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Post by lolapalooza on Feb 13, 2011 13:16:24 GMT -6
I know it's been a tough winter for so much of the country; I feel guilty complaining. Colorado is, hands down, the best place to live, year round, but this last month or so has been the pits. We too are experiencing the melting warm up and woo-hoo! it's not a moment too soon. Wind chills, something we generally don't have to contend with, have been at or near -30. When overnight lows were hovering around the -18 mark (reg, not wind chill), I was obsessive about keeping water running from every faucet possible to avoid any bursting pipes. Too bad I couldn't do that with the washing machine; a hose popped and wreaked some minor damage. Thankfully I was home when it happened. As for burst pipes, the news said that a crack the width of two pennies stacked on top of each other will leak 50 gallons in a half hour. Plumbers and clean up crews have been busy here.
Interesting reading about outside spigot turn-offs; I have those and assumed everyone did. Granted it's a very old house and has a basement with easy to reach plumbing turn-offs. For all the pain in the neck stuff that comes with a house like this, perhaps I shouldn't moan anymore.
Egypt... My goodness! Last week I had a sense of real dread with Mubarek's speeches but the people's determination has won out, without militaristic bloodshed. The upheavel and transformation in the entire region are certainly worth watching in the coming months; I am very proud of what the Egyptians have done.
Also Siren, you're lyric change to the Anne Murray song in the other thread... that is very cool.
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Post by stepper on Feb 13, 2011 14:34:19 GMT -6
No offense, but I think you heard wrong. You'd get a lot more water out of a crack that size. Water to a house is pressurized and even with a governor to step down the pressure you'd be dealing with a flood after half an hour.
Until I got here, I thought the same thing. I thought all houses had cut offs. I know in colder climates pipes are buried deeper to keep them from freezing, but even that has to have a limit. One of the local news ladies had to admit she hadn't taken the advice of the weatherman about her pipes and her's burst - flooded her house.
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Post by Scrappy Amazon on Feb 13, 2011 21:32:14 GMT -6
Now why would you immediately assume she's wrong? Or that her local news was feeding her misinformation? My assumption would be that someone smarter than me had actually done the math.....
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Post by Mini Mia on Feb 13, 2011 21:38:54 GMT -6
50s/60s this week.
I got a good laugh today. Mom was telling about my great niece praying for snow so she wouldn't have to go to school. Mom teasingly got onto her for all this snow, and she said, I didn't pray for this one, just the one before this one.
So, today in church I asked her if she was going to pray for more snow, and Mom told her she better not ... but I winked at her, held my hands up in prayer, and nodded my head to encourage her to go ahead and do it. Me. I don't want more snow. But I also don't want my great niece to think she can't pray for it if that's what she wants.
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Post by Phalon on Feb 14, 2011 8:17:23 GMT -6
Hubs often says "we are witnessing history" and I think, well sure, everything becomes history as soon as its over. Last night's dinner is history. He watches too much news, and admittedly, I watch too little. It seems to balance out, and work for us.
Real historic events I remember with uncharacteristic-for-me clarity; I remember exactly where I was and who I was with while watching the Tiananmen Square Protests, and the horror of it all. I can also remember the excitement and celebration felt when the Berlin Wall fell.
How different these transformations were. And now the people of Egypt have spoken, and been heard. Many times I think only of the pitfalls of the virtual world - I feel it's taking the place of face-to-face interaction and experiences that don't happen unless it occurs while sitting in front of a computer screen; it sometimes seems as if the world is becoming a colder, less personal place. But to think this movement gathered speed and spread as it did from a Facebook page - wow, it's amazing the power it has.
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Post by Phalon on Feb 14, 2011 8:28:37 GMT -6
Oh, I almost forgot before I left...
Here's a tip to pass on to your niece. I'm not sure where it originated (maybe next door, because the neighbor kids do it too), but a sure-fire way wake up and find school has been canceled due to snow, is to perform the following ritual right before going to bed:
1. Put on your pajamas inside out.
2. Flush three ice-cubes down the toilet.
3. Place a spoon under your pillow.
If it's snow your great niece wants, pulling out all the ammunition can't hurt.
