Cold Weather

Today's post doesn't have much to do with the kids. However, our cold weather has been a huge topic of conversation and a favorite cousin of mine in LA thought it would be fun...or funny to let me know that it was going to be 86 degrees there today. Below was my response.

As I walked the half block home from the closest parking spot last night, because I couldn't pull in the driveway (it was covered with snow) and the high school up the street can't teach their parents where to park I thought this isn't that bad. After all, none of my neighbors had shoveled yet, so walking down the middle of the street to get to my house…not that bad. Not that bad that I had a half inch of snow in my shoes. It will melt into my shoes causing my toes to go numb and maybe I'll regain feeling in a few weeks.

As I wrap into 2 blankets to sit on the couch and watch TV last night I thought this isn't that bad. I'm sure glad Dennis has used his last 3 and a half weeks being laid off NOT putting up the plastic on the windows. That'll give me something else to do this weekend.

As I dressed in 10 layers of clothes to just walk from my front door to my car to drive the 15 minute drive to my office I noticed that LA and most of Cali was having record setting heat. I really have to say that I felt kind of sorry for everyone out there. While, yes, it might sound nice to have 86 degree temps as opposed to -3 (a good 90 degree swing) how can you really appreciate it? I mean, you sit in your car on a crowded freeway, waiting 15 minutes to get from the point where you can see your exit to reach even the start of the exit ramp (oh by the way, that's my one way commute time). The air conditioning blowing on high, because the air is so polluted you can't roll the window down. Will you really appreciate the weather? Sure, you can run outside, if you can breathe due to pollution, in January, in shorts, while I go to the gym and have to make sure my hair is completely dry before I even think about walking back outside.

As I put on my second pair of socks this morning I thought it won't be that bad. Wind chills of -20, we've seen worse this year, and it sounds like we might see worse yet this week, not that bad. It makes me appreciate when I get to wear sandals…in May.

As I chased after my kids trying to walk out the door for school without gloves I thought it won't be that bad. After all, it's -3 and their walking to school. Some fresh air will do them good! I mean they are lucky, it's only 6 houses, not the 5 miles that my grandpa claimed to walk (up hill both ways) every day.

As I ran from my car to the door at work I thought this isn't that bad. Really, so what if I dropped one of my favorite, cute, and incredibly warm gloves while grocery shopping at 10pm on Sunday night, these extra gloves of the kids aren't really that bad. Fashion statement at the very least! Thinsulate ROCKS!!!!

As I ran back from the office to the car I thought this isn't that bad. I'm prepared for this because either the heat was going out at work today or cost containment and green initiatives have meant that I never really got a chance to warm up today. I'm use to being cold.

As I drove my short 15 minute across town commute home I thought this isn't that bad. My windshield wiper fluid is out, the drivers side wiper is ripping because of the ice and snow stuck to it for days on end. Oh well, I just stopped at the next 5 gas stations to clean my windows.

As I walk into the house I think this isn't that bad. I slip off my wet shoes and step off the rug onto the freezing wood floor. Who am I kidding…this sucks! And I ask, why do I (or anyone for that matter) live in this climate?

Good people
Good schools
Good community
Lower crime rates (most of the time)
Less traffic
Less pollution
Change of seasons (although we don't always appreciate it)
Low cost of living 214 sunny days per year

But LA has 284 sunny days per year…2 months more then us…time to think about moving. On a positive note, I can feel my toes again!