HOW COLD DOES IT HAVE TO BE , BEFORE IT IS TOO COLD By Tony Rebo
That is a question that my wife asks all the time , and before I answer that question let me tell you a story about a couple of my relatives . Now it is told that when my cousins Ole , and Sven went fishing out on Cass Lake , just outside Black Duck Minnesota , and that the two fell through the ice and drowned . It seemed that both boys ended up in a place referred to as Hell . Now since the two were new arrivals , the owner of the place a guy they called Satan decided to check in on the boys and see how things were going . Now old Satan decided to turn the heat up on the two boys just before his arrival . When Satan arrived he found Ole and Sven dancing about in their long johns and muck boots , their chests only covered by their suspenders which held up the tattered old long johns .
TONY REBO UNLEASHED
Now old Satan wasn ’ t any too happy about the cousins being all cheery and dancing about having a good time . He asked the boys what was up since it was so hot and all . Well the boys explained that they had just come from Minnesota , the land of the frozen tundra and that this here heat was like a breath of fresh air . Old Satan found himself to be in a bad spot as this wasn ’ t supposed to be no picnic . Satan stomped off devising a plan that would spoil the boy ’ s day . Well since the two complained about the cold , old Satan decided he would really show them what cold was all about . Now he turned that old heat box into an ice haven . Ice hung from everywhere and your spit would freeze in mid air before it hit the ground . This for sure would be the demise of the two boys from Minnesota . When Satan returned to check on his two new guests he found them to be dancing about and having a great time . The place was filled with laughter and cheering . Now Satan was completely bewildered by the boy ’ s response to the bitter cold and had to ask my cousins what gives , why are you celebrating ? “ Well ” says Ole , “ Hell has frozen over which can only mean that the Minnesota Vikings have won the super bowl ”.
I define cold in increments of temperature , for example when the temp is between 20 and 40 degrees I find it to be darn near spring . A tee-shirt and light jacket is the best dress attire . Now when the temp drops between 10 and 20 degrees it is slightly chilly , and a sweater can be added to the attire . Now when the temp drops down to zero it only means one thing ; ice is a building and it is time to drag out the sled and my winter coat . From zero to -10 I find that some of the amateurs are still trying to hold out and fish . At -20 they are all gone and the lake is all mine . I love it when I can call the lake all mine .
This last weekend the temperature dropped to minus 14 degrees and even though it was slightly cold out , I thought for sure that most of the city kids would not dare adventure onto the ice . That was true , but for some reason my wife became interested in going and despite the numerous warnings she felt it would be in my best interest if she tagged along . Ok fine , but I am not leaving early because you can ’ t take the cold . When we arrived at the lake it had dropped to minus 22 degrees .
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