I think a pee pad is a housetraining tool? I didn't use them with my dogs as they know how to whine and prance around holding themselves until I let them outside to pee.

I'm pretty sure that's what a pee pad is.

Stay warm! Perfect chance to wear those hats and scarves that you knit. :)

I believe it is like Maxi Pads for dogs, only they don't wear them, you lay them on the floor and they pee on them. Don't ask me, I have a cat specifically so I don't have to go out in the cold.

BREAD! MILK! TOILET PAPER! My husband called me Friday and said we were going to have an "icy apocalypse"! So I had to go out and buy firewood. It hasn't gotten bad here . . . yet. Every day is supposed to be worse than the first. My dog won't go out in the rain (A LABRADOR!) so I should have invested in some of those puppy pads! It is waaaay too cold to walk her.

Enjoy the global warming! I'm off to knit in front of the fire.

Here in the frozen Northeast it is 31 degrees. You will note that, while this is indeed technically frozen, it's warmer here than it is there. Not to mention that it was 70 degrees here last weekend. The weather has definitely gone wacko. (We are supposed to get quite chilly next week. Even I, queen of long underwear starting in October or maybe even late September, am starting to wish for colder weather so I can feel less like The End Is Nigh.)

Btw (one comment for the price of two posts), you are welcome any time. Slowly, slowly, I'm learning too.

You sillies! It is 10 degrees at my house right now, and I would love 27. Though, honestly, I would love 50 way more! I hate it this cold.

As for going out, Laurie, if your in person personality is anywhere near your online, writing personality, I would bet that people like you alot. So you talk! You are smart and funny, and I bet there is still a bit of southern accent still there, and people always find that charming. WHen I am in a situation I am not terribly comfortable with, I frequently let my accent come out, because a southern accent puts people at ease, and they are charmed by it. (It also can start a good conversation starter- "Do I hear a bit of the south in your voive? Oh, where are you from?" etc. )

You are fabulous, and need to put those fears aside for a bit. I bet they love it when you show up.

pee pee pads!?! *snicker*

Can't believe it either. Went out for a long walk and I actually stepped on some ICE! In Los Angeles of all places! Love it!

Wow...I live in Canada and when it is -9 (about 16 degrees Fahrenheit)in winter, people think it's WARM. They wear SHORTS. They celebrate because it's not -30. If it was 27 degrees here, we would be breaking out the flip-flops.

I think it's far too cold here in SF for me to clean my house. Yes, far too cold. Must lounge on couch watching movies and knitting with a cat on me instead. *Sigh*

But will the palm trees survive? And what about Pamela Anderson's chapped lips? Or the havoc this will wreak on Lindsay Lohan's scalp. WHO IS ATTENDING TO THESE MATTERS? Urgent! Urgent!

I am currently at work and am wearing, yes, every handknit thing I have made because it is SO VERY COLD in L.A., and my co-workers are making fun of me.

Oh, pee pads. Is newspaper just not cutting it anymore?

Pee pads are for training puppies. They are way better than newspaper because they protect your floor. They're kind of like flat diapers that go on the floor. We used them for a month or so when we were housetraining Paddington.

You're not supposed to use them with adult dogs, though, and those people are asking for trouble if they think it's better to retrain their dog to go INSIDE the house just because they're cold and lazy.

Also, don't tell anybody, but my toes have been so cold for so long now that I am considering buying Uggs.

Yes, pee pads are about 2 or 3 feet square and they are absorbant pads that are used for housetraining puppies. Of course, that never made any sense to me. Why would you put a pad down so that they could have a specific place to pee in the house if you want them to learn to go *outside*? Anyway, I'm glad it's not cold here...gotta love Florida!

I have to say that my pipes actually froze friday night. I'm in Monterey freaking California, and my water was not coming out of the faucet!! I felt like I was back home in Colorado where we left the water running all night and had to plug the car in so it would start in the morning. Global warming is a myth my frozen ass!!

Now you finally have an excuse to bundle up in all your handknits at once!

Holy Shit!! It's colder in LA than it is in Boston? I may move back... on second thought... NEVER! Bundle up, Buttercup!

You could make a killing selling your handknits on the street corner on days like this.

Oh, wait, no one goes outside; they let their dogs pee inside instead. Never mind.

When I read what you said about talking lots at SnB it reminded me of what my friend said last night. She said she has a neighbor who's an extremely quiet extrovert. She's never met anyone like him. And then she and I both said at the same time, loudly, "Not like us LOUD introverts." (which we both are)

Sounds a little like you maybe? ;)

You have 27 degrees in LA and we had A SUNNY DAY IN BELGIUM. The first sunny, dry day in I don't know how long. I had to resist the temptation to stand on my terrace all day with my face tipped to the sky, worshipping the big golden light that shows up about as often as a full moon.

