Wednesday, February 28, 2018

First Person: Stand Off

It's funny how things happen.  I usually don't eat at home before work.  That's why there are Pop Tarts, granola bars and Chex Mix in my desk at work.  Yesterday morning was different.  I'm usually up before the alarm clock, even more so yesterday.  It was breakfast at home, just a few handfuls of cereal and an oatmeal cookie.  Shower time was even earlier than usual.  It turns out, I needed every extra second.

My phone's message light was flashing when I returned to my bedroom after the shower.  That's never good.  Morning producer Kim was informing me that a homicide suspect was engaged in a stand off with police in Shamokin.  We already had  photographer Jason there, and I'd be traveling to Shamokin as soon as I hit the door.

After zooming in to work, I reviewed the information we had, checked a map, grabbed car keys and headed for the door.

Shamokin was an armed camp, and you could understand why.  That homicide suspect was still in his apartment, refusing to leave.  I gathered more facts at the scene, talked with a few people, took a deep breath, and I was on the air for Newswatch 16 This Morning at 4:30.  Photographer Jason had some great video, which we transmitted back to the station.

The assignment was a challenge.  It was constantly changing, and there was one half-hour where I made my position before the camera with seconds to spare.  I was off getting the latest info
After an exchange of gunfire around 5:30 AM, it was over.  I still had work to do-- interviews, video, etc.  A couple of updates during Good Morning America followed.  I missed my scheduled time for training on a new computer graphics system back at the office, but I weaseled in on another session later in the morning.

Editor Dave took photographer Jason's video, and we put together a report for Newswatch 16 at Noon that friend and coworker Nikki Krize introduced from the scene.  She would be doing follow ups for our afternoon and evening broadcasts.

It was a long and uncomfortable day, but at least, as I told a police officer, unlike him, no one was shooting at me.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Tuesday Scrapple

George Harrison, the quiet Beatle, would have turned 75 over the weekend.  Even though he was part of the most famous group ever, I still think Harrison was underrated.

I have the Barney Miller boxed set.  I collected Scrubs DVD's season-by-season.  Yet, I cannot turn away from an episode when it appears on TV.

We'll finish February with above normal temperatures.  This is no time to relax.  Winter isn't over yet.

There are times I really crave a Big Mac.  Yet, I can't remember the last time I had one.

Samsung is coming out with a new smartphone.  I have to admit I was tempted, until I saw the price.

Are the Olympics over yet?

Christmas was two months ago.  It seems like it was two years ago.  And, yes, I'm still kicking myself for not doing anything really fun over the holidays.

I'll occasionally punch up an old Rodney Dangerfield performance on YouTube.  I really miss him.

Nanette Fabray died last week.  97.  Impressive list of stage, film, and television roles.  I will remember her best for Hollywood Squares.

Can anyone figure out the stock market?

They say other browsers are better, but I still spend most of my time with Internet Explorer.

After a walk yesterday morning, I definitely got the feeling spring was in the air.  Even though long tern forecasts call for a normal March, that still isn't bad.


Looks like Elvis Presley's $ 100 million fortune is gone, mostly thanks to his daughter's wild spending.  How on earth do you do something like that.  Invest.  Live off the interest and dividends.


Monday, February 26, 2018

Dirty

It happens from time to time, and now we have a few cases in the news at the same time.

The Dallas Mavericks apparently tolerated harassment.  On top of that, the team's owner admitted his team tanked.  The league has fined him $ 600,000.

Arizona is caught up in a recruiting scandal.

Louisville can't get out from under NCAA sanctions imposed for the way it entertained recruits.

Michigan State has major problems because of the way it handled gymnast sex abuser Larry Nasser.

According to the New York Post, twenty schools have been snagged in an FBI corruption investigation.

Yet, we gladly watch the games on television.  We place bets, where legal.  Networks give schools and leagues hundreds of millions of dollars.

Could stiffer penalties, making an example of a school, work?  The death penalty?

It's clear things have to change.  How do we do it?  I have absolutely no idea.

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Andy's Angles: New Friend

Nathan, on the right, has occasional play dates.  This is his new friend, Sammi.

Both were catching a little nap time on a recent chilly afternoon.

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Andy's Angles: Fog

The photo really doesn't do it justice.

