fenwaydav's Blog

I was going to write a little response to AJ's blog and found myself  telling a story of my own.  That sometimes happens when I go to answer someone else's piece and just chuck it for a blog of my own.  He wrote about the weather and how we are upon this heat wave.  He mentioned the complaints he gets in Winter.

Let's get this straight.  I wasn't one of the complainer's over Winter.  As a matter of fact I kind of think we had a mild Winter for the last few years.  The only one thing I dislike about Winter, are the days after it snows and trying to get around in the City.  The slushy rivers make it impossible to cross the street.  Other than that Winter is a piece of cake. 

Here we are in day 2 of what will be our first heat wave of the Summer (in Spring).  I don't remember when I started to dislike the Summer so much.  The sun is not a friend of mine.  In 1995 I had  Basil Cell Carcinoma removed from my face.  It almost destroyed  my pretty face.  (joke, laugh, ha ha) I haven't been to the Ocean for a good swim since.   I hate the feel of sun screen and I refuse to wear a hat.   I have thought of an umbrella, but then I decided no.  My AC has been running  on and off since April, and now it's become more steady.   My May Electric Bill was up about $20.00 from the same time last year.  It always goes up, but this year I fear even more.  I don't drive and have the expense of those outrageous gas price's so if a higher than usual electric bill for a few months is the price I have to pay for comfort, so be it.  I sweat like a pig and can do without the humidity also.   I go to Fenway Park only for night games for the most part, and on that rare occasion I'm there during the day I have the cover of the Grandstand. 

I have the morning sun so I keep my shades down.   If you are looking for my cat Daisy, look no further then any window sill.  She sleeps for hours on the other side of the shade baking in the sun.   Here it is so early in June and I find myself  longing for Fall.   I wouldn't mind  60-70 with a little breeze off the ocean.  Tree's in full bloom so I have some shade.  Some tell me to go to San Francisco and I tell them where they can go.  I truly love the North East, and the only wish I have is that we have 3 seasons instead of 4.   So AJ, Kevin, Cindy and even Melissa you never have to worry about me complaining to you about Winter,  but I'm afraid we have a whole Summer ahead.

Oh April flowers may come your way,

They bring the showers and gloom in May.

So if you're freezing have no regret,

June, July and August will surely make you sweat.

I have a story about the blizzard of "78", but first I have some important details to get out of the way. 30 years ago I was one year shy of coming to  Massachusetts.  I was driving a taxi in New York City with friend and then roommate Joan.  Joan was a bit eccentric in several ways.  First off she was more than double my than age of 24.  She at one time was a fashion designer who literally lost millions in the stock market.  She sank her last $50 thousand into a NYC taxi medallion.  Joan still had her dresses made for her by this Russian immigrant named Irene.  She had one style dress in every color of the rainbow and doubles on the more popular colors like Black and Navy.  Joan stood in heels about 4'7" and weighed about 200 lbs.  She drove the taxi from noon to midnight and I took the opposite shift.  When Joan drove in her designer dress she had a cigarette holder clinch in her teeth with a Winston constantly lite.  One other thing we had a little T.V. in the front seat that pulled into the lighter, Joan would listen to her soaps.  It was Joan that got me hooked on All My Children.

When I first met Joan, I was still living in that apartment in Brooklyn I had wrote about where my cat Lucille committed suicide.  After Lucille, I had got another cat, as a mater of fact I had 4.  When Joan and I was talking about me moving into to her east side apartment, she said she didn't want cats.  I was heartbroken so she said I'll try one to see if I like them.  Before long all 4 and myself were now in this fancy East Side of Manhattan apt.  

 The 4 cats that we had now became 13.  It was before the days Bob Barker was making his now famous announcement about spade and neutered.  Life was pretty good at this time Me and Joan and 13 cats.  When I was home Joan wasn't and visa versa.

Then came this day in February.  The forecast was for heavy snow, so Joan didn't take the taxi out that day. It was about noon, when a knock came from the door. "Who is it?"  City Marshals open up..... They stood there holding an eviction notice.  Joan had been having this fight with the landlord and was withholding the rent.  We had 1 hour to be out of there, no ifs ands or buts about it.  Here we were in the middle of what would become to be known as one of the worst storms in city history and had to get out.  We gathered a few things plus 13 cats and piled into the taxi which was in the garage. Where were we to go and more important how were we to get there. I had a friend in Greenwich Village, he ran a dumpy hotel.  We some how made downtown.  The streets were empty.  Driving was horrendous.  There were spots that were totally clear while others had snow drifts of 15 feet.  My friend was at the desk and they had one room on the 7th floor of a building that had no electricity.  He thought we only had 1 cat.  I don't even know how we did it, but one  by one we manage to get 13 cats and ourselves to this tiny one room, with a bathroom in the hall.  Boy, gone were the days when I could run home to mother.  Mother was now living in Florida with Husband #2.

We were able to give the cats to friends one be one.  With our connections we were in a new apartment in a week.  I eventually moved out on my own and like I said about a year later moved to Bedford, Ma.  That my friends is a whole new story for another day.  So as we all think about how we made it through,  the one's old enough have some wild memories to tell.   If you are to young to remember or even have been alive I'm sure your storm is coming........

I was sitting here watching the news @ 11.  All of a sudden to my surprise what do I see?   Can it be, Melisa Bell has joined Fox 25's weather team.  When I saw her I had to check if I was on the right channel.  I was very worried, with Cindy out on leave till March, that would really be a toll on AJ and Kevin. I can breathe easy now.  I always liked watching Melisa on another channel and so glad to see she made the move.  It couldn't have been that long because she's not even listed on the website yet.  What ever, it is the first time I saw her on 25.  Welcome aboard and good luck.  You know local TV is like baseball, you never no who's getting traded to where.

It's been a week since I wrote the first part. Those tree's that had  orange in them are just about bare.  There is one  giant tree in the play ground, that was green last week and now is yellow. Last week I had the windows open, since that time I have had the heat on twice. It's grey out there and Kev and Cindy say moisture is a coming. I won't argue, my bones are saying the same. I feel bad for people traveling for Thanksgiving.  I am Lucky to just be going across the street.  This year like the last 4 or 5 I spend it with friends.  I prefer that to traveling to N.Y. or N.J.  I am so glad  things are going to clear up and warm up for black Friday.  Maybe I can finish up my Christmas Shopping.  If you are traveling , be careful.

Isn't it gorgeous? Just the right amount of coolness in the air. As I write this, I am in a semi-trance looking out the window. The sun is shining bright, the tree's have a little motion to them and my window's are open wide.  I see people in tee shirts, I see people in heavy winter garb. I guess when they left the house this morning it was chilly. Some trees still have all there leaves while others are stripped bear. Some trees are still green while other's are yellow or orange. I love the Fall. I love the unpredictability of the weather. I love sunny and 60 one day and 6 inches of snow the next. We know it's just a matter of time before the cold wins out. But lately it really hasn't been to bad.  The Winter's are definitely milder. Daisy is sitting in the window dreaming about the day she could come face to face with one of those pigeons.  Yeah my brave little kitty cat, just the sound of a taxi's horn sends her running to the safety of the closet. Look at that show off with the top down on his BMW, and Connie Francis singing "WHERE THE BOY'S ARE".  He better be careful, I can see his toupee flapping in the breeze. Across at the new play ground, a father chases his toddler. Yeah get him nice and tired for a good afternoon nap. Well I think I will go get some of that super fresh air.  I'll bring a light jacket just in case things change.  After all It is the Fall and things can change quickly. Later :O).........