This has been the coldest winter I have ever experienced. Weather forecasters on news stations are calling it the “Once in a Generation Winter Storm.” They reported that more than 800,000 households lost power nationwide. And the frigid conditions continue as I write this the day before Xmas.
The worst of the freeze occurred after I parked my car at the Conshohocken PA train station yesterday en route to the VA Hospital of Philadelphia for a scheduled MRI. I thought things couldn’t get any worse after completing the medical procedure that was highly uncomfortable, but when I got back to the train station lot I faced another painful circumstance. I could not open the driver’s side door of my Toyota Corolla.
It had frozen solid. The freaking door was exposed to high blizzard-like winds and it would not budge. I went around to the passenger side door after banging half a dozen times and luckily that door opened. But then I had to stretch my legs over the stick shift and center car console to get into the driver’s seat. I then started the car engine and slowly made my way out of the station grounds and to my home some two miles away. I then used my shoulder to ram the driver’s side door several times until it finally opened and I could exit the vehicle.
The next day greeted me with 3-degree weather and a sub-zero wind-chill value. I left my house and was walking from the backyard to our metal gate by the fence when I found that the latch was frozen solid. No matter what I did to bang it open I could not get it to unlatch. I had to retreat and climb the hill to the top of my property line and open the latch to a wooden gate that was easy to open.
It took several blistering cold minutes to walk to the car and I was happy to see that my driver’s side door opened easily. But I was then greeted with a white frost all over the windshield as well as the driver’s side window and the rear window. The frost was inside the car.
Inside the car, not outside like it generally gets when it’s cold.
I had never seen such condensation like this before in my life. I had to carefully scrape it after turning on the car heater and directing fans to the front and back of the car. It took a good five minutes to complete the job before taking off to exercise at my local gym.
None of this has ever happened to me before and I am looking forward to it ending soon and the start of a new year without such frozen consequences. Stay warm folks!
Contoveros 
I grew up in New Jersey, went to university in Philly, and worked in Manhattan. All with a motorcycle as my main transportation and to stubborn to switch to a car in winter. I thought I was familiar with cold. Now, I’m enjoying Southern California weather, but when my attention goes to the kinds of weather phenomenon going on in my old neighborhoods, it’s looking like the weather is just getting more and more extreme. We had our share of “ice storms” decades ago, but nothing like this. And weather’s not the only thing more exreme. Having grown up in NJ, I don’t ever remember anything taking out the power grid in the entire tri-state area. And for more than an hour or two? Things are not what I grew up with, that’s for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You lucky California dweller. I wish I could be there but I am stuck with the icy conditions back home in the Philadelphia area. Glad to hear from you. I went to Temple University in Philly. I wonder where you went to school.
Keep up the good work in sharing your insights!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Studied computer programming at Northeastern Christian Junior College in Villanova.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you cancer my brother-in-law taught mathematics at Villanova University undergraduate program. Conshohocken is just some 5 miles away.
Take care.
LikeLike
That sounds like a true experience. I am glad you navigated it and that you are safe and warm now. Sending you lots of care for a good 2023
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your loving kindness and your wishes for a good new year. I offer you the same with all my safe and much warmer heart.
LikeLiked by 2 people
❤️❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am sorry for your troubles that day but glad you made it out to tell of them, Michael. The NYC and PA snow is a distant memory, but I couldn’t believe it was 7 degrees the morning of the Eve here in GA. Ice greeted me INSIDE my window. I burrowed into the warmth of home for days, put all my shoes away, lol. Wishing you the best in 2023.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Global Warming? How about Global Freezing?
Seven degrees in Georgia. Unbelievable.
We just gotta bundle up and keep warm as best as we can.
Enjoy a great new year starting now!
LikeLike
Seven degrees is n the Peach State of Georgia to welcome Xmas!
Wow. Bundle up sweetheart and stay as warm as you can
For the new year.
LikeLike
Arrrggghhh. So awful! It’s been brutal. I’m glad you’re OK. 🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brutal describes this weather to a T. I’m OK and looking forward to Spring time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe this will help – Silicone spray the rubber door gaskets before winter, use a good car wax on the painted contact surfaces. Use wd40 on all moving parts of door handles, reach into the door with the red tube. Remember the trunk and folding rear seats for emergency entrance. Hope the mri was clear! And Happy New Year 🥳
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unbelievable advice from a man who knows how to avoid a deep freeze. Silicone spray, wd40 and a good car wax before winter sets in will get me ready for the next blizzard or two.
I have heard nothing about my mri and as they say in my neck of the woods: “no news is good news!”
LikeLiked by 2 people
💜 …and so many ARE Worried about Global Warming EveryOne; basically We ARE heading for an Ice 🧊 Age EveryBody…the Global Warming Advocates have Got It Wrong; but will only realise it when Gaia Initiates Her Next Ice 🧊 Age, She is Already Moving Glaciers and Ice 🧊 Bergs
nisi mortuus nec neque nolite vicit 🤭🤫🤐
http://www.ericberne.com
…💛💚💙…
LikeLiked by 2 people
To thaw to freeze Gaia innerstands all she needs🌍🔥💨🧊🧡
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good insight.
Loved Eric Byrne. Read him many years ago and it has influenced my thinking very much.
Thanks!
LikeLike
Stay safe (and warm) during this holiday season. If I had a magic wand…
Hugs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your kind and warm words are all the magic I need to get out of the cold. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much for sharing this post I’m excited at how much I needed to read this I’m so sorry for what you’re going through and I do hope it ends soon… I do have a Toyota Corolla I too have kicked the door open from the inside I too have waited while defrosting the ice from the inside of my windows it’s so nice there’s someone else out there to understand the experience not that I want you to have to understand but it is nice knowing that you do can’t believe me I do too stay warm stay safe stay joyfilled… I’m rooting for you 🥰🥰🥰⛏️⛏️⛏️🧊🧊🧊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t believe Toyota Corollas act as ice buckets in the freezing weather. Maybe they should be equips with blow torches to deal with the cold.
Sorry to hear about your similar experience but am glad to see you got over it and are staying warm and full of joy!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Always no need to be sorry imagine I’m always quiet insight kicking the door open LOL I do appreciate your compassion 90 rooms so grateful to get over it we warm ourselves from the inside out and that too I’m very grateful for I am a joy-filled doughnut giggle giggle
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am sorry to hear that there are more than one of us Toyota Corolla car owners whose vehicle also serves as an ice bucket.
But I am also glad to see you have gotten warm and full of joy following the outdoor experience.
Stay merry!
LikeLiked by 2 people
So very warm🥰 so very much full of joy🥰 thank you 🥰🥰🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
These kind messages help to thaw out the freezing conditions.
Below are comments shared on Facebook:
Janet Mather
After all that, you hardly needed a gym workout. Glad you succeeded. Brrrr!
Michael J Contos
Yeah, I got a workout just climbing the hill and finding another way to get to my car. Must have gotten hundreds of steps in for my daily jaunt.
——————-
Barbara Sherf
Brrrr.
Michael J Contos
Sounds to me like you feel the same way about this frigid winter of 2022-23.
—————–
Regina Precise
(Smiling face mojo with freezing wide mouth)
Michael J Contos
Took the words right out of my mouth!
——————
Patricia Muronoff Kalafut
Yikes! Michael J it sounds like you had a wicked time. Stay warm and cozy today. It will warm up shortly.
Michael J Contos
Yeah, 50 degrees by this coming Saturday. It’ll be like a heat wave compared to this deep freeze!
LikeLike
Yes! Wonderful 😊😊😊
LikeLiked by 1 person