"Polar Vortex"

[mdsalemi]

That's a new expression on me; the result of this weather phenomenon is quite evident here. Coldest it's been in 20 years or more, and we're already past the average annual winter snow. For the benefit of my European and Aussie friends, the photo is in degrees Celsius. Good morning, Michigan!

[Peter van Es]

I'd stay in bed...

[Cees Klumper]

That's cold ... Plus 8 degrees Celcius here today, quite mild, guys on bicycles in shorts.

[mdsalemi]

"at least it's sunny" he says...

Most everything was shut down yesterday, as what the screen doesn't tell you is that we received about a foot of snow just prior to the vortex. No school for 2 days, and tomorrow is iffy with the cold.

Should be back up to just above freezing by Saturday, just in time for the beginning of Media Week at the Detroit International Auto Show starting Sunday night!

[Garry]

Now that is cold.  Last time I saw that I was living in Philadelphia back in 1994 and we had ice storms then a big snow dump and the back yard did not clear for months.

Garry

PS  Sunny here and a mild +25c

[Jack Jones]

Hey Mike,

What about your friends in Canada? We speak metric up here.

The rest of the world is metric except for the US.

Jack

[mdsalemi]

Jack--my friends in Canada are living it with me!   
School closed 3rd day in a row! Unprecedented. Daughter is now officially very bored.

[Flyair]

Michael,
you may want to take advantage of that unexpected break from school to tell your daughter about something hot and interesting.... how about a topic like.... Pagoda?

[66andBlue]

Jack,
metric or not, main thing is to have a well stocked fridge for the long winter nights. 

[280SE Guy]

I grew up in west central Wisconsin in the 1950's. I remember during a below zero cold snap in the winter I woke up one morning and saw some brown fuzzy things in my bed. I picked one up and threw it in the fireplace, it just took a few seconds and then let out a pfffft sound, just like a fart.

Regards,

280SE Guy

[garymand]

Maybe global warming is reversing again.  In the late 60's I was in Minot ND, 50 miles S of Canada.  I put a 6 pack out on the window sill and it froze in 5 minutes: -30F.  So I love the pic 66.

Back then the polar cold always dipped down to freeze the Mid West.  In 65, I swapped out a Chevy 2 speed auto (outside up on jack stands) one night in January in Omaha Neb and it was -10F.  I had to rush inside to thaw my face evry 15 minutes.  

The same winter, walking hoime from my paper route, I passed a slow walking cat in a field.  The next day I saw the cat about 10 yards farther, standing frozen in its tracks.  Serious cold and very hardy people.  Very tough on cars.  In 69, I was discharged in Minot, I had to have my car towed a gas station to thaw it out inside the heated garage for a few hours to start it.

[GGR]

Swapping a trans, outside, at night, by -10 F is very brave!

[Jack Jones]

If we see any more -26 nights, I'm moving to Nelson New Zealand!

[Garry]

The temperatures for the next five days are 40, 39, 38, 41,41 or in Fahrenheit between a low of 100 and a high of 105. Currently 41.6.   Too hot to go for a drive I think. Also way too hot in the shed.

So to keep my self occupied, I have been working on an old rail Caboose that I am turning into a small guest house.  Here are some photos to date. Great day for painting.

[Flyair]

Garry,

I am sure that the spares are cheaper than in the case of a Pagoda.

BTW, I am slightly disappointed that on this occasion of restoration you didn't turn the roof around to have another Pagoda HT
But since you remain within the "vintage area" that's OK...

[Garry]

Stan,

I think working with wood is a whole lot easier and forgiving than steel but I am not so sure about it being cheaper.    I have rewooded the entire outside and most of the inside.  It cost more than an engine rebuild and getting new windows and doors made in double glazed, more than my up and coming new interior Then there is the plumbing and electrical and that cost more than the rechroming   All in all I think it will have cost about as much as most of my pagoda, well thats what I all telling the boss.

[Flyair]

Garry,

In fact you have built this holiday palace like anew. I am pretty sure a new one would be cheaper than the whole hassle with transportation and renovation. But all the pleasure of self-achievement would be gone, I guess

Have you allowed for a garage where your pagoda will be sleeping?