January 2024 chitchat--HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[flatcap]

Virginia, you don't need to have your gas logs running to test your carbon monoxide detector.

Whether you test it is up to you. It's probably not a big deal.

All carbon monoxide can do is kill you. You won't even smell it.

[agate]

You have to wait until February 19th before you can have the added warmth you'd been counting on from the gas logs? I know nothing about gas logs but if a person is counting on getting warmth from a source in mid-winter and that source fails, I think I'd try to find something else to take its place temporarily. Or plead for an earlier day with whoever is in charge of scheduling that company's repair visits.

Lots of windows are great for light and the view but in winter they tend to leak cold air in. I just put some weatherstripping tape in strategic places around my bedroom window, and when it gets colder, I'll probably be adding more tape. I think it can get pretty cold where you are in January and February?

I'm doing much better, particularly since the other day's vacuuming frenzy. I'm using far less cough syrup. I stocked up on several bottles of it just in case I get this again.

[flatcap]

Well, they said it was going to get cold around here, and they weren't kidding. I noticed the heaters running constantly and a lingering chill in the air, so I just checked the current temperature at the airport. It's reading 12°. I don't know what the temperature is inside my apartment. The "thermostats" on the heaters are beyond primitive and are no indication of the actual temperature. I would guess it's around 72°, maybe a bit lower here near the sliding glass door.

I'm not looking forward to going out. I wouldn't wait, but I'm not hungry yet, plus I can't decide where to go. It doesn't look like it will get much colder. I will have to bundle up to the max whatever the temperature is. I don't do well in the cold anymore and am shivering just thinking about going out there. Maybe I'll go to IHOP and have breakfast for dinner.

They say you should plan for the cold, but I find the cold is no time to make plans. I can only say it is a great time to wear one of my winter caps! Now, to decide which one....

[agate]

Some of those flatcaps have earflaps that are folded up inside the brim, right? So you can pull them down around your ears in colder weather?

[Virginia]

Flatcap, I don't know how to check the carbon mono oxide unless the logs are burning or gas can get in the fireplace.

Agate, I did beg, but they said that was the earliest they had. I didn't want the same man to come back again, so I am having to wait until someone else can come. It is due to be bitter cold here next week.

My brother sent a text asking if my power has gone out tonight. It hasn't and I hope it doesn't. I had not heard from him in a couple of days and I was getting concerned. He says he has been real sick. He was tested for COVID, flu,,. strep throat. They couldn't test for RSV, but says he knows what to do if he gets it.

I am sorry you have to go out to get some food Flatcap. Why not buy some bread and peanut butter and jelly or maybe some cans of tuna. All I do with my tuna is put a little mayonnaise and sweet pickle cubes in it. Nothing hard to make if you don't want to cook.

[agate]

Another food staple to keep around that I use is cans of sardines. They keep for a long time. I put them on crackers. They're pretty good in the protein department. And as Virginia mentioned peanut butter, that's another item I just wouldn't be without.

Virginia, do you have a space heater to tide you over? I know there have been safety issues with them in the past but there are some with built-in safety mechanisms so they automatically turn off if someone accidentally tips them over. The ones I know of are no good in a power outage but I understand there are some that run on batteries.

I have a really nice one but it's very hard to clean, and if it gets even a little dusty, apparently, it's apt to trip the circuit breaker here. So since that happened, I use it only as a fan, but there are other types on the market that wouldn't have that problem

It gave a really nice warmth and wasn't noisy. Another one I had years ago was primitive by comparison. I try hard not to use space heaters and so haven't really had much experience with them but it's a possible solution so you won't be shivering with cold.

Here's a Consumer Reports article on space heaters. The one I mentioned is listed and you might not want to get it because of the problem I described but it might not be a problem for you--the Vornado VH-10:

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

[flatcap]

Some of those flatcaps have earflaps that are folded up inside the brim, right? So you can pull them down around your ears in colder weather?

Yes, some do indeed have earflaps. I have one true vintage 8-panel cap from the 1920s-30s, and it has a folding earflap/neck covering. It is in NOS condition. Sadly, the cap is much too small for me, so I can't wear it. I got it just to look at. I keep it on an old wooden hat stand. It's a real work of art.*




*I wish I could take pictures. That's probably the only reason I miss having a smartphone.

[clouds z]

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register... cold enough for ya?

[clouds z]

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register... cold cold hearts

[agate]

Yes, some do indeed have earflaps. I have one true vintage 8-panel cap from the 1920s-30s, and it has a folding earflap/neck covering. It is in NOS condition. Sadly, the cap is much too small for me, so I can't wear it. I got it just to look at. I keep it on an old wooden hat stand. It's a real work of art.*




*I wish I could take pictures. That's probably the only reason I miss having a smartphone.

