I seem to have a lot of these work related blog entries, but I figure that's just because that's who I am around during the day. This blog entry is courtesy of the state, which is cutting costs by not using as much electricity. Because we all audit at different locations, my co-workers and I occasionally send emails to each other to discuss what is happening. The other day I found myself in a freezing basement (affectionately called "the dungeon"--sounds like a great work site, huh?) wearing a tank top, shirt, AND suit coat PLUS hoody...and still freezing. The following is a list of suggestions on how to stay warm when you're cold, which list comes from an email discussion associated with the matter. I had to remind myself not to laugh at loud when I read some of these...:
When saving money by cutting back on electricity usage:
- wear lots of clothes
- the sleeping bag suit (an innovative idea for a workplace like mine that requires suits during winter...click the picture if you want to check out the place selling these...)
- invest in numerous blankets
- get a space heater
- add another jacket
- drink hot chocolate
- gnaw on blubber.. to quote my co-worker: "If it’s all about green, then you should try the greenest solution of them all-- mother nature’s natural solution—FAT. Try gnawing on blubber for a while or use this cold weather as an excuse to eat a ridiculous amount of food so that your body can store up and keep you naturally warm. That’s what the African’s told me—they said I was a Viking woman and that my fat was there to keep me warm."
- grow thick, furry hair on my back (ew!)...again, from the same co-worker: "If we were meant to be super lean, mother nature would have natural selected you a coat of thick furry hair on your back instead requiring you to fetch a blanket."
- marry a good man...(same co-worker:) "Amongst the ‘green’ and natural natives fat was beauty and praised while skinny meant you’d married a bad husband."
- eat more (Yup. Same co-worker:) "Forget about our silly cultural expectation that we all try to look like we haven’t eaten in weeks...we should eat up... That is the most green solution I can think of. I think you should eat more to keep you warm...I think I need a snack now."
Many thanks to my co-workers for all of their recommendations. I opted for the blanket, and would willing try most of the options, excepting numbers seven and 8.
2 comments:
While I whole heartedly support the hot chocolate approach, here is an endorsement in behalf of the sleeping bag . . .
I heard an NPR story of a woman 100+ years old who attended the inauguration. She was dead-set on going, so her physician helped her bundle up into a big sleeping bag. She made it through the entire frigid day. This woman lived throughout the most dynamic century of African American history. It was a great story.
...and I love that you heard in on NPR. :) (Ha HA...Remember how much we disliked it when mom and dad listened to it growing up?)
Post a Comment