Gog settled in to the Wyoming Valley Wednesday morning.  This photo was taken around 7:30 AM at the Veterans Association Medical Center in Plains Township.  The building is at my back.  The view is off to the west.

I don't like driving in fog, but it does make for an interesting view.

Friday, February 23, 2018

"United" States

It's been a lousy couple of weeks, and a couple of recent events started the thought process.

Is there anyone left who can united the country?

Rev. Billy Graham died Wednesday.  Religious figures can be polarizing, but I don't remember everyone coming out to say they didn't like the guy.  Before he became to old to do it, Rev. Graham was a frequent visitor to the White House.  He seemed to be the Secretary of Religion.  Who now fills that role?

We always used to rally behind our presidents.  Those days are long gone.  I think the last one to do it was Jimmy Carter.  America hoped he would be part of the post-Watergate healing process.  It lasted for only a little while.

There were brief glimpses of reunification.  I can vividly remember Ronald Reagan's address hours after the Challenger explosion.  How can you forget George Bush in New York  a couple of days after 9/11?

It's amazing that 17 people die in a school shooting and we can't agree on what to do.

The sad thing is a splintered America is now the norm, and I can't ever seeing a return to the way things used to be.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Follow Up Thursday

NBC's Olympic ratings haven't been the greatest, and it's not hard to figure out why.

Some really good events are on channels no one can find.  To a viewer like me, who dips in and out, NBC isn't doing a very good job of explaining the rules and scoring, and introducing us to the athletes.  You get interviews, but they appear to be filler and not because an athlete has something interesting to say.

ESPN and Mike Patrick are parting company.  Patrick has been there from nearly the beginning.  The guy is as solid as they come, but vanilla.

Rev. Billy Graham died yesterday.  99.  I heard a radio news report refer to Graham as "The Protestant Pope."  That report alleged Graham preached to more people than anyone in history.  When you think about it, it's plausible.  He filled football stadiums and arenas.  Millions watched his TV specials.  Plus, Rev. Billy Graham was around a long, long time.

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Morning Munch

Today's blog entry was prompted by a Newswatch 16 Tuesday morning story.  Lucky Charms cereal is dumping the hourglass marshmallow shape in favor of a unicorn.  There is also a chocolate Lucky Charms variety.   I can't remember the last time I had Lucky Charms, so I knew nothing about the chocolate and the marshmallows.

I usually have a few boxes of cereal around the house.  Most of the time, I grab a few handfulls because I'm always in a hurry.  Sitting down, pouring a bowl and adding milk is exceptionally rare.

Parents must have it tough.  Most of the offerings in the supermarket cereal aisle are sugar laden junk.  They're not cheap, either.  I guess something in the morning is better than nothing.  Time is a valued commodity in the morning.  Evidence is kids running to make the school bus and commuters speeding to work like maniacs.

Even the "adult" cereals are full of sugar.  Cheerios is my "go to" brand.  Cracklin' Oat Bran is another favorite, but it's also on the sweet side.  On those rare occasions when I do the bowl and milk thing, it's Weetabix.  Tough to find.  Tastes like Styrofoam, but it's really good for your insides.  It's essentially bran flakes pressed into a brick.  Eat it fast because it mushes up really quickly.

This entry might make it look like I'm a cereal fanatic.  Not true.  More often than not, it's cold pizza.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Follow the Money

"Follow the money" is an old phrase from the Watergate days, and following the money usually leads you to the answer, or the truth, or whatever you're looking for.

I thought it was an absolute.

Until now.

Rush Limbaught got me thinking.  His theory as to why a certain group has such a hold over Washington is not the money it funnels to candidates.  It's because the members of this organization and fiercely loyal.  Here is the big one.  THEY VOTE!

After last week's Florida event, there is a move to enact change.  I'm a journalist.  I'm not in the opinion business.  I'll leave it up to you as to whether it's right or wrong, whether it's the remedy that's needed.

No matter how you feel, the important thing is not the protests.  It's going to a polling place twice a year and making your feelings known.  

I've seen it happen so many times before.  People are motivated by a topic or event.  They vote in the next election or two, and then, they drift away.

It is unfortunate that so many affected by Florida are too young to vote, but they will be of legal age, and soon.

If you want change, or if you don't, please make the effort to participate in our democracy.

Monday, February 19, 2018

The Usual Suspects

Today is Presidents Day, and that always gets me thinking.  Do I have a favorite president?  No.  Not really.  There is a list of chief executives I admire.