I'm guessing that pee pads are probably the same as the chux pads the midwife kept slipping under me when I was having Sam. (Oops, TMI!) They're super-absorbent disposable blue pads, about two feet wide (maybe more, I was busy at the time). I guess you'd put them on the floor for the puppy to pee on. But surely by the time I am done one-handed typing this, at least six other readers will have told you what pee pads are, and they might even know what they are talking about!

It was nice seeing you yesterday! Stay warm.

27 in LA?!? It's currently 32 here in North Texas with freezing rain. Fun times. Glad you had a good time Friday night! How lovely of you to want to think of the good time you had instead of anything negative! Good for you, girl! That's a lesson for me, too!

I was SHOCKED at how cold it is in LA today! When I woke up this morning at 4:30 to feed the cats breakfast, (their schedule, not mine!), it was 32 degrees. It then proceeded to drop more so it was 27 when I woke up for reals! How does that work? Shouldn't it get warmer as the sun is closer to rising??

It's about 65 here in Murfreesboro...insanely hot. As a teacher, I dream about snow days. All we've had for the past few years is flood days!

Laurie, as everyone else has already pretty-much said, you are insightful and inspiring. You might not say much with "live" people, but your words on this site are alive and have meaning for many. Good for you that you are learning to be happy with yourself. I've learned that when one takes care of oneself, many, many people are affected in a ripple sort of effect, whether we know it or not. It is interesting that you get to see the number of people you affect with every increase in number of the comment section.

Well, y'all have all inspired me to want to learn to knit. I'm DYING to make a kitty pi! And a scarf. And a cute little hat. And maybe a wrappie thing. And I'm also trying the non-essential buying thing. Have y'all heard of Dave Ramsey way out west?

It's cold for L.A. But I still take the dog out on schedule. And I don't think they make pee pads for 100 lb. dogs. Do they?

Why has the Country flip-flopped? It is 2:40 PM on the East Coast. I'm a little South and East of Washington DC and the weather bug on my computer registers 69 degrees F!!!!!!!! ICKKKKK! We are getting your warm and you are getting our cold! My body is so confused! My lawn is even more confused.

Pee pads are HILARIOUS... especially when they're being used by lazy people who don't want to brave the weather. They make litter boxes for dogs, too, though I think they were intended for "fake dogs" - you know, the ones that fit in an itty-bitty Louis or are carried as an accessory? I'd like to see someone try to stuff my German Shepherd in a purse... *snicker*

It's 14 in Kansas, AND windy, AND blowing a delightful snow/ice/rain/sleet mix down on us all. And, in true Kansas form, the road crews are ignoring the weather...

It's warmer here in St. Louis! Of course, yesterday I woke up to ice-covered everything, but it started melting last night. Now, everything is soggy & muddy. Such bizzare weather.

Here in Oregon, we were supposed to go down to 8 degrees one night (which is freakishly cold for us). When I told my Mom (who lives in Arizona) this, she was horrified. "Isn't that fatal? Won't the dogs' paws stick to the sidewalk?"

But as you can tell, the dogs and I survived.

Some of us do get pretty spoiled by our mild weather. But I'm thrilled to be wearing all of my hand knits.

Wow! That is cold....for LA. On Monday my high temperature was -14F. We have a warming trend now and it is +21F. I did go out and walk the dog. She was happy, I bundled up, we both survived. And you will, too! But I would keep that wine handy.

I know, it's crazy. A friend of mine in SLO said it got down to 5 degrees. Now, here in Flagstaff at 7000 feet, 5 degrees is no big deal. But in Cali on the BEACH? Wow. Hope the cats are snuggly warm. 3 of my 4 decided it was too cold outside for them. But Tweek is a snow cat, and he builds snow forts.

I live in the Valley, too. It's so cold my husband who is from Winnipeg, Canada (a place where below freezing is normal) is complaining about the cold. I like it. All I need is a bowl of warm won-ton soup and I'm happy.

I am currently *in* Winnipeg, Canada. Last Friday when I got up the temperature was at -36C, with a windchill of -48 C. I got to wear all *my* handknits too!

Go back to bed and make the cats keep you warm! Yes, even Roy. It was 23 here in NorCal this morning when I got up. Such a nice break from 113 last summer.

Oh, and please stop worrying so much about being social. Your parents raised you well. You're only weird in that cute girlie way that the rest of us weird. Trust me. Would I ever lie to you?

I own pee pads, and I don't have a dog! I use them to soak up the mystery puddle that appears in my driver's side footwell every time it rains. Versatile! But that's not why I wrote. Laurie, you should never, ever fear the talking to people! Yeah, you do ramble a bit, but I've been coming here for over a year now, and I'm constantly AMAZED! and DELIGHTED! with how astonishingly FUNNY! and CLEVER! your rambling is! It's one of your strengths girl, use it as such!

You know, I'm (in San Diego) used it it being cold and cloudy at the same time. But cold AND SUNNY??? Now that's just weird.

