I wish I had one of these to keep warm this morning. The weatherman on the morning news usually says, "grab a jacket and sunglasses" in the summer, but today he specifically said, "coat not jacket." It's slippers and sweatshirt stuff.
We live in Chicago, we're used to blizzards and freezing temps. But if you live in Chicago, you probably also have steam heat (not to mention a gas stove). I lived most of my life with electric and there are definite benefits to the dominant hardwood floors, radiators, and boilers.
We never run out of hot water, for one. And when you step out of the shower, you're instantly dry thanks to zero room humidity. And most of the winter, you turn off some radiators and open windows because when the heat is on the heat is WAY on.
But this time of year is tricky. Especially with a pregnant woman in the house, it still could be warm enough to use the air conditioning. By that, I mean room air conditioners that are installed in the window. Most of us in Chicago don't have central air.
So at least one window in the major rooms is still technically "open" due to that. And it's also too early in the season for the heat to be on despite the chill.
Be thankful, you thermostat havers, that you can go to the wall and get a little relief as the thermometer reads 36 or 43 or whatever these next few mornings. Turn on your heat and enjoy.
But it will be we steam heat users who have the last laugh in January when the temperature is -10 and we're all warm and toasty in our shorts and t-shirts with the window cracked because it's like a sauna.