A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

northeast

It’s cold. Deal with it.

I’m not sure if people in the Northeast got the message recently or not, but it’s cold.

And, at times, it’s been downright frigid.

You know what, though? It’s the winter. Part of being in the Northeast during the winter is dealing with the cold. That includes snow, sleet, freezing rain, bad roads and … yes, cold weather.

Another piece of breaking news — bitter cold doesn’t mean the world stops moving.

The one thing that drives me nuts is this whole thing about wind chill. I get how it works and such, but just because the wind chill is supposedly -25 doesn’t mean that’s the actual temperature. That means, if the wind isn’t howling, it’s not that cold.

When I was a kid, we played outside when it was cold. We walked to school. We did things. It was part of life and growing up.

And, no, I didn’t walk uphill to school — both ways, despite a shirt I have that shows otherwise. But I know what it was like to go outside when it was cold out. We bundled up, went outside and played. Maybe we went sledding. Maybe something else. But we went outside.

This was coming home one early morning from a friend's after a night of games. This is cold. And this isn't wind chill!

This was coming home one early morning from a friend’s after a night of games. This is cold. And this isn’t wind chill!

Recently, we had a wave of cold weather. Really cold. It didn’t get out of single-digits for several days and, at times, the wind chill made it extremely cold out.

Some schools even closed.

That never would have happened when I was younger (though, to be fair, it probably would have made many of us celebrate). Not unless something happened at the school. Many schools stayed open, too. And it seemed — if you watched social media — there was a battle line drawn between parents who thought schools should have been closed and the others who thought differently.

It was quite entertaining, to be honest.

It also got me thinking. What does this necessarily say about the direction society is going. In a day and age when many more people get participation ribbons than ever before, are we softening things? It’s one thing to close school with snow … but cold? What’s next?

Let us remember that once the kids are at school, they are going to be taken care of and, hopefully, be warm. There’s also lunch and, in many places, breakfast. As for them getting to school, buses work other days, so why not when it’s cold? If kids walk, bundle up. Or, hopefully parents or others can give kids rides.

That being said, I respect a parent’s decision when it comes to keeping their child home. Though I don’t fully agree with keeping a student away from school because of obvious ramifications, I fully respect a parent making a decision they think is best for their child when it comes to elements such as weather.

Beyond the obvious, this can also set a bad precedent for the kids as they grow. What will they think when they go off to college or join the work force when it’s that cold out and they can’t skip work or classes? Part of school is being taught real-life things.

In the end, though, it’s cold weather. We’ve had it before, we’ll have it again. I do what I’ve always done — warm up my car a bit longer, dress a bit warmer and head off to work or wherever I am going.

And look forward to warmer weather, of course.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

The winter isn’t so bad after all

The winter isn’t so bad … for a short while.

Last year, my area was odd in the winter.

No snow. Warmer temps. And, well, the ability to head out and do non-winter things during the winter months.

For those who dislike the harsher winter weather, it was a slice of perfection. Well, kind of.

Though this year started out that way, winter has shown its face. And it’s been a bit ugly. In the week between Christmas and New Year’s, I used the snow blower three times — that’s two more times than last year. That one time last year probably didn’t even need to be done, but we got a wet snow and the plows pushed it all in the driveway. It was much easier to snow blow than shovel.

For those who don’t know, I recently interviewed for a job in the south. Despite high qualifications and, what I thought, was a pretty solid interview, I didn’t make it to the final round. Some day I’ll truly share that experiences, but for now, I’ll leave it be. Anyway, when I get deep into the job process, I’ll often research the place where the job is located.

After all, you want to know what you’ll be dealing with, right?

The place where I was looking had some long and hot summers. I can deal with weather as it comes, but it made me realize there would be a chance I wouldn’t experience four full seasons. It’s one thing I think some take for granted when we live in the Northeast. We get a healthy spring, a variety in the summer, usually a colorful fall and then winter.

Winter can truly be beautiful … at least for a little while.

We see it all.

During those seasons, we have the ability to go see different things — wildlife, nature and the such — that goes with each season. And, it also allows us to do many things. For those who are into it, there’s four-wheelin’ and snowmobiling. You can hike in different weather.

For me, I can play softball in the summer, disc golf in most seasons, geocache all year and get out and experience different things. A couple of years ago, I even had the chance to do some snow shoeing. I’d actually like to do that again, someday, but need to be able to get shoes that feel comfortable and work on my feet better than the ones I used.

As a photographer, it’s great, too.

Winter is actually, to me, the hardest season to shoot in. With bright white snow or whatever else, it can make it tough. But some of the images you can come away with are incredible.

Also, it’s quite nice to drive on some back roads after a fresh snow and see it sticking to tress. It’s a beautiful thing.

This area is expecting some warmer temps this weekend, so some of the snow we have might be looking to disappear. And, for all I know, most of the winter might be leaving. But no matter what, we got a bit of it this year and it’s not a bad thing.

Turns out, winter isn’t so bad after all.

I don’t know where life will eventually lead me, but I do know that no matter what, I’ll cherish some of these winters. The path I end up following might still take me to a warmer climate, so I might not always get the four seasons. Don’t get me wrong — the long winters are tough. But a decent winter isn’t too bad as it truly gives you a highly enjoyable slice of life.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

It’s cold outside.

