Enjoying the time at home, weather be damned. We went from white & snowy to wet & sloppy today. Such is weather here in Massachusetts in the winter.
DPW crews plowed the roads and as expected with all town government services, the job was done half-assed and cost three times more than we should have paid for it. It looks like Stevie Wonder was the guy plowing the roads hereabouts. If the idea was to clean the crap off the road surface, I'd say the guy who runs our DPW needs some new plow drivers.
Got to visit my Dad on the Cape and that was the very best part of the day today. He's doing well for reaching 84 and that makes me glad. His health and welfare while I am overseas is my greatest concern. I'm not worried about things in Afghanistan, just that my Dad stays healthy.
All for now. Time on vacation passes quickly and will soon be done. Time and tide waits for no man.
Showing posts with label Old Man Winter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Old Man Winter. Show all posts
Monday, February 11, 2013
Monday, March 12, 2012
Spring has sprung
If the weather forecasters are to be believed, we will see almost 70 degrees here in Boston today and for most of this week.It looks like we have dodged Old Man Winter this year and can look forward to the return of warmer weather. After the winter we had last year, it is a relief not to have to go through another one this year.
Gas prices are still inching up and that will curtail many people from traveling far this Spring and well into the Summer. The POLS are trying to paint a rosy picture of recovery but it still is not evident to those who pay attention on the local level. My mechanic has seen business falling off and his parts store echoed that when they did work on my truck this past week. Both said that even though people are holding on to the vehicles longer, people don't have the money to bring the cars in for regular maintenance either.
Right now, we will see "more of the same" from the POLS until the election in November. There isn't much that will be accomplished politically as no one in office wants to give the opposition any leverage.
For now, I say let's focus on the nicer weather, the return of baseball and all the things that will return to growing. The other items will not change much and are not as engaging right now. I am hopeful for a good season of growing and enjoying time on the patio with the pups. They are looking forward to getting back outside too.
Monday, February 13, 2012
I got nothing....Winter Doldrums
Spent some time this morning looking for the issue of the day to comment on.....and I got nothin'.
Yes, Obama's budget is out (more overspending with money we don't have), Whitney Houston died tragically ( and predictably based on her issues), the world is still making a mess of things and we are approaching an election cycle more divided than ever.
So what could I comment on ?? There is too much bad news and not enough news that makes it worthy to make note of.....Guess this is part of the winter doldrums. We see things through a wintry lense and have trouble being optimistic until Spring makes it entrance.
SPRING is on the way. That is the best thing I can offer today. About a month from now we will be well into mid-March. Can't come soon enough.
Yes, Obama's budget is out (more overspending with money we don't have), Whitney Houston died tragically ( and predictably based on her issues), the world is still making a mess of things and we are approaching an election cycle more divided than ever.
So what could I comment on ?? There is too much bad news and not enough news that makes it worthy to make note of.....Guess this is part of the winter doldrums. We see things through a wintry lense and have trouble being optimistic until Spring makes it entrance.
SPRING is on the way. That is the best thing I can offer today. About a month from now we will be well into mid-March. Can't come soon enough.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Winter's Grip
World of two halves! Map shows most of Northern Hemisphere is covered in snow and ice
By Daily Mail Reporter
3rd February 2011
It looks like a graphic from a Discovery Channel programme about a distant ice age. But this astonishing picture shows the world as it is today - with half the Northern Hemisphere covered with snow and ice.
The image was released by the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Association (NOAA) on the day half of North America suffered in the grip of a severe winter storm.
The map was created using multiple satellites from government agencies and the US Air Force.
By Daily Mail Reporter
3rd February 2011
It looks like a graphic from a Discovery Channel programme about a distant ice age. But this astonishing picture shows the world as it is today - with half the Northern Hemisphere covered with snow and ice.
The image was released by the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Association (NOAA) on the day half of North America suffered in the grip of a severe winter storm.
The map was created using multiple satellites from government agencies and the US Air Force.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Snowmageddon - Snowpocalypse - Snow More...All I gotta say is Punxsutawney Phil better get it right....
We give....Old Man Winter wins.....All of New England gives....we are seeking terms for our surrender. Please.
We are dealing with a One-Two punch of the 7th Major Storm in the past 5 weeks and it shows no sign of letting up. Snowmageddon - Snowpocalypse - Snow More...
We are living the "Ground Hog Day" of winter weather, forced to live the same winter storm event over & over & over again.....aaaaarrrrrggggghhhh.
Wednesday is February 2nd and all I have to say is the damned rodent in Punxsutawney, PA better get this right.....please....we need a break.
Maybe Spring will be on the way as I saw a pair of Large Red Breasted Robins near my home Sunday and all I could think was " Either this is a good sign or those two are way off course." I hope for the former and dread the latter.
Here comes Groundhog Day
By Jack Pickell, Boston.com Staff
In the middle of a winter that thus far has featured a steady stream of snowstorms, it is somewhat appropriate that our current tempest enters its second day on Feb. 2, or Groundhog Day. That is, of course, the day when the small Pennsylvania town of Punxsutawney gathers for an announcement about whether or not a particular groundhog saw his shadow -- with the remaining length of winter hanging in the balance.
However, the weather might have some New Englanders thinking of the 1993 comedy "Groundhog Day". In the film, Bill Murray portrays TV weatherman Phil Connors, assigned to cover the festivities in snowy Punxsutawney, Pa.
