Michael: 29?  Heck, at this point -29 would feel like a heat wave!

Laura: Thanks... I can send some of this stuff your way if you would like. :)

Don: It is brutal if you have to be out and about in it... something I try to avoid when it's this cold.

Richard: The power co. is pretty good about keeping he juice flowing, but if it were to go out we would just fire up the generator to power the house. Then we're totally self sufficient.  The water lines are 6-8' below the surface and we have heat tape on the well lines to keep them from freezing. We're good to -80 or -90 before we start to feel it inside.

Gary: I remember about 15 years ago being at the lodge in January... we had this little brass thermometer hung outside the kitchen window.  I woke up one morning to see it was almost -80.  Needless to say we didn't spend much time outside that day.

Missy: It IS cold in Michigan. haha.  We lived in the Midwest and it's brutal.  I've always said these temps aren't nearly as bad as the cold, wet and windy winters you'll have.  What we'll do for 12 weeks, huh? haha

Mike: They must be pointing the global warming heater in the other direction today! :) 

Mel: If you were to dress for it, you wouldn't even feel it.  Guys (and gals) work outside on the north slope where this is a high temp in the winter. 

Bryant: Yes, and yes.  Our brains have obviously frozen... and Santa is a fishing buddy.  I even know where the old fart keeps the lists. :)  Tanning?  Man, be careful not to get a sunburn on your... noggin.

Jon: If anyone knows what these temps are like, it's you.  You spent time in a place that makes this look tropical at times.  I'll agree though, pictures just don't do it justice.  You need to feel the air start to freeze your cheeks and your lungs before you can really appreciate it... if appreciate is even the right word. haha  I'll be looking for those pictures of Florida, btw.  At this point I'll take anything I can get.

Kristin: So, no getting dressed and playing outside today?  haha. Me either.  We're content to sit in the office and drink coffee today.

Diane: We actually have a busy winter market.  I was showing houses on Christmas eve... albeit vacant ones. Business does slow from September to February/March, but we sell all year.  Fiddling with lock boxes at -40 can be interesting though!

Audrey: We don't shut the schools or business down until it hits -70... though some will start shutting down at -60.  The buses are equipped to deal with the icy roads and cold weather and they keep running just about no matter what.

Leesa: Cold weather is ok, just be specific...haha.  If not you could wake up to very cold weather. :)

Kathy: I'm going to sound like an old Alaskan, which I suppose I am, and say these temps are good once in a while... it keeps out the riff-raff. haha  It's a very pleasant 70 degrees inside right now and thanks to radiant heat, my toes are nice and warm. Can't beat that.

Todd: Come on... you need to feel this to really experience Alaska. The boilers and furnaces in most houses are more than enough to keep the house warm.  Houses that are poorly insulated will feel cold even with the best of heaters. 

Rita: It's going to be like this for at least a week, so come on up and experience it first hand. :)

Fran: You and the boys need a vacation, right?  Come see us, then you won't have to imagine! haha

John: Those Midwest winters are brutal.  I would rather have this blistering cold than moderate cold with wind blowing 50 miles an hour.  That I never liked in the least.  Enjoy that 46 above!

Andrew: Good advice.  We're set with the gear and home remedies. 

Christine: People think we're crazy... and in some ways we are a little nuts to put up with this, but we do love Alaska.

Huiting: We had everything serviced this fall, the pantry is full, so we're good no matter how cold it gets. Around -90 we might start thinking of relocating to Florida.

Kate: I thought all you wanted for Christmas was the photo how-to blog?  Good thing you were good this year as I'll keep these temps up here. :)

Emily: Staying inside is exactly what we have planned for today.  We have showings and two inspectoins tomorrow... and it's not going to be any warmer.

Lisa: This weather does give us a whole new reason to cuddle... so it's not all bad. :)

Chuck: Climate change is occurring... how much is man made I can't say.  seems like we're in a global cooling cycle at the moment.

Susan: I can tell you it is definitely for real.  If you're dressed for the weather it's not that bad.

Donald: Heck, at zero we're in shorts and short sleeves.  The 24 hour sunshine is fantastic.  We are fishing and playing at 2 or 3 in the morning... It can't be beat.  Happy new year to you as well.

Debbie: 16?  You're doing good. :)

James: As cold as this is I can't imagine living anywhere else... after a week of this and I might be able to though!  Happy new year!

