blizzard

[low_delta]

The wind has been pretty steady in the low twenties (mph), with gusting around 35 mph. Fortunately, the temperature isn't very low, it being right around freezing. But it's still snowing a bit, and it's still nasty. There was probably an inch and a half of wet stuff on the driveway. I had to shovel the entire driveway with my back to the wind.

I know, for you people on the plains, or in Alaska, 25 mph wind is nothing, but it's all about what you're used to. We Milwaukeeans laugh about Chicagoans and their complaints about "cold" weather, just like Minneapolitans laugh about our complaints.

Anyway, I was noticing my cold weather gear. I go through a pair of gloves every couple of years. I was going through the closet and found two pairs of ruined gloves that I never got around to throwing out - the covering on the index fingers got melted during campfire mishaps. I occasionally lose gloves. It's hard to find a good pair of gloves. They're expensive, too. The last pair I had was pretty warm, but the coating on the thumbs wore off. I just got a new pair, but they don't seem as warm as earlier ones. They don't seal well around the wrist, either.

My tuque, seen in the icon, dates to... the mid nineties? I'm not sure. I remember the occasion I bought it for (a ski excursion), but I don't remember when it was. I still love it. It's heavy duty. Dark blue.

I've got some good wool scarves, too. I think they were German surplus. Grey with dark blue ends.

Sorel boots. Usually worn while clearing the driveway and occasionally on wilderness excursions. They're starting to show their age. Which is... 20? Similar to this, but mine were made in Canada, not China. And cost half that much.

My coat is nearly twelve years old, and still going strong. It's big and warm and grey. It sheds snow, keeps the wind out, but is not waterproof. The shell is not worn at all, but there's one small place where the seam pulled out. It has lots of pockets, which is good for photography. I have a little trouble with the zipper now and then, and the elastic on the cuffs may be losing its elasticity. But that's about all that's wrong with it. The lining is the warm part, and it zips out, so I wear the coat in spring and fall too. I kinda feel like I should get a new coat. Move on, you know? But it's still good.

Comments

[mummm.livejournal.com]

Perhaps a work coat and then a new *better* coat? It does sound like you need new gloves...

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I've got another coat. I got it at the same time as this one. It's dressier, so I don't wear it as much. I should wear it more. I'm getting a new spring/fall coat for Christmas.

[cynnerth.livejournal.com]

Shhhhh! You're not supposed to know that!

[mummm.livejournal.com]

Will there be a 2012 Christmas Snow Sculpture?

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Only if we get a big snowfall at some point.

[serendipity.livejournal.com]

It's definitely what you're used to. I'm acclimated to the San Francisco Bay Area, and it's COLD now (almost 32º F). Of course it doesn't help that the houses here aren't built for weather below about 60º. Our little furnace-in-the-closet and water heater on the *outside* of the house are really working hard. Makes me pine for my St. Paul basement bedroom that got the first blast from the "furnace room" next to it.

[rivendweller.livejournal.com]

I have my favorite snow gear, too; even snow shoes for trekking up that steep driveway (the kind that look like tennis rackets?).

You should visit the High Sierras! We get 20-30 feet of snow. It gets crazy around here. But the skiing is good :-)

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

With over 20 feet of snow, I think you definitely need snowshoes! I can't remember ever thinking I needed them.

[mellary4.livejournal.com]

I haven't shoveled yet but my plan is to use this mask Mom gave me years ago. If my head is warm I'm good. And my feet. Well, and my hands too! LOL!

Did you guys lose power last night? We did but it was back on by the time I woke up.

[cynnerth.livejournal.com]

Nope, no power outage here.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

From what I heard, power outages were pretty localized.

[zitronenhai.livejournal.com]

I have a pair of bright cobalt blue gloves that are thick and fake-furry. I love them the best, even though they are cartoonish in appearance.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Blue and furry makes them sound like Cookie Monster hands, but I bet they're awesome!

[northernsnokat.livejournal.com]

I think Tom's Sorel boots are as old as yours are and still going strong and yes they were made in Canada also. Tom uses his heavy duty Harley gloves out snowblowing. Expensive but he has had them a long time. I always say you get what you pay for so buying heavy duty weather stuff around here is worth the money!

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

As long as I don't lose them!

Oh, motorcycle gloves. Good idea! I should check out some of those.

[northernsnokat.livejournal.com]

Yes they work really well being leather and the winter driving gloves have a warm lining in them.

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

You're smart. I've not dug out all of my winter stuff yet (I'm usually half-assed about doing the work, anyway).

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

And I never took the ice scraper/snow brush out of my trunk. ;-)

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

My thought is that if something is comfortable and still good and does its job, you don't need a new one.
:)
Manolo had boots like that in the US but donated them when we came back to Spain after 2 winters in Madison.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

As long as it's not *too* dated looking.

[ranunculus.livejournal.com]

Check out Mountain Hardware's gloves. VERY pricy, but I found a reasonably priced pair on closeout and oh, boy are they comfortable and WARM. I use them on the tractor in the winter, driving that thing down the road at a whopping 15 miles an hour when it is freezing is amazingly cold. Not to mention there is no way to turn your back!!

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Men%27s-Jalapeno%E2%84%A2-Glove/OM5419,default,pd.html

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Nice. I get ski gloves from REI, generally, and spend about half that much. But I'd be okay with that amount if they were as good as they look. I could also look for motorcycle or snowmobile gloves.

[sunshine-two.livejournal.com]

that's toque eh..... ;)

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Funny, you mention that. I actually looked it up before posting. :-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuque
A tuque (English: /ˈtuːk/, also spelled toque but still pronounced tuque), also known as a bobcap (British English), stocking cap (American English) or beanie, among other names – is a knitted cap, originally of wool though now often of synthetic fibers, that is designed to provide warmth in winter.