Ha ha, you people crack me up - it is 45 today in NYC (allbeit rainy and dark), and the forecast high for tomorrow is 50. FIFTY PEOPLE. This shall forever after be known as the Winter it Did Not Snow. Or even Dip Below Freezing. I mean, I like not-freezing-temperatures as much as the next person, but all this brown is very depressing (we need the white stuff to cover it up). Very sad indeed. Personally I think it may well be the End of Days. (No snow! No freezing temps! Cherry trees blooming in Brooklyn! January 14th!)

It's warmed up to about 39 degrees here in Sacramento. Much better, I can feel my toes!

It's 61 F here in Washington, DC right now! Our lawn is growing! If it ever dries out enough we're going to have to mow it! Our daffodils are coming up--6" tall! THIS IS NOT RIGHT!

You have our weather--we want it back. And some snow for heaven's sake!

Dearling,
Yes, there sure IS global warming. We *finally* have snow here in Wisconsin, we've been irritated that Colorado's keeping it all. In fact this is the latest we've been snowless in 160 years and we're are NOT happy about that. WE actually need it, of course...so it can melt and prepare our state for the sweetest yummiest corn ever. I love snow, and it's especially beautiful seen over the rim of a cup of cocoa or tea. My DDH wears shorts until it's about 25 degrees (NOT typical, even our neighbors think that's weird!) But I managed to get out this morning to get my sz 11 DPNs and I have started my first Kitty Pi. Evangeline and Lilliane send gratitude to you (and Lilly said "Gee, that Roy is a cool dude!")

I so agree with Ginnie. You are funny and witty and I bet charming too. I bet the southern accent (if you still have it) is just icing on the cake. You rock! Your SnB-mates are lucky to have you.

PS: I agree with Denine; I see it as a plus to have animals that don't need walkies out-of-doors to do their business. :o)

We are waiting out an ice storm in Junction, Texas as we slowly work our way to Arizona. This is not what fulltime rving is supposed to be like--we follow the sun.

To distract you from the cold temperatures I give you this: http://whatnottoknit.wordpress.com/

Isn't sad that I know what a pee pad is? My MIL uses them for her dog on there boat so they don't have to take him ashore.

Hang in there. This terrible weather can't last long. IT'S CA, AFTERALL!

T

It's almost 70 degrees here in N.Carolina so I sat outside in the sun and knitted on my kitty pi. Felt pretty good about it until my neighbor thought I was making a rastafarian hat...
hey mon, it's a kitty pi.

I am so looking forward to this "LA weather" of which you speak!

OK, so I'll cop to being a pee pad user. Well, I don't USE them but I do buy them for my dogs to use. One of my elderly dachshunds has Cushing's Disease and drinks a lot of water. She can't "hold it" the whole day while I am at work, so I put pee pads out for her to use so she won't go on the carpet instead. 'Cause when ya gotta go, ya gotta go! They are life savers. They get pretty expensive when you use them 5 days a week, so I order them by the case from Ebay.

Here in MA we're finally getting winter - ugh! It's freezing rain from Boston to about half way westward through the state (right where I live) from this afternoon through tomorrow drive home commute time. Yes, some of us have to work on MLK Day (damn).

Laurie - I'm so glad you realized the truth as you were talking to your dad Friday. Change is something that happens to all of us who live. And don't you prefer living to the alternative?

Pee pads? That's why god gave us cats!

Hey, did you hear that the 10 Fwy was closed Friday morning around Ontario because it was SNOWING and we silly Californians don't know how to drive in the snow? Gotta love it!

Here in Upstate NY, it's 34 and raining. Predicting an ice-over during the night and it should be fun driving the interstate at 7:00AM...
Anyway...Laurie, my Sweetie Girl wants to know if Roy is available...she's sitting on my lap and got all wiggly when she saw his picture. I think she believes he's the *cat's pajamas*...

can we have our winter back please? 72 in Chattanooga. the forsythias are blooming. I don't even want to think about what July is gonna be like.

LOL Laurie you'll live. We had icy rain here in Texas and I've been out and it's ONLY 30*F. I'm sure you and the kittys will be okay. Just sit Bob on your feet for warmth

From yesterday's post, you're welcome. I get so much from your writing and the comments in return. I love to visit here.

The last of the snow that fell in December has almost finished melting here in the NM. Snow never lasts that long here. Our dog Taz was not happy to go outside to pee and held it for as long as he could before he would brave the snow and cold and go outside to do his business. Usually we don't have to go out with him but there were times that was the only way we could get him out. I don't think the pee pads could contain the amount he would hold. We compared him to the Tom Hanks' pissing marathon in 'A League of Their Own'.

I am such a weather wimp... shivering up here in SF... but even so- there is not way I making the dog suffer the indignity of a pee pad... cracks me up.... because the rest of the conversation could have been me an my husband...

Too funny! I think I found your weather -- it wandered and got lost over here in Virginia. Got to 75 here today.

And here I was late for church because I had to chip through a half inch of ice. Clear days of cold isn't terrible.

hehhe! 20 degrees.

