So as you might have heard much of the country has been whacked by a surge of wintery storms. If you haven’t heard, it means you might not live in one of these places; because if by chance you live in New York, that is pretty much ALL anyone is talking about. As I write this Egypt is falling, not a bad thing if it tumbles into the right hands; but scary if it doesn’t and globally very important either way. But here in overcast Manhattan all anyone can talk about is the weather.
WHAT DO PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IN SIBERIA?
So as you might have heard much of the country has been whacked by a surge of wintery storms. If you haven’t heard, it means you might not live in one of these places; because if by chance you live in New York, that is pretty much ALL anyone is talking about. As I write this Egypt is falling, not a bad thing if it tumbles into the right hands; but scary if it doesn’t and globally very important either way. But here in overcast Manhattan all anyone can talk about is the weather.
It’s winter. It’s been cold. It’s been snowy and icy. It’s pretty much been what Northern winters are. And for the last few years everyone has been complaining about the lack of winter and how global warming was frying us up. And do you remember the good ole times full of sledding and snow days?
So this year the heavens decided to open up and spit and spew all over Al Gore and our days have been full of sledding and many have been deemed snow days and what do you know, everyone is in a snit.
“Can you believe the snow?” “Have you ever seen such ice?” “I can’t come out – have you seen the weather?” “I’m freezing to death.” “I’m sick of gloves, boots, hats, scarves, coats.” “My skin is flaking off because of the indoor heat.” “My lips are chapped, my elbows dry, my feet are like ice.” “Freezing I tell you, it’s freezing.” “What did we do to deserve this?”
“Oh God, another miserable day.” “Where is the sun?”
First off the sun is in Miami, any one can tell you that. And frankly it’s not that bad.
I come from California so I personally like the snow, as I never had it while growing up. I still find it magical and exciting, even when I go skidding down the street.
And the other thing is in California while we might not have snowy weather and real seasons we do have bona fide natural disasters of biblical proportions; like earthquakes, fires and floods. I have watched entire mountainsides go up in smoke, destroying multiple neighborhoods in a matter of seconds. I’ve seen hillsides melt into the earth taking hundreds of homes with them. I’ve seen floods so bad they wash away everything in sight. What is worse watching your house and all your belongings evaporate or having to dig your car out of some snow?
I said to Glenn this morning, if everyone in New York is only talking about the weather what do they do in places where it’s really horrendous for much of the year. What do they talk about in Siberia?
And the other thing is everything is shutting down; the restaurants are empty. I had lunch with my friend Ashley McDermott at Michael’s yesterday. You can never move in that place it’s so packed, yesterday it was half empty, all the weather fraidy cats stayed home – I guess. And then today, I had a dental appointment I got there on time and no one was there.
I kept ringing the bell. I called their office and could hear the phone ringing inside, I finally called my office to get my messages. They had left a message at six last night, “Closing the office tomorrow due to the weather.” It wasn’t even that bad today.
These guys should go to Prague or Berlin and see how hardy people handle in-climate weather. They just bundle up and eat some more ham, drink hot wine and go about their lives. They certainly don’t close their businesses. It was in the 30’s today. In Berlin they would have dragged the tables outside and had some beers al fresco.
The guys I do feel sorry for are the ones who have to clean the snow and ice. The guys here in our building work really hard, and it’s tough work, but they aren’t the ones complaining.
Perhaps 52 is the new 82 because it sounds like I’m channeling Andy Rooney.
Though I can’t wait until next year when it’s in the fifties for much of the winter and every one starts missing the park blanketed in white and their sledding and snow days.
I will then remind them of how much they and moaned and groaned and stayed inside this year.
Since I can’t put my flipcam down I took a little video on my way to the gym this morning. Eddie gets my vote for person of the week as he has kept our building the neatest on the street. And it’s hard work.
