Welcome to Appalaska,,,

And come Christmas Eve,,,,

Sheesh, they’re calling for NINE DEGREES overnight.    its always subject to change, but rarely does it IMPROVE at this time of year.  More like changes toward WORSE is the norm.

And that day and the one prior, 90%chance of precip, starting wet and going more solid, so by the time that evening hits, 

ICE, LOTS OF ICE.

B, if’n they put you in a plow, you be extra frickin careful, you hear.   (and I know ya, you prolly volunteered up front.  BUT, you still have to be careful, you got a Bub and T at home that expect you back in one piece, upright and breathin’.)

Today wasn’t as bad as all that, but it sure weren’t no fun either.   Thin base layer, thermals over that, usual grubbies on top of that.  Then the sweatshirt over a polyfil vest and wool watchcap, skiing gloves when I was able to wear them (they wouldn’t hold up for shitte while welding, but I have a small space heater that I warm my hood and gloves with when I am not welding, so thats not so bad.).  While I wasn’t freezing, it was still flipping cold and thank dog I wasn’t out in the field in the open winds,,,   Nope, just stuck in a shop, that has no insulation and holes between the roof and walls you can toss a cat through, with ONE torpedo heater that heats a cone exactly 5′ long and 2′ wide,   The welder gets the lions share of that since welding gas will freeze a regulator in this sort of environment, and the machine doesn’t do to well with condensation build up as things heat and cool inside, so I keep her warm to avoid that sort of shit.

Hatez the cold,,,,

Now I’m home and the kidz are telling me how horrible a parent I am for not fixing that danged T-stat outside and this kind of weather is just NOT acceptable,,,,

But the house was still a wonderous 80 degrees and I only had to pile on more wood and stir the coals up to get things going again: Their complaints about my management of the outdoors falls on deaf ears (oh yeah, my ears are deaf,,, DUH!!!)

almost at the crux, solstice in two more days. and the days start getting longer three days later.   Equinox will still be cold (and they are saying that our current average is 20 degrees lower than our normal average.   and I believe it.) but with longer days and hints of the coming spring, I HOPES!!!    I am not a fair weather guy, Im a SUMMER GUY DAMMIT!!!   Hatez the cold,,,

And yet, I am also that dedicated kayaker type that is going to be paddling for the solstice,,,   Go figure.   At least I know how to dress for the occasion, and who thinks I am going to spend all stinking day in that shit,, HA!!! LOL!!!!  Put in one mile and call it good if the weather is in rare form and doing as its trending currently.    The only way I won’t go is if there is ice on the ramps. Not a major road way so no salting there, and the risk of running Buffalo into a lake is too high, let alone busting my ass trying to get in or out of a kayak AND haul the beast to or from the truck,,,,    NOPE< PASS    But knowing if there is ice is easy.  If my road is slick, the ramps will be too.   Won’t even need to leave the hollar to know.

My day is winding out, dinner is now a memory, doing some catch up on the webs, and trying like heck to figure out this GabPay thingy, so I can have a tip-jar again.    Have it all set up, with heartfelt thanks to the IT gurus that helped out this idjit and didn’t have to start over from scratch: but I can’t figure out how to make the widget to embed on here.   Guessing Imagonnahavta ask for help,,,,    

Wherever you are, stay warm, stay safe, and I will be back with more in the mornin’.