After the warmest December on record, the brutally cold temperatures and below-zero wind chills came quickly, and while some New Yorkers were caught off guard, others were ready. NY1's Michael Herzenberg filed the following report.

The Josephine Shaw Lowell Memorial Fountain in Bryant Park has stood for 103 winters, but ol' Josephine has rarely experienced weather whiplash like this: a balmy 72 degrees on Christmas Eve to 11 degrees Tuesday morning.

It's not completely frozen yet. Water still runs, and some people run by it.

"I'm northeast all the way. This is crazy, though," said one New Yorker. "I wasn't sure if I should do this today, but I decided, 'Why not?' If you can do this, you can do anything."

While the rosy outlook is admirable, not everyone is able to grin and bear the near-single digits that came on Tuesday morning, whether people walked to work or were actually working outdoors, breaking down kiosks from Christmas.

Herzenberg: How are your hands?
New Yorker: They're very cold. They hurt. Just trying to get by. Got to pay the bills.

It's necessary to stay bundled.

Herzenberg: You look like you're in pain.
New Yorker: Pain. So much pain. And it's only the morning. So cold.

Because it's even worse when you're bundleless

New Yorker: It's freezing, and I'm never wearing these shoes again.
Herzenberg: What were you thinking?
New Yorker: I wasn't thinking. Definitely going to wear boots tomorrow.

Most admit the weather is for the dogs, or some kind of furry creature.

Herzenberg: You've got a good animal wrapped around your neck. You got to be warm.
New Yorker: Not too bad. The top of the head is a little bit cold.

In fact, the only person NY1 found celebrating the cold was someone who profits from it.

"We sell outerwear. We're the only ones who love it," said Irwin Hosea, vice president of sourcing for Weatherproof.

"Stores complained to us. They said, 'Hey, we're going to sending back a lot of coats. Nothing is selling. It's too warm,'" Hosea added. "This might turn it around. We'll see."

The temperatures are finally appropriate for winter sports, although the freezing weather is keeping away some of the ice skaters at Winter Village. You have until 10 p.m. every night for two more months to take advantage of this fun.