It was 1 degree when I work up yesterday morning. Now that's cold!

Silly CaA people. :)

for the record, "piddle pads" (As the breeder I got my dog from called them) actually do come in ones for adult dogs. Since I am gone all day I decided that in the laundry room where the dog stays I could leave one out under the utility sink (where I can't accidentally step on it) just incase she had an emergency... She used it ONCE the first day I had her when she was so confused about where she was going to go... Now she just likes to tear them up or get this...lay on them... I've even tried to get her to go on them on the back porch in the middle of a thunderstorm once and she wouldn't (and this was one of only 2 times the dog has ever woken me up to go potty - so she had to have REALLY had to go)

But anyway - the point is many people use them (or doggy litter) all the time in apartments rather than taking their dogs out - so there are ones that are intended for adult dogs... sorry for the long long post...

I'm sorry, but there must be a mistake. We in Boston are missing our cold weather. Los Angeles has it. Not that I'm complaining, except for the environmental devastation that it points to...

I'm located in the high desert of Southern California. You know, palm trees, cactus, yucca plants and all the other desert stuff you see on the way to Vegas? So why, last night, was the low *7* degrees? It didn't get above freezing until 11 am today! Many places (Even the local craft shop) are closed due to damage from frozen water pipes. Even those of us who read your blog and don't knit are looking at the Kitty Pi and thinking "I wonder how warm a human-sized version of one of those would be, and how much yarn would it take to make?" [And when it reaches 120 here this summer, I'm going to remember last night!].

It must be time for wine, "just enough to keep ourselves warm with".

Pee pads!?! That poor dog! Eesh.

Glad you went out yesterday, Laurie. I'm sure those SnBers love you just as much as you love them. Hang in there.

It must have been fun wearing all your knits at one time. What's currently on your needles?

LA people can be incredibly insane. The Ugg boots come out once it hits mid-60's and yesterday (not even in the 30's yet, people), I saw a lady at the market (yes, they call it the "market" here, not the "grocery store") wearing a fur hat, wool coat, scarf and gloves! Church today was amazing too - gloves all around and leggings under skirts - even on ladies who should be old enough to know better. I do feel for the citrus and avocado farmers tho - they are losing alot. And my poor birds that I feed in the yard (for my cats viewing enjoyment)- even the hummingbirds were crowding the feeder this morning. And the bird bath was frozen solid. The change of seasons is great, but I do wish I'd covered my geraniums and camillias. Knit on!

Hmmmm... perhaps this will alert the remaining doubters that climate shift & global warming are myths?
It was 70 todays in SW VA. 70...in January. I believe I feel the "Day After Tomorrow" coming on. LOL

They are blue pads that sometime the elder may use to soak up wee accidents that might happen. I wonder if the couple realize that the dogs have fur for a reason and not for a fashion statement.

Yes, it was sunny and totally freezing today in LA. I was so lucky I got to get up at 5:30 a.m. to go sit outside the entire day to watch my daughter play in a soccer tournament. I'm not sure I'll ever get warm. I was happy, however, to have a chance to wear and share so many of my handknits!

brrrr! You got your thermals and all? You need long undies for that cold stuff!
I miss the LA crazies- here everyone drives a Subaru and has a back-up generator for when the winds knock down the power lines. Me, i just get out the thermals...

OK so where I live 20 degrees is normal in the winter as are icy road snow etc... so here is a driving tip for your current weather conditions.. Downshift if you are having a hard time stopping.. it will slow you down while allowing you not to slam on the brakes which always make your car spin out if you slam them on on crappy road conditions.. like icy or slushy snow.. stay warm.. as a side note we are having freakishly mild temps.. for our area.. where the blizzard of 77 shut us down.. know where I live yet?

i wish it was 27 here! according tomy car thermometer, it was 18 this afternoon, and that's the warmest it's been since thursday! it was 13 on friday, and 10 yesterday. and it's supposed to get colder again until wednesday. oy!

and soy milk? blech. gimme real animal milk any day

Bless you.

You have heaters on your outdoor restarants that they turn on when it goes "down" to 70 degrees.

How will you survive?

Cuddle with the kitties. It helps.

Love, all of us here in Minnefreakinsota-where-27 degrees-is-a-heat-wave-and-we-wear-
shorts-when-we walk-around-the-lake-
in-weather-like-that. Doncha-know.

Mid 70's today here in Virginia! Send some of that cold this way!!!

Wasn't there once a fairy tale called "The Princess and the Pee Pad?"

Houston would love some of that cold weather, too! Well, maybe not all Houstonians, I don't think Drew cares for the cold, but this misplaced Yankee sure doesn't care for 75 degrees in January!

Laurie, you sound like you do the same thing I do in social situations: you overthink. You're a bright, personable, lovely person judging from your blog, and you are no doubt the same in person *if you let yourself be*! I have a saying that I use whenever I'm in socially uncomfortable situations, or when I just don't know what to say or do, and I repeat it to myself like a mantra: "Fake it 'till you make it!" If you ACT confident and happy, you will soon BE confident and happy in social situations. Try it, it works!

