My Morning Jacket

Good Morning and how about this weather?

I nearly did something yesterday I never do this early in October.
When I woke up, it felt like it was freezing outside. I pulled on a long-sleeve shirt, then opened the coat closet next to the front door.
I stared at my jacket for a few minutes. Thought about it, then left it on the hanger.
Yes, it's much too early (in my mind anyway), to pull that one out.
I realize this is kind of silly. I mean, it's chilly, put on a jacket.
When the boy goes out to the bus stop wearing shorts I half cringe. I mean, it is too cold in the morning for shorts.
His justification: Well, it will be warm when I'm coming home.
So it is.
I left the jacket in the closet and by the time I left work, it was quite warm. I actually felt hot in the car and put on the air conditioning.
So, I feel like I made the right jacket decision.
Now, the heat is definitely not going on for a few weeks no matter how many blankets we need.
Oh year, for those looking for something else this morning, here you go:

Finally, you can't beat me

Good Morning to the Internet!

OK, that's it. I'm done. You can't beat it, so might as well revel in it.
I'm talking about the cold here people.
I turned on the TV this morning and was hammered over the head about how cold it was out there.
With the supposed wind, it was going to be like -500 degrees or something like that.
So, I sat there lamenting the cold and what it's doing to my PECO bill (really, can't you just see the PECO big wigs sitting around their conference room lighting cigars with $100 bills).
Finally, I said, "The heck with it." (OK, I used other words, but supposedly you can't print them.)
It's time to take this cold and shove it.
Bring on the wind and the negative temperatures. Bring on the snow. Bring on the ice.
Mother Nature, you can't get the best of me.
I'll dress in layers. I'll wear gloves. I'll put on a sweater.
Now, somebody tell me why I should get out from under the covers.
It's so nice and toasty in here.

Yeah, we get it, it's cold!

Good Morning and welcome to a new year!

So, it's cold outside today. Yeah, I know, it's winter. Uh huh, it's cold.
Yep, I get it. Please stop telling me it's cold outside.
Tell you what, I was expecting it to be worse, but from the house to the car and the car to the office, it wasn't that bad.
Bundle up and sing these songs to yourself and everything will be OK.

or
or
Finally, of course:

The hot and the cold of it

Good Morning and it is nice to see the sun before 7.

Driving around after a cool birthday party Saturday (Laser Tag!), I was hit about how nice and warm it was for Nov. 2.
So, I asked my passengers what they wanted to do.
"Let's go the mall," said one.
"I want to go home and play video games," said another.
"I don't know," said the third (yes, he's a teenager).
OK, to me, when you can wear short sleeve shirts outside in November, well, you better take advantage of it.
So, my first thought was a playground. That would be fun ... for about 15 minutes. Then the older ones (OK, just the teenager) would start moping about things being boring.
I remembered a miniature golf course from days go by. We were close, so that was the idea.
We played (yes, there are always arguments), but the warmth and the sun made it pretty nice.
Then came Sunday.
I knew when I first woke up and heard the wind it was going to be cold.
That playoff soccer game at 3 was going to be downright chilly.
I wasn't ready for the winter, though. My light jacket wasn't going to be enough, but I didn't want to miss the game.
So, I froze, but watching the team of 10/11-year olds play their hearts out made it feel just a little bit warmer.

Rise and Shine --- The flu and the weekend

Good Morning and welcome to the beginning of baseball season!

For the first time I think ever, I got a flu show this year. The only reason I got one was because they were giving them out free during a community day.
Whatever, it seemed to work. I got a few stuffy noses and things like that during the winter, but managed to stay away from the flu.
That was until the shot wore off sometime last week. Then, I got knocked over. After a slow build up, I was knocked down by the flu. I had a sore throat, weakness in my bones, coughing, sneezing, you know, all the fun stuff.
The worst thing about it was we were on our annual trip to Ocean City for the Easter weekend. So, for the first day, instead of enjoying the beach (yeah, it was cold, but, come on, it's the beach), I was down for the count on the couch.
It's been a slow recovery though the weekend, but I might be able to see the other side.
Either that or it's time  for another shot.

Rise and Shine --- Love the cold, hate the cold

Good Morning and bundle up out there again today!

