This morning I got up before the sun and went to look at the thermometer that hangs outside the kitchen window. -34C or -29F. In my books, that's inhumane.
I hate being cold so I went for the frumpy-I've- got- on- too- many- layers- and- they- don't- fit- under- my- clothes- properly look when I got dressed.
I step outside and can't help but cough. The air is so cold that it freezes itself. It's like trying to swallow steel when you try to suck it into your lungs. My nose hairs froze instantly and it made me sneeze. I run to start the car as I knew it would need time to heat the engine up.
I had to ram my bum into the car door 3 times before the door unfroze enough for me to open the door. However, the door would only open about about a foot and a half. So I had to turn sideways, with all my layers on and suck in and squeeze myself through the door onto the front seat. After 4 tries of the car not starting, I crank it again and push the gas pedal all the way to the floor. The clutch was sticking so I had to give it a hard punch with my honkin' big snow boots to get it to cooperate. The car lights dimmed and I thought for a second I was defeated by my cantankerous car...but then I heard the whine, and the engine screeched at me (I was quite aware this was too much to ask at 7am on a bitter cold day from my car) and it started. Content that I won that battle, I reached to turn the heat dial. It wouldn't turn. I had to take off my mitts and use my fist to get the dial to turn 3 clicks to the right. It bellowed and burped and sneezed and coughed at me, i thought something was going to catch on fire. Then a torrent of bitter cold wind blew in my face. My car was not happy. But neither was I. I got out and had to close the door twice before it clicked.
It took half an hour for my car to heat up. Environment Canada doesn't like that too much.
Somehow the power steering fluid never unfroze. So, during my whole drive to work I had no power steering. Cars were honking at me as I was frantically grinding the steering wheel around and around to get the wheels to turn.
I decided, a Starbucks americano coffee was what I needed. That was the best part of the morning.
The high today was -20 Celsius. And this is where I want to live permanently???
2 comments:
Well, it's not always like that too, right? But I got to say that your car story doesn't encourage me to buy a car. I was thinking it was better with a car during winter.
Your car sounds like it has issues! Do you have a block heater? I mean, yah, that is cold...but it shouldn't be that crazy - especially your power steering not working! My heart goes out to you my friend - I loathe the cold on those deep freeze days (and weeks) as well, but somehow I don't feel as sorry for myself about it since I grew up here...but you didn't. You're quite a trooper.
Post a Comment