The coldest Southern California winter I recall was in the early ’90s, though it might have had less to do with the actual temperatures than with the situation under which I endured them. My friends and I lived on the absolute fringes and were forced into unusual choices to survive.
The house in which we lived was destined for demolition. There was no heat. The hardwood floors in the bedrooms radiated cold, penetrating our barely-there futon matresses and the thin slats of the frame sitting mere inches above the boards. We had one space heater, I think, and we’d huddle around it during waking hours. At night though…
We’d wear knit caps to bed. Layers of sweats under every available blanket. And socks on our hands. The tub/shower had a drainage problem, so you had to bail the brackish gray water before you stepped inside. You could never get it all though, so every shower began with an ankle-high cocktail, so ice-cold as to be almost solid.
We drank a lot, too.
Now, my central heat fires up quickly and effectively, but the weather outside is frightful. It’s not just the chill, the temps hitting the mid-30s at night. It is the wind, bone-numbing and constant. I’m well aware some of you might be reading this in an actual tundra, but we’re talking relative issues here. Those of you in the north and east are inured to the cold, hardened by the seasons over the years. I’m a native Californian, never lived anywhere else, and I will not stand for snow flurries, one of which occured the other day while I waited for my train.
It’s not just the white stuff that’s flurrying either. SoCal is in a constant state of development and every street corner is a construction site. The heavy lifters and diggers are turning the earth, loosening the dirt for it to be swept up by the gales. Sahara-style visibility, another hazard on the roads choked with swaying semis and thrashing Toyotas.
I braved
Links is good to SWAP.
By the way, some blogger girl out there really likes your hair – I mean, she digs it.
::))
Thanks for the link and don’t put up a picture at your new site?
Green Hair might give WWdN flashbacks or something.
I think I have myself linked 6 times on my own site. I’m going for a record.
My Tivo didn’t record 24 last night and I’m sooooo depressed! I’m sure it will repeat again or turn up on iTunes but the additional wait is killing me!
I sit in front of my heater all day since it’s been like this. We’re supposed to be able to wear scarves here for fashion alone, not for like, actual warmth.
I think Bobby is a better commentor than a blogger.
Definitely less gay.
Thanks for the swap.
Not to be an asshole…………….well, ok I am an asshole but I’m in Oahu roughing it in the 82 degree and sunny conditions. I thankfully escaped the Ice Storm of the century in OKC Friday morning before it hit at 10am (my plane left 30 minutes late at 9am and was one of the final flights to leave the city). Man, if you guys have never hit the Hawaiian Islands it is about time you did. This is my third trip in four years and for my money you can’t find a better place anywhere else on Earth. See you guys on the flipside;)
It’s hard to judge commenting genius, but it’s pretty obvious that I have it. Thanks for pointing it out Easycure. It’s an underappreciated talent.
I. Am. Awesome.
Before this week, I was wondering if winter was ever going to start in Minnesota.
Hey Mr. Speaker, enjoy your stuff. You deserve your new digs.
You didn’t miss me, because I’m brand new. But here I am. Hopefully my writing skills outstrip my poker skills.
If you deem me worthy, cool. If you deem me unworthy, also cool.
If you decide not to deem me at all, I suppose that will be my burden to carry all my days. The undeemed are a sorry lot.
30 degrees?
30 degrees?
I would LOVE 30 degrees right now. I hear what you said about relativity but…30 degrees?
Winter? Great. Took too bleedin’ long. I’ll enjoy the week or so before everything melts again.
WWdN Flashbacks? Bring ‘em on…. Care to see who remembers more?
Writing comments or actual posts is great–posts is more betterer though, since comments can’t exist without a post!
Random garbage aside, it’s great reading your thoughts Mr. Speaker and I look forward to seeing more of them.