You really have to start with Washington, Adams, and Jefferson.  They got this whole thing started.

Lincoln makes everyone's list.

I can't say I was a fan of everything FDR did, but he did lead us out of the depression and through a world war while battling tremendous physical handicaps.

Harry Truman had guts.

JFK had an amazing ability to inspire, but he loses points in other areas.

LBJ was overshadowed by Vietnam, but he did fight for equality.

Nixon was a mess, but you can't overlook his foreign policy skills, especially when it came to China and the USSR.

Ford tried to heal a nation and battle inflation.

Jimmy Carter worked for Mideast peace, but his record on domestic affairs was dismal.  He will forever known as the "hostage" president.

Ronald Reagan changed America.

That's my short list.

Enjoy the holiday.

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Andy's Angles: Country Church

I do have a weakness for small, quaint country churches.  This one is along Route 106 in Clifford.

Bad timing on my part-- I was passing through when the weather was horrid.  Grey, foggy, drizzly.

I promise to return when the weather is better.

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Andy's Angles: The Mall

I suffered through just about every aspect of the downtown Scranton mall-- the announcement, the lawsuits, the endless wheeling and dealing to get it built, the implosion, the construction, the opening, the glory days, the decline...  So, the place has special fascination for me.

After some downtown business Wednesday morning, I drive across the street for a visit.  Boscov's was busy for a weekday morning.  The rest was business as usual-- a ghost town.
The mall's newest feature is the revamped food court.  A couple of the mall food court standards are still around.  The rest has been cubicled off.  Local business rent the stalls for locally made crafts and food.

Great idea!  Unfortunately, those businesses are here on weekends only, and show me any business that can exist on weekend only business.  If this was supposed to pump new life in to the place, it's off to a slow start.

Plus, the only reason to walk through the food court-- to get to the bridge over to Steamtown, was a disappointment.  The doors were locked!
New restaurants, a medical center, and an aquarium are allegedly on the way.

You just have to wonder how long an empty building can remain open.

Friday, February 16, 2018

In Awe

One of the things that has tickled me the most as I have matured in this business is the number of people I've worked with, and competed against, who have gone on to work at big city TV and radio stations, and networks.

It's a long list, and I'm thrilled for their success.  One gets singled out today:  Jason Knapp.

Jason had the desk next to mine at the old, old, old WYOU, back when it was on Lackawanna Avenue in downtown Scranton.  We got along well because we both liked to keep our work areas neat.  I was an occasional member of the sports department, having worked as high school football sideline reporter for parts of five seasons.  I also handled a Friday night assignment when we needed help.

Jason went on to do some great things-- including college football play-by-play.  His latest assignment has me stricken with awe.

NBC is using Jason for its Olympic coverage, as it has before.  Jason is calling curling.  I know a lot of people like the sport.  I can't figure it out, and I don't find it all that interesting.  Sorry.  However, I am glued to the TV when Jason is calling a contest.  He manages to make it interesting, knowing every nuance, rule, and strategy.  He also has that skill so many play-by-play people lack.  Jason knows how to get the best out of the expert commentators.

Jason Knapp, I'm proud to know you.

Thursday, February 15, 2018

First Person: IceWatch

Yesterday was one of my normal days off, and I've already established here that I keep the same "night owl" schedule as I do during my work week.

I headed out to the car around 1:45 AM to go to the gym a few miles away.  I heard rain pinging off the awning, and I thought to myself, "I didn't think rain was in the forecast."  After a short walk to the driveway, I found my car covered with a thin glaze of ice.  For a moment, I thought about cancelling my gym trip.  A foot scuff on the driveway produced the usual friction-- no ice, so I continued to the gym.

When I exited a couple of hours later, it was a different story.  It looked like plain rain.  When a step into the parking lot nearly landed me on my arse, I changed my opinion.  Main roads still appeared to have some left-over salt from a previous storm.  They were okay,  so I slowly drove to a mini mart a few miles away for an out of town newspaper and an egg salad sandwich.

It got worse by the mile.  The mini mart parking lot hadn't been treated.  It was like the rink at PyeongChang.  I grabbed my paper and had breakfast in the car.  I then pointed it toward home.  Scranton streets were horrendous, but the main arteries were at least passable.  Wyoming Avenue, to Green Ridge Street, to Blakely Street in Dunmore, to the O'Neill Highway and home.

