You see I got a four-leaf clover

Greetings from snowy Columbus, Ohio. Things here are cold and white, as evident in the picture at right from just outside my hotel room. But, as luck would have it, I apparently arrived the day after the really bad weather, which was Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Columbus got around 2 feet of snow--the remnants are what is pictured. The weather was such that the Ohio State University, where I've been this weekend, canceled classes on Wednesday. It was the first time in 20 years that classes have been canceled due to weather.

Things on the whole go well, and I'm actually not too cold (other than a brief stint this morning when my hands got chilled through my gloves...). I'm chalking up my warmth to the lined, suede coat I brought with me (it's so heavy, it broke the hanger it was on). But otherwise, not much to report.

I will mention that while landing I noticed a novelty (for me, at least): there was a cloud layer in the area, blocking the view of the ground with its white fluffiness. As the plane went through the layer, I kept waiting to see a green/brown/colorful earth emerge below; only to be met with a snow-blanketed whiteness of the ground below. There was really no contrast between the clouds and the ground. Probably not such a big deal to those "in the snow", but it was novel for me.

See, I have been thinking it over
It's all just a little too much
You see I have got a four-leaf clover
It's gotta bring a little luck

I started on a journey, about a year ago; To a little town called Morrow in the State of Ohio

This morning again finds me in the Fort Lauderdale airport, awaiting a flight. Today, I am headed to Columbus, Ohio, for a clinic this weekend at the Ohio State University.

And due to yesterday's snow that fell on Ohio (and other parts of the Midwest), odds are I will not be making a random trek out to Morrow, Ohio: roughly 80 miles southwest of Columbus. (Morrow's actually closer to Cincinnati--only about 30 miles.)

Actually, I'm just hoping I don't freeze while in OH: the temperature range for this weekend is supposed to be 7° - 37°.... Fun, fun, fun. Course, I will be saved because I found my snow hat and remembered a (very) heavy coat that I have (and have yet to really get to wear--there being no real need for it here in South Florida).

But my flight boards: hasta...


"The train today to Morrow leaves today at 8:35
At half-past ten tomorrow is the time it should arrive
So if from here to Morrow is a fourteen hour jump
Can you go today to Morrow and get back today, you chump?"

Tonight the Super Trouper lights are gonna find me

The Year of the Ox returns!

It also happens to be Australia Day, as well... but the Chinese New Year is just so much cooler, this year at least, as I'm actually an Ox myself (appropriately enough, I'm a water ox, apparently).

Tonight the super trouper lights are gonna find me
Shining like the sun
Smiling, having fun
Feeling like a number one

You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself

So the Oscar nominations came out this week... and I've only seen 1 of the Best Picture nominees. One!

But now I feel compelled to see some of the other nominees:

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (long... but Cate's in it, at least, and I liked Tender is the Night)
• Frost/Nixon (not sure if I'll get to this)
• Milk (wouldn't mind seeing it...)
• The Reader (Kate's in this, as is Ralph--2 of my faves--but I was wary when it was out and I don't know if it's now playing locally)
• Slumdog Millionaire (the one I've seen, twice--it was good)

Guess I really should check out Reader and Button: they're also up for cinematography (and I tend to be a cinematography junkie).


But it's all right now
I learned my lesson well
You see, ya can't please everyone
So ya got to please yourself

There must be some Toros in the atmosphere...

It has been rather cold of late the past two days. Yesterday morning, my car's temperature gauge let me know that it was colder (40°) than my (of-late) miles-per-gallon average (41.7). The cold weather has also caused the cancellation of morning practices for the team (40° air temperature for a wet swimmer to wander around in on deck of an outdoor pool isn't the best thing, not to mention it can be hard to keep the water warm).

But, I went to the musical/play version of Mamma Mia! tonight, which was not only very good (and highly entertaining), but also the Broward Center for the Performing Arts (where it's being staged) also was quite warm.

Otherwise, I'm just taking the weather in stride, particularly after talking to someone in Iowa mid-week where it was -16° (-30° with the wind chill), and they hadn't seen 0° in 5 days. It was so cold, that school was canceled because the district was worried about the buses breaking down and kids getting frostbite while waiting for the bus.

Oh, and I'm headed to Columbus, Ohio, next week, so I figure this week's cold is a sort of prelude for that trip... (or hope it is). Of course, to that I say: Bring it!


I said Brrr!
It's cold in here
There must be some Toros in the atmosphere