Tag Archives: Winter

Super Bowl and Groundhog Day Together

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I’m pondering the significance of this coincidence: the Super Bowl and Groundhog Day both fall on Sunday, Feb. 2, in 2014. I suppose in the long history of Super Sunday, and the even longer history of Groundhog Day, this may have happened once or twice before. Does anybody remember?

Will the Groundhog be guest of honor at halftime? Will “Groundhog Day,” the movie, be on TV immediately before or after the game? That might extend the party and the mega-bucks commercials another three hours.

Alternatively, some channels will probably run “Groundhog Day,” the movie, in direct competition with the game. It makes sense, but it wouldn’t put a dent in the Super Bowl’s audience.

I hope the Arctic freeze is over by Feb. 2. If we’ve entered a new ice age by Super Sunday, will they cancel the game and just air the commercials?

Most important of all, will the groundhog predict the Super Bowl winner? No, even more important, will the groundhog predict Spring?

Stand by for two solid weeks of Super Bowl hype. But that’s the last you’ll read about it on my blog. — John

Don’t Let The Light Go Out

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Gaithersburg Library Grand Opening

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If you persevere and read to the end of this post, you’ll be rewarded by the best part, video and music of Peter, Paul And Mary singing “Light One Candle.”

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January Is Time To Make Motel Reservations At The Beach

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OCEAN CITY SAND DUNE Photo by John Hayden

OCEAN CITY SAND DUNE, WITH A COLONY OF BIRDHOUSES. Photo by John Hayden

On these first days of January, phones are ringing off the hook at beach motels, according to my business contacts in Ocean City, Maryland.

It happens every year.

You might or might not be surprised to know that some travelers have favorite rooms at favorite vacation spots. Savvy vacationers jump on the phone in January to make sure they get their favorite room for the exact dates they want in July and August. Wait too long, and the rooms with the best views and amenities might be gone.

For some folks who honeymooned at the beach, it’s a matter of sentimental attachment. Same thing for couples who conceived a child while on vacation.

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A Midwinter Night’s Dreams About Longitude and Attitude

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tree dupAs I sit here in Maryland on this freezing and snowy midwinter night, I understand why my brother liked Florida. He passed away in the spring, so this is the first winter he’s not in Florida, or anyplace else in this mortal world, which can be cold and mean.

If money were no object, I’d spend the winter months in Florida, summer in Maine, and spring and fall in Maryland.

But money IS an object. It’s a downright major impediment, to be honest.

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Snow In Maryland Before Christmas

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Snow. You gotta love it. Unless you hate it. It’s your choice. This is, after all, still a free country — more or less — depending on which of the 50 states you’re living in or traveling through. Your mileage may vary.

Winter has arrived in Maryland, and it’s nasty. (Technically, it’s not winter until the Winter Solstice on Dec. 21, but let’s not be technical.) Continue reading →

At Winter’s End, Explosive Surf Along Ocean City Beaches

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Unusually powerful waves continued to break just off the Ocean City, Maryland,  beach in the bright sunshine Saturday afternoon, March 9, 2013.

Earlier in the week, the last storm of winter rolled up the East Coast, bringing snow inland, but only rain and sustained high wind here on the Atlantic shore. The rotation of the storm caused strong winds to push ocean water onto the beach and into the coastal bays behind the barrier islands.

sand on sea wall

The onshore winds continued through four or five tide cycles on Wednesday and Thursday. Sand (above) was blown and pushed up to and over the sea wall and onto the boardwalk in places. But there was no damage to the boardwalk. The sea wall did it’s job. Some buildings in Ocean City sustained wind damage to siding, and some signs were blown over. A little beach erosion. But generally, I think the storm was pushing sand up on the beach, rather than washing it away. — John Hayden

More photos of the surf, taken between 3 and 4 p.m. Saturday, as the high tide came in:

Winter Without Frost

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A panoramic windshield on a 1959 Edsel Corsair...

Windshield on a 1959 Edsel Corsair. (Photo via Wikipedia)

WINTER WITHOUT FROST — I’ve seen frost on the windshield only once so far this winter. When I was a kid, we had frost on the windshields nearly every winter morning. Folks had to scrape off the ice and let the engine warm up for five minutes before they could leave for work. (I can hear college students wondering, “Warm up the engine?”)

I live now in the warmest part of Maryland, a mid-Atlantic state with moderate temperatures. But truth is, we used to have ice skating around here. — John

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December Sunshine @ The Beach

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pine tree on bdwk

Seventy degrees in December! It’s not unheard of in Maryland, although normal temps would be in the 40s during the day, maybe 30s at night.

But throughout the northern U.S.? Seventy degrees in December in Chicago? Temperature records are being broken in some places. Winter’s off to a mild start. (Reality check: Don’t get too excited. Winter doesn’t officially begin until Dec. 21.)  I’m trying not to be complacent. A blizzard might slap us in the face when we least expect it.

December is always a variable month here in Maryland. We rarely get snow before Christmas. But we don’t often enjoy 70 degrees, either. The photo above was taken a few days ago at the south end of the Ocean City boardwalk. Too bad there’s not many people here to enjoy it, except us year-rounders.

Seventy in December. Global warming? You think?

— John Hayden

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