OTIT will be COLD here

If you find out, pleasae let me know the answer. Jim.

Is that $250 per year? We pay almost that much per month for heating oil in the winter months!

No, per month! Last year we were paying between $300-$400 per month, plus electricity which is another $100-$150 in the winter (higher in the summer). Sorry, the Americans would've understood - should've been clear.

Ellice

"Joan E." wrote in I've been ROTFLMBOWTIME to all the great responses, as has a coworker to whom I've been reading them!

Dig those sweaters out of the RV, Gill, and be happy you can finally wear them...*without* having to come up here in the f-f-f-f-f-frozen north!

It was -26 last night, -21 this morning and IT'S GOING TO GET ABOVE ZERO TODAY!!!!!! Wahooo! Everyone, this cold snap has finally come to an end...the predicted high for Sunday is 30 and mid 20s for most of next week. Heat wave! If it does get up to 30, I don't have to wear my down coat.

Dawne, how are things up there? You should have some of it already...

Unfortunately, you Easterners will have a few more days coming, but it's *coming to an end* YIPPEEEE!!!!!!!

We are in the throes of a heatwave today, only -16C right now (noon) and most important, no wind. Inspired by Fred's brave example of marching around in a t shirt at -48, I was out this morning shovelling my front steps wearing my fleecy robe and fuzzy slippers (needed to spread some ice melter on the steps for the letter carrier, it has been too cold for it to work) And yes, it is supposed to wander up to near zero sometime in the next day or so, but perhaps with more snow or even freezing rain, so the roads will be a mess. If it gets to zero, I may toss Big Honkin Alice the grey cat outside for a few minutes, as she has a serious case of cat crazies caused by being indoors for at least 8 weeks. Funny thing, yesterday the temperature was still -26, but the sun was out after a few grey days and the sky was blue (my big fir trees, heavily laden with snow, look like glittered Christmas cards lit by the sun against that bright blue sky) and people were walking around smiling like it was warm out.

Dawne

Thanks for clarifying that, I was thinking that either your gas was very inexpensive or you have everything turned off for most of the time

If you miss bridge and want to play online, try

Once you play bridge, any other card game pales by comparison. The two clubs where I play are members of the ACBL and although some are fiercely competitive, I am not to the extent that I would slice my partner or whatever.

Well I would like to put a garrotte around his neck !

I used to play on the Zone but now I rarely play online. I am Lucretia and I do know several people who play there. Maybe see you sometime.

So glad you like it!!

Cheryl

I might land a jet in the Hudson

Yes, I think in that case it was harder on the bird lol

Thanks for the link. I just registered - but with my IceRulz psuedonym of course.

Ellice

ellice wrote:

When we moved from Lizard Land to Magnoliaville, I was the proud owner of ONE heavy coat. It is a hooded thigh length car coat with an inner front jacket that zips closed and the outer jacket snaps and buttons closed. It was nice and warm, even when it was very cold for MOI -- which was and still is anything below about 60F. It has a nice hood and the sleeves have knit cuffs inside the regular sleeves. Great at keeping the wind out. Unfortunately I realized after the first winter here (where it routinely gets down to freezing for several days several times during the winter) that a relatively short coat just wasn't gonna cut it for MOI. My poor legs absolutely froze during that first winter. I also realized that an umbrella only keeps your head and upper body dry -- does absolutely nothing to protect your calves from getting soaked in the downpours we can experience. First thing I did was buy a lightweight raincoat, the kind that folds up into a little bag. It's long, too & comes almost down to my ankles. I keep it in the car for emergencies because since then, I have bought numerous coats -- several of them long. I now have a nice black wool full length (to my lower calf) "dress" coat, a full length down filled hooded black nylon coat (I was VERY glad to have that when I visited Fred in January), a thigh length split cowhide coat with *real* sheared wool lining (unfortunately, it's so heavy it gives me a headache when I wear it -- LOL), a full length hooded raincoat with quilted inner lining and tacky faux fur at the wrists and on the hood. I have all of these coats (which I bought in June or July so that I got them cheap) and the one I wear all the time is a wool blend hounds tooth full length "swing" style coat. That thing keeps me toasty warm and keeps the wind out too! Of course, it doesn't get colder than Zandru's Seventh Hell here like it does for you guys up north of the border or in New England or the wilds of ND. But I'm here to tell you that 28F for a high in north Georgia is VERY cold, indeed! I just thank the powers that be that there's no precipitation or we would be having a lot of snow! That means I would have to stay home because I have virtually no experience driving in the stuff and if I don't have to I certainly won't! But if I did I have a nice coat suitable for all occasions and sorts of weather. And yes, I layer -- you learn to do that when it gets cold in Lizard Land because no one has a coat heavy enough to keep them warm so you HAVE to have layer upon layer. That way as it warms up, you just start taking the layers off until you reach a comfy temp. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

Understood. It would crack me up when the guys would get soooo serious, and it was really daunting to new pledges. Consequently, I actually got to be a decent player, and was able to really work through with the new guys, and had a lot of friendly time. It was always a surprise to the "serious" guys when I was actually competent - tee hee.

Ellice

She has a shed she can walk in and out of (although she usually prefers to be out) and, yes, she does have her winter blanket on. Doesn't do much for covering eyes, though! :) I take the blanket off when it gets above 0...I'm sure she'll be happy to get that thing off this weekend! Fly bonnet? I don't think I've ever seen one around here, even in the summer, although I suppose *someone* around here must use them. For just a short second I thought about knitting her a couple of ear covers! LOL

Very true. I remember DH telling about when he was in Nam, where it was 100+ and he came home for a visit in the summer...72 degrees and he was freezing. Blood definitely thins out in those temps.

Joan

Just for the record, as people may know I live in Ottawa, Canada, the second coldest capital city in the world. I had a full tank of oil to start the heating season. The first week in January 2009, I had my first oil delivery; just 602 litres at a cost of $454 Cdn. This, I think, illustrates the advantage of a house that is properly insulated. My hydro (electric) bill is about $100 per month in addition. Jim.

Yup - we've got a severe wind chill warning for tonight (-30C with the wind). Luckily it is supposed to improve by Sunday.

MargW

I do! And seriously, I do wear it every day. At least every day it's below zero! :)

Joan