It’s cold out.

I don’t usually mind the cold weather, but it is bitter cold. It is sunny out, I’ll give it that. But anytime the temps fall below 10 degrees, that’s freakin’ cold!

I’ll have to go out at some point to try and get my photo for today, but I have a few ideas. And being it’s been cold, I might finally be able to get the shots I’ve wanted to get!

Anyway, this lazy Sunday is a good one to catch up.

I’ve fallen behind on this disc golf project I’m working on (and I want to be able to announce some stuff about it here in a week or so), so I’m going to spend a few hours working on that. I’m also trying to build up some blog posts for here, so when I get that writer’s cramp and don’t have a good topic for the day, I have something to fill it in. Basically, that means I am working on a bunch of the Day Zero Project things that I can do now so I have posts ready to be published.

One big reason for this? It’s cold outside.

This doesn't happen when it's warm outside.

For those of you who don’t blog, it can be difficult, at times, to come up with topics for posts. Though the readership for this blog isn’t at the level of some bigger ones, I still feel like I need to have things here on a regular basis. Though the bulk of my readership knows what they are getting with me, sometimes it’s nice to throw a curveball or two and do some new and exciting things.

I’ve done a few things in the past months that haven’t gone as well as I had hoped — such as more journalistic type things (see the series on hiking). The hits didn’t come despite me trying to pull people in from that niche. So I wonder how worth it is to do things like that. We shall see in the future. Comments, too, rarely come it seems, unless I stumble upon or find a good topic that people seem to get fired up about.

I do have a hit counter associated with the site, so I realize people are stopping by. I just wonder what they think!

I bet if they are in the Northeast, they are agreeing with me on one thing — it’s cold out!

I was reading on a local disc golf board that people were playing today. Ice, snow, cold. Sheesh! Are they nuts? I have played in cold weather, but this is frigid. No way. Have fun throwing cold plastic in freezing temps! Yikes!

Apparently, something bloggers will do at times is just ramble. The post doesn’t necessarily make a lot of sense. But they do it. Just like they were talking to you, the reader.

I always wonder if the blogger is on something. Or if it’s done on purpose.

Maybe both.

Or, maybe, they are cold.

Did you know the weather can do crazy things to a mind and body? It’s true. I read it on the interwebs — it’s true. It’s damn true. Everything on the interwebs is fully true.

Seriously.

Anyway, there are blue skies out. That’s false advertising. Sunny, too. Doesn’t the sun produce warmth? According to the website “Grit,” apparently not so in the winter:

Just because the sun is out on a winter day does not mean it is warm. In northern climates, the coldest days are usually the clear ones – no clouds to hold in what little heat may be radiating away from the earth. A wind chill rating of minus-25 degrees Fahrenheit or lower can cause skin to freeze (frostbite). If it is that cold out, make sure all exposed skin is covered – except your eyes, of course.

Allow me to check weather.com…

At this point while writing this post? NINE DEGREES OUT! Feels like?? Yeah — MINUS 10!!

That’s downright frigid.

I will say this — if I was outside right now and didn’t have any gloves, my fingers would be cold. And, even without money to purchase gloves, I’d like to be at the Southside Mall in Oneonta right now.

Why?

Well, one reason would be because I could hang out inside and be a mall rat. But truthfully?

Because of what I saw there yesterday:

Could warm up some fingers!

Something tells me whoever left them behind wishes they had them!

Brrr!

This winter, we’ve been spoiled. Some cold weather here and there, a little snow. But for the most part, mild. I don’t have too many issues with cold. It’s usually welcomed.

Not frigid weather though.

If that’s the case, send me to Alaska, where I’d expect this stuff!

Mild winter so far, yes.

Now?

COLD!

I can’t complain. It’s been a winter that has treated us decently well. But Mother Nature is showing she’s still in control.

I got a text from a softball teammate today and it said:

Softball season yet?

Unless you are preparing to play with penguins and Eskimos, then the answer would be no.

Of course, I responded with:

Sure feels like it.

And the answer I received was even better (I had to type it exactly as was typed or it doesn’t give it the right feel!):

Needs to hurry the f up already. im dreaming bout it.”

Some of these guys think about softball all year. I can’t blame them. Maybe the thought of the game gives warmth when it’s so freakin’ cold out. Though I can’t imagine making contact with a ball using an aluminum bat right now. Ouch!

It’s frigid out, by the way. (It’s warming up, though, it now currently only feels like a balmy -9 out).

It’s time for a little “Did you know?”

Did you know water temperature, body size, body fat percentage and movement in the water each play a part in cold-water survival. Small people cool faster than large people; children cool faster than adults. (PFDMA.org)

Great.

So that means if I’m lost in the wilderness with a few others and I’m a bigger guy than them, they become Popsicles before me, thus making me freeze longer.

Sheesh.

As I sit here finishing this blog post, I hear a dog yapping a couple blocks away. I’ll give one guess as to why it’s barking non-stop. It’s cold. Just like anyone else stuck outside on a day like this.

As for me?

Time to head out and find a photo for my 366 project. I just have to find the right shorts and t-shirt to wear…

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook by clicking the button on the right side of the page!