I have a new respect for those who live in the cold states. Last week the temps dipped

[raccoon]

into the single digits here (or was it week before?).

Anyway, looking at the pictures/video clips, of deep snowdrifts, pileups of vehicles on icy roads,
hearing of temps WAYYYYYY below zero with the wind chill factor....

you have my sympathy, or empathy, if you'd rather.

[meow2u3]

1. Thank you very much

It just takes a bit of preparation: dressing in layers of warm, dry clothes; patience (you need extra time for the car to warm up); hats, scarves, and gloves; and, most of all, common sense.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. It's not that bad, you just have to prepare for it.

Wear warm, layered clothes; drive carefully; and keep a winter emergency car kit in your trunk. What is kind of funny is how so many people are making such a BFD out of this weather. At least here in the midwest, this was normal January weather up until about the early '90s. The usual pattern was that right about or a little after Christmas it would get way below zero and stay there for a week or so, then it would warm up and snow, then it would get really cold again, and that cycle would continue through about February. If you're a geezer like me this is pretty much what we grew up with (and got used to), but for anyone younger than about 35 it's probably kind of a shock.

[Wait Wut]

3. Yep. We get used to it.

Though I live in AZ, now, I was born and raised in Chicago. In fact, I was 3 years old during the '67 Blizzard and have pics to prove it.

It doesn't make it easier, really. We still dread the winter, but we're ready for it. My poor daughter-in-law is suffering through her first midwest winter. She's from Okinawa and saw her first snow when she stepped off the plane at O'hare. The temp was 17°. The past month, she's dealt with several days of subzero temps. She begs me to move out there with them and then worries that I'll freeze to death.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. pardon me....some of your normal weather has drifted down to our area....

This geezer-ess remembers snow and cold quite clearly, which is why I moved my soon to be aging joints to the South,
where such temps are not normal, and only attacked every 10 years or so.

for a couple days.

We are facing our 3rd attack since Jan.

clearly this carpet bagger weather belongs up there with you.

Send address, so I can return it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Well, yes; I suppose the suckitude is more difficult to deal with

if you've either never had to experience it in the first place, or thought you were getting away from it. Sorry about that...

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. I have cats and music, tho

so there IS that.

[RebelOne]

9. Yes, I am in North Georgia and this is the coldest winter

I can remember since I moved here from South Florida in 1989. I love cold weather, but not in the single digits or below freezing. So far, I have had two broken pipes and I fear there is another leak but can't find out until tomorrow morning until the sun comes up and I can see if anything is leaking. It is pitch black outside and I can't see a thing.

I will gladly return this cold back up north. I love cold weather, but this winter has been too extreme.

[Tobin S.]

8. You're from Minnesota

I've been up that way in the summer and you guys cause rolling black outs by cranking your a/c down to 55 when the temperature gets above 70.

Seriously, this has never been normal winter weather where I'm from in central Indiana- at least, not since they've been keeping records of the weather. The temperature has been way below average and near record lows consistently for almost a month now. So far, this has been one of the coldest winters on record here. It's going to get down to -9 tonight with wind chills of -25.

[mokawanis]

7. Here's how I know my lunch break is over

When my car starts to warm up I know my break is over and it's time to go back to work. Can't wait for winter to be over!

[Raffi Ella]

10. Yup, definitely, much respect.

It's crazy reading what you guys go through in Winter. I couldn't do it, not for long anyway.

[dawg]

11. I was already cold when it dropped below 40.

8?

[sammytko]

12. I"m in south texas. The worst part is that it will be 80 degrees one day and 30 the next!

Hard to mentally prepare for that.

The other night I started out in my summer pajamas and ended up in my warmest winter ones. it is crazy!!

Will be 80 again on Thursday.

They have had record highs and lows in the same week down in deeper s. texas.

[mainer]

13. It's harder for you because your cars/homes/wardrobe aren't prepared for it.

And your towns probably aren't equipped for heavy-duty sanding, salting, and plowing.

I can't imagine facing winter every year without my triple-insulated windows, snow tires, and down parka. My sympathies.

[Raffi Ella]

14. lol, speaking of which-

I do own warm coats and scarves but I just went out to walk my dog in the woods where the lightest of light snow has begun to stick? I don't have the shoes for this! I need cleats or something.

I slipped and busted my ass, hard. ouch!

oh and yeah my heater is like WTF in this cold. it keeps shutting itself off. Homes down here are absolutely not built for this kind of weather.

[mainer]

15. four pairs of crampons are sitting in my mudroom.

You should get a pair now! No fun breaking a bone on the ice.

[madrchsod]

16. really it`s not all that bad

it`s something else to complain about. good excuse not to go to work and for people my age it`s.."hell i remember when (fill in the date) it was worse than this! for some it`s another reason to open up a bottle of hard liquor.