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Luta -thx for the explanation. Unexpected things do happen. I understand the oil lamps, outhouses and wood fires thing. You can be quite cozy Glad everyone is warm and hope you get the needed repairs done without too much fuss. And also hope you have no more emergencies before your surgery.

Pam - Oh no you too!!! Glad you have some warm places in your house Hope Bella gets better.

cw - so true. R's oldest dd just came down with covid and is quite sick and she is a single mum with 2 young boys. It's good your nephew's fiancée broke down in a safe place. It was dangerously cold here the last few days.

No whine from me this time. All is quiet on the (north) western front.
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Lots of holiday plans are out the window - in my part of the world whole counties have closed roads and people have been stranded, and out in AB nephew #2's fiancée has had her car break down (fortunately at a safe place) and he will have to go rescue her, but not til he has a day off on Monday.
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Im feeling for Luta today! In a much smaller way. Our bedroom/rec room level was all toasty this morning, but when I hit the main level it was only 63. We got a nest,, I hate that thing,, but turns out the problem seems to be the second heat pump for the main level travels under the uninsulated part of our house, and the heat can;t make it in this cold. I started the fireplace,, and when hubs got up he brought the Amish heaters down! Its warm in here now,, but boy oh boy was it a worry. At least the bedrooms and rec room is warm. So we won;t freeze tomorrow when company arrives. Oh and Chloe jumped Bella and possibley broke her tail.. off to the vet Monday if it doesn't seem better, She is able to move it , but she squeaks if you touch it. What next? I am afraid to ask.
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Glad,

Yep, some people want to ride on Shark Tank’s tail. Sadly, there are scammers everywhere.

I enjoy watching Shark Tank occasionally. Some people are incredibly creative.

I have always been amazed at trends though. You know, like the woman who did Topsy Tail years ago! LOL 😆 Those products don’t stick around. It’s a quick money grab. Worked for her!

Some are flukes! Like the guy who invented the Space Walk and he’s still going strong! Or one of my childhood favorites, Slinky! His wife thought it was a dumb idea. He showed her!

I like when they do follow ups on Shark Tank. That woman who invented the stool that sits by the toilet made a fortune! What’s the name of that thing? Potty Squatty or something like that.
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Glad,

Cute! I can see elves getting a little tipsy this time of year. 😊
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Found TipsyElves which sounds like it would be great for CW today!I

Not sure if the site a real or not based on this YouTube video.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fr54GKh7haM

Found the entire pitch and deal
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pbcrnXWpJuE

The third product on this video.
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Glad,

My daughter says it’s fun seeing all of the quirky sweaters. And she is Miss fashionista! But at Christmas she will adorn an ugly Christmas sweater.

My oldest daughter will buy the funny Christmas tee shirt because of our warm climate. It’s not always cold enough for a sweater here!
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Gotta have an ugly Christmas sweater! I entered a drawing for one on Screwball Whiskey's FB page! A very good and very trendy whiskey, made with peanut butter!

Be careful of those sites that claim they are Shark Tank winners! Many of them are not! Look for the list of actual appearances and winners on Shark Tank's actual website.
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My daughter said that when she was visiting with her friends in Iowa that they had a gathering in which they all wore ugly Christmas sweaters.

I think it’s funny how ‘ugly sweaters’ became a trend for the holiday season.

I looked up ugly Christmas sweaters online just for fun. It’s a big thing! I guess that I am out of the loop (as my daughters tell me) because I don’t own any ugly sweaters. 😁 I’m the person that buys a ‘pretty’ holiday outfit to wear.

I even saw an online shop that was featured on Shark Tank. I still am not convinced to buy an ugly Christmas sweater!

Do any of you wear ugly Christmas sweaters? 😊
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Luta,

Sounds like you are well acclimated to the elements! Me? I would be freezing my tail off! LOL 😆

Once I complained to my friend that moved here to New Orleans from Minnesota about being cold and she said that she wanted to slap me! LOL 😆

She quickly informed me that I knew nothing about being cold. I laughed and told her that she was right.

She said that I would never survive a Minnesota winter. Once again, she was correct!
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FF try rubbing alcohol in that jeep lock.
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Not at all surprised that she is exhausted. Just the winds alone, will exhaust one. Happy to hear she is home safely.
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We picked up daughter last night. She was glad that she went to visit her friend but said that she will not be returning to Iowa in the winter! She was exhausted.

She said that it was cold even inside the Cedar Rapids airport. Dallas was comfortable inside their airport though.

Her pooch was so happy to see her!

She said that the weather was so cold and windy in Cedar Rapids, that when she went to fill up her rental car with gas, she almost blew away!

Stay safe in this weather everyone and have a Merry Christmas 🎄!
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It was like zero this morning here in the Wash DC area. We both are from upstate New York so we grew up in this type of weather. Time to put on shoes and a sweater !!

Hubby went outside to start up his Jeep but the key wouldn't open the door. He wasn't a happy camper. I just rolled my eyes and pointed to him the other Jeep in the garage that he walked past to get outside. Apparently this weather also causes brain-freeze :P
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Thanks all, for the support and advice. Having chosen to live without electricity or plumbing for 5 yrs in my youth, I'm pretty much able to cope with 62 F in the home (it's 2100 squ feet of living space). I've always lived in the US northern tree belt and have always had a wood stove, wouldn't dream of living up north without one. We didn't buy more firewood this fall, not realizing how far this furnace would decline nor how quickly.

