the hospital so I’m extra leery.

[Trudie]

The reason finance and accounting "can't work from home" is because large numbers of the people, often the older generations, are workaholics and control freaks.

I've usually found that the reason people who should be able to work from home can't is shit management.  If you're a horrible manager who has no idea what the people under you are doing at work, it seems to be the default to rely on actually seeing asses in seats to gauge work being done.  That's something that the dumbest managers really like to focus on.

Truth. My manager was always on the road, but nonetheless managed to call everyone everyday to try to justify the fact that while it was okay for him to manage in absentia, our asses better be in chairs getting the work done. Gos I don't miss those days.

[GuitarStv]

The reason finance and accounting "can't work from home" is because large numbers of the people, often the older generations, are workaholics and control freaks.

I've usually found that the reason people who should be able to work from home can't is shit management.  If you're a horrible manager who has no idea what the people under you are doing at work, it seems to be the default to rely on actually seeing asses in seats to gauge work being done.  That's something that the dumbest managers really like to focus on.

Plus, an absolutely shocking number of people came through an entire pandemic without ever learning to properly use remote management tools. I have managers who don't know how to create a Teams meeting.

I don't even understand how that's possible!

[Metalcat]

The reason finance and accounting "can't work from home" is because large numbers of the people, often the older generations, are workaholics and control freaks.

I've usually found that the reason people who should be able to work from home can't is shit management.  If you're a horrible manager who has no idea what the people under you are doing at work, it seems to be the default to rely on actually seeing asses in seats to gauge work being done.  That's something that the dumbest managers really like to focus on.

Plus, an absolutely shocking number of people came through an entire pandemic without ever learning to properly use remote management tools. I have managers who don't know how to create a Teams meeting.

I don't even understand how that's possible!

Oh, it's very possible.

I just spent a week with a virtual clinic owner who didn't know how to operate many of the virtual systems she depended on.

[FireLane]

No snow in NYC so far. It's just bitterly cold and windy here (although not -45, yikes!)

Mrs. FL and Little FL are both off from work/school for MLK Day, so we're having a lazy Monday around the house. Our apartment isn't too cold, but a thick robe and wool slippers make it extra cozy. We've been playing video games, reading books and watching The Sound of Music.

I like to cook when it's cold, since we get double duty out of the heat from the kitchen. I made a big pot of sweet potato black bean turkey chili for dinner this week, and we're planning to bake gingerbread cookies later.

[Trudie]

No snow in NYC so far. It's just bitterly cold and windy here (although not -45, yikes!)

Mrs. FL and Little FL are both off from work/school for MLK Day, so we're having a lazy Monday around the house. Our apartment isn't too cold, but a thick robe and wool slippers make it extra cozy. We've been playing video games, reading books and watching The Sound of Music.

I like to cook when it's cold, since we get double duty out of the heat from the kitchen. I made a big pot of sweet potato black bean turkey chili for dinner this week, and we're planning to bake gingerbread cookies later.

Sounds like a seriously fun way to spend time. Also, the chili recipe sounds fab. I've been in serious soup-making mode myself -- Italian weeding, chicken and noodle, and hamburger veg (tastes like goulash). My next recipe is a pot of sweet potato with Italian sausage. After that, scones or quickbreads with the frozen cranberries left in my freezer from Thanksgiving.

[jeninco]

We've been having sun break through each afternoon, so we've gotten outside for our usual 4-5 miles of walking each day. Today it warmed all the way up to 3 degrees (F)! (No idea what that looked like with windchill, and there was definitely enough of a breeze that I kept the hood up on my jacket.) I ran on Saturday (again, in the middle of the day) and re-affirmed my belief that proper clothing makes almost any kind of weather tolerable.

We're having soup again: this is the kind of weather where I aim for soupy or stew-y dinners, and try to get some baking in.

[mistymoney]

We had three rounds of snow in 5 days and there’s a lot of snow. The streets have been plowed but it’s too cold for salt to be effective so they remain snowpacked.

We’ve been to the grocery store but have otherwise stayed in. We did online church yesterday and commented on how much better that has gotten since 2020!

I’m sort of glum about how much harder it will be to get around for the next 6 weeks. A friend fell on the ice last week and has been in the hospital so I’m extra leery.

oh gosh! inpatient for a fall. did they break something? heaad injury?

