Meanwhile, in Michigan....

[TC Chris]

This is for the benefit of all of you who have fled to the SW and SE U.S.

Today was the day for the old sailboat haul-out. The forecast was for rain. But that's OK; I can usually dodge it. Today I showed up early, as usual, to get the boat ready and to be ready when the yard guys could take my boat (sometimes early). First it started drizzling, then light rain on and off. I powered the boat around to the haul-out slips at the appointed hour and it started raining steadily. They hauled the boat out and set it on the cradle in the rain and then it started snowing. Not tiny flakes--enormous ones. Eventually it settled in to just rain. And it kept raining. I had the foul weather gear--a yellow jacket--on top but hadn't put the pants on so everything from pockets down was wet. Temps were around 36 degrees. Finally they got the boat into the building and once it was settled I left and went back and put on dry clothes. And ate.

Before I hear too many snarky remarks from people farther south, consider that we don't have water shortages and we don't wash away/blow away in hurricanes. We can tolerate a bad day now and then.

Chris Campbell

[William]

To add to your comments about Michigan weather, Chris. As you know I'm way farther south than you are, living on the sunny southern west coast of Michigan. But today we had weather just like you, even the snow off and on during the day, but mostly cold rain. They only difference, we had a balmy 39 degrees.

Bill

[electra225]

The dog and I are fixing to go out on the patio and have our morning coffee. A tad cool here, but he has on his fur coat....

It's 65, the sun is out, the coffee is done and we are plotting the day's activities. The weather babe says a high of 81 today. Chamber of Commerce weather in Arizona. The dog says time for a buggy ride.....

You KNEW that I would provide the snarky comment about the weather, didn't you Chris?

The wife's cousin lives in TC and she sent a Facebook post about snow on her front yard. BRRRRR....

On the bright side, you guys in Michigan don't have to clean an inch of dust out of the window frames before you can open the windows. And you don't have to wash the mud off your house created by a "six inch rain", six inches between drops, followed by "an haboob", a wall of dust sometimes many miles long enveloping everything in its path with visibility near zero. Nor do you concern yourself about it being too hot in summer to take a shower! The cold water is so warm, you have to take a shower in the morning, else even cold water is too warm to shower in.

The dog and I hope you guys back there have a good winter, stay warm, and join us here on the forum.

[TC Chris]

Just as a geographical matter, I was in Bay City, 140mi. SE of TC when the snow was flying. I did not get to see it in TC. But this a.m. it was pouring rain and continued most of the day so I took the coward's way out and drove to work.

Chris Campbell

[William]

Mr. Bentley looks miffed that you are taking him for his ride. I hope you have him an extra-long ride today.

I find it interesting, Greg, that you got the rain you received and Dick, just a few miles west of you got 1 1/4 inches. It works like that here in Michigan too. It could be pouring at my house and the house across the street is dry.

Bill

[electra225]

We got a nice rain yesterday here. It didn't rain a drop at the store, 17 miles away. I don't know how much we got, maybe a little over an inch? Six rain drops will get all the local TV stations who will station a reporter at every water puddle in the Valley over a tenth of an inch of rain. If we got under three inches in Missouri, all they would say is we got a "shower".

I took that picture a while back. Bentley was not in a good mood that day.

[19&41]

I miss that nice Michigan weather.... Just like I miss my last case of shingles. I remember each year around this time of year was the first freezing rain. The kind that would get deep in my cowling and lock my wipers up. It would also freeze the car doors shut. It was just about time to get out the extension cord out for the block heater. The only thing better up there was the Christmas Lights.

[William]

Rex, we do have pretty Christmas lights especially if you have a white Christmas.

Bill

[electra225]

My wife watches those "good wholesome young woman with a past, meets wholesome young man who doesn't like her at first" Hallmark movies they show at Christmas time. They started showing them this year in July. That's all the snow I need to see, thank you.

I do miss plowing snow with the old Fergie in the winter time, though.

They are playing Crhistmas music on the "horrible music on hold" system. Walmart Radio, they call it.

[William]

And the stores have had Christmas stuff out since before Halloween.

Bill

[19&41]

I reckon they know it's going to take a lot of priming this year to get those pocketbooks to yield up.

[William]

[electra225]

They have a 75" Vizio TV on sale at the store. The wife says "no", but, hey, it will be Christmas and surprises are cool, yes? And she does complain she can't see the basketball score on our 55" RCA. Kill two birds with one stone........

Plus, a 55" computer monitor is better than a 32", yes?