This is what I look like at 39 degrees below zero with the wind chill. That’s celsius and farenheit, because the two scales converge at -40.
You can see my frost-crusted hair, MEC jacket, neckwarmer and fleece-lined hat but what you can’t see is that I’m also wearing regular socks, thermal socks, gortex boots, regular underwear, long underwear, jeans, a turtleneck, a thermal pullover, a clapotis scarf, and seriously warm wind-proof mittens given to me by Julia.
I had to go out because of my commitment to virtually walking from Adelaide to Whyalla, Australia over the month of January. That’s about 380km. I’m about 77% of the way there, but I can’t afford to cool my heels just because it’s cold outside. After all, this is Ottawa, and it’s January. It’s supposed to be cold.
I’m curious though…those of you who live in more temperate climates, what do you make small talk about? Here, our small talk revolves largely around the weather. We have 52 words for cold. What do you chit chat about if you don’t have weather?
The other people on my team at work live/work elsewhere – NY, London, Riga, Zurich, India, Kansas City (I’m in Indiana) – so I like to ask them about the weather where they are, to compare it with what we are having. I don’t know why weather is so interesting, but we are always eager to share!
I think you should get an award for going out for a walk today. Yikes! The frosted hair looks fake (but I KNOW it’s real) Well done.
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Wow! I don’t think we’re that cold on the south side of the Lake. It’s about -20 here! keep warm!
I’m in town with you and we walked the dogs twice today but not as far as usual. It’s hard to work off their energy doing less, but probably healthier.
Here where the world is warm and getting warmer we talk about the foolish things we find ourselves doing. Hope the walk wasn’t too bad and that you don’t have to face many more of them in temps that extreme.
Zoom, you have my deepest admiration for going out in that crazy cold. I remember the last time I was out in Edmonton for a cold snap like that – my eyelashes froze to my scarf and I’m STILL trying to get them to grow in. Be careful out there!!!
Here in Vancouver, we still talk about the weather, mainly saying things like “Oh, it’s raining again but at least we’re not at -40 like those poor bastards in Ottawa.”
We have 52 words? I’m going to have to puzzle that one out, should make for a fun game of Bogel
Quick, before it warms up, go outside and do this:
http://culturalsnafu.wordpress.com/2011/01/25/boiling-snow/
I’m glad to hear the mitts are still working their magic! I was wearing yoga pants under cycling tights under jeans and pretty much three layers everywhere else I could fit them. It’s an adventure, a challenge! Yay, us Canadians!
We talk about the rain. … or sometimes coffee.
(Seattle)
Hello Everyone, First time poster and excited to be a part of the discussion.