[Trudie]

My uncle fell on the ice five years ago and clocked his head pretty hard. Suffered a TBI and ended up in a rehab center for a month getting OT and PT.

[Josiecat22222]

We've been having sun break through each afternoon, so we've gotten outside for our usual 4-5 miles of walking each day. Today it warmed all the way up to 3 degrees (F)! (No idea what that looked like with windchill, and there was definitely enough of a breeze that I kept the hood up on my jacket.) I ran on Saturday (again, in the middle of the day) and re-affirmed my belief that proper clothing makes almost any kind of weather tolerable.

We're having soup again: this is the kind of weather where I aim for soupy or stew-y dinners, and try to get some baking in.

My cousin is from Norway (an area accustomed to wintry weather) and she always says "There's no such thing as bad weather, only insufficient gear/clothing".  It sounds much cooler in Norwegian....

[Metalcat]

We've been having sun break through each afternoon, so we've gotten outside for our usual 4-5 miles of walking each day. Today it warmed all the way up to 3 degrees (F)! (No idea what that looked like with windchill, and there was definitely enough of a breeze that I kept the hood up on my jacket.) I ran on Saturday (again, in the middle of the day) and re-affirmed my belief that proper clothing makes almost any kind of weather tolerable.

We're having soup again: this is the kind of weather where I aim for soupy or stew-y dinners, and try to get some baking in.

My cousin is from Norway (an area accustomed to wintry weather) and she always says "There's no such thing as bad weather, only insufficient gear/clothing".  It sounds much cooler in Norwegian....

My family is from Denmark and I say this all the time.

...and the Newfies laugh at me and look at me like I'm a fucking idiot.

[GuitarStv]

We've been having sun break through each afternoon, so we've gotten outside for our usual 4-5 miles of walking each day. Today it warmed all the way up to 3 degrees (F)! (No idea what that looked like with windchill, and there was definitely enough of a breeze that I kept the hood up on my jacket.) I ran on Saturday (again, in the middle of the day) and re-affirmed my belief that proper clothing makes almost any kind of weather tolerable.

We're having soup again: this is the kind of weather where I aim for soupy or stew-y dinners, and try to get some baking in.

My cousin is from Norway (an area accustomed to wintry weather) and she always says "There's no such thing as bad weather, only insufficient gear/clothing".  It sounds much cooler in Norwegian....

My family is from Denmark and I say this all the time.

...and the Newfies laugh at me and look at me like I'm a fucking idiot.

I'm with them.  Cold is no biggie, but I've never found sufficient gear/clothing to feel joy while walking through a cutting sideways blown sleety freezing rain.

[Cranky]

We had three rounds of snow in 5 days and there’s a lot of snow. The streets have been plowed but it’s too cold for salt to be effective so they remain snowpacked.

We’ve been to the grocery store but have otherwise stayed in. We did online church yesterday and commented on how much better that has gotten since 2020!

I’m sort of glum about how much harder it will be to get around for the next 6 weeks. A friend fell on the ice last week and has been in the hospital so I’m extra leery.

oh gosh! inpatient for a fall. did they break something? heaad injury?

Yes, a shoulder and a kneecap. Ugh.

Wisconsin evidently leads the nation in death by falling, probably the combination of bad winters and heavy drinking.

I walked the grandson 4 blocks to school this morning. It was -12° F. My nose ran and then froze.

[getsorted]

We've been having sun break through each afternoon, so we've gotten outside for our usual 4-5 miles of walking each day. Today it warmed all the way up to 3 degrees (F)! (No idea what that looked like with windchill, and there was definitely enough of a breeze that I kept the hood up on my jacket.) I ran on Saturday (again, in the middle of the day) and re-affirmed my belief that proper clothing makes almost any kind of weather tolerable.

We're having soup again: this is the kind of weather where I aim for soupy or stew-y dinners, and try to get some baking in.

My cousin is from Norway (an area accustomed to wintry weather) and she always says "There's no such thing as bad weather, only insufficient gear/clothing".  It sounds much cooler in Norwegian....

My family is from Denmark and I say this all the time.

...and the Newfies laugh at me and look at me like I'm a fucking idiot.