At first I thought you were going to say the pee pads were for the humans. Like maybe 27 degrees will freeze the pipes and they're prepared for the worst. Anyway, I'm glad to see you Lasangelinos are soldiering on under such hardships. For the record, it would have to snow about 10 feet to keep me from my latte.

Pee pads are sounding pretty good when its single digits outside and the toilet seat is so cold I half expect my tush to freeze to it.

Oops, was that out loud?

when we have a storm coming and i know that i won't be leaving the house for a couple of days, i stock up on bottled water and pb and bread, and also butter and flour and eggs, so if the power stays on, i can bake. i make a chocolate cake for my son and his friends every time it snows (and i give them sweat pants and toss their snowy/wet stuff in the dryer-- they're pretty spoiled)

It's 12 degrees Fahrenheit here in Minneapolis, and we're finally getting some snow tonight, so... HAPPINESS!

Just an FYI for you all in the warm belt: when it's cold, and there's no cloud cover (i.e., sunny), it just gets colder...the warmth just sort of rises into the sky and disappears. It's got to get cloudy to get warmer...kind of like the clouds are a blanket in the sky that traps the warmth down on the ground. And if you see steam rising out of the storm drains in the street, or you can see swirling exhaust behind every car or truck that goes by (it's gotta be swirling, don't ask me why)...that's a sign that it's REALLY cold...

And if by chance you folks should get a heavy snow, just drive in the ruts of the car in front of you...as long as that car doesn't drive off the road. Don't try to find the lane markers during a storm.

Take care of yourselves down there in the cold!

You are funny about what you consider cold. It is "0" degrees here in British Columbia with snow on the ground and it is freezing outside. If I was in Flordia and it was 27 degrees I would probably be in shorts and a t-shirt. You should come to Canada and then you will see what cold is.

Oh. My. Lord. What is it coming to when L.A. has weather that is below freezing?!! I don't know how all of you will manage. Can I come down there and warm up?

Summer, I believe Laurie was speaking in the language of Fahrenheit. Therefore, 27*F is around -3*C. That would mean possibly snow and cold. Also that means that L.A. is now colder than Vancouver. Vancouver has been whining about the cold for at least a week now.

It is supposed to get butt freezing cold here as well. We wrapped plants because I can't lose my citrus trees. I have the pool on an 8 hour timer over night when it is impossibly cold. The hound dog is going to have to wear his sweat shirt, he hates it but, his butt is going to be freezing! I guess I should get out the wool and finish his dog sweater. He is going to need it. The other dog is hairy so, he is going to want to be out in this stuff. I have a down comforter with my name on it. That is going to be my friend. The hubby is going to Dallas for the week and it will just be me and the critters. I plan on knitting a whole bunch.

You know, when I said I was tired of it being 90 degrees in January and wanted it to be cold, I didn't mean that it should be THIS cold.

I should be more specific in the future.

DEPENDS for dogs.

27deg F?? I'm laughing WITH you not AT you.
Really.

is it really 27 degrees? That is below freezing isn't it? What are you doing? That must be insane! I'd like to be there just to giggle a little. Do people know how to turn their heaters on?
Stay warm!
(I LURVE me some pee pee pads - my girls use them everyday!)

Wow! The weather report on NWCN said it was 1F in Redmond WA today! There's still lots of snow in Western Washington, and not much melted off today. So weird. Rarely does anyone associate the Seattle area with snow fall, but fer cryin' out loud I just about took up an offer of snowboarding lessons from one of my buddies today. Stay warm ya'll!

I wish that weather here in Munich would dip below zero (celcius, that is) and stay there....It's supposed to be deep in the middle of winter and we have temperatures clear above 10 degrees celcius! That's just not right.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who has that weird talking disease, it either I can't think of one intelligent thing to say or I'm babbling incessantly. Makes me wish I had an "On/Off" switch.

hahahahahaha. it's colder in LA than in Boston! anyway, i'm sorry but you LA folks really are a bunch of pansies.

Those pee pads are for housebreaking dogs, or for itty-bitty little dogs in cold weather. I think they're kind of gross.

I agree with Ginnie way up on the comments about charming people with your accent. I heard my first, real-life southern accent last year on a trip to Nantucket, an older gentleman wearing a hat and a bowtie, and no kidding, I followed him around a bit because I just LOVED hearing him talk!

Sounds like you are having a heat wave! This morning its -18 here. Very cold and very humid. I've worn a different hat everday this week! Time to knit some more!

One good thing about the cold: the house wasn't unbearable when I decided to make 27 jars of Meyer Lemon Vanilla Bean marmalade yesterday. Lots of steam with canning. Apparently, other people had a similar idea because the hardware store was almost out of canning jars. What else does one can in Los Angeles in January???