Took a trip down the shore this past weekend. With school being just a half day Friday, I figured a drive down and a look at the ocean was better than arguing about the amount of time the television could stay on.
So, we got to Ocean City around 2, got the car unpacked and headed to the boardwalk. The first thing that strikes you in January on the boardwalk is how much of a ghost town it becomes. Besides us four, we saw maybe a dozen other people during the time walking.
For me, that's perfect. While I do like summer at the beach, the ability to actually hear the ocean is kind of cool.
Sure, it was cold, but that's what hats, gloves and scarfs are for. The crisp, clear ocean air does a body good.
OK, the complaints about walking were there, but, once you are into it, there's not much you can do.
So, we walked a couple of miles on the beach (too windy) and did the rest on the boardwalk.
Now, I have to figure out when to get back.

Rise and Shine --- To heat or not to heat

Good Morning and it's time to change the pitcher!

As this wacky weather year took a chilly turn this week, the first thing I heard after school yesterday was 'It's cold in here.'
OK, you might need to put away the shorts for the season, but it's not cold. Maybe a sweatshirt instead of the T-shirt would help.
One thing that's not happening is the heat is not going on yet. Maybe I'm still stuck in the summer or maybe I'm looking for one month of a decent PECO bill, but the heater will not kick in this week.
Or next week.
My rule is the heat doesn't go on before Halloween. Yeah, yeah, yeah, things could change. The way the weather has been going, would it surprise anybody if we saw snow in October?
Now, though, the after-school crowd is going to have do deal with it. After all, there are plenty of blankets.

Rise and Shine --- Shaky, shaky

Good Morning and, yes, here we are again!

So, isn't it a sinking feeling when, after shaking somebody's hand, they say, "Yeah, I'm just getting over a nasty cold."
Come on now. Really? You just had a cold and think it's a good idea to shake hands. Couldn't you have prefaced the hand shaking with that information? Now I know why Howie Mandell gives that fist pump all the time.
All right. I know there are a lot worse things than a late-summer, early-fall cold. When the chills start hitting and the only thing you can think about is soup, well, you know it's going to be a long couple of days.
So, to help out, how about this:

Rise and Shine --- Swimming

Good Morning and welcome to (supposedly) a break from the heat!

The plan at the beginning of every summer is to join a pool and take advantage of it when it gets really hot. The plan falls apart every summer when I remember how much it costs to join a pool.
So, we take advantage of Grandmom and Grandpop's hospitality and jump. As the summer sun continued to bear down last week, their pool was a welcome respite.
When the heat was there again Saturday morning, I thought it was a good idea to stay in the air conditioning. So, we hit a couple of stores and saw a small, throwaway pool for $3.
OK, I thought, it would be perfect for those days when I didn't feel like driving. Saturday being one of those days, we got the pool home and filled it up.
So, with bathing suits on, one foot went into the water when the unbelievable came.
"It's too cold!!!"
Too cold, I said, it's like 150 degrees out here today. Walk around the house once, then you'll be ready to go in.
"That's not going to work. The water is too cold. It needs to be heated!!!"
OK, I continued, we'll stay outside until you're ready to get wet.
Lasted about 10 minutes. Now, I want it too stay hot for a few weeks.

Rise and Shine --- Wah, wah, wah

Good Morning and welcome back to the heat!

So, why do we first complain about the cold, then turn around and complain about the heat? Probably because we like to complain.
I mean, really, really complain. Walk into any place of business and you will hear people complaining. Heck, walk into the newsroom here at the Daily Times and you'll start complaining through osmosis.
We complain about the water. We complain about the computers. We complain when the air conditioners are on, we complain when the heat is on.
I'm sure it's not just a phenomenon here in the grand ol' US of A, but it sure seems like we like to complain, a lot.
I was in a store the other day and a couple of employees were complaining that there were only powdered doughnuts left. It wasn't just disappointment either. This was a full out complaint, the person even was threatening to quit over the disservice.
While working a few years ago in a department store, somebody actually complained when they had to help a customer. Wait a minute, isn't that your job?
Less you think I'm taking on just the workplace, I've heard a myriad of complaints about breakfast/lunch/dinner over the last few years. Now, come on, what's exactly wrong with tuna casserole?
Anyway, one complaint you won't hear is from me. Thanks for reading.

Rise and Shine ---- Crazy cold

Good Morning and welcome to, what, spring?

