THE SIDE EFFECTS OF SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES

It's been more than a week since the New England states in America have been bitten by the bitter freezing temperatures. From Montana to New England, winter freeze chows  down every bone and flesh in our bodies, as if tearing our ears and noses apart. Weather advisories caution us to stay most of the time indoors because these below-zero temps could not only devour you live, but could kill you instantly.

So what happens to our bodies if we are still alive but bravely fighting the cold? For some of my readers who have not experienced humid-less, wintry chill yet, I should say the effects of the frosty weather outside can even affect you inside even when you're toasty and warm nestled in your own abode.  One of the side effects of cold-brutality happens first thing in the morning. I would wake up facing the mirror with a tousled bedhead ---not an ordinary one, but like some strange spell is cast on it. Medusa's hair is replicated on my head, minus the snakes. Strands of my hair has a life of their own, striking  different  "standing" poses in different directions. Americans call it "static hair, " caused by a lack of moisture and lower humidity levels during winter.

Another thing that happens to humans exposed to dry cold air is extremely dry skin. Again, absence of moisture from the air causes the skin to dry out. When dry skin become itchy, it is quite annoying. Good thing, mine cannot be mistaken like cracked soil ready to rend the whole earth apart.  My lips turn  arid and flaky until they crack and bleed. I always have my lip balm handy by keeping one in each room. And the worst comes when the heels of my feet look like they were slashed by a knife and left deep vertical scars tending to bleed in the middle of the night while I'm asleep.  To prevent this, I don socks to bed.  As with my hands, they may seem to belong to a 70-year old  lady rather than a 40 year old woman. Around the house, the heater is turned on high all day, and at night we sleep crouched like snails under a comforter and an electric blanket.

Since we use electric heat, electric bills are exorbitant with an average dues of $400 every month. However, there's something that may be be good during this frightful times---food does not need to be refrigerated. Leftover foods stay chilled and still good for several days even without putting them inside the fridge. The whole kitchen itself is another extension of our fridge. Even our cars can transform into instant refrigerators when we leave our water inside overnight. 

The weirdest thing is, I had worn my down jacket inside the house at some times when even the heater cannot rival the harshness of the air and wind from outside. I know somebody who even wear gloves inside her home. That surely is odd but could be true because we do things around here that are completely a little bit freakish just to overcome gnawing temps. That's why I abhor living in this part of the USA ---Connecticut. Besides, one of the richest states, it's also one of the coldest. My husband and I are planning to move to the west---Las Vegas, Nevada within two years. I probably think he is also tired of hearing me whine about living in the cold suburbs of a rich state.

But in the meantime, that winter is still here, I'd bundle up, slather body lotions, dab on some lip gloss, tame my static frizzies, go crazy with the heater, and put on some gloves---right here inside the comfort of my home.

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Comments

[Joyoz]

As usual I love reading your post. SUper nakakaliw..ang cute mo kaya may award ako sayo dito.

[SSNUFFY]

Ahh yes Miss Binkee, but a cracklin fire warms the body so well. like huge long strong arms it penitrates and warms the bones. Even the chill of sickness is weakened greatly by a warm fire. Minnesota is much like your home state in that the winter is harsh. january brings "cabin fever" and the anxious pangs for spring, Soon my friend, the sun will move in to uncover the flowers and warm us. Thanks for another great post, and Gods very best Al

[eva]

yeah you're right. same here in chicago it so cold.

by the way got an award for you:

http://evamee.blogspot.com/2009/01/birthday-wish-award.html

[Em]

Oh! same here in Wisconsin bing... Last week we got 30 below plus the wind chill. I bit our heater bill this month is $500 or more because we usually have $400 plus this time a year for the passed yrs but this been a worse winter since I got here. I would also like to transfer in some state that is warmer but my husband like it here because all his family is in here so I don't have a choice:(

[Plastic Mancunian]

Ah - extreme cold. I've experienced this twice in my life. The first was in New York City where the temperature was -10 degees C with a wind chill factor of 10 degrees less - I acquired a cold sore that made me look like an alien. The second was in Moscow where the temperature reached -20 degrees C; this time I took precautions and came back looking vaguely human.

Cheers

PM

[Mel Alarilla]

Wow, that is really cold that only you could describe so vividly. Now I know why in the coldest part of the North Pole they have a term, "as cold as hell." People who live in temperate countries like us used to think of hell as a burning place, but to the Eskimos they consider hell as a place of extreme cold. I commiserate with you and your family who are experiencing the harshness of winter. I do hope and pray that you could relocate to Las Vegas or to a warmer state in the very near future. Thanks for the graphic post. God bless you always.

[yanjiaren]

It's 30 below zero here in Toronto and I haven't been out for days.

[aminhers]

same in Bangkok.17-22 degree, its too extreme.I have skin trouble. Thank you, take care.

[betchai]

Hi Bing, again, you have a very upfront post, really dealing with the issues and real concerns with winter. I understand what you meant by having to wear gloves inside the house, hope you get to enjoy some warm days soon.

[Pastilan]

lip balm is good for cracked lips, never lick your lips in cold weather :) The picture of that white haired boy, is it for real? during rainy days our hair is really difficult to manage, but I do not know that it is worse during winter.

[ria c]

que horror!!!hahaha...ganyan din problem ko sa hair ko naman. i look like i have been electrecuted. so what i do, i just finger-comb my hair para mukhang bed-head...hahaha. can't defy nature eh.

[gengen]

The picture of the baby is cute hehe anyway Last week of February is the proclamation of winners. I will email you where to contact the winner...Thanks

[bingkee]

Hi Pastilan---I don't know if that is for real ....think it's special effects. Hehehe! I just copied that image from Google images.