The Pony awoke Thursday to probably the worst day of working conditions he's ever experienced. He knew ahead of time that snow was in the forecast. And bitter cold. The high temperature was 19, with the wind chill (yes, I know we have a wind-chill-denier amongst the readers) at 5 degrees.
The Pony dressed in layers. Tight tights, fleecy tights, and his thickest khaki pants. He had a tank top (not sure what he was thinking there, with a regular t-shirt available), a long-sleeved thermal shirt, his USPS sweater, and a parka with a hood. He had the gripper gloves I got him for $2 at Country Mart. And his official USPS cap.
While I smugly settled down to nap in my OPC (Old People Chair) with the knowledge that the city would be getting the snow, with just a dusting forecast for here an hour south... the TV weathermen were likely chortling with glee. The city got next to nothing. And we got something. About an inch of powdery squeaky snow.
Neighbor Tommy called Hick to ask for a ride to work, but when Hick got there at 8:30, Tommy said he was scheduled to work at 1:00. Hick told him he'd be at Pony House then, and wasn't making a trip back. But that if the snow stopped, Tommy could probably make it in his $1000 car. I don't know how or IF Tommy got to work. But Hick is nice guy within reason, as long at it doesn't interfere with his own plans.
I had given up on getting to town, from The Pony's text at 7:48 a.m. saying the roads were slippery. But then Hick said the county road wasn't too bad, and I could probably make it. Verified by The Pony around noon.
When The Pony got home after 7:00, he said the day wasn't as bad as he expected. He'd lost one of his gloves or hot packs, but thought it might turn up in the LLV (Long Life Vehicle). Heh, heh. AS IF anybody would notice it.
Anyhoo... I asked The Pony if he'd taken the hot-pack thingies I bought him for $1 at Country Mart. It's actually 2 for $1, since you cut them apart, one for each hand. He said that he forgot, BUT...
"We had a safety meeting this morning, and THEY GAVE US EACH TWO HOT PACKS, AND GRIPPERS FOR OUR SHOES!"
Oh, the swag that boy accumulates at taxpayer expense! Thank you, all who are not deadbeats!
Anyhoo... The Pony got one of his HotHands out of his pocket. It was still hot! He let me have it to take down to my frigid basement lair. I hope he has more tomorrow! They are supposed to last 8 hours. The Pony said he activated his at 10:00, when he had his mail ready for his route. That little HotHand kept my digits warm until midnight:30.
It was like a tiny beanbag in a paper wrapper. There's my lucky scratching quarter, to show the size of the HotHands. Like The Pony said: "I figured I might as well take their free ones, instead of using the ones you bought." Except that he'd already forgotten to take the ones I bought.
I wish I would have taken a picture of the shoe grippers! They're rubber, with the grippy rounded spikes on the bottom. Kind of like a mesh stretchy thing that fits over the shoe sole. AND it has a REFLECTOR on the heel! The Pony took a Large, but if he uses his other shoes, he's going to get an Extra Large. I suppose he'll leave the grippers on for Friday, since the parking lots and I imagine many sidewalks will have the packed-down inch of snow.
We didn't get any mail today. I guess there are no grippy thingies for car tires of the rural carriers.
ReplyDeleteLife at your place is never dull. Have seen the shoe grippers advertised. What a great invention!
Years ago, I bought some for my mom and Hick. They were not as heavy-duty as the USPS version. Like really thin bungee cords that stretched around your shoe and sole. They said it prevented slipping, though.
DeleteNow that is something all those perks you all get in your neck of the woods. Hope that is the ned of snow.
ReplyDeleteNow that I'm retired, I prefer the snow that is pretty while falling, melts when it hits the road, and is gone within a day!
DeleteI take it the Hot Hands fit inside a pair of gloves and don't simply have to be clutched all day long. They're a great idea and so are the shoe grippy things.
ReplyDeleteYes, they will fit in the palm of a glove. The Pony used his pockets, because his gloves go on and off a lot.
DeleteI was disappointed he didn't take any HotHands on Friday. He said he forgot. But he DID get back the glove he dropped in the LLV. It was still frozen when he brought it in the house to thaw. Which kind of speaks to the lack of heating in the LLVs. Even a ride home in The Pony's car didn't thaw it.
No heat in the cars!!!! I would have to rig up something to keep some sort of semblance of warth!
ReplyDeleteOh, the LLVs HAVE heat. They just don't have WARM heat, heh, heh. Sometimes The Pony gets to drive the Metro, which is a Dodge mini van, I think. It has good heat and air conditioning, but is more uncomfortable climbing in and out. I think it's used mainly for package delivery.
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