Are we in Ames?

or...California? Current unseasonably warm temp: 79 deg.
Oh and wait, it's only in the 50's-60's in Calif right now!

where am I????

Really, it's April 19 and it's SNOWING out? Are you kidding me?
Granted it's more a mix of slushy snowy rain but white stuff has still accumulated outside.

It was a HIGH of 80 degrees only a couple weeks ago! What's going on?

cold

it can't be good if the HIGH is predicted to be


zero....

life here on the flood plains

here is a photo of what the apartment complex looked like in the midst of the flooding last week-
Ames had a major flood and water main break

the first floor of the building had 30" of water, all the appliances were ruined/pulled out, drywall knocked down, carpets pulled up.

Spring has Sprung, Liberty Man persists, and one fish, bad fish

Well, in case everyone wanted weather updates, Spring has returned to us, thankfully. It took a brief siesta there, went into hiding, hit us with last-minute cold snap & snow, but then returned, in full-standing to real honest Spring weather. It's such a relief and such an oddity, it's like you'd forgotten what grass looks like under those snow piles for the last 4 months and what it's like to go outside and not freeze.
In downtown, the Liberty Tax man still walks his beat. Up and down Main Street. I really have to wonder how effective this advertising campaign is. Is someone just meandering around downtown, perhaps on their lunch break, thinking, huh, I was going to do my taxes MYSELF but that Liberty Man makes a compelling argument for using a tax service. When I see him in his Statue of Liberty get-up, I want to go there and have someone do my taxes for me.

On to the fish... bought some cod at the local supermarket, which in previous experiences has been very tasty. And without opening it up and immediate refrigeration, it turned rank and spoiled, before eating/preparing it! What's up with that? Fortunately the store was eager to make amends and take it back and return the money spent. Maybe it swam up the Skunk River...

Warm

It's been an absolutely lovely and refreshing 34 degrees outside the last two days, along with being sunny. It's been so long since I've felt warm, it really is a nice change of pace. So yay for that global warming crap... just kidding... maybe it is just the "normal" temperature and we were dipping pretty low below normal for the last week or so.
So big old YAY for normal, humane temps again!

New year and new definitions

I've now come up with the phrase (or maybe it wasn't me); Iowa cold.
As compared to "just" cold.

Tonight the low is predicted to be: -17 degrees.

Happy 2010 all...

Real live gelato, artisan coffee, moderately warm temps and Mr. Pammel*

For every up there is a down and vice versa. First, it is a lovely, nearly balmy, 14 deg out. With little to no wind, that is downright pleasant. The sun is shining and reflecting very brightly off the snow. It's a nice break from the frigid icicle temperatures of below zero.
Everything being relative and all.
Even though Old George's was lacking in authenticity and goodness with its mediocre fare, there is a very nice coffee & gelato place. It features some interesting flavors of gelato which is very good.
And locally roasted coffee. It also promises " we don't just brew coffee, we create experiences. Every person brings their own personal expression to their enjoyment of this ancient drink."
Calling Hallmark cards... okay well that is a bit over-the-top, but still a nice oasis in the sea of $tarbux and that kinda generic crap.
Also got to talk to the owner/guy at Pammel's, the international market...

*Not his real name but do not at this time know his name.