“Miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles”
Today is ditto the weather of the last few days: cold and damp with a dusting of snow. February is just not a pleasant month, and I’ll be glad to see it leave tomorrow. March gives me a little hope. It makes me think warmer weather is on its way. I’m probably delusional.
I do think the cold is easier to deal with than the heat. I can put on heavier socks, matching or not, a sweatshirt, turn the thermostat up just a bit and snuggle in a afghan. In the heat of the summer, I curse while trying to find the slightest breeze on the deck. I do turn on my bedroom air conditioner and make that room summer central, but I miss the TV, access to the fridge, cold drinks and a comfy chair. A couple of times I went to the movies to sit in air-conditioned comfort to eat my Sno-caps. Last summer was so brutally hot I finally took the step of adding central air. It must be an age thing. The heat seldom bothered me as much as it does now. I think it made me crotchety.
When I was in Morocco, the weather was perfect for walking around: in the 50’s most days. The Moroccans wore heavy sweaters and even winter coats. In Ghana, during the harmattan, the nights were chilly but only in comparison to the heat of every day. My students wore sweaters and hats. I think it was in the 70’s. Everything is relative.
I have become addicted to An Idiot Abroad on the Science Channel. Karl Pilkington gets sent around the world to see the seven wonders. The gimmick is it’s Ricky Gervaise doing the sending, and he sends Karl on the most circuitous routes to each wonder and each route is meant to make Karl uncomfortable in some way. Karl gives us his observations, and I laugh right out loud. He does not want to travel the world, and he is generally miserable. He sits on his camel and complains about squashed testicles. In China he says it’s not a Great Wall but an all right wall and he rides miles and miles across the desert to get to Petra all the while complaining about the sand and the camel. On the way he stays with Bedouins and has sheep’s head for dinner. I can’t tell you what’s so funny. You just have to watch. Karl is miserable, and I never tire of hearing his observations which are actually pretty honest. He is no ugly Brit abroad. Last night he went to Brazil, and I have yet to watch it. I can hardly wait.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: February, KarlPilkington, March, relative temps, winter
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
February 27, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Much the same weather today as yesterday over here too, but below 32F instead of above.
I think it´s easier to deal with heat than cold. Perhaps because it´s so rare being hot over here 🙂 The cold seems to eat its way through even thick clothes and in to my bones. The thing I really can´t stand in hot weather is the flies coming with it 🙂 🙂
I haven´t seen that series but it´s shown here too. But it doesn´t seem to be popular at all. Most people gets irritated about him complaining all the time even if he gets to see all those fantastic places 🙂 :-)Most people would trade places with him without hesitating a second 🙂 🙂 🙂
Have a great day now!
Christer.
February 27, 2011 at 11:58 pm
Christer,
When I’m cold, I can find ways to get warm, but when I’m hot, there is hardly anyway to cool down.
I love his complaints because they are just so honest. I for one would trade places but people would tire of me oohing and ahing at all the sights.
February 27, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Thanks Kat for introducing me to ‘An Idiot Abroad’. I don’t have or want cable TV so I looked it up on the internet. It is a wonderful example of why everyone who lived under the British in the 19th and 20th centuries revolted so violently against them. Except for Gandhi. He just drove them nuts which made them run away as fast as they could. Whenever I travel to the UK or work with our British colleagues, I realize that we are two peoples separated by a common language.
February 27, 2011 at 5:47 pm
Yeah … right … ‘history’ is just another four-lettered word.
Cheers
February 27, 2011 at 11:59 pm
Minicapt,
I love the program and admire Karl for giving everything a try even when he is so loathe to do it.
February 27, 2011 at 11:59 pm
Bob,
I think Karl is just so insular that he really can’t appreciate what he is seeing. That was actually the reason he was chosen.
No question we are separated by a common language.
February 27, 2011 at 9:03 pm
I’ll have look up an idiot abroad. It almost snowed here yesterday, it hasn’t been this cold since the 70’s. I’m O.K., but many of the shelters have closed and their has has been a cut to low income services. People don’t expect have it be this cold. Many are taking blankets and warm stuff to those outside. On top of that some cities want to enact a “sit and lie” ordinance ( how compassionate) where if someone is sleeping outside in the park or wherever they can get a ticket or be fined. Ah well, the old trickle down theory…
Kat, hope you are feeling O.K.,
Waving at you….
Lori
February 27, 2011 at 11:27 pm
Closing shelters for the homeless and killing services for the poor, disabled and disadvantaged is going to solve the deficit problem according to our newly elected freshman Republican congressman.
February 28, 2011 at 12:06 am
Bob,
Isn’t that always the way when the Republicans gain control?
February 28, 2011 at 12:03 am
Lori,
My leg bothered me all day, but I’m been sucking down Tylenol.
In Boston, vans go all over the city trying to find the homeless and get them inside to a shelter especially on the coldest nights. Many people to stay outside despite the cold.
I know how difficult it is to get used to the cold when you’re from a warmer place. I’m sorry the towns and cities see fit to punish the people who most need compassion.
February 28, 2011 at 7:19 am
i must admit i was so excited for ‘Idiot ‘ and have watched 4 so far. Karl is so deadpan unenthusiastic that watching him is like discovering a new species. i love his accent and wry observations. Ricky is so evil tho, making him walk all over the Great wall of China was mean, and when he did have a moment of fun in the Dead sea, he treated him like a paid servant. the locations and people are all very interesting. The cuisine , however, i could avoid forever. hope all is well with you and the other coffee peeps!
February 28, 2011 at 6:17 pm
splendid,
Ricky takes joy in being evil, in making Karl uncomfortable, but you’re right about his observations, they are hysterical. The sheeps’ head did little for me, and I’d be toting snacks.