Ron Kantowski shares some tips on getting through the cold snap, such as staying in and watching football playoffs

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007 | 7:03 a.m.

According to the National Weather Service and Al Roker, we're in for at least two more nights of freezing weather. If you haven't figured out how to survive this cold snap on your own, here are a few tips from a native Chicagoan:

Seeing your breath has something to do with the temperature and the amount of water vapor in the air. It's perfectly normal during cold weather. Unless it happens in your kitchen. Then you probably need to call somebody.

The first is start your defrosters - usually activated by depressing the dashboard icon with the little wiggly lines - then go back inside to figure out Tom Brady's quarterback rating. By that time, the defrosters will have done their job. Or it will be April. In any case, you'll be able to pull out of the driveway with a clean windshield.

If you are running late, the only other way to deal with windshield frost is to purchase a tool specifically made for the purpose. It's basically a broom handle with a brush on one end and a plastic scraper on the other. Unless you are also a home plate umpire, you will find the broom end useless, because snow doesn't fall lightly and collect on your windshield in soft piles, like on the Andy Williams Christmas Special.

No, snow falls and then it usually freezes like Rex Grossman against a blitz. In that case, the scraper end will be useless, too, after it breaks off in your hand. Resist the temptation to use your credit card.

If you hit a patch of black ice and your SUV starts doing school figures like Dorothy Hamill, you could always try "steering into the skid," like they told you in high school during driver's ed class. This tactic can work - provided your name is Jeff Gordon.

If your name is George Hamilton, you're best bet is to swear - or pray, if you've got a little magnetic statue of Saint Christopher on the dashboard. Then hold onto the steering wheel tight and hope you don't hit anything. Like the Royals on an East Coast road trip.

Instead, go into that old closet drawer and put on the Terrible Herbst T-shirt with the paint stains, your moth-eaten high-school letterman's sweater and an old hooded sweatshirt. The more layers you can add, the warmer you'll be.

Words of advice: If your old hooded sweatshirt has a Phillies logo on the front and once belonged to Mitch Williams, you might want to wear it under a Toronto Blue Jays' satin jacket that once belonged to Joe Carter.

It's probably just a Bears fan getting his game face on for Sunday.

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