A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

winter

Don’t blink … you could miss it all

It’s interesting how life throws things at you and it makes you look at the big picture – how it could be over in an instant.

This past summer, I was a passenger in a car that had close call with somebody who decided they wanted to drive on the opposite side of the road (https://hoohaa.com/?p=10897).

Then it happened this week.

The day started with a lot of snow. But as the day went on, there was clearing and sun. Roads were bare, for the most part. I opted to head to the next town over to run some errands.

On a side note, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become a smarter driver – at least in bad weather. I don’t rush. I respect the roads. I know places where, despite how it looks in one spot, could be in bad shape. One such place near me is Meridale Mountain.

At the top of it all is an almost-open field on the one side, with an open field, coming down off a hill, on the opposite side.

What that often leads to is wind and drifts, which means snow on the road.

So on this day, I approached and slowed down to make it through safely. Coming the opposite was a pickup truck (Toyota, I believe) with a cab and all. They took the corner at the top a little too quick and got fish tailing a little – just as I headed toward the vehicle.

Things like this unfold slowly – despite only being a couple of seconds. The person driving was a younger gal, likely no more than early 20s (if that). The look of fear in her eyes was easily seen. I knew she didn’t have control, even though you could tell she was trying her best. I made it past her – and as I did, she lost full control.

I know the feeling of fishtailing. I think we’ve all likely been there. But in trucks, you are higher off the ground and you really need to try and work fast. She looked for a moment like she had it, but then … it was over.

She crossed over lanes and spun, heading over an embankment. She didn’t flip, which is good. And by the time I pulled over and ran back, she was out of the truck and calling somebody. She said she was OK and I went along my way (along with a couple of others who stopped and some snow mobilers).

If I had been 4-5 seconds behind when I went by, the odds are her and I meet a little differently. And with my car, I likely lose that battle and maybe not in a good way.

On my way to work the next day, I saw somebody off the road. I heard of other accidents and such, too. The weather wasn’t good. And, I’m sure, some of these accidents weren’t out of negligence. But I guarantee some of them are. I saw people going by me at speeds way higher than they should be going in nasty winter weather.

Four or five seconds is what separated me from getting by with no issues or having some sort of an accident that could have altered my world.

Slow down. Take your time. Respect the roads. Sometimes things happen that are unavoidable. But you have control over how you drive in bad weather. Remember, it’s not just your life you could hurt or alter by driving like an idiot in bad conditions – there are others. Be smart and be safe.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Winter is here (officially)

First day of winter

December 21.

The first day of winter.

And I am sitting here saying … wait, it’s December 21? Really?

I have so much to do in the next day and change that I don’t even know where I am. Well, I do. But at the same time, I have no clue.

Sheesh.

It has definitely felt like winter. And, at times, it’s looked like it, too. But when the snow comes, it’s followed by rain and warmer weather.

I’m really hoping for a white Christmas, though.

It’s been a couple of years since we had a legit white Christmas. It doesn’t feel right when there isn’t some Christmas snow … ala Frosty the Snowman.

So, we’ll see about that.

We’ve already had more snow this year than all of next year. What that means is … snow. But it’s ok. It had to happen.

It’s how it goes.

It is winter, after all.

And we close in on Christmas. Enjoy the cold!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Hot and cold … WTF?

I realize the human body is quite interesting as a whole – how it works, how it survives, how it grows etc.

But damn, the whole hot/cold this is odd.

Why is it we spend the hot months trying to be cold, and the cold months trying to be warm? I just want to be like “Hey … body, WTF?”

For those who know me, you know I like the cooler temps. In the middle of a hot summer, it’s often to the point in my car where you’ll need a sweatshirt because it’s an ice box.

Come the winter time, the ice box is outside. But, I don’t go full extreme and have an oven in the car.

I’m sure all of this has something to do with body temperature. And, to be fair, I did start reading about body temperature, but after a few sentences, it basically became this:

“Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah Blah blah blah blah blah.”

You get the picture. A scientist I am not, that’s for sure.

These are the types of things that really help make life so interesting. As frosts set in during the mornings, I’ll have to start warming up my car. When I get in it’s all toasty and nice. It makes me smile. But, if it’s 95 degrees out and I get into my car and it’s hot as can be, I’m juicing the air conditioning hoping to make it feel like the South Pole!

The human body and mind work in mysterious ways, that’s for sure. How one thinks or acts, or even reacts, to situations and life conditions is pure amazement.

The seasons changing is no different.

We want cold when it’s warm, and warmth when it’s cold. It’s as simple as that.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Photo Blogging Challenge (February 2015): Winter

(Note: There is no Snapshot Saturday this week because it falls on the final day of the month, so the day for the Photo Blogging Challenge. Snapshot Saturday will return next week!)

OK, I wish I hadn’t had all the winter things I did this month.

Turns out, in our area (and many others), February was the coldest month … ever. Can you imagine? We had 20+ days where the temperatures were in like single digits or something like that.

