Tag: Weather

  • Autumn Memories, Sort of (Unedited)

    There is a serious Autumn chill in the air today, and it’s awesome. This was the first day that I could put on a button-down shirt, and a sweater, and a coat. Leaves are changing color in the City, and it’s getting darker earlier. My wife loves this time of year because we can leave the bedroom window cracked, making it all chilly in there, and sleep under all the comforters. (But I hate Pumpkin spice, so don’t get me started on that shit.) For a guy who loves Fall, this was like Heaven.

    As a kid growing up in Texas, Autumn didn’t start until November. And even then we had a couple of Thanksgivings were we had to run the air conditioner – not that it stopped my father from building a fire in the fireplace. Usually, by Halloween, it started to noticeably cool down at night, so you’d have to put on a sweater ort a coat. Maybe the leaves would just start changing color. I do remember several Halloweens where we were sweating while Trick or Treating. Depending on what your costume was, this could make the evening a very sweaty affair.

    Sadly, Fall in Texas was not a long season. As soon as it started, a month later it was December, and full on Texas winter. All the leaves had fallen, and it was a chilling 50 degrees out. Basically, you had one month to get all you Autumnal fun in.

    And then by March, it was Spring, and warm again.

  • ODDS and ENDS: Hurricane Training, Mayor of NYC, and LinkedIn

    (I’m a cold Italian pizza, I could use a lemon squeeze-a…)

    Yes, hurricanes are dangerous, and we should take them seriously. The damage they cause and the loss of life, so people need to heed the warnings that officials give. But I want to talk about those poor television meteorologists who get stuck with the job of standing out in the wind and rain to “show us” how dangerous the storm is. First of all, no one is out here asking for somebody to stand in the storm – when you tell us it’s windy and rainy, we believe you, we’re good. Second, and being that it’s a cliche for the weatherman to stand in the storm, it’s dangerous to do that, so does the meteorologist receive some sort of training? Do they teach how to breast a storm and hold on to your hat? Or is this a “figure it out on your own” type situation?

    I told you that you couldn’t trust Eric Adams. If a guy lies about sharing an apartment with his son so he can claim residency in NYC to run for mayor, then you know he’s not fit for the job. Just saying…

    Oh LinkedIn; the account I have but never use. Though I haven’t touched it in years, I do enjoy your weekly email telling me that my profile appeared in 3 searches. Week in, week out, it’s always the same – 3 searches. It’s a magic number, three.

  • The Windows are Open

    (Yes, I am an old man, and yes, I will be talking about the weather.)

    Oh, thank God! The weather finally broke here in New York. It’s not in the 80’s nor is the humidity/dew point thing in the 70+ range. No, it’s 68 degrees and the A/C’s are off and the windows are open.

    It feels like hope, if you ask me.

    Summer in the City, with window units, is difficult. Sure, it’s cool in the apartment, but the cool air feels unnatural, and never really cools you down. It’s artificial to an extreme. One that I long for to go away around the start of August. I mean, I want the heat and swampy air to go as well, don’t get me wrong.

    For the next three days, we will get a preview of mid-September, here in late-August. It’s just a taste of Autumn, enough to create a longing for the seasons to change.  

    This isn’t an advocation for pumpkins, or pumpkin spice, sweaters, leaves changing, or cold weather. No, what I am asking for is 72 degrees in the day, and 60 degrees at night. I’m looking to be comfortable. May and September used to be those months up here. It was nice, and pleasant, and I will keep going back to the word nice. Nice, nice, nice.

    I know as I get older. I will want to be comfortable more often, and any form of unpleasantness – be it weather, a meal, a conversation, loud music, pants not fitting… – will actively be avoided to the point of being a crank about it. I also know that isn’t always a good thing.

    Not sure if I am ready to give up getting out of my comfort zone to try new things, and explore the world. I have been told that there is nothing I can do about it, that’s just how it is to get older. And I can’t avoid getting older. And the older I get the more I want to be comfortable.

    See… Well… I kind’a talked myself into a corner here.

    I was talking about opening up the windows and I started to draw some comparison of being comfortable was the death of my ability to try new things, right?

    They also say you start to lose focus the older you get.

    I need Scottie Pippen and his Gensana.

  • ODDS and ENDS: HEATWAVE!, England, and Pools

    (Tried to give you consolation…)

    It’s hot in New York. That evil Heat Dome, which normally sits over Texas and the Southwest this time of year, has parked itself on the Northeast. High heat and humidity, and everything in the City feels like it’s melting. In all honesty, this weather is about two weeks early, but what is missing is the rain that should follow every five to seven days. The dome is stopping any Canadian cold fronts from coming in, which makes the heat feel unending. I have been trying to run away from Texas summers for the past twenty years, but they keep finding me. I thought we’d have to make to New England to escape this, but now, we may have to head farther north. Like the Pole…

    So, England is playing inconsistently at the Euro Cup and the British press and fans are losing their minds! Are the expectations too high? Oh, you bet’cha! Is England still in a strong position to break out of the Group Stage? Of course they are. It’s not that bad. But I will say, the England team doesn’t look very unified out there, in the sense that they don’t look like they are executing a game plan. There is still time to correct this, so don’t give up the ship yet… But this might be Southgate’s last tournament if England doesn’t do something spectacular.

    I’d like to swim in a pool right now. That’s it.

  • ODDS and ENDS: SPRING!, DJ in the Band, and That Smell

    (Every morning…)

    It’s a month early, but it’s Spring in New York. Things are becoming green and flowers are coming out, and trees look like they are about to bud as well. I haven’t worn a scarf or my winter coat in a week, though I think it is premature to pack them away for the season. Each season change has its own magic and quirks, but Spring has one of my favorites which is the “Super Optimistic” person. You can identify them because they’re the person who dresses like it’s 85 out, when it’s actually 65. Shorts, tank top, and flip flops. I respect their desire for warmer weather, and their disregard for reality.

    What happened to all those DJ’s that used to be in rock bands? In the late 90’s, seemed like everyone was adding a DJ to their line up. Just wondering what happened to them.

    I don’t know if you know this, but it is official, New York City has a new scent. The Official Odor of NYC is “Pot Smoke.” It’s hard to believe that the former scent was dethroned, but “Rotting Garbage” had been the champ since 1624, so it was due.