Baby, it’s cold outside
I am a native of central New York state. I am accustomed to cold temperatures and lake-effect snow. I know what it is like to shovel snow into piles taller than you are. And I am use to not seeing the sun from October through May.
After graduating from college in 2001, I spent 5 years living all over New England (New York state IS NOT a New England state–just so you know. It is a Mid-Atlantic state, as my husband learned last month when I became completely offended when he innocently said “Isn’t New York part of New England?”) With the exception of a particularly cold and snowy 3 months in Boston, winter in Connecticut–where I spent the better part of 4 years– wasn’t nearly as bad as winter in central or western NY.
When I moved to Florida in August 2006, I was sad to leave the change of seasons. It still makes me sad–especially in the autumn. But for the past week or so, we have been having unseasonably cold temperatures here in Tallahassee. It was 14 degrees when I got up this morning.
Fourteen.
In FLORIDA.
I, for one, don’t mind that it is cold outside. The air is crisp and yet it is still sunny, not a snowflake on the ground. And the best part of being cold is being able to warm up. Inside all cozy in a blanket, with a warm beverage, maybe cuddled with a loved one or a pet (or BOTH!)
In short:
cold outside = good
warm inside = good
cold inside = BAD
Here is part of the trouble with cold in Florida (aside from the possible loss of lots and lots of money in the produce biz)–buildings in Florida aren’t meant to deal with these temperatures. The shop in which I work (which is kind of a dump anyway) has a rather terrible heating system. Of course, it has a horrible cooling system as well so in the sweltering 100+ degrees 90% humidity of summer, the system craps out. And as we found out, it will also crap out in winter weather too. I came to work last week to find that it was 42 degrees on the thermostat right outside my office. And it was easily 5 degrees cooler than that in my office–probably because my office is the only one in the shop up against an exterior brick wall.
It is difficult to work in the cold–especially if you make your living painting things, as I do. You can’t use paint when the weather/temperature isn’t cooperating (specifics are on the back of every can) because it will affect the dry/cure time. Cold temperatures can make the paint perform much differently than it does when used in ideal conditions. And paint can freeze (I don’t think mine has, but honestly I am too scared to open a can to find out.)
I spent most of last week huddled in my office with two space heaters and the door closed while wearing 2 shirts, a sweatshirt, jeans, wool socks, sneakers and a wool hat. My feet and hands were still always cold. And items were freezing in my fridge. Frozen carrot sticks are not good.
This week is shaping up to be similar, but we HAVE to paint stuff this week so I will be hoping that we at least make it to 65 here in the shop. Without setting something on fire.
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March for Babies
No, DO set things on fire! Warmth and protest, packaged together nicely. The reports of iguanas plummeting dead, frozen, from trees was alarming and interesting, though. Georgians are finally emerging from their French toast comas and the intoxicating panic of 18-degree weather.
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” is one of the best Christmas season songs, not because it invokes the spirit of the holiday, but because it is one of the best-ever documented efforts to get a woman to put out. His arguments for why she should stay include: no cabs; it’s cold outside; it’s bad out there; look at the fire; and, my favorite, “How can you do this to me?”
Blue balls have their roots in freezing weather, too.
Aaron and I heard several covers of that song during the Christmas season–either on XM or Pandora’s “Swingin’ Christmas” station–and we reached one conclusion: that song is really creepy.