Thursday 30 November 2006

• Cold Snap!

  Which has more caffeine: a cup of coffee, a cup of tea, or a glass of Coke?

  
  

  This morning when I woke up, the temperature was comfortable, as if it were a Phoenix October.  While I was going to work there was a strong, chilly wind at my back and I knew our winter season had arrived.  Sure enough, on the way home I could feel my fingertips getting numb as I rode against the same wind.  I need to buy new bicycling gloves.  I just don't like buying stuff for myself this time of year because then invariably someone complains that they could have purchased whatever it was as a Christmas gift for me. 

  
  

  So, I was riding, my fingertips needing the occasional rewarmth of my breath, and I get hit and run.  No, not a t-bone like you'd think, but a black SUV which slowed down, slammed their passenger-side door into my side and arm, and sped off.  With no light on their plates, I wasn't able to get anything for a report.  So, I'm in pain and noticing the chill in the air when the wind blows a grocery bag into my rear gears stopping me cold.  By the time I could tear out the plastic bag which had wrapped around the gears, my hands were really cold.  Well, then my chain decided to slid into a gap created between my gears and the frame.  I started tugging on it, before I recalled that that was how I ended up needing to call 911 last time.  So I walked over to the bus stop, narrowly missing the bus I needed (despite trying to flag it down and run with my bike).  Standing outside of the bus stop, I got cold.  That wind, blowing on me without the benefit of the sun or the heat generated while riding my bike, made me pull out my emergency jacket from my backpack.  It's been months since I last had to pull it out.  In fact, that was the first time with the new backpack. 

  
  

  The bus eventually gets me home and I decide that my hands are too cold to meddle with fixing the bicycle until morning, so I go inside and turn on the radio which warned me to "cover the animals and bring in the plants."  The newsperson thought he was being funny.  But, with a freeze warning being broadcast, that meant it was time to turn on the furnace.  I always forget how to do it every year, despite a handwritten note I leave for myself right on the furnace.  Finally, and hour and a half later I manage to get it on.  I don't want my pipes to freeze again like they did one year I was trying to be cheep. 

  
  

  Weird, it won't let me save this entry.  Oh well, after a dozen or so tries I'll just try again in the morning and hope my cat doesn't do anything to this in the night.

  
  

  ---

  Oops, I took all that time last night to get the furnace lit and I forgot to turn the thermostat to "heat."  Hopefully I didn't do any damage to the house.  It doesn't feel that cold to me, but what do I know?  Baldr seems OK, too, so that's good.  The radio claims that the freeze warning is through 9am, but I need to already be on the road by then.  At least the sun will be out while I fix my bicycle.  Wow, I just yawned and could see my breath.  Pretty cool!  Hmmm...the weathercaster said it'll be colder tomorrow morning and then this front will head east to cool off the rest of the country.  I feel bad for those in colder climates.  At least here in the desert a cold day is below 60 F.  Some places actually go below 50 F for their highs.  Brrrr!

  
  

  Thanks to strangehermit for the quiz:
  

  
  
  
  
  

  You scored as Babylon 5 (Babylon 5). The universe is erupting into war and your government picks the wrong side. How much worse could things get? It doesn't matter, because no matter what you have your friends and you'll do the right thing. In the end that will be all that matters. Now if only the Psi Cops would leave you alone. Babylon 5 (Babylon 5) 81% Millennium Falcon (Star Wars) 69% Enterprise D (Star Trek) 63% Andromeda Ascendant (Andromeda) 63% Deep Space Nine (Star Trek) 56% Nebuchadnezzar (The Matrix) 56% SG-1 (Stargate) 56% Moya (Farscape) 50% Bebop (Cowboy Bebop) 44% Galactica (Battlestar: Galactica) 44% FBI's X-Files Division (The X-Files) 44% Serenity (Firefly) 44% Your Ultimate Sci-Fi Profile II: which sci-fi crew would you best fit in? (pics) created with QuizFarm.com

  • 10:03
  • 1 Comment