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Post by Mini Mia on Feb 14, 2011 17:17:22 GMT -6
Well, if that's a sure-fire way of getting snow I'll not pass it on.  
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Post by katina2nd on Feb 15, 2011 21:02:12 GMT -6
Momentous events in Egypt that's for sure, just hope they don't end up trading one dictator for another and that nothing really changes in the long run.
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Post by Phalon on Feb 16, 2011 7:29:26 GMT -6
Yes, the uncertainty is pretty frightening. And in the wake of Egypt's revolution, protest riots over human rights have started in Libya. Somehow, I don't think they'll end as peacefully.
In the weather: Above freezing by day; below freezing at night. The snow has been slowly shrinking in height, compacting upon itself. I woke up this morning though, to a balmy 40 degrees. It's a slushy, slooshy mess out there.
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Post by Mini Mia on Feb 16, 2011 18:30:13 GMT -6
Low 70s here. Gonna really hate it when the temps drop again between now and spring. 
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Post by Siren on Feb 16, 2011 21:56:47 GMT -6
Wonderfully mild weather here, too, Mia. My new workplace is in a historic building downtown. We can actually open the window in the control room! And we did today. There was a delicious, cool breeze blowing through. Gorgeous weather - about 70 degrees.
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Post by Phalon on Feb 16, 2011 22:31:42 GMT -6
Wow - 70 degrees in Kentucky and Oklahoma in February! We got up in the 50s today, and supposed to be near 60 tomorrow, and I have to admit it's been a nice break. Kinda of weird to see still lots of snow and it be that warm outside.
Do you think it'll get cold again there? Weathermen are predicting snow again next week. I'm glad. Yeah, I know, I know - quit party-pooping an early spring. But it's too early; as Siren mentioned earlier, the fruit trees are going to freak.
I saw a raccoon just a bit ago running along the creek edge before it disappeared into the culvert. Luckily, I had just got Quetta in before it appeared. This is going to sound weird, but its silhouette was somewhat repulsive to me; just get an icky feeling. I hate the way raccoons look when they run...or lumber, I guess is a better word. They lumber along quickly with their noses pointed to the ground, their backs hunched, and their tails down. It's a sinister look. Cute in the face and when sitting; repulsively sinister as lumberers.
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Post by Mini Mia on Feb 16, 2011 22:45:14 GMT -6
Warm days never stick around for long this early in the year. I'm sure the temps will drop way down again once this warm spell is over.
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Post by Mini Mia on Feb 18, 2011 2:46:14 GMT -6
Yeah. 30/16 So much for the warm spell.  
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Post by Mini Mia on Feb 18, 2011 17:54:56 GMT -6
My satellite weather grid was wrong. 50/30 Not so bad. Still, I know the freezing temps will return before spring hits for good.
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Post by katina2nd on Feb 18, 2011 20:58:52 GMT -6
About a week and a bit before summer ends here and you'd hardly know it started it's been so mild ............ we should be so lucky every year IMO. Wonderfully mild weather here, too, Mia. My new workplace is in a historic building downtown. We can actually open the window in the control room! And we did today. There was a delicious, cool breeze blowing through. Gorgeous weather - about 70 degrees. Open a window here today and you'd probably end up blown out the back door, blowing a gale at the minute ...... my least favourite weather element strong wind. |
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Post by stepper on Feb 18, 2011 22:30:53 GMT -6
We hit 80 today. We're not past our average last freeze, but Garden Ridge, Home Depot, etc, are all doing a booming business on people willing to gamble on putting in gardens early. It's hard to believe that just two weeks ago we were in a deep freeze that was setting records.
