Polar Vortex

I saw a post on Facebook, I think, telling the polar vortex, "You're drunk. Go home." I agree!

April Snow

It snowed today. I have nothing more to say about that.

Flash Flooding

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for the area. The Tompkins County Sheriff issued an emergency road closure this morning (now lifted) and classes at Ithaca College and Cornell were delayed until the afternoon.

Walter and I decided we better get prepared for the worst.

Triple Digits

100° is nothing in Arizona, but triple digits are miserable here,  partly because of the humidity, partly because so few homes have air conditioning. I spend most of the day ensconced in the TV room with the window unit.

Help the Animal Victims of the Tornadoes

FROM THE ASPCA:

At the request of local authorities and animal welfare groups, the ASPCA has deployed responders to Faulkner County, Arkansas; Franklin County, Kentucky; Pemiscot County, Missouri; and Shelby County, Tennessee, to organize temporary shelters and transport emergency supplies provided by PetSmart Charities. The ASPCA has helped more than 200 animals over the last two days. 

 “A natural disaster can produce immediate suffering, and we’re pleased to be in a position to provide relief and ensure that any displaced animals receive appropriate care,” says Tim Rickey, ASPCA Senior Director of Field Investigations and Response. Many weather reports are predicting an above-average risk of flooding in the Southeast and Midwest over the coming weeks. Your best move is to develop an emergency plan that accounts for the safety of your pets. Here’s how:

• Obtain a rescue alert sticker, which will let rescuers know that pets are inside your home. Make sure it is visible and that it includes: 1) the types and number of pets in your household; 2) the name of your veterinarian; and 3) your veterinarian's phone number.
• Always bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm or disaster. Pets can become disoriented and wander away from home during a crisis.
• Make sure all pets wear collars and tags with up-to-date identification. The ASPCA recommends microchipping your pet as a more permanent form of identification.
• Arrange a safe haven for your pets in the event of evacuation. Do not leave your pets behind.
• Keep a pet emergency kit and supplies handy with items such as medical records, water, pet food, medications and pet first aid supplies.

"The best thing you can do for yourself and your pet in the event of an emergency is to be prepared," says Rickey. “It’s also crucial that residents plan to take pets with them when evacuating. If it’s not safe for you to stay behind, it’s not safe for your pets.”

Gloomy Day in Ithaca

A Hint of Spring

Walter thinks nature is sending mixed messages.

Dar Williams | February

February was so long that it lasted into March...

Interminable Winter

stop snowing!

Backyard in Winter

Groundhog Day

I received three amazing, creative handmade Groundhog Day cards through a Swap-Bot swap:



I feel badly for my partners. I am not really a card maker, so I went the postcard route and had Groundhog Day postcards printed.

Thankfully, Phil did not see his shadow today!

Punxsutawney Groundhog Club 

Quotation of the Day

"Every mile is two in winter,"

~ George Herbert

Business School's Winter Dressings

Have I Told You How Much I Hate Winter?

Help Animals Affected by Flooding in Australia

I Consider This a Personal Insult

So Cold

Ninety-Six

I'm not the only one miserable - you can see the pedestrians, too, are wilting under the heat and humidity. In Arizona, I didn't get completely uncomfortable until it was 115 or higher! I'm not sure if it is the humidity here, the prevalence of air conditioning there, or me getting more of a baby as I grow older.

UPDATE (7.9.01): Even this week's Ithaca Times complained about our recent heat wave!

Oklahoma Tornadoes

One of yesterday's tornadoes in Oklahoma hit very close to my hometown. The most destructive of the twisters left a swath of destruction in Lone Grove, OK, which is just minutes from Ardmore. My mother and aunt both work in the Lone Grove School System. Lone Grove had wide-spread electricity outages, homes pulverized, and businesses hit. Today, without electricity, the schools there are closed. Fortunately my family didn't suffer any losses, but many others weren't so lucky.

MSNBC.com Story