While the freezing rain was a surprise, I will give road crews and dispatchers credit for springing into action reasonably fast.

The ice was accumulating on untreated surfaces, like my sidewalk, pictured above.  I took care of some of that.  Mother Nature and warmer temperatures took care of the rest.

That's one of my car's side view mirrors you see below.  It's difficult to tell because it was dark when I took the photo, but the ice is rather thick.
I did flip on Newswatch 16 This Morning after I made it home.  Kudos to the on air staff, the production staff, and the editorial staff who put together a broadcast on the fly.

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Valentine's Day

I've ranted about Valentine's Day before, but not in the usual way.  I hate to hear people complain about it.  Be thankful you have someone special in your life.

Valentine's Day is also significant for a couple of other reasons.

It's when I usually finish gathering all my financial records, in preparation for turning them over to the tax guy to make some sense of them.  He always does, and that is a blog entry for another time.

There is also a weather aspect to all of this.  Valentine's Day is also when winter begins to wear on me, and I begin to look for signs of spring.  If the forecast is to be believed, this year will not disappoint.  You can already feel the sun growing stronger.  The days are getting longer.

While we have had some brutally cold days, along with a few snow storms, winter really hasn't been that bad.  I can live with the cold.  As has been established here before, snow troubles me.  It makes for dangerous travel and restricted mobility.

Winter is far from over, and some of our biggest storms have taken place in the tail end of winter.  However, it appears the worst is over.  Famous last words.

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Tuesday Scrapple

Former NBC and CBS News correspondent Roger Mudd turned 90 last week.  I don't think anyone ever knew Washington better.  Mudd wrote a book several years ago.  If you can find it, read it.

I hate driving in it, but watching and walking in fog is one of life's great delights.

The Philadelphia Eagles are world champions.  I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around that.  It's like when the New Orleans Saints won in 2010 and Tampa Bay in 2003.

There has to be a better way of drawing up congressional district maps.

That fun "spring training" baseball feeling has yet to arrive.  I suspect it will hit when I see the first video from Florida and Arizona.

More than 3,000 LinkedIn contacts, and yet no one can explain what that site is really good for.

Only three homicides in Lackawanna County last year?  Wow!

Can anyone make sense out of the stock market?  We all knew a correction was coming.  No one knew when, or how deep it would be.

Last week's National Pizza day was celebrated by throwing my favorite frozen variety in the oven.  Going out was impossible.  I had to be asleep by noon.

Why can't science get a handle on the flu?  I know it constantly morphs and changes.  It always seems that we can do better.

The long range forecast calls for above normal temperatures in the second half of February.  I'm okay with that.

Reynolds Wolf on The Weather Channel is one of broadcasting's underrated talents.




Monday, February 12, 2018

Pothole Season

It seems like pothole season arrived earlier than normal this year.  It's not difficult to see why-- rain, snow, ice, a few freeze/thaw cycles, plenty of plow scrapes...  And, it's only beginning.

It seems to me that some of the biggest and worse cases of crumbling roads are at pavement cuts.

Don't get me wrong.  I know it has to be done.  You have to cut the pavement to get aw water mains, water lines, gas service, sewers, etc.

I also know it's the middle of winter.  It's tough to do a decent patch job until after the asphalt plants open in the spring.

Having said that, there are some downright lousy pavement cut repairs out there, and I'm shocked they passed inspection in the first place.

Road crews face an exceptionally busy spring ahead.

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Andy's Angles: North Washington Avenue

I never complain about the hours I work.

I remember what the great Bryant Gumbel said when he left NBC's Today show.  He was asked about getting up early.  The reply was that he wasn't going to complain because there are a whole lot of people who get up earlier, for a lot less money.  I'm not making Gumbel money.  My employer takes good care of me.

The shift has its advantages-- like when there's a fresh snow, early in the morning, long before daybreak.

Above is the early morning view, looking up North Washington Avenue in Scranton Tuesday morning.

Below is the shot in the opposite direction looking south.

It was exceptionally quiet.  The new snow gave the city a clean look, covering the old and crusty snow. 

Morning is a great time of day.

Saturday, February 10, 2018

Andy's Angles: Snowy George

I've seen the George Washington statue on Courthouse Square in Scranton thousands of times.  I've photographed it frequently.