I've braved blizzards in Indiana and killer windchill in Kansas, and I am debating whether I really want to walk 3 miles in the cold to go to work today even though I need the exercise...They say your blood gets "thin" the longer you live out here in LA - I'm beginning to think that's true.

Oh, and they're predicting the hottest summer ever this year. O joy.

I saw the news last night about the California cold snap and said to my husband, "I bet Crazy Aunt Purl has all her hand knits on!" This morning in Boise it was 9 degrees when I came to work (6:00am). I must admit, it is easy to work on my lopi log cabin throw in weather like this.

awe i am sorry to hear its so cold in la. here in alaska were at 38 degrees at 7:07 am yesterday it rained so much alot of our snow washed away. sure am glad for the winter days though gives me time to sit and knit alot or do scrapbooking . you take care and stay warm.
hugs and love and tons of prayers from me crissy in alaska

I live in Iowa. Today's high is 8.

Then again, we're the kind of people who were shorts when it's above 40 in March, but bust out the thermal underwear and wool hats when it dips below 60 in June or September (we tend to have cold snaps)

Ha Ha- I love LA- I remember when we would have those "cold snaps" when I was a kid and grandma would send us off all bundled because it was cold.

HAH. I learned what "real" cold is once I lived in Boston for 6 years. The rudest awakening happened when I got off a plane from LA and stepped outside to -47 in Boston (wind chill and all).

That's cold

That is unreal. I lived in CA for the first 24 years of my life and only a couple of times do I remember it getting that cold.And here I moved to Massachusetts and we are having a record warm winter!

I do have to say I love that people aren't going to go out in it. 20 degrees is nothing. We had one winter where the high for the day was zero. That's right, single digit zero. That was cold.

My sister uses pee pads for her teeny little mi-ki dogs, because they do not go outside. Ever.

LA people are SISSIES!
27 isn't even close to cold yet.
2 degrees is cold.

I thought it was just us southerners who rushed out and stocked our pantries and liquor cabinets when there was a hint of bad weather coming... "Oh! There is a 2% chance of snow; we have to go to the grocery store and buy 2 dozen eggs, milk, lots of canned food in case the power goes out and the roads are icy and it snows! Oh and beer, don't forget the beer!"

Big woosies :) It gets much colder here in the UK!!

I'm right there with you on the talk/not talk/talk way too much dilemma. I think that I spend more time replaying all the absurd things that come out of my mouth than I do saying them. Getting out of the house and talking to more people than the cat is definitely good practice, though.

Oh yeah, and maybe Bob's not fat. Maybe he's just fat from the back, like my cat. Who weighs only 12.5 lbs but looks like a good 20 lbs. from certain angles.

Enjoy the cold and then please send it to Connecticut. We miss it.

Ha! I grew up in Orange County and when I was an undergrad at UCLA I remember wearing a huge, heavy wool coat to a Nov. football game. LOL. Now I'm in New England and haven't even brought out a lightweight coat this year. I bought onions last week and last night I went to use some and they had 5 inches of green sprout. Also the daffodils outside the front door are coming up. 8^(

I'm sorry to laugh at your misery, but it's 10 degrees here in Maine and snowing sideways (meaning, it's windy too). Of course, we expect that here. If it was 27 here, yours truly would be bitching about how it's too warm for January. Actually, even at 10 degrees, it's too warm for January. But I digress.

Anyway, I'm glad you have your head on straight about how to deal with such a catastrophic weather event. It always cracks me up when people up here run to the store and empty the shelves of bread and eggs before a storm. They clearly have not weathered very many snowed-in days. It's all about the wine, truly.

It's cold (relatively) down here in the San Diego area, too. I know that all of you who live in truely frigid areas are making fun of us, but it's all what you're used to. You should see how calm we natives are in earthquakes.

Pee pads are sometimes used for housebreaking dogs by teaching them to go on the pad and then, little by little, moving the pad closer to the door. I've never used them because I never wanted to train my dogs to pee inside the house even as a transitional stage. Also, some people train their dogs to use them if they have to leave their dogs locked up in the house while they are at work every day. But dogs do have to be train to go on them. You can't just not take the dog out and expect him to go on the pad rather than anywhere else in the house. More trouble than it's worth, in my opinion. That is unless it's necessary for the work thing. I don't use a doggy door either because I live in a semi-rural area and I shudder to think what else might crawl in that door, also my property isn't fully fenced and I never let my dogs run loose. Luckily, I'm a stay at home wife (used to be stay at home mom but kids grew up) so I'm home with the animals most of the time.

On a totally unrelated topic but one I'm shouting from every available rooftop: I'm a grandma! My daughter had a little girl on Saturday evening. Mother and baby doing wonderfully.

Laurie, laffin' with ya' ... not atcha!

You must feel like you are right back home in Louisiana this winter -- 65 one week, 20 the next, 65 one week -- no wonder you have been feeling down. The weather is making you homesick.

