Frozen!!!

Guess what the temperature here was a couple of days ago? - 12 F (that is approx -25C)!!!!!! That is freaking cold for a person from the ovens of Madras!!!! And in this lowest of the low temperatures I had to go pick up a friend from the bus station up at 3.00 am. At this ungodly hour, my car refused to heat up for a good 30 mins...by the time it did, I was back home again with frozen fingers. That was the coldest day of the year I think!
Here's a description of my daily attire in the winter- thermals, sweater, jeans, fleece jacket, winter jacket, gloves, scarf,hat, woolen socks and shoes. I wrap my scarf around my neck and face so only my eyes peep out. Dressing up this way also serves as a good way of finding out who my true friends are! You see.... not many people recognise me if I am dressed this way but my close friends!! This other day, I see a similarly attired guy walking towards me...both of us stop.... stare into each others eyes for what seems eternity till I recoginze him as a close friend! Sometimes I even wave to people who I don't know but assume it's somebody familar!!! Good time to make new friends too!
One good thing about dressing this way is you can keep wearing the same clothes inside everyday and nobody (but the people who work with you) know! Same black jacket every single day..but I pep myself with 3 different glove, scarf, hat sets to mix n match - purple, blue and black!
Also not to forget the many falls I have slipping on the ice...thankfully nothing hurt till now except my ego when from "well wishers" call out to me to walk carefully everytime they see me!
Last but not the least, here are a few tips to survive a cold winter (and also not to look stupid in the process):

1. Never over estimate your capacity...especially you guys who think it is macho to wear nothing but a cotton shirt when its freezing. We girls do not think its macho, we just think that you are too cheap to buy a winter jacket!
2. Take baby steps on the ice.......better to look like a vaathu walking on the streets than to lie splatterred like a pushnikkai!
3. Do not use your umbrella when it snows...it looks stupid!
4. Do not wear a monkey cap too for the same reason.
5. Find a good friend who will be ready to make you bajjis and tea when you are on the way home from a rough cold day (this is the best remedy for the winter)
6. If a friend calls you for the same favour, say that you have been stranded in the lab due to the snow ......go to her place after an hour..she will most probably have the bajjis ready by then.
7. Have 2 jobs - one down south where you can go during winter.
8. Alternatively have 2 wives/girlfriends/boyfriends/husbands - preferably one of them stationed somewhere warm, so you can visit them every weekend or when it gets too cold!
9. Hibernate from Nov to March.