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Post by stepper on Feb 19, 2011 0:04:18 GMT -6
Now why would you immediately assume she's wrong? Or that her local news was feeding her misinformation? My assumption would be that someone smarter than me had actually done the math..... Why do you assume I am wrong? Taking flow rates from the Akron Brass discharge chart (fire equipment manufactures) and allowing a standard house pressure of 80psi, plus using a 1/4" house plumbing standard without deducting for distance of travel since pressure is measured at the house spigot, you'd have a flow rate of approximately 33 US gallons on an unimpeded opening. A US penny is approximately 1/16th of an inch. The example given was two pennies, therefore 2/16th". At it's worst, you are looking at 16.5 gallons a minute * 30 minutes or 495 gallons. I do not believe we are talking worst situation, but a two penny hole is still pretty substantial - half the diameter of a pipe. Since we know only the diameter but not the length of the blow out, we don't "know" that the newscaster or anyone else is "wrong". Assuming an 80% flow reduction, this still yields just less than 100 gallons per half hour - which I must admit is less than I thought would spew out before I so rashly and inappropriately responded to lolapalooza. I did not intend to chide, deride, or in any other way express anything except that I thought something amiss with the comment. If I have offended, and even if I have not, I humbly apologize to lolapalooza. |
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Post by Phalon on Feb 19, 2011 9:19:23 GMT -6
Whichever way you look at it, it's a boatload of water....probably enough to sink it.
But I'm not doing the math, cuz there's no assumption about it - I'd be wrong.
It's been the same here, Katina. The wind hasn't quit here in the last few days - and it's coming off the Lake. The waters are still frigid, so it's a cold, cold wind. Kind of a drag - even with the unseasonably warm temperatures, it hasn't been pleasant to be outside at all.
Has anyone seen the moon lately? No matter how cold, I've always got to step outside to gaze at the moon when it's full. I'm not sure when it was its fullest, but the last few nights it's appeared as a big, round ball of light. The first two nights we had cloud cover, and with that wind, it reminded me of an eerie Halloween moon, appearing one minute, then covered in grey the next. Last night though, there was a perfectly clear, unobstructed view. I love how when it first comes up, it glows yellow, then as the night progresses, and it gets higher in the sky, it's brilliant white.
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Post by stepper on Feb 19, 2011 11:32:16 GMT -6
But I'm not doing the math, cuz there's no assumption about it - I'd be wrong. How computers (and ancient Egyptians) do/did math. To me, this is interesting - and not hard at all. All you have to know is a little bit about a binary system, and how to add. No multiplication or division required. Reminds me of the song.. "It's so easy, so easy..." But that wasn't about math. |
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Post by Phalon on Feb 21, 2011 8:32:50 GMT -6
It must be a left brain/right brain thing. Of course, if you've got no brain at all (moi and the Scarecrow), it's never going to make sense.
We've got a real mess out there now. The snow went just north of us; they got about a foot. Rain just to the south. We got ice. Hubs and I went out after dinner last night and shoveled about an ice of pure slush from the driveway and walks, and cleared off the vehicles in hopes that it wouldn't be so bad when the temperatures dropped overnight. It was kind of fun, actually - like stomping through a big Slurpee. But pfft - it did no good. Everything's encased in ice this morning.
I'm thankful the schools were already closed, and Hubs had the day off work for Presidents' Day. I really was surprised schools are closed - I don't ever remember them having Presidents' Day off in years prior. It's always been just banks and government offices that were closed.
Anyone else have the day off?
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Post by Phalon on Feb 22, 2011 7:34:38 GMT -6
Another day off for the girls, this one unexpected. Although the main roads were clear of ice by late yesterday, the side and country roads are still a mess. On top of that, we got about five inches and still counting of snow last night.
Schools are canceled and with all the snow days this year, it looks like they'll be going well into June before summer vacation starts.
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Post by katina2nd on Feb 23, 2011 21:09:41 GMT -6
Anyone else have the day off? Yep, I did. ;D Really nice weather here, sunny with a light breeze, should be outdoors instead of stuck in front of the computer .............. well I guess that's my hint, I'm outta here. |
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Post by Siren on Feb 23, 2011 21:52:59 GMT -6
I actually had a FOUR day weekend - had the holiday off, plus had earned a day off that the boss needed me to use up. We had pretty weather too, as kat did. And the nicest part of the weekend was getting invited to a softball game with my niece. A friend of hers is on a college team, and was playing at a university about 40 miles from here. We had a nice chat on the way, which is no small feat with stoic Jo. I was very flattered that she asked me to go along. Friend's team got skunked, but it was still a good day.
