^
I wore shorts and a t-shirt to walk Simmie today. It was 71 and I think I got a little sunburn.
To escape this Dec. 25 heatwave, Robbie and I went to see The Big Short. It was quite an entertaining -- and sobering -- look at what caused the 2007-09 financial crisis.
The most sobering part was the warning that it could easily happen again. Time for me to sell everything, stick all the cash in a big pickle jar and bury it in somebody else's backyard.
(What? You think I want people digging up MY backyard?)
^
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Friday, December 25, 2015
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Southerners are weather wimps!
^
The wimpiness of Southerners when it comes to weather would be funny ... if it didn't mess with my plans. (Because, of course, it is all about me!)
My Scholars Academy Eagles are on a three-game losing streak, as we just played the three best teams in our league. We hung in there against the first two, but we were overwhelmed by our most recent opponent. Thankfully, in our final two regular-season games, we face teams we already have beaten, giving us an outstanding opportunity to take a little winning streak into the conference tournament.
Our first of those two games was scheduled for this afternoon ... until the weather forecast just got too foreboding.
My friends and family in Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Philly and other non-wimpy provinces will laugh at this, but panic set in because snow was forecast to start falling at noon today with accumulations of -- here it comes, folks; grab your kids and run for the hills! -- 1 to 2 inches possible. That's not a typo: 1 to 2 freakin' inches!
That forecast was enough to put the local media on DEFCON 1-to-2 -- which in turn was enough to make the private school we were supposed to play decide to close early, thereby canceling the game. (Later in the day, Charlotte public schools also decided to close early.)
In addition to this being one we had a great chance of winning, Roberta had arranged to get the day off work and was going to get to see her hubby coach for the first time. Plus, it being our last regular-season home game, we were going to honor our 8th-graders at halftime. For so many reasons, I hope it gets rescheduled. (See, it isn't all about me!)
Anyway, as I type this a few minutes after noon, the sun is peeking out through the clouds. The most recent forecast says the snow won't start until at least 5 p.m.
What a bunch of wimps. No wonder they lost the Civil War!
^
The wimpiness of Southerners when it comes to weather would be funny ... if it didn't mess with my plans. (Because, of course, it is all about me!)
My Scholars Academy Eagles are on a three-game losing streak, as we just played the three best teams in our league. We hung in there against the first two, but we were overwhelmed by our most recent opponent. Thankfully, in our final two regular-season games, we face teams we already have beaten, giving us an outstanding opportunity to take a little winning streak into the conference tournament.
Here I am earlier in the season, doing some serious strategizing and motivating.
Our first of those two games was scheduled for this afternoon ... until the weather forecast just got too foreboding.
My friends and family in Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Philly and other non-wimpy provinces will laugh at this, but panic set in because snow was forecast to start falling at noon today with accumulations of -- here it comes, folks; grab your kids and run for the hills! -- 1 to 2 inches possible. That's not a typo: 1 to 2 freakin' inches!
That forecast was enough to put the local media on DEFCON 1-to-2 -- which in turn was enough to make the private school we were supposed to play decide to close early, thereby canceling the game. (Later in the day, Charlotte public schools also decided to close early.)
In addition to this being one we had a great chance of winning, Roberta had arranged to get the day off work and was going to get to see her hubby coach for the first time. Plus, it being our last regular-season home game, we were going to honor our 8th-graders at halftime. For so many reasons, I hope it gets rescheduled. (See, it isn't all about me!)
Anyway, as I type this a few minutes after noon, the sun is peeking out through the clouds. The most recent forecast says the snow won't start until at least 5 p.m.
What a bunch of wimps. No wonder they lost the Civil War!
^
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Colbert on college football "slaves" ... also, kudos to consumers for bringing delicious salsa back to Costco
^
Funny bit by Stephen Colbert the other night:
I'm a huge fan of college football. It's got all the grace and athleticism of pro football, but the players don't make any money. They're in it for the love of not getting paid.
I have no interest in jaded "professionals" who do things "for money." Same reason I just don't enjoy watching people pick cotton anymore.
The studio audience groaned a little at the picking cotton reference. OK, college athletes aren't really slaves. Still, there's a lot of "truthiness" to the comparison.
I'd love to see college athletes in the revenue sports go on strike for a month. There would be some swift changes, including a stipend that would let these laborers at least buy a pizza, a beer (if they're 21, of course) and a tank of gas without having to worry about breaking NCAA rules.