Connors begins living out the same day, again and again, with the exact same things happening around him. He actually memorizes all that's happening, and tries to use it to his advantage, particularly as he tries to win the love of his producer, played by actress Andie MacDowell.
Each day begins for Connors with the clock-radio going off, and Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe" playing on the radio, and the day goes on -- exactly the same way -- from that point.
Weather-weary folks in the Boston area might feel a little like Phil Connors, trapped in a repetitive cycle from which there seems to be no escape. No sooner do they finally get their driveway clear of snow, or finish chopping all the ice on the walkways, then the local TV meteorologists make reference in their five-day forecasts to a "system we're keeping our eye on that has the potential to be a significant storm." And have these storms ever lived up to their potential.
Continuing the repetitive pattern, as the storm nears, newscasters warn us of a potentially miserable morning (and/or evening) commute. Again, pretty much on the money with most of those too.
Next come the parking bans, either in a robo-call from a city or town official, or in a text or e-mail alert. You're instructed that cars need to be off the streets, but you already know that. You knew it before the phone rang.
Next is the inevitable call from the schools, sometimes in the early morning hours, announcing another snow day for students. By now you can recite the announcement along with the recorded voice of the principal.
When the storm hits, you watch the extended coverage, or read the latest storm coverage online (shameless plug alert) like at Boston.com. And what do you know -- the snowfall totals are turning out to be on the upper end of the predicted range. Just like they were in the last storm... and the one before that.... and the one before that.
Finally it's time to shovel. And even if, back in December, you felt like a snow-moving novice, by now you consider yourself an expert, with successfully thought-out strategies on how and where to place the new snow with so much old snow all around you. It's not unlike Phil Connors, who, in an attempt to impress his music-loving producer, takes a quick piano lesson from the local music teacher. Then he takes another lesson, and another. Before long he's bringing down the house with an up-tempo blues piano solo, and on his way to getting the girl.
Eventually Phil Connors solved his problem. Folks in our region will too. It may seem like an endless cycle, but as hard as it might be to envision, the winter will end and spring will arrive -- even if Punxsutawney Phil does see his shadow
We are dealing with a One-Two punch of the 7th Major Storm in the past 5 weeks and it shows no sign of letting up. Snowmageddon - Snowpocalypse - Snow More...
We are living the "Ground Hog Day" of winter weather, forced to live the same winter storm event over & over & over again.....aaaaarrrrrggggghhhh.
Wednesday is February 2nd and all I have to say is the damned rodent in Punxsutawney, PA better get this right.....please....we need a break.
Maybe Spring will be on the way as I saw a pair of Large Red Breasted Robins near my home Sunday and all I could think was " Either this is a good sign or those two are way off course." I hope for the former and dread the latter.
Here comes Groundhog Day
By Jack Pickell, Boston.com Staff
In the middle of a winter that thus far has featured a steady stream of snowstorms, it is somewhat appropriate that our current tempest enters its second day on Feb. 2, or Groundhog Day. That is, of course, the day when the small Pennsylvania town of Punxsutawney gathers for an announcement about whether or not a particular groundhog saw his shadow -- with the remaining length of winter hanging in the balance.
However, the weather might have some New Englanders thinking of the 1993 comedy "Groundhog Day". In the film, Bill Murray portrays TV weatherman Phil Connors, assigned to cover the festivities in snowy Punxsutawney, Pa.
Connors begins living out the same day, again and again, with the exact same things happening around him. He actually memorizes all that's happening, and tries to use it to his advantage, particularly as he tries to win the love of his producer, played by actress Andie MacDowell.
Each day begins for Connors with the clock-radio going off, and Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe" playing on the radio, and the day goes on -- exactly the same way -- from that point.
Weather-weary folks in the Boston area might feel a little like Phil Connors, trapped in a repetitive cycle from which there seems to be no escape. No sooner do they finally get their driveway clear of snow, or finish chopping all the ice on the walkways, then the local TV meteorologists make reference in their five-day forecasts to a "system we're keeping our eye on that has the potential to be a significant storm." And have these storms ever lived up to their potential.
Continuing the repetitive pattern, as the storm nears, newscasters warn us of a potentially miserable morning (and/or evening) commute. Again, pretty much on the money with most of those too.
Next come the parking bans, either in a robo-call from a city or town official, or in a text or e-mail alert. You're instructed that cars need to be off the streets, but you already know that. You knew it before the phone rang.
Next is the inevitable call from the schools, sometimes in the early morning hours, announcing another snow day for students. By now you can recite the announcement along with the recorded voice of the principal.
When the storm hits, you watch the extended coverage, or read the latest storm coverage online (shameless plug alert) like at Boston.com. And what do you know -- the snowfall totals are turning out to be on the upper end of the predicted range. Just like they were in the last storm... and the one before that.... and the one before that.
Finally it's time to shovel. And even if, back in December, you felt like a snow-moving novice, by now you consider yourself an expert, with successfully thought-out strategies on how and where to place the new snow with so much old snow all around you. It's not unlike Phil Connors, who, in an attempt to impress his music-loving producer, takes a quick piano lesson from the local music teacher. Then he takes another lesson, and another. Before long he's bringing down the house with an up-tempo blues piano solo, and on his way to getting the girl.
Eventually Phil Connors solved his problem. Folks in our region will too. It may seem like an endless cycle, but as hard as it might be to envision, the winter will end and spring will arrive -- even if Punxsutawney Phil does see his shadow
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