You know, this is always a strange time of year here in Pennsylvania. There have been years where the opening week of baseball season was warm and nice.
Then there are years like 2011. I remember heading to one of those exhibition/preseason Phillies games a few years ago and bundling up more than if it was an Eagles game.
I also remember breaking out the shorts (yes, that should scare everybody out there) for the last week of March.
In like a Lion and out like a Lamb, indeed.
Anyway, it's a good thing the Phillies are getting out of Clearwater. Not only does it mean the new season is here, but we don't have to read any more about injuries and Joe Blanton.
The first weekend of baseball is always a cool time.
Speaking of cool times, we'll be out at Jimmy Mac's in Drexel Hill for a Phillies opening day party. Come out and say hello.

Rise and Shine --- Looks out a window

Good Morning and keep the heater on!

So, for all you Eagles fans out there who were dreaming about going to a Super Bowl this year, uh, your team wasn't nearly as good as the four who played yesterday.
How's this for an early prediction: Expect another parade in Pittsburgh in a couple of weeks.
Speaking of predictions, let's get on these weather yahoos a little bit. Now, we know they like to pump up the possibility of snow. Nothing brings in ratings (or page views) like the prediction of a storm.
"Be Careful," they tell us. "It's going to a be a nasty commute. The morning is going to be a mess. Snow, ice, snow, snow, snow."
People get caught up in the craziness. Last week, we had it twice. There was supposed to be a lot of ice and snow Tuesday morning. OK, there was some, but it didn't cripple the area.
Then it was supposed to come again Thursday. This time, it was nothing more than a coating on the sidewalks.
Then the schools get caught up. Parents (rightly) want to know about closings or delays as early as possible so they can set up the day (either take it off from work or try to find some kind of childcare). So, a dire prediction doesn't give the officials much time to react.
Last week, most schools called for Thursday delays even though it turned out to be much ado about nothing.
There's no way to get away from all the weather, so the best predictor is your own eyes. Unless, of course, Grandma has a trick knee.

Rise and Shine --- Not that kind of cold

Good Morning and isn't it nice to wake up without fresh, new snow on the ground!

So, for the second time this winter, a cold has gotten ahold of me. Not just any cold, mind you, one of those not even Nyquil can solve. Take the shot, expect some good sleep and two hours later, cough, cough, cough.
Man, that's annoying, especially when your alarm goes off at 3:30 a.m.
So, while I battle through the sniffles and the stuffy head, take this...

Rise and Shine --- Now, that's cold!

Good Morning and welcome to the snow-covered parking lot!

After sliding through the parking lot this morning (yes, two days after the latest snowfall you still need your boots in some places), I got to thinking about cold.
Now, it's been cold outside the last few months. We've seen temperatures below freezing. We've seen wind blow through.
Before yesterday's Eagles/Packers playoff game, we here at delcotimes.com decided to try something different. We provided Eagles fans with an alternative playoff pregame show live from the tailgates.
While you knew it was cold, while moving around trying to get people to talk, running the camera and making sure the sound was OK (sometimes, unsuccessfully), the cold didn't seem to bad.
Then, after packing up and carrying the equipment back to the car, well, that's when it hit.
It actually took most of the game to thaw out.
So, long story short (too late), it got me to thinking about those who don't have the opportunity to get out of the cold. There are people out there (admit it, you see them all the time, but try to ignore them), who don't have the opportunity to warm up.
When it gets bitter, they do the best they can. I think we can help, though.
Carry an extra pair of gloves around and, instead of speeding up your walking, just give them to the person. Sometimes, something small can make a world of difference.

Rise and Shine --- Blades of Glory?

Good Morning and don't walk outside today unless you have no choice!

Back in the day (I like using that line since it makes you seem a little more stately), I remember ice skating as a fun time. My parents used to take us (what seemed like) every weekend to a local rink. We'd have some fun. We'd get some exercise. We learned how to cheat the vending machines.
Over the years, the trips to the skating rink became fewer and fewer. Finally, they stopped all together.
I always told the little ones we would try it sometime. It's one of those things that just faded into the background.
While taking a day trip to New York City, we, of course, had to check out the tree at Rockefeller Center. Underneath is the famous skating rink. It wasn't too crowded, but it was too expensive (would have cost about $100 for an hour). So, much to the chagrin of a 5-year old whose eyes widened at the sight of the ice, we walked away.
Then, we stumbled upon another ice rink a few blocks away. This one was free (if you had skates, renting them was just 10 bucks).
So, here was the time. I put on the skates. Helped the little ones and, remembering my youth, jumped feet first onto the ice.
Then, promptly landed butt first on the ice. A laugh later, everybody was on the ice. Sure, we hung on to the wall more than actually skating. Sure, we watched as people glided as effortlessly as walking.
Then, my hand was grabbed by the 5-year old.
"Thanks Daddy," she screamed, "this is great."
It's really the only Christmas gift I need.

