You know what is colder than a witch’s tit?
That would be my house.
Not that I know just how cold a witch’s tit is, but my daddy used to always say that after coming in from the frosty winter air while I was growing up.
And judging by how perky and hard this witch’s tits currently are, it’s damn cold out there.
Try shaking that mental image out of your noggin. You are welcome.
It seems I woke up one morning to find myself living in the middle of a freaking ice cube. Literally. Over night the power quit, the furnace motor died, the fire went out in the wood stove and my farcking water line froze.
Welcome to Winter up in Northern Canada y’all. At least I don’t have to worry about the contents in the deep freezer thawing.
*yay for optimism!!!*
If that wasn’t bad enough, my truck wouldn’t start even though I plugged the block heater in. Turns out my battery froze and swelled up like a can of beans with a bad case of botulism.
If cursing can keep a woman warm on a chilly morning, I would have been feverish.
Thankfully, my husband in all his burly glory was home to deal with all the frozen carnage. There is nothing sexier than a man wearing three coats, a pair of winter over alls, a toque and sporting a fine set of snotsicles. It gets me hot just thinking about it.
How cold is it? Two nights ago it sank to the frosty depths of -59 with windchill. For my metrically challenged American friends Imperial bastards that is -74 freaking degrees.
I’m used to chilly temperatures during our long winter months but there has to be a limit to how far the thermometer can push me before I go stark raving mad. I think I’m there.
When the radio station announced that I lived in the second coldest place on the entire planet, I cackled like a school girl watching her nemesis get pantsed.
I mean, when the only place colder than where you live is freaking SIBERIA, it may be time to consider moving to a warmer location. Or, in my case, go shopping.
What???
Unless you have ever been house bound with three children bouncing off the walls from boredom in deathly cold temperatures, you can’t judge me. I’d rather face the very likely possibility of freezing to death in a parking lot than be forced to watch one more episode of Wizards of Waverly Place.
Shopping turned out to be all right. For just days before the greatest consumer Christian holiday event of the season, the stores were surprisingly empty.
I surmise it’s because normal peoples’ brains weren’t permanently addled by the frost.
Pffth. Whatever. I scored a pair of nose hair trimmers for less than six bucks and found a pair of fur trimmed panties so it was a total win. Even if I lost part of my left ear lobe to frost bite and had to have my truck jump started three times in one day by an assortment of questionable men who thought “Can you give me a boost?” was code for “Why yes, I want to play with your trouser snake.”
Unfortunately, I returned home to find out the school buses will not be running anytime soon due to extreme temperatures which means more freaking Disney Channel marathons. I’d toss the badgers outside but I’m pretty sure there are laws about exposing children to temperatures that can literally freeze their noses off in under a minute.
Damn.

It’s not just humans that are suffering out here either. My dogs aren’t so happy about it either. Although that may be because I keep laughing at them whenever I stuff them into the stupid little doggy parkas they need to wear because they are basically rats disguised as family pets and don’t have enough fur to keep them warm.
Our cats don’t have it so easy. My husband insists they are outside cats no matter what the temperature is. I insist he is an asshole. The truth is somewhere in the middle. After losing the battle and worrying about them all night long when the temps dipped down to -59 I put my big girl panties on and waged war against my feline hating husband..
I won. The cats were allowed in for the night. I knew he’d back down when I threatened to rip his testicles off and throw them in the snowbank. For some reason he has an unnatural attachment to them.
The problem was, where the hell were the cats? They weren’t coming when we called for them and I had visions of frozen cats littering my driveway. Nothing says ‘Welcome and Merry Christmas!’ like dead animals decorating our lawn.
So I did what any momma insane chick who’s husband refused to help would do. I bundled up like the abominable snowman and set out as the one woman search party I was.
Let me tell you, it gave a whole new meaning to pussy popsicle.
The cats were fine; cold but safe and are now currently residing in different branches of my Christmas tree and pooping in my husband’s shoes.