Crazy weather here in Charlotte. On Monday, I walked the dog in shorts and a t-shirt. (Note to readers: I was the one in the clothing, not Simmie.) When I took her out today, I wore a winter coat, scarf, gloves and hat. (Note to readers: I also had other clothing on in addition to those items.)
You know what they say about Charlotte weather: If you don't like it, wait a minute and it will change.
And they only say that about weather in Charlotte, so I don't want to hear from folks in New England or Florida or Chicago or anywhere else claiming they say the same thing about other places.
Because they don't. And if you want them to, you'll have to go get your own "they."
Who says the "little guy" can't make a big difference?
Costco used to carry a product called Santa Barbara Mango with Peach Salsa. Once or twice a week, I'd make a lunch out of the salsa and Stacy's pita chips, washing it all down with a refreshing iced tea (unsweetened, with lemon). Filling, tasty and even borderline good for me! Robbie and I also loved the salsa, along with guacamole, on our spicy black-bean burgers. Mmmmmmm.
Several months ago, the salsa started being produced by Sabra, the dip and hummus company. They touted it on the label, as if that would make it a big draw to the masses. We were out so I bought some ... and we hated it. Hated it! It was runny. The mango and peach flavors were muted, seemingly replaced by unfavorable spices. We ate as much as we could stand before throwing out a half-full container. (Should have taken it back to Costco, which has the best return policy in the business. Don't know why I didn't.)
I complained. Lots of others must have, too.
I was at Costco yesterday and noticed that the label no longer touted the Sabra connection. Instead, in capital letters, it screamed: ORIGINAL RECIPE. The same words were on the lid. The only reference to Sabra was in tiny letters under the nutrition label. I was thrilled -- and extra thrilled because Costco was discounting the item to reintroduce it to shoppers: 48 ounces for $3.99 ... are you kidding me? I put two in the cart before realizing we might not be able to eat that much mango salsa before the expiration date, so I put one back.
Well, I just had a few chips and salsa a few minutes ago and -- WOW! -- it is the ORIGINAL RECIPE and it is delicious.
I know what I'm having for lunch. And I'll be eating it with pride because of my little role in making it so!
^
Funny bit by Stephen Colbert the other night:
I'm a huge fan of college football. It's got all the grace and athleticism of pro football, but the players don't make any money. They're in it for the love of not getting paid.
I have no interest in jaded "professionals" who do things "for money." Same reason I just don't enjoy watching people pick cotton anymore.
The studio audience groaned a little at the picking cotton reference. OK, college athletes aren't really slaves. Still, there's a lot of "truthiness" to the comparison.
I'd love to see college athletes in the revenue sports go on strike for a month. There would be some swift changes, including a stipend that would let these laborers at least buy a pizza, a beer (if they're 21, of course) and a tank of gas without having to worry about breaking NCAA rules.
+++
Crazy weather here in Charlotte. On Monday, I walked the dog in shorts and a t-shirt. (Note to readers: I was the one in the clothing, not Simmie.) When I took her out today, I wore a winter coat, scarf, gloves and hat. (Note to readers: I also had other clothing on in addition to those items.)
You know what they say about Charlotte weather: If you don't like it, wait a minute and it will change.
And they only say that about weather in Charlotte, so I don't want to hear from folks in New England or Florida or Chicago or anywhere else claiming they say the same thing about other places.
Because they don't. And if you want them to, you'll have to go get your own "they."
+++
Who says the "little guy" can't make a big difference?
Costco used to carry a product called Santa Barbara Mango with Peach Salsa. Once or twice a week, I'd make a lunch out of the salsa and Stacy's pita chips, washing it all down with a refreshing iced tea (unsweetened, with lemon). Filling, tasty and even borderline good for me! Robbie and I also loved the salsa, along with guacamole, on our spicy black-bean burgers. Mmmmmmm.
Several months ago, the salsa started being produced by Sabra, the dip and hummus company. They touted it on the label, as if that would make it a big draw to the masses. We were out so I bought some ... and we hated it. Hated it! It was runny. The mango and peach flavors were muted, seemingly replaced by unfavorable spices. We ate as much as we could stand before throwing out a half-full container. (Should have taken it back to Costco, which has the best return policy in the business. Don't know why I didn't.)
I complained. Lots of others must have, too.
