I know his is gonna be controversial

[eyepaddle]

but I like the COLD! Not inside my home, and I wouldn't want to live in it year round, but a few months here and there, damn, do I jst find something soooooooooo focusing about it.

Granted I am a gear-hound, replete with ample amounts of down, wool, polypropylene and fleece, and it needs to get below zero for me to even THINK about wearing some of the stuff I have, lest I overheat. But I just LOOOOOVE walking around outside when it's below zero, especially at night. You can feel as if the world is yours and yours alone, and summer air is NEVER that clear.

Word of advice though, if you're trying to cook on a camp stove and it's this cold, make you sure you get that thing lit on the first try, otherwise you have to warm your hands up for a few minutes before you can try agan.

Let's hear it for experiencing mother Earth on HER terms--not ours! :D

[Heidi]

1. Eyepaddle, it's all I can do to keep

my finger away from the alert button, regarding this _very_ controversial post. But I am determined to experience your post on YOUR terms, not mine! :rofl:

How ya doin, my friend? :hug: (Love your new sig smiley!)

[eyepaddle]

2. Thanks, Redstone helped me shrink the smilie to fit

I just couldn't pass it up!

I'm doing fairly well, a little tired of school, but it's winding down, and well, we got all that cold today! ;)

Thanks for not alerting on me! :pals:

[Heidi]

4. Hey, anything for a friend!

I'm practicing self-restraint anyway, so your post was a good training exercise. :rofl:

:loveya:

[eyepaddle]

7. Thanks for going out and checking in on Morning in Switzerland for me

!

So many people like to complain about the cold I think every once i awhile somebody should stand up for it.



and one from the vault:

[KitchenWitch]

9. One thing I LOVE about the cold is the "sun dogs"

What a gorgeous phenomenon.

[eyepaddle]

12. Did you see the phenomenal halo

around the sun this morning?

Rarely seen in these lattitudes, today's display was breathtaking.

[KitchenWitch]

13. It was incredible

I do not have the right camera equipment to capture it correctly...

[eyepaddle]

16. Here's one I took a few years ago using a disposable camera through

polarizing sunglasses. No fooling, that's what I used!

Notice the ring paralleling the horizon at the halo's mid-point. The line right on the sun is an optical effect, but the one on the halo is real.

[KitchenWitch]

17. That is incredible for a disposable!

[eyepaddle]

19. I was kinda shocked when it turned out

I'm glad I took the chance on it. There was "diamond dust" in the air that day (Ice crystal fog) you can kind of see it in the lower part of the photo, but that was truly magical. Of course, it was about -40, but hey you gotta take it as it comes!


FYI for geography buffs, that is mt Erebus in the distance with the banner cloud at it's peak.

[Heidi]

11. Agreed!

Right here, right now:

[eyepaddle]

14. Looks like you've got a beautiful day in the offing.

I'm "cool" with the cold, but I really groove on winter sunshine.

And what a gorgeous valley you live in.

[hibbing]

3. just how cold is it where you are at?

I must admit, I get a certain thrill out of experiencing the extremes of Mother Nature. I get what I think are the extremes of all four seasons here. It was in the single digits here while I was waiting for my bus....nice with the tunes cranked! We certainly get well below zero on days too. And when it is over 100 I face the sun and close my eyes and let my face bake.

Peace

[hfojvt]

5. is that where you are?

In the Iron Range?

[hibbing]

8. walls of red wing

No, not there, was born in the state, just like the reference because a certain someone spent some time there growing up.

Peace

[KitchenWitch]

10. one robert zimmerman?

[eyepaddle]

6. I think it's about five above right now

it was chillier this morning.

There are places that get colder than Minnesota, and ther are many places which get hotter (although it is still a lot warmer here than most people realize) but it is great for preparing you to be ready for anything.

I've been from the tropics to the poles, but little ol' Minnesota gave me a taste of it all first!

:hi:

[RevCheesehead]

15. I love cold weather!

Nothing like going outside and freezing your nostrils when you inhale! For some reason, the cold makes me feel more alive, more alert than ever, ready to take on the world. Umm.. until I see the pile of snow in the driveway. But even so, whee!!!

[eyepaddle]

18. That is exanctly what I'm talking about

:D

Shoveling can be a buzzwrecker, but oh well! ;)

[RevCheesehead]

20. You haven't lived until you've braved -20 daytime high temps.

When it takes a good half hour for your face to thaw...
When you're so cold you can gulp a cup of hot chocolate...
When everyone around you is complaining, and you smile a wicked little smile, saying "ain't it great?"

Nice to meet a kindred soul, eyepaddle!

[eyepaddle]

21. Woohoo!

The cold weather fugitive brigade here in the lounge has had it too easy for too long!

Now is the time we say NO MORE! ;)

[RevCheesehead]

22. While, at the same time, providing adequate sympathy for those....

in real physical pain. But only those with legitimate gripes... the others are just weather wimps. :)

The CWFB will be overthrown!
The CWB is born! (unless you have a better name to offer)

[RumpusCat]

23. I moved out of the South for just this reason!

I don't live anywhere too extreme (NYC) but it FINALLY got cold and snowy here this week and I'm elated. We haven't gotten enough snow to have a good romp in yet, but I'm waiting patiently.

The cold IS focusing, altho' I'm not sure why. I think it's the lack of humidity especially that I like.