Fresh snow on a February morning, long before sunrise, gives it a new dimension.

Friday, February 9, 2018

Media Friday

So far, I've only caught tiny bits and pieces of the Super Bowl broadcast replay.  NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth is being roasted for being anti Philadelphia.  I'm a neutral observer.  i dislike both the Eagles and the Patriots.  So far, I haven't heard Collinsworth lean toward New England.

Where NBC really messed up was not having a rules expert on hand.  It's vital these days.

There was a recent internet discussion of local radio dropping the ball during last month's ice jams and flooding.  I can't really comment because I didn't hear it.  However, the fact there was a discussion in the first place sends up the red flag.

You can't really say Dan Patrick and Rich Eisen are dynamic and engaging radio show hosts, but they get really good guests.  Their shows were "must listen" in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl.

I don't know when it was made, but I watched an ESPN "30 for 30" documentary on the Baltimore Colts and the Baltimore Ravens while I was at the gym the other morning.  It was simply outstanding.  I don't watch much ESPN, other than "Pardon the Interruption."  SportsCenter is shtick over substance.  Most of its other shows are people yelling at each other.

I really have a hard time getting interested in the Olympics.

I can't say I'm a fan of podcasts.  Most have a stale and canned quality.  Tony Kornheiser's effort is a different animal.  It's fresh daily, and almost identical to his old radio show.


Thursday, February 8, 2018

HatWatch

We established yesterday that my boss presented me with a winter hat after watching me stand in a cold and windy Mount Pocono Monday morning.


The hat came in handy Tuesday morning. 


My story was on the court ordered end to gerrymandered districts.  We needed a pretty backdrop to help tell the story.  Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton worked nicely.


Even though it was colder in Scranton Tuesday than Mount Pocono Monday, there was less wind, so the hat stayed in my work bag.


And then...


It started snowing around 5:30, so I wore the new hat in my 6:00 AM and 6:30 AM reports.  It was only the second day I wore a knit hat on the air.  The first was an ice New Year's Eve and New Year's morning in Pottsville.


the hat worked nicely and my head stayed warm.

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Hatless in Seattle


It was right around the freezing mark, but the wind was whipping, and it was really cold.

And, I wasn't wearing a hat.  The truth be known-- I had two baseball caps, earmuffs and a knit hat in my work bag, and that's where they stayed.

You see, wind is hard to show-- especially at 4:30 AM and there are no flags.  The snow was too crusty to blow around.  I had to use what's left of my hair to illustrate the conditions.

Yes, we did receive a couple of emails and Facebook messages.  Rest assured, I'm fine.  Seconds after I finished my report, I was back in the warmth of the truck. 



And, there was a bonus.  When I returned to the office, the news director slapped me on the wrist for going hatless.  I was then rewarded with one of our new knit hats.
There is still a lot of winter left, so I'm sure you will see this hat on my head sometime soon.

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

I Did It Again

I vividly remember the first time it happened.  It was a New Year's morning.  I drove through a fast food restaurant for a couple of breakfast sandwiches.  The employee politely gave me my change.  I was hungry, so I pulled over in to a parking space, put the money on the seat beside me and attacked the sandwiches.

Something was wrong.  My money stunk!  It apparently came from a bar or a heavy smoker.  The stench was awful.  When I got home, I threw the bills in the sink, along with a squirt of soap and freshened them up.

Fast forward to last week.  I bought a tiny personal breakfast pizza and a newspaper at a mini mart.  Once again, my change stunk.  The bills went for a wash when I got home.

There really is no moral to the story, other than pointing out that I'm a finicky nudge who is extremely sensitive to the horrible stench of cigarette smoke.  We've tried, unsuccessfully, to make counterfeit-proof bills.   Odor-free currency should be the next step.

Monday, February 5, 2018

Wrong!

Somehow, I feel the universe is out of balance this morning.  I felt the same way after perennial losers Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs captured the World Series.

Today's feeling came from a stadium in Minneapolis, where the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots for the Super Bowl LII title.

Let's take a closer look, shall we?

I usually predict the team with the better defense wins, but I abandoned my instincts this year to go with the Patriots.  I just can't bet against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.  My prediction was New England would win a close game and not cover the five point spread.

I slept through the game, but from what I read, this really appeared to be an offensive contest.

