Quick Updates

First off, my computer still seems to be dead. Sad. RIP little macbook.

In warmer news, we are currently in day 2 of a bit of a blizzard/ storm
that has engulfed us pretty hard. I use the term "warmer news" because
maybe it will make you all feel warmer. I am, in fact, quite cold. It could
be worse, our cabin is pretty well insulated and the little heater keeps in
usually in the upper 50s most of the day. As I write this though, its 11am
and is currently 24F outside with 33+mph winds. When you combine those, the
windchill is down to -14F (that -24C for any non-Americans out there).
Thats cold, especially when the wind plays such a large part in it. Just
bitter cold is one thing- jackets, gloves, hats can help with that- but the
wind just finds its way into every unprotected nook and cranny on your
body.

To be honest, I was actually just fine outside from the next down, other
than maybe my fingertips and the occasional gust that finds its way down
your neckline. The problem is usually your face. While doing my rounds this
morning, I had on a beanie, goggles, and a relatively thin facemask (a
Buff for anyone interested). Having a facemask is a huge asset when the
wind kicks up, even a thin one will protect your skin from the worst
effects. The problem with them, however, is they trap moisture from your
breath. While normally this just provides an uncomfortable warm, sticky
feeling, with wind and cold like this, it can actually start to freeze
against your face. Its days like this that I am happy I have a bit of
facial hair to help provide a buffer, though I may have pulled a couple
beard hairs out by accident that had frozen to my facemask on my walk
back...

Another joy/ character building life experience blah blah blah that we have
been dealing with here is the constant build up of snow. Once again, I do
have a new respect for people who live in snowy climates. You definitely
learn a lesson in futility when you are shovelling a path and either A)
everytime you toss a shovelful of snow aside, the wind brings half of it
right back on top of you or B) You do manage to shovel out a walkway, only
to return 15 minutes later to find it covered in a fresh layer of snow...

It has been snowing a lot, but I also shouldn't give the impression we get
FEET of snow everyday. We have had some good, deep powder but a lot of it
is just a reorganization of the snow that is already here. The way the
cabin is set up, we get little wind tunnels that funnel any and all
available snow to places like, right outside our back door. This means that
most mornings, whether it has snowed hard or not, you must step over a
small wall built up against the back door that can be anywhere from 1-3'
high. Also, speaking of digging out paths and doorways, many of you have
probably dug out a car or driveway. I have mentioned this before and I
respect that. But I would ask you this, how many of you dug out your
toilet? How about dug out your toilet multiple times a day? Not to mention
your toilet is a terrible smelling 4 pieces of plywood with a room on it
that can get several inches of snow inside if you leave any of the air
vents open (keeping them closed of course makes it smell even worse). Its
like a portapotty without the blue chemicals that has been left inside a
walk in freezer and you know that one of these days it will get full and it
will be your job to empty it by hand into the ocean, when you can only hope
that the winds have shifted and are no longer blowing everything straight
in your face... Character. Or something.

So enjoy whatever weather you might have. If your car seat is cold or there
is snow on your walk to work, or the guy next to you on the bus/subway
smells bad, just remember, at least you didnt have to walk through the snow
and wind just to pee. If you woke up in the middle of the night and had to
pee, it didn't take you 5 minutes to don full foul weather gear before
venturing into the cold. And you thought your toilet seat was cold... HA.

-Freezing our buns off in Antarctica (but really I'm just being dramatic)