For Heaven's Sake...it's MAY!

The lilac's have been blooming for over a week...

great big purple flowers...wonderful scents...

My garden is growing and it's so much

earlier than it usually is...

The myrtle has the tiniest of purple blossoms...

...and the lily of the valley is in it's final stages

before the flowers burst and

the fragrance wafts into my window...

lavender is growing and it won't be long...

...and then this? The weather report says there is a chance of flurries...

say it ain't so!!! I'm probably not going to see any here at home, but rest assured that there will be snow within a few miles...it's just crazy...the wind has been howling all day. This morning...it was 64* here at my house and now ... this?? It must be a dream...a bad one!

Merry Christmas...again!

Merry Christmas...again...I think!

The picture above reminds me of black and white toile.

It's snowing like crazy out there. I shoveled for the third time,

a little while ago and the total is creeping up toward my knees.

I'd say there's about 10 or so inches already.

The weather man is predicting 12-18 inches by morning for a total of 12-24 for the storm.

Although, I agree it's kind of pretty and it defines the structure of the tree branches,

is a good example of texture and the strength of Mother Nature,

I prefer to think about spring...

Are we there yet?

Heads up! There's SNOW in them thar' hills...

Central NY and the Syracuse area in particular, is known for it's snowfall averages. There is a 'competition' among the cities in NY called the Golden Snowball Award. It's a friendly contest and kind of fun to follow. Syracuse has been the winner, hands down, since 2002-2003 season. Our total last year (2008-2009)...a whopping 149.6 inches!

SO....let the games begin!

Syracuse
Max: 192.1 inches (1992-93)
Min: 59.4 inches (2001-02)
Average: 116.9 inches

Stay tuned later today for the answer to the riddle and an announcement!

Out the Office Window...

I work on the 11th floor of my building and the windows face south. We overlook a valley and when it's foggy, the entire view (from the far south mountains) is hardly visable. All day long, the view changes and it is truly the best view of the building. Seasonably, it is spectacular. From the first tint of spring green, the full-on green of the summer leaves, the fall riots of crimson, russet and ochre to the bare sculptural trees and white of winter, we are treated to a museum quality daily painting...out the window.

(The first two pictures were taken from my office window the end of June)





(I took the following pictures this afternoon. Cool clouds, huh? As a painter, I have a habit of looking at clouds...they amaze me...)


(The big arched roof in these pictures is the roof of the War Memorial which is across the street from my office. They hold all kinds of shows in there and it is the home of the Syracuse Crunch hockey team.)

(The squarish buildings in the picture above is the Everson Museum of Art. One of my paintings has been hung in that building.)

(Looking down at the War Memorial.)

What do you see 'out the window'?

Survivor.... it was a surprise celebration

It wasn't a celebration that was planned for months...more it was a couple of weeks. I alluded to this fact in a previous post. Our Commissioner at the Department of Transportation (Donnelly is his name) had his one year anniversary.

Now, as mundane and usual as you might think this is, I have to give you a little background. Our department's staff have made service and dedication to our community their life. My department is made up of several different types of work. We are the people that keep the roadways clear of all the snow and ice in the winter. (In this part of the country, that is no easy task as we usually make the national news for our snowfall totals several times a year.) We are also charged with the task of building and maintaining the roadworks system in the county. The engineers, survey crew, fiscal and office staff are located in the administrative office downtown (my office) and then there are four additional sites, located in the four quadrants in the county. The additional sites are where the trucks, equipment and the talented men and women who wrangle that equipment work.

Having said all of that, I must explain that most people that work in our department, especially those in my office, have many years on the job. It is 'usual' that someone would have more than 25 years in service and one guy has more than 40 years! Needless to say, we are a family and work together as one. So, to have a new boss come in that has no history in our department is unusual. That means he had no first-hand experience as to what he was getting into! He would have had no idea how often he and his family's life would be interrupted to have to deal with all kinds of weather related crisis, 24 hours a day and at any given moment (any time of year) and he would have to trust that our people knew what to do in the situation. It would have been hard for him and his family to imagine.

