franksolich goes primitive

[franksolich]

The property caretaker came by this morning, the first time I’d seen him since December 23, and I lit into him.  “Why the Hell are you out in this beastly weather?” I asked; “even if one’s dressed for an Arctic expedition, one’s likely to freeze to death in five minutes out there.”

“Well, I wanted to be sure you were okay,” he insisted, “because you haven’t contacted me about any problems, and believe me, with this weather, there’s always problems.  I was worried.”

Nope, I told him; “the electricity’s worked fine, the water’s worked fine, the heat’s worked fine, the telephone’s worked fine, the internet’s worked fine, and the cats are fine…..and well-fed.

“As you can see, it’s nice and cozy and warm in here, 68-70 degrees.

“But it’s driving me nuts, having to stay inside, away from the great big wide wonderful world.”

I pointed out the windows; as most know, this place is mostly windows, on all four sides.

“It all looks so nice, so inviting, but not with subzero temperatures, and -50 wind-chills.”

Yeah, he said; “you’re not taking it too well,” referring to that I hadn’t shaven in five days.

“It’s just too cold to shave; one just doesn’t feel like it,” I replied.

“I still have on the same clothes I put on last Tuesday; haven’t ever taken them off or changed them.  It’s just too cold to bother; one just doesn’t feel like it.”

“It doesn’t look like you’ve been eating much either,” the caretaker commented, “even though this place is loaded with groceries.”

Yeah.  “Well, I had some broccoli on Friday, but really, with this weather, one doesn’t feel like eating anything.  I want to be liberated, I want to be outdoors.”

I could’ve pointed out too that I hadn’t had to sit on the commode for six days now, but as I don’t know him all that well, desisted.

“About the only normal life I’ve been leading is that I still brush the teeth two times a day.”

[DumbAss Tanker]

All that's missing from that pic are a couple of four-legged walking war machines on the horizon.

[ChuckJ]

Pretty photos frank.

We're supposed to be in single digits tomorrow when figuring in the wind chill. I dread it.

[BlueStateSaint]

Pretty photos frank.

We're supposed to be in single digits tomorrow when figuring in the wind chill. I dread it.

Our wind chills are supposed to be in single digits . . . below zero.

Need more of this:

[Maxiest]

The property caretaker came by this morning, the first time I’d seen him since December 23, and I lit into him.  “Why the Hell are you out in this beastly weather?” I asked; “even if one’s dressed for an Arctic expedition, one’s likely to freeze to death in five minutes out there.”

“Well, I wanted to be sure you were okay,” he insisted, “because you haven’t contacted me about any problems, and believe me, with this weather, there’s always problems.  I was worried.”

Nope, I told him; “the electricity’s worked fine, the water’s worked fine, the heat’s worked fine, the telephone’s worked fine, the internet’s worked fine, and the cats are fine…..and well-fed.

“As you can see, it’s nice and cozy and warm in here, 68-70 degrees.

“But it’s driving me nuts, having to stay inside, away from the great big wide wonderful world.”

I pointed out the windows; as most know, this place is mostly windows, on all four sides.

“It all looks so nice, so inviting, but not with subzero temperatures, and -50 wind-chills.”

Yeah, he said; “you’re not taking it too well,” referring to that I hadn’t shaven in five days.

“It’s just too cold to shave; one just doesn’t feel like it,” I replied.

“I still have on the same clothes I put on last Tuesday; haven’t ever taken them off or changed them.  It’s just too cold to bother; one just doesn’t feel like it.”

“It doesn’t look like you’ve been eating much either,” the caretaker commented, “even though this place is loaded with groceries.”

Yeah.  “Well, I had some broccoli on Friday, but really, with this weather, one doesn’t feel like eating anything.  I want to be liberated, I want to be outdoors.”

I could’ve pointed out too that I hadn’t had to sit on the commode for six days now, but as I don’t know him all that well, desisted.

“About the only normal life I’ve been leading is that I still brush the teeth two times a day.”

Did you know that experts at the NSA can measure the shadows from the sun in that photo and find you?   

[Ralph Wiggum]

Did you know that experts at the NSA can measure the shadows from the sun in that photo and find you?   

I thought the ninja lawyers would have found Frank by now. 

[diesel driver]

I thought the ninja lawyers would have found Frank by now. 

Those are DUmmie ninja lawyers.

They haven't a chance in hell of finding Frank.

They can't find their own asses, even if they stuck their hands in their back pockets. 

Frank is more than safe where he's at.

[Vagabond]

Wow, who knew that the Sandhills of Nebraska could resemble Pensacola Beach?

[Skul]

The water in the bird baths was frozen this morning. 
That just sux. 

[franksolich]

Wow, who knew that the Sandhills of Nebraska could resemble Pensacola Beach?

I wish.

[dutch508]

Officer Dutch started his shift as he does every morning, with a pot of coffee. Black, of course, no sugar. If God had wanted man to put sugar into coffee it would already be sweetened. Outside the wind howled at a steady 25 mph out of the north. The thermometer hovered at a brisk -19*. It was 5 a.m.
Filling his travel mug he ventured out into the darkness, ice crunching underfoot as he walked to the police cruiser. The night shift officer had started it early so it was toasty warm inside. Pulling out and onto the street the headlights cast a pale glow through the blowing snow.
“Such a beautiful morning,” Dutch though as he turned the car radios on. It was, in a way, very beautiful. The absolute desolation of the Sandhills was on of extreme emotion. One either loved it here, or hated it.

