Ctein is off this week, due to imminent travels (this was planned, although I don't think either one of us has mentioned it before now.)
Here at chez TOP, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that the new Behmor 1600 arrived and was duly swapped for the old, and I am drinking proper homebrew this morning, which has put me into a fine mood.
On the bad side, I actually dreamed of the arrival of Spring last night. Here in waking-land, the snowplow just passed and it is well below freezing, which has been the case for what seems like weeks on end. It is pure Wisconsin dead-of-Winter weather—in March. Somehow, I don't think it is this month that will "come in like a lion and go out like a lamb" this year—I'm guessing that will be April that does that.
And to think, I never sympathized with snowbirds. Turns out it really is an age thing!
The Mike and Ctein Show will have a change to announce next week at this time.
Mike
P.S. And I should add: from my perspective, Off-Topic Week last week worked—I am feeling renewed and reinvigorated for on-topic TOPistry.
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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
Yvonne: "Yes, it's an age thing. I've never had the snowbird impulse either, but this year I hated Ontario in the winter, and I've dreamed of warmer climes frequently."
Jim Kofron: "And to think, I never sympathized with snowbirds. Turns out it really is an age thing! It must be...and we must be similar ages, because I've had the same thoughts this year! It's been brutal. Not only is it been 'below freezing' since October (maybe a slight exaggeration), but we've had so many nights below 0°F that I've lost count. It's got to be over 30 now—and we've had winters where we haven't had one."
James Hengst: "This comic sums up the winter nicely—The Polar Depress."
[Republished by kind permission of the cartoonist, John Kovalic —Ed.]
Ariel Ewenson: "Mike this is in reference to the above link 'Click here for all the latest cool stuff.' I'd be happy to order stuff from Amazon through your link, the problem is they don't usually ship stuff like cameras, lenses etc. to my country (Israel). Any ideas? Thanks and keep up the excellent work."
Mike replies: I just checked with B&H Photo, and they will be happy to ship to Israel. The B&H link is second from the bottom at the same page the "Click here..." link led you to. Thanks!
Here in Ottawa, I am supposed to go take pics of a bicycle road race on March 29. I have 5 foot high snow banks next to my driveway. Better start melting soon.
Posted by: Robert Roaldi | Wednesday, 05 March 2014 at 11:48 AM
Chin up, Mike! Although this winter's arctic weather has been flowing over the Canadian prairies and on down to you (Sorry about that.), this morning it was (only) minus 14º C. here in Saskatoon—much milder than the past three bitter weeks. Even better, the forecast is for thawing temperatures by the weekend. If the winter's pattern holds you should be looking out on more spring-like weather within the week.
Up here March came in like a polar bear. Who knows what it will go out like—maybe even a lamb?
Yours in perpetual optimism,
~ David
Posted by: David Miller | Wednesday, 05 March 2014 at 12:07 PM
Man - you need to move!
Preferably somwhere that has no more than an average of 5 days snow per year, that's quite enough.
Posted by: RobinP | Wednesday, 05 March 2014 at 12:54 PM
"The Mike and Ctein Show will have a surprise for you next week at this time."
OOooooh!!! !I hope its a pony!!!!!1!!
Patrick
Posted by: Anonymous | Wednesday, 05 March 2014 at 01:05 PM
Your job includes a unique perk—the ability to work from just about anywhere. So pack up the computer, jump in the car, and drive down to New Orleans for the week. Take some pictures while you at it!
Posted by: JohnMFlores | Wednesday, 05 March 2014 at 01:09 PM
Those of us in the antipodes are drawing to the end of Summer, though the forecast
http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/melbourne.shtml
for this coming long weekend (Labour Day, not to be confused with "eight-hour" day) still has some reasonably warm thirty-degree days (centigrade).
Just thought those of you in the North would like to know.
Posted by: Thingo | Wednesday, 05 March 2014 at 04:14 PM
You might enjoy my favorite weather forecast this winter....
http://www2.macleans.ca/2014/01/10/your-weather-forecast-for-the-week-ahead/
Posted by: John King | Thursday, 06 March 2014 at 05:26 AM
Here in Ireland we had some snow in 2010, and some more in 2011. Very cold it was! It's been raining ever since ...
Posted by: Rory O'Toole | Thursday, 06 March 2014 at 06:26 AM
Sorry to read about the long Winter, Mike.
This is how the fields looked like last weekend at my hometown, in central Spain:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CDT6TET2pKc/UxTiKUlimZI/AAAAAAAADLw/QZAITF84td0/s1600/_IGP0901.jpg
Posted by: Cateto Catetez | Thursday, 06 March 2014 at 02:25 PM
It’s late fall and the Indians on a remote reservation in North Dakota asked their new chief if the coming winter was going to be cold or mild.
Since he was a chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets. When he looked at the sky, he couldn’t tell what the winter was going to be like.
Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he told his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect firewood to be prepared.
But, being a practical leader, after several days, he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the State Weather Service and asked, ‘Is the coming winter going to be cold?’
‘It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold,’ the meteorologist at the weather service responded.
So the chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more firewood in order to be prepared.
A week later, he called the State Weather Service again. ‘Does it still look like it is going to be a very cold winter?’
‘Yes,’ the man at State Weather Service again replied, ‘it’s going to be a very cold winter.’
The chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of firewood they could find.
Two weeks later, the chief called the State Weather Service again. ‘Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?’
‘Absolutely,’ the man replied. ‘It’s looking more and more like it is going to be one of the coldest winters we’ve ever seen.’
‘How can you be so sure?’ the chief asked.
The weatherman replied, ‘The Indians are collecting loads of firewood.'
Posted by: Rex | Thursday, 06 March 2014 at 06:19 PM
March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lion.
Posted by: Tom Legrady | Friday, 07 March 2014 at 10:17 AM