I head an interesting rumor from a good source. We apparently will be having rain for the next 6 weeks solid. A dire or repetitious weather forecast of constant rain can be one of the things that make Oregon winters sometimes feel blah and monotonous. At least it isn’t acid rain or hail! There are some things you can do to cut down on the misery,that is if you are one of those who dread this long stretch of consistent rain.
For those of you who love the rain, you’ve already been handed your good news and nothing that follows will be of interest. Dealing with rain and other bad weather is an inevitable part of living in Oregon this time of year. To make it a little easier for you, this is an unofficial analysis of coping mechanisms to consider using to make yourself and your family more comfortable through the long stretch.
The Cold
Keep handwarmers and footwarmers in the ‘staging area’ your family uses to prepare to leave the house. If you peek outside and note the car is frozen solid, perhaps the kids would like some warmers in their pockets for time spent outdoors. Alternately, the weather can change quickly to cold toward the end of the day when you are away from home.
If you had some warmers in the car that would be a welcome gift to allay a little misery for yourself when the occasion presents itself. At home, make sure you have a couple cozy blankets in your living area to snuggle under until the heat kicks in to make the space more comfortable.
The Damp
Go to Bend and you won’t feel it. That insidious damp feeling which can make it hard to get warm and stay warm. If you have wood heat at home, you may not be as aware of this feeling because your home space tends toward being dryer. Here are some simple, fun and a wacky ideas for dealing with the damp.
Throw your clothes in the dryer to start the day warm and cozy or give them a whirl in the dry warmth upon arrival home while you throw on a robe and make a hot drink.
Get rid of cold clammy feet with a space heater under your desk.
Work out early in the morning to get your core body temperature up, at least for a while. Follow with a long warm shower.
Some people swear by tanning. The short dark days are a little bit alleviated by some warm bright light, they say.
If you can, take a trip somewhere tropical. Sign up for alerts from Priceline or another information service for great deals.
Watch a movie with a tropical setting under a warmed blanket.
Listen to music that reminds you of summer, the islands and being warm.
Close all the blinds in the house to create a cozy cave and turn on all lights to make your own bright little world.
Bad Hair Days
Let’s talk reality. It’s Oregon. There is going to be wind and rain. It’s an even playing field because everyone has to make the dash to the car and the dash into the office. However, some good hairspray and the self control not to touch your hair too much after it is dampened will keep you looking better than most.
In the end, we are left to understand that we just can’t control it all. Especially the weather!
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