Even Effing Freezinger
Yesterday the snow came down solidly all day, but we still went up for a half-day of skiing to take advantage of the relatively balmy (i.e., positive) temperatures. Although visibility was low, I managed to stay comfortably warm by wearing every article of ski clothing I own. My fingers were still cold, but when I took my gloves off for lunch my nails were slightly less purple than they’d been the day before, so that was nice.
Today EVERYBODY is taking the day off, except for a few hardy souls we saw trudging up to the mountain. A cold front blew through last night along with four inches of snow, and now the temperature is minus one degree (again, Fahrenheit) in the village. On top of the mountain it’s minus five, with a wind chill of minus thirty-one. MINUS THIRTY-ONE.
I can just picture the scene in the weather office now. Somebody brought in a case of champagne, and a few hammered meteorologists, having smashed a full bottle onto the weather computer, have to come up with today’s forecast by hand.
“What should we put for the wind chill?”
“Gosh, I dunno, how about fifty-hundred?”
“Threeve!”
“Blue-violet!”
“Your mom!”
“Minus thirty-one!”
“Bwahahahaha that’s awesome write it down.” [passes out]
The point is, today is an inside day. We might venture to the outlet stores in a nearby town, or we might sit by the fire. We couldn’t leave this valley even if we wanted to, as both freeways out of here have been shut down due to avalanche threats. It’s still snowing, so they might not open until tomorrow.
But that’s okay. We’ve got a comfy condo, two four-wheel-drive trucks*, and all the New Year’s entertainment we could want right here in the village. It’s supposed to get down to minus seven tonight, but the big bonfire, masses of people, and champagne should help take the edge off. Clink!
———
* We’d reserved a minivan at the airport rental place, but thanks to a confused and inefficient system that left us standing out in the cold for half an hour, a manager offered to let us pick from a line of 7-passenger SUVs. Just as my brother and cousin walked out to inspect them, someone parked a shiny new Tahoe in that row, so they grabbed it. Another employee told us we couldn’t have it, but the first guy had promised, so it was ours. Big, shiny, strong, 4WD. Odometer reading? Three miles.
Tags: weather
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Hi,
I landed on your site while searching out a nutritional supplement. I am writing you to let you know that I really enjoyed the way you presented yourself and told your story. Your U Tube’s just grabbed my attention. I have a daughter in your age group and she makes U Tube’s and like you is very intelligent. It was a joy to spend a half hour or so listening, and watching you. I sincerely hope that you heal completely and don’t have to mess around with doctors for another forty or fifty years. I am a doctor in the Chicago area, (chiropractor} I hate dealing with the system. Again great work, and stay well.
Larry