This undersized boiler system was installed under Low Income Heating Assistance which our household no longer qualifies for and the community agency and company both brushed off all of our reports with: "It was done to specs." which it certainly wasn't and we cannot afford the thousands needed to replace it. Since I paid $400. 12/1 to get it running, one of two water circulating pipes has literally melted. I'm now working with state bldg code inspections and enforcement and will be working with them to obtain replacement funds from the company's bond; plumbers have to post a 25k one for situations like this. The State ppl have been amazingly responsive; I've emailed pics of the pump and opinions of 2 heating companies for backup. I'll be back on the phone with them next week.

No danger of explosion due to safety features and it's in a separate, built-on utility porch and well-vented.

We def layer clothes and have a collection of thick woolen Pendleton blankets that are invaluable in winter. Kids have sheepskin lined slippers, warm pjs and cozy robes. We all have the required winter gear.

Compared with what so many millions in the US alone are going through, we're on easy street. So many southern regions with freezing temps and zero ability to cope, no power, no adequate heating systems, no gov capacity to clear roads, etc. And then I think of war-torn regions and the people suffering; it makes me realize how lucky we truly are.

NeedHelp, It takes about 20-30 mins to warm up the cars in subzero temps, if they start! I keep my own battery jumper charged so I never need to call for that help. Nothing mechanical is designed to work properly in these temps, except maybe at the poles.

If nothing else, we can always cook a stew on top of the woodstove with the remaining wood (I get nervous when we have below 1/4 cord) and even cook my traditional steamed Christmas pudding atop the stove, if needs be. We're far better prepared for the weather that is gripping the nation and so many holiday travelers are stranded in airports. My family is able to get cozy and comfortable, it just all falls to my daughter, all the 'guy stuff' work that I did for many decades.

I do try to count my blessings, but just had to gripe because we're due for a break. I used to pray for strength but I no longer do so because I'm tried and tested and need no more tests and trials, just a let-up for awhile, even just a little while.

Everyone stay safe and warm and I hope all of your families are fairing alright as this front sweeps across the country. Let's all send up our prayers for those in need, and surviving in impossible and dangerous circumstances.

Blessed Holidays -
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Need: Hope that DD has arrived safely.
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Barb: Sorry to hear of the Covid.
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Our generator kicked on while we were sleeping, but I heard it. I ventured out in 12° weather to get us groceries and dinner. This NE girl was cold!
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Hooray, NHWM! Hope daughter is no worse for the wear. What a stressful trip for her! Enjoy!
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ITRR,

I agree. The crimes that are committed are totally disgraceful and disgusting.

I have to run along for now. My daughter’s flight is amazingly only about a half hour behind schedule. Not bad, considering all of the mayhem at the airports!
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Oh my!

Not to long ago we had a a 76 yo woman attacked with a iron pipe to steal a pizza.

The world is going crazy!
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Checking to see if my daughter’s connection flight is on time. Have to leave for the airport. Taking the dog along for the ride!

Talk to everyone soon. Wishing everyone the very merriest holiday regardless of the bitter cold weather!
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Gosh, we never seem to have a break from the crime in our city. Just saw crime stoppers on our local news asking for help in solving a murder case that happened outside of one of our local grocery stores.
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Even here in Nola the weather is frigid. Feels like temperatures are in the teens with the windchill. Brrrrr…

Just saw where the airport is closed in Buffalo, NY. So no one will be traveling to see family!

Everyone will certainly welcome Spring this year!

I wonder how our football team (Saints) will manage playing the Browns! It’s going to be a very chilly game, for sure!
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Glad,

Carjackings in New Orleans are very bad.

Years ago I would occasionally see someone leaving keys in the car and they would run into the store quickly. That isn’t commonly done nowadays.

Now, thieves pull out a gun at stop signs or traffic lights and take the car.

Occasionally, police will ask people to turn in guns, no questions asked.

Police have determined that a large portion of guns that people reported stolen were because people didn’t lock their cars and the guns were taken from their vehicles. Isn’t that nuts? No common sense whatsoever for people in a high crime city not to lock their doors.
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Since we don’t have four distinct seasons here, I have plumbagos and sasanquas blooming at the same time! Crazy, but that’s how it is here.

I have hardy plants in my yard and they rarely succumb to weather conditions.
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I love watching interesting documentaries about people. I watched one awhile back on scientists who were researching in the Arctic.

Ever wonder how people gear up to go to these places with extreme temperatures? They are brilliant and insane at the same time, right? These researchers are much braver than I could ever be. I am a wuss when it comes to being out in the bitter cold 🥶 !

I have heard that the suicide rate is higher where people are isolated in extreme conditions during long winters. Depression comes into play too. I find it interesting that these places are often the most beautiful places to live.
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Glad,

Great to know!
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I didn't even think of this yesterday!

Alcohol Works Wonders As A Defroster
Alcohol shows up a couple of times on this list and for good reason. Alcohol naturally has some anti-freezing properties. So, if you ever find yourself locked out of your home or your car because the lock is frozen, then you can use some alcohol to quickly unfreeze it. Alcohol in the form of hand sanitizer works well for this. Just spray some in the keyhole and it should unfreeze any ice inside.
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FF,

I wonder sometimes if the manufacturers of products want us to be able to utilize any of our products.

Packaging is such a pain in the butt!
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