Alan: I've been to Chicago in the winter... it is cold as heck.  I remember the wind blowing like there was no tomorrow.  I'll take -50 over that darned wind any day!

Lenn: We'll eventually retire to NC, but I'm not sure what I'll do in the summers... I detest 100 degree heat.  I think my blood is too thick after all the years we've lived in cold country.

Colleen: A lot of folks do leave their cars running non-stop.  It takes them too long to heat back up.  We have a command start that starts the car when it gets cold, but in this temp that means it starts every 10-15 minutes when it's outside.  Oh, and yes, lettuce and bananas will turn brown and wilt like crazy after just a minute in this cold. 

Diane: Spring, summer and fall are absolutely incredible.  That's why we put up with these cold spells.  They are cold but after all this time we're used to it.

Monika: We keep it in a heated hanger during the winter months (and winterized).  We use it occasionally but never in weather this cold.  We have a backup generator at the house to provide power if necessary.  At these temps being without power for long spells disaster.

Susan Darlin': Thank you so much.  That looks so much better than the white stuff out my window! :)

Cameron: Tuff or nuts?  It really could go either way.

Teri: It takes a while before regular winter temps start to feel normal... I don't know that one could really ever get used to -50 for long.

Susie: I think you would love it... and yes, having someone to cuddle with helps a great deal. :)

Robert: You're correct.  The best times to see and photograph the northern lights is in the darkest days of winter.  January and February are prime times for NL viewing.

Bruce: No, but the Caribbean is looking mighty good right now. haha

Cynthia: We're well past frigid. :)

JL: We're sitting at -50 and could hit -70 in the lowest areas of the valley... haha.  I like your temps better.

Linda: We don't spend a great deal of time outside at -50 but -30 is another story. We play outside all the time up to -30 or so.  The homes here are designed and built to withstand very cold weather.  We've seen -63 in this house with no problems... and it looks like we might see it again in a day or so.

Lynda: I would love to stay home but I have showings tomorrow.  Can you imagine?  I would put it off, but the buyers are ready to go. 

Lane: You know exactly what this is like then.  I used to hate that Midwest wind.  I swear winters here are nothing compared to winter in North Dakota. 

Carla: Wow, that's quite the snow dump.  I can see if we can push some of this -50 stuff your way too if you'd like. :)

Debe: We're looking forward to milder winters on the coast soon.  We'll come back to visit but I doubt it will be in the winter.  Happy new year to you too!

Elizabeth: If we had any sense we would already be there. haha.  I feel for your friend that has to deliver mail in this stuff.  I can deal with it but to work outside in it?  Yikes.

Marian: We sell houses all year long... we just dress for it.  Lots of layers and hearty cold weather gear.  yes, we're nuts!

Jennifer: I love the Flagstaff area.  It's just beautiful!  Come on up...there's always room for more hearty folks.... and yes, we do love it.

Rebecca: You'll have some seriously cold winters in NE.  I remember almost freezing my a$$ off in Boston while visiting some friends years ago.

Bob & Carolin: Sounds like a good place to be!  Happy new year!

Marchel: It takes me a long time to adjust to the heat...I usually feel like my brain is boiling.  The cold I can deal with.. Crazy isn't it?

Russ: Lots of things don't work so well in this cold.  Cars don't run right.... tires tend to flatten out due to the cold, things break.  I really don't think most mechanical things we use were meant to operate in this weather.  Thankfully we don't have it all the time.

Jason: I expect we'll easily see -60 during this little snap... maybe -65.  It's perfect weather for staying in and cuddling.  Lots of babies made during these cold snaps.

Jason F: -40 is nothing to sneeze at... and you're a wet cold, which I always thought was worse.

Joel: The vehicles will keep right on running... some older rigs are having a hard time but as long as they don't shut them off, they're good.  We're done the snowbird thing but opened a new brokerage this year so it will be a few years before we head south for good.

Kathleen: It gives us a reality check as well... we complain when it's -20 and then this hits and we remember what real cold weather is like.

George: I can put up with a little cold snap for those glorious summers.  As for the dark, we have lots of natural light bulbs in the house.  I'm not crazy about the dark either.

Denise: We won't see 80 until May or June!  :) 

Roland: We will definitely stay bundled up!

Kari: Come up for a visit.... you can take some of this cold stuff home with you!