*Winter Survival Questions**

[K9soul]

Here's the plug on my car. I used to plug it in when I lived in an apartment and had to park the car outside, ran one of those big orange extension cords out to it. Now that I have the garage I don't plug it in although I might if I drove it every day.




As far as gas freezing, I think it depends on the content of it. I believe it can freeze if it gets cold enough but can still burn until -90s or something. People can add methyl alcohol to the tank to help keep it from freezing. Here's a Q&A I found that explains it some. http://van.physics.uiuc.edu/qa/listing.php?id=2479

[Daisy and Delilah]

Thanks for the info everyone. This is just fascinating!! Thanks for the picture of the plug, Jess, and the link. Does that plug go into an ordinary outlet? If so, I can imagine what happens if the power goes out.

Another question; Do you all enjoy the cold weather or find it a drudgery? I always love seeing the winter pictures but I'm thinking of it in a different way now. Does the sun come out on these terribly cold days or is it gray out?

As I've said before, I don't think Daisy and Delilah could stand those low temps. Even in Florida, when it gets below 60, Daisy is shaking so hard outside, her teeth are practically falling out. I have a hard time taking them out when it's chilly. Actually, I have to pick her up and take her out because she gives you a look and backs away from the door.

[Karen]

I love the cold weather - and there's no pollen to make me sneeze!

[K9soul]

Often the coldest days are the brightest and clearest days. Thick clouds seem to give more humidity and "insulation" almost, but of course there are cold cloudy days too. I don't enjoy it when it gets below the teens, otherwise I don't think much of it, until February and March. Then I start getting spring fever and it becomes more and more a drudgery. I love when we have snow storms, but snowy days are often the "warmer" days here, in the 20s and 30s. It's beautiful and always magical to me. We haven't had any big storms this year, so this winter is really dragging for me . Plus I am so eager to get out more with the dogs.

When I first moved here from Southern Missouri, the winters really got to me. They were longer and darker and colder. But I did adjust and now by the time fall gets here I'm often looking forward to the winter. Like I said though, I never enjoy it when we get subzero with air that hurts to breathe! But there's nothing like coming in from the cold, putting warm socks and slippers on, and snuggling with the dogs while sipping a hot cup of cocoa

ETA: The cord I usually plug one of those heavy duty outdoor extension cords into, and then yes it can plug into any outlet

[lizbud]

We have been having the bitter cold for a few days in a row here & it's
supposed to be just as cold tomorrow also. They keep giving warnings on
TV about protecting animals outside. Not to let them stay out for long,etc.
I've actually been timing the pups with no more than 10-15mins. at a time.

It's a real pain trying to use keys outside because of heavy gloves makes
it hard to handle them.I usually end up taking off one glove to lock or unlock
house or garage doors, and my fingers lose feeling in them quickly. I have
been trading off water dishs for the garage kitties as the bowls get frozen
solid overnight. They seem to really appreciate it.

I don't mind normal winter temps, or even snow, but hate this bitter cold
that we have been having.

[cyber-sibes]

It's a beautiful sunny day out. You'd never know its 4 F unless you step outside. I like winter as long as we have snow on the ground.

[Daisy and Delilah]

You brave souls!!! I can read through this thread and be very thankful that I live in Florida. Despite the occasional storms, we do have some gorgeous weather here. The summers are almost unbearable but as long as you stay in the air conditioning, you're unaware that it's so hot outside.

I absolutely love the thought of curling up with a cup of hot chocolate with the dogs That sounds wonderful!

[Blue_Frog]

We get pretty cold here too, but not as bad as further north, and we never get quite as much snow as Buffalo does. Chalk it up to Lake Ontario i guess I've had to plug in cars before, i think its to heat the engine up so the block doesn't crack? Not sure entirely, but I did it because my dad told me to.

Basically, its like everyone else said -- dress in layers, heat up the car before you get into it, and run like stink from your house to your car, from the car to your workplace, etc. without falling on your butt. Although, being the twit that I am, I'm still kicking around in my fall polar fleece pullover, since I haven't bothered to dig out my winter jacket yet.

Also, carrying an emergency kit is a good plan, just in case you go off the road or something in the cold weather -- i think there was a posting in General a little while back about emergency kits.


One of the questions i've gotten a lot the last week from people at work (since the temps have dropped and its gotten windy -25° C / -13° F) is what do the Alpacas do since they live outside all the time? They lay outside in the snow like a bunch of twits and eat hay. Go figure When they get really cold, they go back into the barn and lay around there eating hay.

[elizabethann]

If you're like me, you call in sick on days like today. Heeheehee. I had a "migraine". I'm in my sweatpants with the heat cranked up, watching old movies (like ANTS and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea), listening to the wind howling.

But I do have to go out with Fenway to do his business so I bundle up and look like a sausage (very attractive) in my parka, hat, mittens, scarf and boots.

I'll go to work tomorrow. But I'll have to go and start my car for about 20 minutes later on just so that it will start tomorrow morning.

Every year I say "I'm moving to Florida". I'll be visiting my brother in Port Charlotte, FL in 3 weeks. So that kind of gets me through this weather as well.

As much as I love Florida, I don't think I would like the summer's very much since I hate humidity. Where can I move where it's 70/80 all year through? Even Hawaii had a cold spell this weekend - 50's!

[BC_MoM]

All week it's been nearly -40C and lower with the windchill. Yesterday afternoon, there was no wind at -29C and I thought I was in paradise. Meterologists predict that my area of Canada has 90 more days of this weather.

I need a vacation.

[Lizzie]

This thread is very helpful to me in regard to my car in cold weather. I had to park my car outside this winter for the first time since I bought my house 23 years ago, and I was really thrown on how to deal with the occasional deep freezes we have had so far. I had to learn to wipe all condensation from the door frames and seals to prevent the doors from freezing shut, and to take extra time each morning for scraping ice off windows, running the car, etc. I'd never heard of keeping my gas tank full and why, I'll remember that - thanks!

The problem with western Washington state is that we don't have to deal with very cold weather often. Some winters, it just rains and rains. In some, we get a fair bit of snow but little ice. So, when we have a week of temperatures in the single digits at night and teens in the day, nearly everyone makes an ass of themselves in one way or another.

[joanofark]

I only go outside if I HAVE to in this single-digit weather, but the snow days are always a big plus.

[CathyBogart]

It's been about 65 most of today and it was over 70 yesterday. I almost got a bit of a sunburn at the dog park!

[jenluckenbach]

Do you all enjoy the cold weather or find it a drudgery? Does the sun come out on these terribly cold days or is it gray out?

Well, I find it drudgery. (LOL) But yes the sun can shine brightly during a cold spell. We are up to 15 degres right now, and the sun is BLARING!!! And the nights can be clear and filled with stars. Our old saing..."Clear and cold"

[Lobodeb]

I think it's important to dress in layers.

I walked out of the house this morning (temp was -9F and the wind chill was -24F), took a deep breath and coughed. My lungs burned a little. My car was also a little sluggish starting.

I normally don't mind the cold. The only thing I hate is having to have so much stuff! We went out to dinner on Saturday and we needed an extra table just for all or our coats, gloves, scarves, etc.

It's times like this when you really have to pay attention to the news. When they say "don't expose skin," you listen.

I just can't help but think of all the animals that are outside whether they're feral or have idiots for owners.