I can’t tell you how this has helped elevate the festive spirits around here. Snicker.
But the worst part of all this? Beyond frozen pipes, dead vehicles, dogs who keep crapping right in front of the door because it’s too cold to venture more than 12 inches from the house, cats who are meticulously destroying one precious Christmas ornament at a time, children who are slowly torturing me to death with their whines of boredom and the sounds of Hannah Montana which now haunt me in my sleep?
I freaking shaved my legs right before Jack Frost’s terrorist attack and now, all my body temperature is escaping through my legs.
I can’t keep warm.
It’s like I’m being punished for grooming.
Lesson learned. The Yeti will return and hopefully so will warmer temperatures.
(Although it may get chilly in the bedroom since my husband has some weird rule about not wanting to engage in marital obligations with a chick who has more body fur than he does.)
Right now though, I’m willing to risk it.
Now excuse me, I need to go put a toque on.








klaatu
What a remarkable coincidence ! Muffy and I were just sitting here enjoying a hot toddy by the fire and noticed the crystal chandelier was getting foggy. I rang the bell and had Jeeves throw another stack of endangered old growth mahogany on the fire.
Perhaps I should have the maid draw us a bath in the Jacuzzi for us.
Pip-Pip Old Gal
Horatio Throckbottom
Snootyville
U.S.A.
kyooty
brrrr is right. It’s not right for it to be this damn cold this early in the not winter yet season.
Jacquie
When I heard that we were 1 degree warmer than Sibera I really had to look outside to make sure I was still in Edmonton and not back home in “Winterpeg”. My Aunt fibbed to me when she told us Edmonton didn’t get weather like that
Luckily the van started, while the ice on the inside of my house makes me 1. curse our landlords 2. really really dread the heating bill to come
WackyMummy
“Marital obligations” cracked me right up. Yup. That’s what it is alright. I totally understand. Yeti’s live here in winter too.
Steve
Woof!!! That`s cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey!
deb
Considering how cold it’s been, it hasn’t bothered me that much, which is a little worrisome. Glad to hear your animals are safe and warm, kids too:)
Jenny, bloggess
I think you don’t know how to use American temperatures right because -74 degrees is unpossible. Did you mean 74 degrees? Because it’s colder than that here. It’s like 68 degrees outside right now and you barely hear me complaining about it. Stop being such a baby, Tanis.
PS. You get a medal for saving kitties from freezing. You get in in heaven though so don’t be expecting it anytime soon. Sorry.
Lisa
Hilarious, you can always make me laugh, thank you
A year or so ago my husband had the bright idea that we should move up to Edmonton (there was a job there he wanted). I’m going to make him read this post to remind him why I was so right to veto that idea. I don’t want to live any where that hits -59 degrees and block heaters are required to keep your car going.
Stay warm.
Kimi B
I never know when I’m going to laugh or cry when I see you have a new post up. Anyhow, I tagged you as a kickass blog.
Thanks – keep it up, Tanis!!!
Lady Mama
Now I feel silly for complaining about the -30 temperatures we’ve had in Calgary. Don’t worry though, only another 4 months of winter left. Yay.
maelorane
hehe, love Alberta!! Our furnace at work shut off over the weekend and THERE WAS NO TEMP READING. It was frickin cold. Love it when the daytime high with windchill is -42. Wouldn’t leave Alberta for the world!!
And Americans, a toque is a winter hat. I own about 5, cause it’s cold.
Ashley, the Accidental Olympian
I’m sorry -74? I must have heard you wrong. Did you just say -74?
I honestly take back all the bitching I did last week when the temperature in Olympia, WA was at a RECORD BREAKING 2 degrees farenheit.
Wow.
Out-Numbered
So good to hear that there is a married dude out there that still has his testicles. I lost mine years ago. Maybe he could lend me one. Pussy Popsicle sounds like a yummy summertime treat.
Kellee
So glad you found the cats.
It’s 49F here… and I’m cold. Please don’t hurt me.
jeanie
Gee – now I feel bad about seeking a/c because it was late 20s here – almost too warm – and the sea breeze just wasn’t cutting it.
Still, your cats didn’t bring in a snake to liven up your living room, so you are still ahead…
Rachel
Ah yes, the -59 was a special special night. I think you did the right thing fetching the cats…!
Kelley @ Magnetoboldtoo
Babe, it is 40C here today…
Want me to make up a bed, and a Margarita?
Kizz
Given those temps I think you can officially upgrade your description to “Cold as a witch’s tit in a brass bra face down in the snow!”
Mailis
@Kizz,
LOL!!!!!
Marlene
Good times those were. I am sure we live in the same area/reigon and I was up all night keeping both fireplaces filled with wood so the little shitheads didn’t freeze in thier sleep. I kept telling myself I could sleep next week, must keep children from becoming icicles. It is also refreshing to know that we both have husbands who hate the felines and insist they stay outside. I am alone, whoo hoo! Luckly my other half was still up north so no fight over if the animals were inside or not. I just kept them in anyway
Keep warm!
Loretta
Dear Redneck Mommy,
I am forever indebted to you for your invention (?) of the word snotsicles.
Love,
Loretta