NOS = new old stock? Meaning in mint condition but had merely been taken out of circulation? I had no idea there was such a category but it makes sense.

--It's currently 10' above 0' here. The snow has been whipping and whirling around outside most of the day. So far the power is still there. I keep hoping it will last.

[Virginia]

I do have 2 space heaters. They are upstairs and would be hard for me to get them downstairs where I need them. It is due to be quite cold here next week, so I am not looking forward to it. Agate, I have my regular heat, which is a heat pump but I am much more comfortable when my feet and body are close to the gas logs in my fireplace.

I have been watching the golf channel. My Nephew, Grayson had a good day. They are playing in Hawaii. The tournament will not be over until tomorrow. I don't know how much longer they will be there. His fiance is with him. She said Christmas this was going to be their first trip and they would not be back until February. Maybe they are going to spend some more time in California before they return to Florida

Let me know how all of you are fairing in this cold. My brother, Eric is still sick. The wind blew and it rained hard where I am again last night. I went out to empty the trash today. It was still quite brisk. The forecasters say we might have snow by the end of the week.

[agate]

Since it's still hovering at 10' above, I'm figuring we won't get much more snow. Have you ever noticed that snow most often happens when it's between about 18' and 32' but not so much when it's below about 18'? Still everything is covered with a couple of inches of snow, and then there was some sleet that came along on top of that and probably iced it over. I haven't been out to check this out and hope not to have to venture out until this is over.

The new maintenance man very thoughtfully moved some trash cans over by the building entrance so we don't have to go out with our trash bags for more than a few seconds. No trudging on the ice to the dumpster and back. I am so glad he did this. In the past sometimes it was done and sometimes it wasn't.

It must be exciting watching your accomplished nephew, Virginia.I didn't know there is a golf channel--you can see him playing?

I'd forgotten you have a heat pump. I have one too and as the years have gone by and I've grown more familiar with it, I really do like it. It's a huge improvement over radiators and even over baseboard heaters.

[flatcap]

NOS = new old stock? Meaning in mint condition but had merely been taken out of circulation? I had no idea there was such a category but it makes sense....

Yes, my true vintage flat cap is unworn. I found it on eBay along with a few others identical to it in the same listing. You see NOS caps is smaller sizes come up from time to time, but that was the first and only time I ever saw a stack of three or four of them. It made the seller's claim they were NOS believable. In any case, mine certainly looks unworn; it is in mint condition. It is really too bad it is too small for me.

As for larger sizes, I once saw a NOS 8-panel cap in 7-3/4, but that was truly exceptional. The available sizes in the caps shown in most old catalogs and ads stop at 7-1/2. People were smaller back then.

As a point of reference, my NOS true vintage 8-panel cap with earflaps is labeled size 6-5/8. That could indicate it was aimed at youngsters, or it could mean it is simply a smaller size. In terms of style, it looks like it could be both. The fabric and cut are common.

[agate]

People were indeed a lot smaller years ago, and centuries ago much much smaller.

Power outage here for 6 hours, not fun when the temperature is only 10' outside. People here got very cold. I was one of the lucky ones with a bit of power, enough for a wall heater and a couple of lights. It's finally back on (for now anyway) but the snow and ice out there aren't going away for a couple of days if the forecast is to be believed.

The elevator isn't working, and since I'm next to the elevator I called the management company's emergency number and they're supposed to come and fix it. In a 4-story building, there are people here who rely on that elevator, people with walkers and wheelchairs who just can't do the stairs at all.

I'm wearing my warmest clothes and hoping the power can stay on.

A neighbor brought her bird in to stay with me until the power came back. Her place had got too cold, and she was afraid the bird wouldn't survive. I've never had a bird and didn't realize they were so sensitive to cold. This was a parakeet but he was kept in a covered cage all the while, and so we didn't meet-and-tweet or whatever you do when introduced to a bird. He certainly was a good little guy--not a word out of him, no scattered bird seed.

[Virginia]

Agate, so sorry your heat went out. I think we are to get our worse part the end of the week.

It has been an exciting week for everyone in my family. My nephew went on to win the Sony Open Golf Tournament in Hawaii. Out of that big field of golfers there were 3 tied for the lead. He was one of them. They had a 3 man play off. Talk about a nail biter! Then of course I watched some of the interviews which were really good. This gives him an automatic opportunity to play in 7 signature games during the season. He will not have to qualify. Of course there are many other perks in addition to the money.

This happened on his parents 40th wedding anniversary. Eric called briefly and apologized for not calling earlier. He said Grayson had called twice from Hawaii and he hadn't been able to talk to him either time. He said he had been getting call after call and probably 100 text. He is well known in the golfing world. His voice did not sound good. He sounded like he was still sick. So, I was in front of my t.v. all afternoon.

Will talk to everyone tomorrow.