Antarctica

Nothing screams home like a good snow storm. Feeling like we were in the Canadian Artic last week, Daegu had a hefty snowfall. The kind of snow that streams from the sky. Thick and fluffy. Just perfect for building snowmen and catching snowflakes.

Winter's first snow fall is just one of those things I love. My heart skips, and girlish giddyness washes over me. As I strolled home through the winterwonderland taking in the grey skies, the whipping cold and harsh winds I realized how these days are just the perfect setting to cuddle up inside, light a fire, brew a good cup of cocoa and snuggle up with your man.

As I opened the door to my apartment, I flicked on the lights and undressed from my coat, hat and mitts. I peeked into my apartment but there was no fireplace, no cocoa, and no man.

I settled for a a billion blankets, a cup of Earl Grey tea and sole snuggling. I stretched out on my bed to watch my latest download and pulled and tucked most of the blankets I owned around me. After a few solid minutes, I felt a cold draft in the air. De-cuddling myself to check out the cause of the temperature shift, I noticed that I could see my breath in the air. I knew the weather had turned brisk, but my apartment was nearly as cold inside as it was outside. I double checked that the boiler system was on. The green beam flashed indicating it was on and working. These boiler systems are equipped with temperature gauges, and heat from the floor. I peered at the temperature. A bomby 14 degrees! I scaled the gauge higher in hopes that the number would change.

Two hours later the temperature hadn't budged. I was in Antarctica. I bundled up with my hat, mitts and layered on a heavy sweater. I put on long johns and ski socks and nestled in for my night's sleep.

It's been 8 days. I've now resorted to camping out on the floor of my apartment. Let's not even mention the whole shower ordeal. Some days I feel like I'm practicing for the Polar Bear club.

Two days ago I received my gas/heat bill. It was ridiculous! They say it's because it's a really old building. The temperature in my apartment has not budged from 14 degrees in over 8 days, no matter how high I scale the knob.

As I eagerly await for the Spring temperatures of February to arrive swiftly, I have succumbed to the camp out on my living room floor. I still wear my hat and mitts to bed and dream nightly of toasting by the roaring fire, with a cup of hot cocoa snuggled up with a man.