Oh well, at least the weather won't shock your family when they visit.

I am still laughing myself silly at the Governator declaring a state of emergency. For the fruit growers it is, yes, but not because it is 27 in LA and people are afraid to walk their dogs.

I work in the animal sheltering business, Pee pads are used both for housebreaking puppies and for all sorts of other doggie uses -- a designated inside pee-place for elder dogs with incontinence peoblems, for dogs at home all day while their people work, etc. They come in a number of sizes. However, if you use them frequently, it is often cheaper to buy acase of disposable bed-pads for elderly and incontinent patients. Same thing.

Unfortunately for those delicate Los Angelians with the coffee and dogwalking crisis, the dog has to be trained to use them in the correct manner. A dog who is accustomed to being walked won't automatically use the pee pad just because the human caregiver is too much of a wussy to go outside. :)

To Vicky in LA -- it is coldest the hour before daybreak. The sun cannot do its job of warming us until it begins to peek over the horizon.

I know it's funny to some of you that we Californians are freezing when it's in the 20's or 30's but try to understand that it's not the temp so much as what you're used to. Turn it around. In the summer when the news start having reports of people dying of the heat when it's in the 90's, I won't be laughing even though I'm sitting in 110+ with no air conditioning because I know that there are other considerations than just the temperature.

P.S. -- Oh my gawd -- at what temperature does silicone freeze? Can you imagine all the rock-hard breastiness out there in SoCal? I mean, all those silicone gals CAN'T own any real clothes, otherwise who would see their silicone? Could this be the state ef emergency that Gov. Arnold is so worried about? "ve must take uck-stream mehzsures so that ze breasts do not freeze...?"

While I adore your blog, I have found myself not re-turning to read it as much lately and I couldn't figure out why. I think your really nice, you have great writing skills, your funny....it was because there has not been any knitting content. I didn't even notice that this was the reason until you posted that hat that was so cute..then I was soooo happy!!! I returned for several days in a row after that and that was it. I was hoping you would post more of your knitting. I bet you have LOTS of gorgeous knits that would LOVE to be shown off:)

Saoirse, people die of heat exhaustion when it's in the 90s elsewhere not because they are unaccustomed to the temperature but for the "other factors" you mentioned -- sadly, heat-wave deaths are usually elderly folks in places like Chicago where they have screwed their windows shut against crime, so not only do they have to air conditioning, they have no air circulation whatsoever. The humidity is also a huge factor in the Midwest and Southeast.

The LACK of humidity is what allows you to bear 110 without AC.

Hope you warm up soon!

Dez, who really needs to get back to work

And to add insult to injury? Apparently they turned off the heat in my building today because it's a holiday. Only we're working. So it's barely 30 degrees out (I'm in Silicon Valley) and I have NO HEAT and I'm at work... on a holiday.

No I'm not bitter.

I was wondering how you were managing the cold! I emailed my friend who transplanted to LA from Ohio to ask him if I should knit him up a hat real quick-like LOL! I haven't even had my winter coat out yet here in Ohio. We just have rain and mud.

Stay warm, Laurie!

Hey sweetie,

Are you lucky enough to have gotten today off?? My kids are home but my hubby is at work (he works in the insurance industry). He's been calling EVERY HOUR ON THE HOUR driving me crazy telling me he wishes he was home. What he doesn't know is that I'M GOING TO KILL HIM when he does get home!!! So helpful!!!

I hope you had a great (long?) weekend. How did the organizing go?? Did the cats help?? Mine are always happy to act as paperweights, boxweights, clothing weights, etc!

Laurie, I feel guilty for adding one more comment that you have to read. My guilt's not going to stop me, but know that I feel it.

First of all: Thanks to Not Faint Hearted for the "minnefreakinsota" comment. I'm still giggling.

Secondly, here in West Michigan, we started the day with ice, then had snow, then had almost-sunshine. I think it's in the upper 20's. I hate it. All of it. My whole goal is to avoid looking outside until it's at least May. When the GOOD weather is here.

I know...I know....why don't I move? :-)

Tiffany, don't know if this will make you feel worse or better, but I worked Christmas eve, the day after Christmas and for Christmas day I had to wear my pager because I was on-call. Had my pager attached to my PJ's as I was opening presents.

I always, always, always relive conversations and question the lame things I said. If you figure out how to do not do that, please let me know.

The Sarcastic Idiocy Forum would like to remind you that it's bread and milk, not wine and olives. Wine and olives should be well stocked in your pantry regardless of the weather.

http://www.thesif.net/SIF/index.php?

Wow, I would have died lauthing if I'd heard that conversation in the store. But then again, here in South Dakota it was below zero this morning (a balmy 5 above now) and we have about 6" of snow (the first real snow this winter!). It's all relative, isn't it? The kids are swarming to anything remotely resembling a hill so they can finally go sledding.