[franksolich]

One either loved it here, or hated it.

And both at the same time, too.

[Skul]

As I recall, the ice and snow didn't "crunch", it squeaked.
It was a strange sound. Almost that of an old dry door hinge, only quick, like a duck.
Old window sills would moan from the wind.

[longview]

Two words for you:   Cabin Fever

You know, the real kind.  Not the funny kind.  I look forward to reading that you are doing better.

[MrsSmith]

I grew up on the plains, loved Wyoming for years, and had a terrible time getting used to the rain down here in SouthEast Kansas...but when we were in Wyoming last week, that wind was a lot colder and a lot harder than I liked!!  It even woke me up at night.  I really don't envy you right now, Frank!!

[freedumb2003b]

Nope, I told him; “the electricity’s worked fine, the water’s worked fine, the heat’s worked fine, the telephone’s worked fine, the internet’s worked fine, and the cats are fine…..and well-fed.

The Internet and the cats were #5 and 6?????????

Coach!  Your priorities!!!!

PS: Stay warm, stay alive, stay well.

It is amazing to me that after being here in Toronto for the worst rain ever I am now here for the coldest night ever.

Ir they were smart, they would never let me come back here again.

[franksolich]

As of 11 p.m. (central time) Monday night, -6 degrees, no wind.

It's supposed to soar to 21 degrees on Tuesday; that might be enough to motivate me to haul out the razor and get rid the facial hair, change clothes, and dine on something.

And then Wednesday, high of 14, but big snow.....

I'm so glad I don't have company; nobody's going out.

[ChuckJ]

I don't know how you people handle it. When I was younger it didn't matter. When I was 19 I could wade through waist deep water covered with ice and it didn't bother me at all. The last couple of years I've apparently developed Raynaud's Syndrome, and the cold kills my fingers.

[franksolich]

I don't know how you people handle it. When I was younger it didn't matter. When I was 19 I could wade through waist deep water covered with ice and it didn't bother me at all. The last couple of years I've apparently developed Raynaud's Syndrome, and the cold kills my fingers.

Well, this sort of winter doesn't happen every year; in fact, this winter's extraordinary.

Back in the Good Old Days when George Bush was president and all was well with the world, we had three winters here in Nebraska that even with snow, were "on the average" warmer than Los Angeles at the time.

Ten to fourteen days of subzero weather every winter's the norm; after that, it's over.

This has been going on, with short one- or two-day interruptions, since early December.

[Karin]

Frank, I'm surprised that the extreme cold weather kills your appetite.  Most people want something hot to dine on.  Can't you make some soup or stew?  I hope that the relatively warmer weather on Wednesday will do wonders for your outlook. 

We had very high winds last night and today, of course.  The wind blew through strange old cracks and crevices on the side of the house, making some very spooky music. 

[JakeStyle]

Soup and stew, and even broth are great when it's cold out Frank, plus they keep well, so it's easy to reheat for a quick meal.  Take care, I hope the weather improves soon.

[DumbAss Tanker]

I don't know how you people handle it. When I was younger it didn't matter. When I was 19 I could wade through waist deep water covered with ice and it didn't bother me at all. The last couple of years I've apparently developed Raynaud's Syndrome, and the cold kills my fingers.

I don't have any particular medical reason, I just hate being cold anymore.  It didn't bother me at all when I was young, despite growing up in a virtually unheated and uninsulated Indiana farmhouse, but I got all the cold, wet, and miserable I need for the entirety of my life in unheated armored vehicles in Germany in the height of the Cold War. 

It's kind of a drawback for deer hunting now, 'cause I will just roll over and go back to sleep if the ambient temp isn't headed for around freezing or better by full light.  I tell people "I didn't like being cold when I was getting paid for it and it was vital for national defense, I'm sure as Hell not going to freeze my ass off just for fun."

[franksolich]

Well, it's 20 degrees, no wind, the sun's shining, the cats are romping and playing atop the William Rivers Pitt.

I went to town for the first time since Thursday, as I discovered the hair on my face was too rough for the razors I had here.

<<<now bathed, clean-shaven, and in clean clothes.

We have one more day of this extraordinary weather--at least according to the forecast--tomorrow, Wednesday, when it's supposed to be unhumanly cold again, and with snow.....but after that one single day, the long-range forecast shows the usual typical standard average Nebraska winter, with day-time highs in the upper 30s and lower 40s, and night-time lows still in the two digits (although barely so), on the positive side of the thermometer.

All bad things, like all good things, come to an end.  Sooner or later.

[franksolich]

Frank, I'm surprised that the extreme cold weather kills your appetite.

I survived.

The deal was, I wasn't expending any calories, other than those needed for breathing, sitting inside this place all day and all night.  I haven't checked, but I probably didn't shrink an ounce.

I was really surprised; I'd always considered myself an indoors sort of person--around here, when I'm not called "dude," I'm called "city boy"--but now I'm aware of how much time I actually spend outdoors.

[longview]

Happy to hear you're out of hibernation, even if it's just for a few days.