February 11, 2008
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A Veiwpoint Concerning Heat
When the wind whips around the house and you can feel it's icy fingers grip your inner core, you are certain it is cold. The wind chill has been at -20°F all day. As you approach a window the chill increases until it is almost a static charge and you retreat. The dog was reluctant to go out. There were school closings galore. Even my husband's class was canceled. With the increase in heating costs and a decrease in the outdoor temperature, we are walking a thin line between financial ruin and frostbite. The thermostat gets dropped to ~60°F at night and then back up to a balmy 70°F in the morning before reducing the heat back to 60°F when we leave the house. The warmth factor at 70°F just doesn't cut it when the temperature at work is a steady 72°F. I'm cold all the time! I've ben running the space heater and it does help. I feel for those who are by chance or circumstance living on the streets. There are homeless people in town but not near the numbers that are in the more southernly climates. The shelters do a decent job of offering a warm place to sleep and a hot meal. In the paper there are stories of those that forego the shelters because of addiction (they won't let you shoot up or smoke your dope) or psychiatric problems (paranoia, delusions, etc.) that end up dead of hypothermia or exposure. I just don't know enough about it to understand why they chose to suffer the cold. I am afraid that with the loss of jobs and home foreclosures we will see an increase in the marginal members of society. Warmth is a basic necessity in this area. There are organizations that have assistance programs for paying heating bills but we still hear about the family that was using the oven to heat the house. In the newspaper yesterday was a story about a house fire caused by the woodburning stove. It malfunctioned and the occupants are all dead. Some people are willing to risk everything to get warm while others would rather risk the elements than come in from the cold. It is a puzzlement when complaints are made about the cold in winter and the heat in summer. Some people are never satisfied. I'd be happy if I could just get my fingers warm.
Comments (3)
I know exactly what you are saying. Florida is a great alternative. Of course I couldn't dare think about it while I was working.... well, may be for a week or so per year.... but this time we are spending almost the whole month here, and the temperatures are unbelievable. Sorry to sound so pompous. I honestly feel for you my friend. I realized, that as I grew older, the bones and their marrow got colder in winter. So I invested in a hot water bottle!!!. ( All of ten whole dollars!!) I fill it real hot water, and hold it against my chest or place it on my feet, walk around with it and definitely take it to bed. When Mohamed started laying claim to it, I went and got another one. Now we both have one to take to bed. I usually put my toes under it. It truly feels good Val. You should try it. Its better than a heating pad, which confines your movements.
At night I've found your grandpa's hiking socks (all wool but quite soft) are good for my cold feet (besides, why waste them now that they're too hard for him to get off and on?) Also I like using rice socks. I made some out of a pair of tube socks...filled one with rice, tied the end and then inserted it into the other one. I put it in the microwave for several minutes and then wrap it up in a towel. I also use the little electric heating pad to warm the bed. There is also the "mind over matter" technique where you imagine your feet are in a pan of very, very warm water and you're sitting in front of a fire and imagine your feet are feeling steadily warmer and warmer. This technique never made me sweat, but I swear it did help! Also drinking a nice cup of hot tea, or other beverage can warm the insides. If none of these help, have the dog lie on your feet and put your hands in husband's armpits....or your own if you're afraid he'll react adversly! Your dad hated for me to do that, by the way.
I meant to say "your dad's hiking socks".... don't think your g'pa ever had any. Not getting senile.... just sleepy!
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