Pee pads. That's just funny. I had a friend who owned 2 teacup chihuahuas. They had a cat box lined with "pee pads" that the dogs were trained to go on. I always cracked up when my friend would say she had to go home and change the pee pads.

I definitely hear snipey and snarky comments becoming more common as the comments to this post mound up - not the norm at Chez Perl. What's wrong, peeps? Toes cold?

Another West Michigander here. Haven't even busted out the winter coat yet. Ice storm?!?! Weak for January! Where's winter!!!

Lovin' the Laurie! :grin:

Vicki in So. Cal, I don't know if you'll see this, but congrats on your grandbaby! Mine is 20 months old! :)

Dreidre Flint has an podcast with topical subjects in rhyme so you can remember what to talk about. It's called "Podcast Fondue". Keep warm. I am sick of looking at rain in PA. Come on snow (but not too much).

27 degrees in LA? Britney might have to start wearing underwear! Maybe even long underwear!

I'll be sure to feel sorry for y'all back in LA as I look for my car under the blanket of snow for the 4th time today.

I had friends in NY that had their dog trained to go on a pee pad because they lived on the 37th floor and couldn't be bothered to take their dog down to the ground level often enough so the dog wouldn't soil the apartment. I still think that's gross.

One mother-in-law + 2 pricey yippy miniature dogs + 1 quintessentially Southern female sense of entitlement (read: refuses to train the dogs or get up in the middle of the night) = PeePad!

1. I love this weather, but I keep forgetting to layer when I go out. My husband is petulant because I whine until he gives me his jacket, and then he shivers :-)

2. I had a lovely time on Saturday, and found your advice and insight very helpful and hope-inspiring.

Ha! 27!

I feel your pain. Here in Wichita, America, it's been 12 or 15 for the last few days, with 2.5 inches of solid ice on the ground! At least if I lived in LA, I might get to see some beautiful scenery or something...

Love your blog. You've inspired me to start blogging. Mine is really stupid and insignificant, I'm almost embarrassed of it!

Anyway - off to work on a sweater, then gotta teach school tomorrow.

I LOVE RANDOM GOVERNMENT HOLIDAYS!

And here in Chicago, DH and I have been lamenting the fact that it hasn't been cold enough to freeze the hockey rink in the back yard!

kid ,kids,KIDS!!!!!!!! has anyone watched "An Inconvenient Truth" by AL Gore? I don't want to be a huge downer but we all need to take this global warming thing seriously ,pull our heads out of our collective arses and start making changes now! Also polar fleece anything and a nice down vest are great for keeping that frozen edge off( great for layering!)Git cha some! Still waiting for winter here in NW Indiana..by the way can we get the recipie for that Lemon Vanilla Bean Marmalade?? Sounds DEE-LISH!(Cats wanted to know!)

P.S.....3 Big Dogs here too!!...NO pee pads allowed at the farm......fenced in back yard....polar fleece dog blankets.(OK.. heated breezeway/laundryroom!)....cats love fleece too when kneading and bisquit making.......

Well it is 40 here. Celsius, that is, so what about 105? It is colder there than it has been here in the last year! We got ice on a bucket of water one day in early spring but that is it.
You go, girl - just go and enjoy the SnBs cos they are a lot more pleasant that way.

All morning long (from high atop my booth at the Rose Bowl!) I was telling everyone who'd listen that Mother Nature apparently did NOT get the memo.
We pay REALLY HIGH rent here in So Cal BECAUSE IT NEVER GETS THAT COLD!
Otherwise -- Someone please remind me WHY we pay these prices?

Because if I'm going to have to deal with 28 degree weather... I'd really rather pay only $300 for a nice house.

I saw this video on youtube and felt that I should share it with you as you expressed in a former blog that you too were addicted. I don't know what it says about me that I watched the whole thing...

whoops...the video link is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sDyVAUb8xE

Are you serious!?! These people weren't going to take the dog out in 20 degree weather?? LOL - crazy!!! I guess it's all in what you're used to. ;-)

I use those pee pads for my 19-year-old cat who tends to miss the litter box once in awhile. They're great for protecting the floor and they make cleaning up easy. I think they're for puppy training.

I cannot believe the weather you all are having! But you know Global Warming is just a Myth. *snort*

Hi, Cold is 2 degrees and snow and wind! Minnesota is a very nice place to live, most of the time. We have really nice people here if you ever consider a "change" again. Did you notice you are not in the minority but the majority. Almost 50% of the women in the US are single. That means, waiting longer to get married, living with someone, divorced or widowed and never remarried. I'm divorced and considering remarrying this lovely man I remet after 40 years. Most women interviewed said they would not want to remarry because it was better for them. Just thinking of you when I heard this and thought I'd pass it on. Not sure it helps but it is a statistic. Keep knitting

I live in Central Missouri and right now we've had an ice storm...yes, an ice storm. It's been freezing outside and currently my house has no power. no power=no fun.

but luckily i can still knit on the blanket i wish i had started on much sooner.