As I noted here Friday, I wished both teams would lose.  The Patriots are a bunch of arrogant cheaters, though you cannot deny their talent.  After a 505 yard passing performance Sunday night, I now really believe Brady is the best quarterback of all time.  The Eagles have some of the worst fans on the planet, but the team seems okay.  The Nick Foles thing is a great story.  As I write this, I'm listening to KYW 1060 in Philadelphia report on post game rioting.  From the internet, I see bad behavior has spread to Bloomsburg.

I have to admit, even though my prediction was wrong, New England's loss does make me happy.  I'm just sorry it was to the Eagles.

This was generally a lousy season.  There were some good stories, like the Foles thing, the success of the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams...

The negatives?  Some horrifying injuries, TV ratings drop, some awful announcing, and the National Anthem controversies.

I'm usually sad to see the season end.  Not this year.

Sunday, February 4, 2018

Andy's Angles: Little Bank

I took some public relations, marketing and advertising courses way back during my Marywood College days.  I really enjoyed them, and perhaps I should have taken more.  It's stayed with me all these years.  Marketing trends, business news and the like still hold some fascination, and what you see above really caught my eye.

A new bank recently opened in South Abington Township.  Owner is irrelevant.  I awkardly blurred the name.  I'm sure it's a fine institution, and I've never heard anything bad about it.

I'm not sure you can get a sense of it from the photo, but I was struck at the size of the building.  It's small.  Very small.  It's not difficult to figure out why.  Internet banking has reduced the need for brick and mortar banks.  I don't write many checks these days.  I don't receive many checks, either.

The new bank seems to have everything a customer would need-- teller stations, offices, cubicles.  It just has less of them.

Pardon the geezer moment, but do you remember the days when banks were majestic places?  Marble, big vault, giant columns, high ceilings.  I miss that time, and I also understand why those big banks are relics of the past.  If you still have one in your town, consider yourself lucky.

Saturday, February 3, 2018

About the Cover

I've been meaning to get to this one for a while, and a little math inspired my trip to Pittston.

This year is the 55th anniversary of the JFK assassination.  Plus, it's the 50th anniversary of the RFK and MLK murders.

A JFK statue greets visitors to Pittston as they exit the Water Street bridge and turn on to Kennedy Boulevard.

I took my first up close look at the statue last week, and it really is well done.  My only beef is with the location.  I know they wanted the statue along Kennedy Boulevard, and they wanted to note Kennedy's downtown visit here during the 1960 campaign.  But, the corner of a parking lot isn't the most scenic location.  Perhaps they will eventually eat up another few parking spaces for more green space and a mini park.

Friday, February 2, 2018

LII

This is another one of those games where I wish both teams would lose.

I dislike everything about the cheating New England Patriots.  I have no issue with the Philadelphia Eagles.  Their fans are another story.  The Minnesota Vikings' bus was pelted with beer bottles after the NFC championship game two weeks ago.  Totally classless.  There have been other incidents of horrible fan misbehavior.  I'm sure you've seen them.

But, I do have to pick someone and here goes...

My history is to pick the team with the best defense.  Philadelphia has the slight edge here.

On the other hand, I have a hard time picking against New England.

Nick Foles is a great story, and it would be wonderful to see the well traveled back up defeat the future Hall of Famer., Tom Brady  I just can't do it.

New England wins, but they don't cover.  Take Philadelphia and the points.

I will be asleep during the game.  My Amazon Echo will be serenading me with a steady stream of oldies.  No football allowed.  Seriously, I have not watched a Super Bowl since 1999.

Once again, spare me the discussion of Super Bowl commercials.  Most are underwhelming.  If you see me coming, please change the subject.

Let's hope 2018 is a better season.

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Ground Hog Day

The yearly ritual takes place tomorrow.  Punxsutawney Phil comes out of his burrow and predicts an early spring or a longer winter.

Regardless, it's only early February and several more cold and snowy weeks are in our future.  In fact, some of our biggest storms have hit us during the tail end of winter.

Be that as it may, Ground Hog Day is a nice milestone.  Winter is half over.  The way I look at it, the three coldest months of the year are December, January, and February-- so, in my book, we hit the half way mark January 15th.

We had some brutally cold days, an ice story and a couple of run of the mill snow storms.  It could have been worse.

Remember, it's still quite a way before the flowers are in bloom, but the end of winter is in sight.