Rise and Shine --- Oil like boils

Good Morning and welcome to a brand-new, spanking week!

One thing I do every year is have a debate in my head when it is time to turn on the heat in the house. See, I have oil heat, so it's not as simple as getting the temperature up.
I have to check out the price of oil. Check the weather reports to see how long I have before it actually gets "cold." Check the price again. Check the gauge on the tank. Check the price one more time.
Usually, I try to make it as close to Thanksgiving as possible.
When a 5-year old girl, though, wants to put on her heavy coat while eating lunch, I guess it's time to break down and turn the temperature up.
That doesn't mean I don't continue to check the price and the level on a daily basis.
Now, I'm waiting for a nice week of 70 degree days. Guess that won't come until May.

Rise and Shine --- It's not cold. It's Halloween.

Good Morning and welcome to November!

Yes, it's November. Yes, the year is going too quickly. Yes, it's getting chilly outside.
Last night, it was downright cold. For some reason, though, the cold didn't seem to matter to some. It could have been blowing snow and sleet, but, on Halloween anyway, the cold was just a minor nusience.

So, after opening the door for the first trick-or-treater, it became obvious I had to pull on the jacket and the sweater.
Then, I looked over to the Spider Princess and said, "It's cold outside. You might want to put some long pants on under your dress."
"Daddy," the princess, ruffling her nose, said. "It's not cold. It's Halloween."
Knowing it was a battle I wasn't going to win at that moment, I retreated.
"OK, sweetie. But if you get cold while walking around, remember I told you to put long pants on."
The princess didn't care. So, along with a detective, a Clone Trooper and a techno rocker, the search for candy was on. After the second stop at home to clear the bags, it was time to take a break.
Taking a break on Halloween meant eating some of the candy while trying to get trick-or-treaters to come over.
About an hour later, I figured I would ask the question. "Hey, ready to put on some long pants? The dress is nice, but you must be getting cold."
In a voice only a 5-year old going on 13 can muster came the replay.
"Daddy. I told you. It's not cold, it's Halloween. Can we go walk around again?"

Rise and Shine --- Pass the Sudafed

Good Morning and welcome to the last couple of days of 'summer!'

You know the summer is really over when you have Octoberfest and Pumpkin beers hitting the taps.
Meanwhile, it's time to start battling one of those annoying hay fever colds. The sinuses are stuffed up. The sneezing is annoying and the coughing feels like your about to bring up a lung.
It doesn't help that it's a Monday, but, as one little girl I know likes to sing, "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down."
So, as the sneezing attack hits again, enjoy this (or at least try to figure out how some people have so much time):

DJ Kitty - watch more funny videos

Rise and Shine --- Ahchooo

Good Morning and welcome back to the runaway train!

Now, not only do I feel like I'm going down the rapids without a paddle, there's a spring cold. I guess it's a little better than a summer cold (nobody likes them), but it's annoying anyway.
So, as I battle through stuffed sinuses and sneezing, you can enjoy this:

No Strings Attached - watch more funny videos

Rise and Shine --- Spring is around the corner

Good Morning and welcome to a cold Friday!

That cold this morning is like a slap in the face. Feel a little tired? Step outside and let the wind do what coffee could never finish.
Still, the sun shining down yesterday did give a bit of a taste of spring. Maybe we can move out the grey winter quickly. Come on, Punxsutawney Phil, give us an early spring next week.
This year, 'Phil' will be giving a forecast via instant messaging and twitter. Who knew the groundhog had an iPhone in that hole?
It is kind of amazing, though, how it's so easy to talk about the weather. Somebody could walk up to you outside school, say hello, then say, 'Gee, it's cold (warm, rainy, snowy) out here today!'
You always have a quick answer for that. 'Well, it's going to get warmer (colder, wetter, icy) tomorrow.'
We all like talking about weather, probably because it's maybe the one thing we can't do anything about. It's not like we can look up to the sky and say, 'Get sunny!'
Well, I guess we can, but it won't do anthing.
See, this is what happens at the end of a long week, nonsensical rambling.
So, just listen: