Imagine my horror when I did my daily check of the weather.... current conditions 55 and windy..(nice for 11am) .. 10 day forecast.. today's high 55 low 36 (chilly) Monday high 44 low 30.. Tuesday... WAIT... HIGH 44? Snow/rain showers?! So, As always I then go to the hour by hour ... hmmm tomorrow mornings commute is going to "feel like 27" windy... rain/snow showers. Um, sweet. SO now my mind is racing. DO I wear uggs? Do I wear tights under my pants? do people use umbrellas if it is rain/snowing? Then I am going to need mittens.. or is it gloves (because apparently there is a difference.) I don't have a hat?! Will I need a hat? Should I get a hat!? And what if the bus takes 25mins to come like it does sometimes.. am I going to be an Amysicle? Clearly I am going to have to bust out the biggest jacket I have (which I hope/pray is big enough!) And will the metal monsters turn on again tonight?! (they've been quite fickle) and if they don't where ever did i put that down comforter i have.. hmmm
So, I guess its safe to say that tomorrow is test number one for Arizona Amy. Or if you prefer.. the first battle of the upcoming war!
Let's hope I survive!!!! (because...apparently... baby this aint nothin yet....)
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
And God said.... let there be heat.
It was a typical night. I sat sipping on a glass of red wine as I unwound from a long day at work. I had already had dinner and was catching up on some shows I'd missed from working late the night before. As I watched I noticed my cheeks begin to warm up. Is this a fever from my less than desirable day in the rain the day before I wondered (details to follow about that at a later date) No, couldn't be that.
And then the hissing started. Just a slow hissing noise. My ears perked up. Concerned and confused I stood up and tried to find the source. As I neared the corner of the room it became apparent that the noise was coming from the giant metal contraption in the corner of the room. I was told this was called "a radiator" and it "produced heat." Alarmed I went into my bathroom to find that that "radiator" was also emitting warmth and a hissing noise. Having no real experience with these thingies I began to feel under prepared. Was I supposed to do something? Did I need to turn the valve that said open/close? Was that hissing going to stop ever? and my most pressing concern... would items around this metal monster catch on fire? As I do when most things began to concern me and my worry begins to take over I called my dad.
"Dad! I think those radiator thingies turned on and they are making noises and I don't know if they'll start a fire or what to do"
"um, I don't know, here I'll ask Suz she lived in cold weather more recently.. Um, we don't know. Call Mike he's smart" annnd click.
The mans concern for my well being is heart warming really.
So, as always heeding my fathers less than enthusiastic advice I pressed Mike for answers.
"well, is my cable cord going to start on fire? its really close to the thingy.. well, I mean, its behind the shell of the thingy but its touching that"
"Uh, I don't think its called a shell and you should be fine"
"SHOULD BE?"
"You're fine!"
Needless to say I now have a foot radius around both radiators and still jump a little every time the hissing starts.
But boy can those thingies keep ya warm!!!
And then the hissing started. Just a slow hissing noise. My ears perked up. Concerned and confused I stood up and tried to find the source. As I neared the corner of the room it became apparent that the noise was coming from the giant metal contraption in the corner of the room. I was told this was called "a radiator" and it "produced heat." Alarmed I went into my bathroom to find that that "radiator" was also emitting warmth and a hissing noise. Having no real experience with these thingies I began to feel under prepared. Was I supposed to do something? Did I need to turn the valve that said open/close? Was that hissing going to stop ever? and my most pressing concern... would items around this metal monster catch on fire? As I do when most things began to concern me and my worry begins to take over I called my dad.
"Dad! I think those radiator thingies turned on and they are making noises and I don't know if they'll start a fire or what to do"
"um, I don't know, here I'll ask Suz she lived in cold weather more recently.. Um, we don't know. Call Mike he's smart" annnd click.
The mans concern for my well being is heart warming really.
So, as always heeding my fathers less than enthusiastic advice I pressed Mike for answers.
"well, is my cable cord going to start on fire? its really close to the thingy.. well, I mean, its behind the shell of the thingy but its touching that"
"Uh, I don't think its called a shell and you should be fine"
"SHOULD BE?"
"You're fine!"
Needless to say I now have a foot radius around both radiators and still jump a little every time the hissing starts.
But boy can those thingies keep ya warm!!!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Daily Dilemmas and Fashion Faux Pas
I can't get this whole dressing for the weather thing down. I try and I fail. I'm too cold, I am too warm and occasionally I am "that kid" at the bus... You know the one you see without an umbrella and think, wow someone missed the memo. Yup that is me. It doesn't help that in the quarter mile walk to my bus stop I'll see Suzie short sleeve then Polly Parka. And how is one to know if Polly Parka just needs to man up or if perhaps Suzie short sleeve just didn't get the memo "Nobody needs a hero, put on a sweater!" So, everyday this dilemma ensues ... what to wear? The other day it was supposed to rain all day so I thought I'd wear my wellies but when I looked outside there was no rain and again for fear of being dressed inappropriately I decided to leave the rain boots at home. Later that day it began to rain ferociously from about 11am to 7pm. Right in the middle of that chaos was my commute home. I made it home with my little feetsies soaked and I am still on the look out for early signs of pneumonia.
Yesterday I went out for a belated birthday dinner with some friends. The weather said it was about 55 and seeing as I had a little time I got all gussied up. I decided to wear jeans tucked into boots, a white shirt and a bright(ish) scarf paired with a trench. I felt tres chic. While I was walking down the stairs a guy was walking up and said "soo, going on a long walk outside??" to which I awkwardly responded "Um, haha, yah..." while thinking .. NO jackass... I'm from Arizona and this is a good January night for us. Needless to say I removed the scarf and hoped in a cab ;)
Today I wore tights. boots, a sweater dress and tights. I was told I was very "Chicago Winter" which I tell myself is a compliment even though it is just now becoming "Chicago fall." But back to the tights. I think the last time I wore tights must have been when I was a small child and my mom called them sockatinas. I forgot all the trials and tribulations of these complicated apparatuses that makes your thighs feel like sausages and continuously fall down despite your best efforts to keep all things in place. But I may have fallen in love with sweater dresses. They feel like I imagine a mu mu would but just look a little bit classier!
It has become apparent that this whole "dressing for the weather" thing may be an up hill battle. But one I am prepared to fight!
And I must say... the fact that I am not the first to bust out a parka... is one small victory for Amy Arizona!! And here is to hoping that tomorrow I get it right!
Yesterday I went out for a belated birthday dinner with some friends. The weather said it was about 55 and seeing as I had a little time I got all gussied up. I decided to wear jeans tucked into boots, a white shirt and a bright(ish) scarf paired with a trench. I felt tres chic. While I was walking down the stairs a guy was walking up and said "soo, going on a long walk outside??" to which I awkwardly responded "Um, haha, yah..." while thinking .. NO jackass... I'm from Arizona and this is a good January night for us. Needless to say I removed the scarf and hoped in a cab ;)
Today I wore tights. boots, a sweater dress and tights. I was told I was very "Chicago Winter" which I tell myself is a compliment even though it is just now becoming "Chicago fall." But back to the tights. I think the last time I wore tights must have been when I was a small child and my mom called them sockatinas. I forgot all the trials and tribulations of these complicated apparatuses that makes your thighs feel like sausages and continuously fall down despite your best efforts to keep all things in place. But I may have fallen in love with sweater dresses. They feel like I imagine a mu mu would but just look a little bit classier!
It has become apparent that this whole "dressing for the weather" thing may be an up hill battle. But one I am prepared to fight!
And I must say... the fact that I am not the first to bust out a parka... is one small victory for Amy Arizona!! And here is to hoping that tomorrow I get it right!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Ladies and gentlemen for your entertainment....
It wasn't long after moving to Chicago that I began to notice a pattern. People would ask where I was from, ask how long I have been in Chicago, reiterate the fact that I have not had a winter here yet, ask me blatantly if this is in fact my first winter (as if they can not trust their own calculations when I say I moved here in April) and then proceed with one of the following reactions:
1) Oh, wow... Oh, that is just, well wow, that is just horrible, I mean, um no they really aren't that that bad.. layers! layers! layers!!
2) HAHAHAHA oh, man are you in for it! This is going to be great! haha, yah.
3) OH GOD no! NO! from Arizona? Chicago winter? oh. OH! dear dear dear....
and my personal favorite (which was basically a combination of the three) from a doctor: "WOW! oh my wow! haha, OH! well, it'll be, it'll bee ok... wow. Well, you just come to me when you need some Prozac. haha! no seriously though, call me up!!"
Ok, so little Arizona Amy does a Chicago winter for the first time. I mean really.. Can it be that bad? below zero temperatures (um, hello at night it gets down to like 42 in az) horrific winds (Arizona has wind!) tons of snow (it snowed just two years ago! I wrote UofA on my car windshield!) So despite my confidence in my own abilities (confidence... naive delusional innocence.....) I realize that for some this whole experience may be amusing to you. And since not all of you are so lucky to be with me while i survive..er, experience winter, I thought that I would write about my experiences. And well what else am I going to do while i hibernate for the next 6 months (only to leave my apt for food and work) ...
So please feel free to laugh with me, cry with me and if you'd be so kind, offer up some advice! because quite frankly... I haven't a clue what I've gotten myself into here!!
Enjoy!
1) Oh, wow... Oh, that is just, well wow, that is just horrible, I mean, um no they really aren't that that bad.. layers! layers! layers!!
2) HAHAHAHA oh, man are you in for it! This is going to be great! haha, yah.
3) OH GOD no! NO! from Arizona? Chicago winter? oh. OH! dear dear dear....
and my personal favorite (which was basically a combination of the three) from a doctor: "WOW! oh my wow! haha, OH! well, it'll be, it'll bee ok... wow. Well, you just come to me when you need some Prozac. haha! no seriously though, call me up!!"
Ok, so little Arizona Amy does a Chicago winter for the first time. I mean really.. Can it be that bad? below zero temperatures (um, hello at night it gets down to like 42 in az) horrific winds (Arizona has wind!) tons of snow (it snowed just two years ago! I wrote UofA on my car windshield!) So despite my confidence in my own abilities (confidence... naive delusional innocence.....) I realize that for some this whole experience may be amusing to you. And since not all of you are so lucky to be with me while i survive..er, experience winter, I thought that I would write about my experiences. And well what else am I going to do while i hibernate for the next 6 months (only to leave my apt for food and work) ...
So please feel free to laugh with me, cry with me and if you'd be so kind, offer up some advice! because quite frankly... I haven't a clue what I've gotten myself into here!!
Enjoy!
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