Under attack!

I don't know where everyone is, but up here in Cleveland, we are under attack!  I am so glad that I got out there and did some running yesterday because it's about 12 degrees right now, and the wind chill has to be at least 6 below.    I was stupid and decided I would go to the grocery store today.  Big mistake!  The store doesn't allow the carts out of the store, and people were taking them out anyway.  I had a cart blown into the side of my car.  Luckily, it didn't do any damage, or else I would've raised a fit!  Anyway, my front door is also not fairing well in this weather.  From what I can tell, it was replaced more recently by the previous owner.  However, he had to replace the screen door, and he didn't do a good job of it at all, so air comes in like crazy through that.  On top of that, when he painted the molding, he also painted over the weather stripping.  I had discovered this over the summer, but forgot to fix it.  So since nothing will stick in these temperatures, I have turned to the ghetto method!   I have a fleece blanket nailed up on top, and a towel across the bottom.  I then took another towel and nailed it across the top to help keep the cold out.  Before I did that, you could see the blanket blowing in the wind!   So far the cat hasn't tried to climb it.. but we'll see!   It's blowing like crazy around here.  

We had this just around the same time last year, and that made for a 300 dollar gas bill for me.  The week after that, I had my insulation blown into the walls which made a huge difference, but  nothing in the attic yet.  So my plans include attic insulation and a new screen door with new weather stripping for the steel door.  I also have some huge gaps in the side windows which I tried fixing with that Great Stuff foam... That stuff is a disaster to use!  Luckily, my friend Kathy's husband is a contractor, and will be helping me with these things as I get the money to make the improvements.  Once everything like that is fixed and my teeth are paid off along with everything else, I'll be putting in a new furnace and A/C unit.  That's about 6 grand total with the air cleaner and heat pump.  Unfortunately, there's no point in getting it first because I'll just lose that heat as well.  

Oh yeah... and last but not least.. I saw cute grocery store guy.  It was so hard to give him the cold shoulder.  He came right up to me when I walked in and told me how they were with out power all morning.  All I could think of was how I hadn't showered yet and I have no make up on with my OSU hat!  I was hoping he wasn't working and I could just get in and out!  To make matters worse, he even came right to my check out line to bag my groceries.  I felt like ringing his neck and screaming  "CALL ME!"  hahaha.. So I engaged in conversation with him, and he walked away when I left.  I'll just take it with the grain of salt as normal and go home!   The mile drive home was horrible.  We have really large high curbs on the corners of the streets, and I almost slid right into it.  I could only imagine that happening.  I thought quick, threw it into 3rd gear and it saved my ass!  

Now, the rest of the day I'm putting all my towels on the side windows, and cleaning the house.  Nora is working hard at chasing squirrels in her dreams since we aren't running for 2 days.  I won't be shoveling since it's not worth the frost bite and hypothermia!  I'll get my exercise as I dance around to the radio all day!   I'll let you all in on a secret!  I secretly love this weather.  I'm having fun being all cooped up with my dog and doing what it takes to stay warm!  We haven't had much of a winter this year, so it doesn't bother me as much as it would if we had this every day.  I'm going to re-organize some things, do some laundry, sweep and vacuum.  Just things that I've neglected over the past few weeks!   I hope everyone is having a nice warm day, and for those of you who are experiencing what I am, please be careful if you go outside.  It's not worth going outside if you don't have to!   STAY WARM!!!!!