Ozark Cold

 

by Pa Rock

Icicle Man

It's not Arctic cold, or Antarctic cold where the penguins splash in the sea regardless of the temperature, or Siberian cold, Greenlandic cold, or even Great Plains cold, but Ozarks cold is damned cold nonetheless.  Yesterday morning it was ten degrees outside just at daylight when Rosie and I go for our walk, and this morning it was fourteen degrees..  (This morning I whistled the tune to "We're Having a Heat Wave" as we walked and shivered our way up and down the driveway.)

I grew up in the Ozarks, so I can handle this cold crap, even at the brittle age of seventy-seven, and I know that it will get worse before the winter is over.   I can handle that, too.  But this year it's different.  This year our damned furnace went out!  This year we are staying warm by dragging a couple of space heaters around the house trying to keep the pipes - and humans and dogs - from freezing.

On the plus side out little house is well insulated and the doors and windows fit tight, so there are no drafts.

Rosie and I would take off and go to Hot Springs or someplace civilized for a couple of days, but I have three doctors' appointments this week, all very necessary, so we are stuck at home.

It's supposed to start warming up today.   But, this is only mid-December, and the weather forecast in the Ozarks can change hourly.

The furnace man, who is very conscientious and a good guy, has been out twice, but has now had to order a part which we await.  Worst case scenario is that won't work and I will be buying a new furnace - Merry Christmas - but at least we will be warm!

Rosie's nose is cold, as it should be, which means she is well, and I'm still bitching which indicates that I am fine, too.   We're staying warm, and hope that you are as well!