White Out

Snow. Ten inches last night and another three this morning. A white out this afternoon with–rough estimate–a 30-40 knot wind. Shari just informed me of the temp outside. 7 degrees. It’s 7 pm. Lucky 7.    And dropping.
We shouldn’t complain. I read in the Times that homeless people in Chicago are facing much. much worse. Sub-zero temps as they sleep on park benches. Nothing but their clothes and a few garbage bags for warmth. Some avoid shelters because they fear that they may be robbed or injured.  Others, because all the shelters require that folks clear out in the morning. Back on the streets. Where to go? Carpe diem.
We can assume that Chicago is joined by many large cities in this sad circumstance. Before I retired, I often saw the security people clearing the NYC IBM HQ lobby of homeless people. Every morning.
Gotta wonder what the animals do in these climes. Of course, people who leave their dogs out in such weather should be made to exchange places with them. And eat Puppy Chow. For days. Or weeks. 
I’ve seen places in the snow marking where deer have spent the night. Not very appealing to me. But if you’re a deer and are so inclined, I guess it’s ok. Deer are kinda dumb anyway. Ask one to count from one to ten. You’ll see what I mean.
Other animals, such as bears and woodchucks, find a nice warm den where they can hole up. And enjoy a long winter nap between football and baseball seasons. Except walrus, penguins, seals, bears of a polar persuasion and their ilk. But they’re not too smart either. Would you spend the winter on the ice looking for another ilk to eat? Pray not.
Then there are the fish. What are they thinking!? Spending 4 or 5 months in the dark under layers of ice and snow? In water, the temps of which are just above freezing? Well, word has it that they don’t think. No surprise there. They go into what ichthyologists call a state of stupor. Really. Metabolism slows to the point where life is sustained by minimum energy intake. And, being cold blooded, they’re cozy and “warm”. In 35 degree water. So I guess warmth is a relative term. But I’ll pass.
I could go on about how dumb some animals are. It makes me feel better about myself.

But I think, instead, that I’ll send some warm vibes and hopes for better times to those poor folks in big cities. The ones under garbage bags. On park benches. In cold unfriendly places.