I'm with them.  Cold is no biggie, but I've never found sufficient gear/clothing to feel joy while walking through a cutting sideways blown sleety freezing rain.

Same. I also notice people never say this who live in places where it's 107 degrees, humid, and buggy!

I prefer the English way-- complain about all weather, all the time, equally.

[Metalcat]

We've been having sun break through each afternoon, so we've gotten outside for our usual 4-5 miles of walking each day. Today it warmed all the way up to 3 degrees (F)! (No idea what that looked like with windchill, and there was definitely enough of a breeze that I kept the hood up on my jacket.) I ran on Saturday (again, in the middle of the day) and re-affirmed my belief that proper clothing makes almost any kind of weather tolerable.

We're having soup again: this is the kind of weather where I aim for soupy or stew-y dinners, and try to get some baking in.

My cousin is from Norway (an area accustomed to wintry weather) and she always says "There's no such thing as bad weather, only insufficient gear/clothing".  It sounds much cooler in Norwegian....

My family is from Denmark and I say this all the time.

...and the Newfies laugh at me and look at me like I'm a fucking idiot.

I'm with them.  Cold is no biggie, but I've never found sufficient gear/clothing to feel joy while walking through a cutting sideways blown sleety freezing rain.

Same. I also notice people never say this who live in places where it's 107 degrees, humid, and buggy!

I prefer the English way-- complain about all weather, all the time, equally.

lol this is why I shared that the Newfies laugh at me. There's no clothing for hurricane winds.

That said, they're shockingly whiny folks about weather since they live in extreme weather all the time. However, they're largely British descent, so maybe they come by the whining honestly. Because man, I have never heard a population bitch more constantly about the weather, literally no matter what it's like. And it's not just lip service to hating weather, no one ever uses their decks/balconies there, no matter how nice it is, if you see a neighbour sitting outside, there's a 90% chance that they're "from away."

They also do get 107 degree, humid, and extremely buggy weather, although not nearly as often as we get it here in the city, where frequently the air feels like soup.

Our hottest day last year in NL was exactly 107 incidentally, and this was exactly 2 weeks after we had freezing rain in late June, which was a total mindfuck.

Still, having gobs of great gear gets us outside a hell of a lot more than the locals who are more used to the insane weather than we are. Even the 6lb dog has gear and has no problem trudging out in 70+km winds with sideways rain. 100+km is a whole other issue.

[FireLane]

No snow in NYC so far. It's just bitterly cold and windy here (although not -45, yikes!)

Mrs. FL and Little FL are both off from work/school for MLK Day, so we're having a lazy Monday around the house. Our apartment isn't too cold, but a thick robe and wool slippers make it extra cozy. We've been playing video games, reading books and watching The Sound of Music.

I like to cook when it's cold, since we get double duty out of the heat from the kitchen. I made a big pot of sweet potato black bean turkey chili for dinner this week, and we're planning to bake gingerbread cookies later.

Sounds like a seriously fun way to spend time. Also, the chili recipe sounds fab. I've been in serious soup-making mode myself -- Italian weeding, chicken and noodle, and hamburger veg (tastes like goulash). My next recipe is a pot of sweet potato with Italian sausage. After that, scones or quickbreads with the frozen cranberries left in my freezer from Thanksgiving.

The chili is one of my favorite recipes! It's basically this, except I don't have a slow cooker so I just simmer it:

http://ourbestbites.com/2012/10/black-bean-and-sweet-potato-turkey-chili/

I made biscotti last year for dunking in coffee. That was really delicious, I should do it again.

[Trudie]

Thanks for the recipe. I will grab pumpkin puree the next time I'm at the store and give it a try.

Today I'm hoping to finish "The Shining" by Stephen King -- my first King book ever. As always, late to the party.

I've been doing some random cleaning out at home, but it's good to get rid of excess stuff. I'm constantly editing our kitchen items. It's almost impossible to buy stuff anymore in reasonable multiples. I have several new and like new kitchen items going to refugee families setting up homes.

[FlytilFIRE]

It got down to 50F here, so we had to close the windows. We're gutting it out, though, so we're o.k.

Seriously, be bloody careful. Last year my brother fell while shoveling (Wisconsin), and nearly died of a brain hemorrhage. Winter is nothing to sneeze at.