BTW, kat, are you watching "31 Days Of Oscar" on Turner Classic Movies? There's something good on almost all the time. Right now, it's a young and beautiful couple: Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur, in "You Can't Take It With You".
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Post by Phalon on Feb 24, 2011 5:46:08 GMT -6
Glad you guys are enjoying nice weather. Ours has been nice too...depending on one's point of view. The warmer weather here was short-lived; we got another few inches of snow again last night. From my point of view, it's a good thing - like Katina, I just can't sit inside when it's so nice outside. Letting all this snow go unskied upon this late in the season, is like letting it go to waste. The last two mornings have been wonderful skiing, but I don't think it's going to last much longer.
It's wonderful you got to spend time with your niece, Siren. But softball?! It's softball season already?! Another sign that winter is on its way out, I suppose. Oh, wait....or is this indoor softball? Is there such a thing? It seems like there's an indoor version of nearly every sport....except cross-country skiing. Sigh.
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Post by Mini Mia on Feb 24, 2011 17:33:21 GMT -6
It's been raining all day, a nice quiet rain, and I just get online and it decides to get noisy.  There are also tornado watches and warnings going on ... yeah, I'd say Spring is near. It's colder too. In the 30s/40s.
Phalon: I'm reading 'The Time Traveler's Wife' by Audrey Niffenegger and it takes place in Chicago, IL and outside South Haven, MI. Claire's family have a Summer home in MI. I keep thinking of your comments about the summer people as I read. I wonder if you ever ran into Claire and her family or Henry.  j/k The book mentions places, and I can't help but wonder if they're real, or made up. I got the book because of the movie, and I love both. I'm almost halfway through the book. I'm a couple of chapters away from Part II, which is just a few pages past the halfway mark. I thought maybe the locations in the book might get you interested in reading it. 
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Post by Phalon on Feb 24, 2011 21:48:14 GMT -6
I've never read "The Time Traveler's Wife", Joxie, so I can't say whether the places mentioned in the book are real or not. I haven't seen the movie either, though I understand South Haven doesn't appear in it.
The book and the author are a pretty big deal off and on around town...every once in a while the author will appear in West Michigan for a lecture or some such thing. I believe I heard that though South Haven was her hometown, she didn't spend a whole lot of time here before her family moved to Chicago when she was a child, but vacationed here often as those "summer people". They might have still owned their original home, using it as a summer property; I'm not sure. There's a few Niffeneggers here though, so maybe there's still extended family in the area.
Now, I'm curious....are there any specific places she mentions?
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Post by katina2nd on Feb 25, 2011 0:05:45 GMT -6
BTW, kat, are you watching "31 Days Of Oscar" on Turner Classic Movies? There's something good on almost all the time. Right now, it's a young and beautiful couple: Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur, in "You Can't Take It With You". Not really sure if it's running down here Siren, I shall investigate though and find out now that you've given me the heads up. |
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Post by Mini Mia on Feb 25, 2011 18:28:31 GMT -6
Claire's family summer home is called 'Meadowlark House.' The roads she travels on to get to the house are: Phoenix Road, Blue Star Highway, & Meagram Lane. The places she shopped at are: 'Mackenzie's Bakery' and 'Music Emporium.' She and her sister used to peer in the window of 'Appleyard's Photography Studio.' She states that the library is 'faux Greek splendor.' And then there's the 'Michigan Theater.'
Also, when Henry is talking to some teens about music, they mention that the radios don't play a lot of stuff they'd like to hear.
Dew Drop Inn at Silver Lake
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Post by Mini Mia on Feb 25, 2011 18:59:39 GMT -6
2-minute drill:
I see that the bakery and photo studio are real.
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