Sitting here watching Corner Gas and I just realized something. I don't remember that show ever being set during the winter. You know why? No one voluntarily goes outside at -40! That's why.
I have been greeted by -40 windchills every morning this week. No sign of it letting up until at least next week. That's when they say the El Nino winds will be back and bring some warmer weather. Well, at least warmer in a relative way. I never thought I would look forward to -10.
Sorry to harp on the weather, but it really is the most startling thing I have noticed (other than the flatness). My whole evening revolves around trying to get food, but still be back in time to get a spot in the parking lot to make sure that I get a space to plug in my car. There are a lot of oil workers and construction workers staying here and their trucks take up a lot of room outside.
I also learned not to pump gas without a glove on. Fingers stuck to the handle.
Oh, and by the way Vero, I don't think you are relaxed. I think it might just be the exhaustion. The last few months have really been a marathon.
Freezing various body parts off in Sask.
Neil
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Having grown up in Edmonton, it was kind of common sense not to use your bare hands on a gas pump. Sorry, I didn't tell you. It feels like if anyone were supposed to warn you it should have been me. JUST IN CASE you did not know, do not expose ANY flesh to metal when it is less than -10 or so. The drier it is outside, the more the metal will stick to you as it will suck the moisture out of your skin.
ReplyDeletePoint 2 - If for whatever reason your dryer is not working. You can still dry your clothes outside in -30 weather. It is dry in the prairies and will take a little longer. Your clothes will freeze in that position, but you just bring it inside when it is dry and you can bend it back into shape.
Point 3 - Do not wash your car during the winter unless you have a place to store your car inside a warm place overnight for the water to dry off. Otherwise your doors and windows and key openings freeze shut.
Point 4 - If your car is frozen shut, try all other doors. Two, try a blow dryer to dry up and heat up the lock. You should definitely carry a de-icer for locks with you at all times. I've heard of some people throwing hot water on their car, but I don't know. . . that's a little bit risky . . .
Point 5 - You should DEFINITELY carry emergency gear in your back trunk or in your car when it is less than 15 below. A candle can heat up your car enough if you run out of gas and are stuck outside on the highway and waiting for help. Carry a full emergency kit in the event you are stuck overnight in a snow drift and nobody knows you are there. Cell phones can die at the wrong times.
Point 6 - You should carry gas line antifreeze with you at all times in case condensation forms from going in and out of heated garages and then into the cold weather.
Point 7 - Let's say you are in a really warm room and you decide to open the window a crack to let the cool air in while it is 30 below outside. Do NOT leave the window open for long as it may freeze open as the condensation from inside might freeze on the window tracks making it hard or impossible to close.
Point 8 - you know about not licking frozen metal right?
Point 9 - a block heater is awesome and plugging in your car can help you a lot
Point 10 - you ever heard the term 'square tires'? You will soon understand what that means if the temperature dips quickly and your tires freeze with the dent at the bottom where it is resting on the ground.
Point 11 - If your car engine is frozen and it is about 40 below or lower do NOT rev your engine at the very very beginning. As the combustion starts heating up your engine and meeting the cold outside, if you rev too high your engine block could crack.
Umm, I think that is it for now. You're on your own for the rest.
-Dan Di Luigi