Brrrr!

Oh yeah — and we had a ton of snow.

Mix the two together and I am to the point where moving somewhere warm would be great. In fact, hook me up with a winning lotto ticket and I’ll be somewhere in the Bahamas during every winter going forward.

Until then … it’s time for this month’s challenge. Winter was the theme and here’s my five.

1. Winter fog

I was heading to work one day this month and I drove past this bridge — like I do three days a week. But as I looked over on this particular morning, I saw that fog and everything else and knew I needed to stop and snap a few photos.

Hamden Covered Bridge.

Hamden Covered Bridge.

2. First snow

I got my nephew/godson Cameron his first pair of LL Bean boots in the hopes of grabbing some snow shots. Turns out his first time out in the snow wasn’t so fun. This is shortly after he got some snow on his face. He wasn’t pleased. Both his parents gave the OK on using this photo, though I actually struggled with it. But, within moments, he was fine (snow wiped off) and you could see he didn’t enjoy when he got put on the ground. Maybe the boots were too heavy. But either way, hopefully he’ll get better as he gets older with the snow!

Poor Cam.

Poor Cam.

3. Courthouse Square

The Courthouse Square in my town is quite picturesque and historic. I liked the look of this image after I took it.

Winter wonderland.

Winter wonderland.

4. Happier

Cameron was OK outside with the snow as long as he wasn’t down on the ground. He seems pretty interested in watching is mother blow out a handful of snow.

Snow!

Snow!

 5. Snow blowin’ 

If you live anywhere that has been hit by the white stuff, you’ve probably used a snow blower a whole heap. Here’s my brother clearing some of the snow on the side of his house.

Clearing snow.

Clearing snow.

That’s my five and now it’s your turn!

If you took part in this month’s challenge, make sure to link up below. And for those of you who participated, make sure you try and get to other people’s blogs and comment (here, too!). Let’s continue to grow this challenge and have a strong community. Come back and check out the others who link later on, too!

Also, don’t forget to get back here tomorrow, March 1, to see the theme for March! It’s our two-year anniversary month!

NOTE: I set up a Facebook group for those who participate in the challenge and are interested. I’ll post any announcements there and hopefully it can be a place where things are discussed and some interaction etc. You can access it here.

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

It’s time for you to go, Winter

I’m so over winter

This is something many people in the Northeast are saying in recent weeks, that’s for sure. But I look at it in a different way. It’s not just because of the mounds of snow that might not disappear until July. It’s not the arctic temperatures that are more suited for Antarctica or the North Pole than in the Northeast.

Nope.

Winter might be pretty, but it gets old.

Winter might be pretty, but it gets old.

Then, why, you may ask? Well, it’s simple — I’m sick of being sick.

Allow me to count the ways I’ve been sick since the start of winter, which in my area is usually well before the Dec. 21 “official” date.

  • Common cold (usual)
  • Flu (unusual, especially considering I get a flu shot)
  • 24-hour bug (unusual)
  • Stomach bug (unusual, and it piggybacked the 24-hour bug)

One thing to notice there — I usually only get since once a year or so, and it’s usually a doozy of a common cold. It’s something that will last about a full week and usually follows the same pattern. This year has been different.

The last two happened over the past weekend and forced me to burn a sick day. I’m actually writing this during that sick day, covered up on a recliner with my “writing” laptop. I’ve barely been on a computer since this past Friday night, so I’m trying to catch up on e-mails and other things.

Oh yeah, and it’s still bitterly cold out, though it’s been nice to peek outside and see sun and blue skies the past two days. I know better though — that’s just enough to pull you outside and then you freeze your tush off.

By the time this publishes, I’ll be back to work — thankfully.

For those who know me, I’m not much for taking sick days. At my previous job, I rarely took one, despite knowing I should at certain times. I felt guilty, even though me being there was probably worse than me not being there. Maybe it is how things were instilled in me.

Remember last year? That’s when I had the foot saga and had surgeries and such. I felt guilty taking sick days. I still do. But, with this week being a vacation week for the places I work (at least for students and teachers), I figured it wasn’t so bad if I called in sick when I actually needed that day. I’ve been exhausted!

What stinks about this whole bout is that I didn’t have the desire to be near a computer, let alone blog. That meant nothing up for the past few days, which is fine. Alas, it also broke a streak as I had posted something daily since late November. Now, it’s time to get back to the grind and get on another streak! Probably next week, though, as I might not be every day this week as I still get my “legs” back under me.

But, back to my original point — it’s time for winter to go. In my area, February traditionally seems to be our “harsh” month. Hopefully that holds true and March brings the upward trend of no snow and better temperatures. Allow this snow to slowly (we don’t need spring weather and rain or we’ll see some serious flooding in some areas) go away and the spring bloom to come to us… I think we’ve (and many parts of the Northeast) have earned it.

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