I was at Costco yesterday and noticed that the label no longer touted the Sabra connection. Instead, in capital letters, it screamed: ORIGINAL RECIPE. The same words were on the lid. The only reference to Sabra was in tiny letters under the nutrition label. I was thrilled -- and extra thrilled because Costco was discounting the item to reintroduce it to shoppers: 48 ounces for $3.99 ... are you kidding me? I put two in the cart before realizing we might not be able to eat that much mango salsa before the expiration date, so I put one back.
Well, I just had a few chips and salsa a few minutes ago and -- WOW! -- it is the ORIGINAL RECIPE and it is delicious.
I know what I'm having for lunch. And I'll be eating it with pride because of my little role in making it so!
^
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Surprise, surprise! July in Charlotte is hot
^
Played golf yesterday courtesy of my new employer, Ballantyne Country Club. It was 96 degrees and the dew point (whatever that is) was 89. So the heat index (whatever that is) was approximately a gazillion.
I was drenched in my own perspiration. I actually had to turn my cap backward to putt because beads of sweat were running from my forehead to the bill of my cap and dripping down at my feet, a most distracting thing.
But I drank a lot of water. I survived. And believe it or not, I even had fun.
Roberta and I weren't born in Charlotte. We weren't raised here. And we weren't forced to live here. We chose to relocate to a place where the summertime air is so thick, you practically can reach out, grab it and wring it out.
We knew about all that coming in, so to complain about it now would be pretty pathetic.
I like to look at it this way: It's perfect weather for brewing sun tea, my favorite beverage.
I also like to look at it this way: Autumn and spring in the Carolinas are spectacular, and this past winter was a great winter to be nowhere near Chicago. The price for that goodness: a few steamy months.
Oh ... for the record, I had five pars, a bunch of non-pars and finished with a 97.
As those who have golfed with me in all kinds of weather know, I'd be pretty dishonest if I tried to blame the heat index.
^
Played golf yesterday courtesy of my new employer, Ballantyne Country Club. It was 96 degrees and the dew point (whatever that is) was 89. So the heat index (whatever that is) was approximately a gazillion.
I was drenched in my own perspiration. I actually had to turn my cap backward to putt because beads of sweat were running from my forehead to the bill of my cap and dripping down at my feet, a most distracting thing.
But I drank a lot of water. I survived. And believe it or not, I even had fun.
Roberta and I weren't born in Charlotte. We weren't raised here. And we weren't forced to live here. We chose to relocate to a place where the summertime air is so thick, you practically can reach out, grab it and wring it out.
We knew about all that coming in, so to complain about it now would be pretty pathetic.
I like to look at it this way: It's perfect weather for brewing sun tea, my favorite beverage.
I also like to look at it this way: Autumn and spring in the Carolinas are spectacular, and this past winter was a great winter to be nowhere near Chicago. The price for that goodness: a few steamy months.
Oh ... for the record, I had five pars, a bunch of non-pars and finished with a 97.
As those who have golfed with me in all kinds of weather know, I'd be pretty dishonest if I tried to blame the heat index.
^
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
They told me Charlotte's avg Jan temp was 51!
^
Here's our new(ish) car -- which we bought after our last one got totaled in an accident -- covered in wintry fun after our lovely snow/ice storm.
Jeesh ... I moved south for this?
Here's hoping my fellow ex-Chicagoan, new Panthers coach Ron Rivera, knows what he got himself into.
And on another note ...
That was a hell of a game Monday night, wasn't it?
Of course I'm not talking about the pretend college football championship game. Everyone who knows me knows I didn't watch that.
No, I'm talking about Marquette taking Notre Dame behind the woodshed for a good ol'-fashioned whuppin'!
The most fun a Golden Warrior Eagles fan can have with his clothes on.
^
Here's our new(ish) car -- which we bought after our last one got totaled in an accident -- covered in wintry fun after our lovely snow/ice storm.
Jeesh ... I moved south for this?
Here's hoping my fellow ex-Chicagoan, new Panthers coach Ron Rivera, knows what he got himself into.
And on another note ...
That was a hell of a game Monday night, wasn't it?
Of course I'm not talking about the pretend college football championship game. Everyone who knows me knows I didn't watch that.
No, I'm talking about Marquette taking Notre Dame behind the woodshed for a good ol'-fashioned whuppin'!
The most fun a Golden Warrior Eagles fan can have with his clothes on.
^
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