Well, he hit his one-year anniversary yesterday. He didn't get voted off O.C.D.O.T. Island. He made it through an entire year of snow, wind, ice, rebuilding bridges and roads. He sat through many hours of county legislature sessions to fight for us and the money we needed to ensure that we could keep the residents and visitors in our county safe and secure. It called for a celebration of his anniversary and let's face it, we needed a reason for a party...

So, we chipped in, ordered breakfast pizza, and as usual, some brought delectable dishes to pass. We invited his family and his boss to join in this SURVIVOR's celebration! We even designed special attire for him to remember the event.

The torch was passed to signify his anniversary...

The shirt was safety-yellow and had the

O.C.D.O.T. Survivor logo on the pocket and on the back.

CONGRATS BOSS!

The question begs to be asked...

Holy Cats! Has this week flown by as quickly for you as it has for me? Don't get me wrong...I'm not complaining about it being the weekend or anything, it's just that it feels like the five days in between barely got started and they were gone!

Why does it seem that as we get older (ahemmmm -I had a birthday this week) the time goes faster? Is there scientific proof of that? I swear there must have been an Ivy League School study from somewhere because I hear about this phenomenon all the time. People are always saying 'there are not enough hours in the day' and I believe them.

Do you remember when you were a child? How the summer vacation just seemed to go from one day to the next with no stops and starts. Only the household 'chores' (that a kid must do in order to spend the rest of the day being a kid) having any kind of 'claim' on your time. It seemed like the summer was months and months long...and now...summer flies by way quicker than the winter months do.

I do not understand it...it's a mystery to me how this happens...I do not have the answers, I can only ask the questions. Enjoy your day!

Annual Jamesville Hot Air Balloon Fest

There are annual town and regional traditions that we, as residents, look forward to every year. The area surrounding my town (the metro Syracuse area) has so many it's difficult to keep track. In the winter, they have a pretty big festival, aptly named "Winter Fest", and if you are familiar at all with my blog, or watch the Weather Channel at all, know that we are, very often the winner of several 'most snowfall' awards and are known for our annual snowfall totals. To go along with that, we will have the "Jazz Fest", "Oldies Fest", "Greek Fest", "Apple Fest", just to name a few.

Having said all that, I note that we are just beginning the summer season and top of the list is the annual "Jamesville Balloon Fest", which is in it's 30th year. About a mile or so down the street from me, is the Jamesville Beach County Park. There is a nice sandy beach, plenty of shady woodland picnic areas, pavilions that can be reserved for private parties, play areas for the kids, row boats for rent, fishing spots. In the summer they hold swimming lessons for the 'little fish' and most summers they host a weekly concert evening that residents can bring a lawn chair and enjoy the musical entertainment of the big band sound, oldies, jazz, symphony, etc. played by various bands and groups. Not surprising, they usually draw a pretty good crowd.

So, back the the Balloon Fest which is always held on the 2nd weekend of June. It starts Friday evening and runs through Sunday evening. The Balloons are scheduled to go up at sunrise and sunset through the weekend. The only time the lift-off is scrapped, is if the rain is coming down or the winds are too strong.

About 7 years ago, myself, my Mom and a family friend had purchased tickets for a balloon ride on the Sunday morning flight (not too bad, about $125 if I remember correctly). The rides usually last an hour or so, depending on the winds and other variables and include the traditional champagne toast upon a safe landing. The people that own the property that the balloon lands on are usually invited to participate in the toast. My parents have had them land in their side yard many times. We arrived at the field at about 5am...ready to go, only a little bit apprehensive, but excited beyond all reason, only to have it postponed because of the misty rain that had begun to fall, then about an hour later, cancelled when the misty rain became a rainy morning. I can't tell you how disappointed I was! I had camera in hand, one of my friends was going to watch (from the ground, I tried to talk her into going, but to no avail) with her camera as well.

Besides the obvious hot air balloons, both traditionally shaped and speciality shaped, (over 2 dozen that come from near and far), there are bands that play through the weekend (remember "Orleans", "The Fabulous Thunderbirds", "Night Ranger"?) to entertain the masses, crafts to purchase, amusement rides, so many food tents that your mouth will water and various beverages (for children and adults as the fest is co-sponsored by Bud Light). In the evening they have the Balloon Glow after dark, which is really something to see. Admission is only $5 for adults...can you think of a better to entertain yourself for just $5?

These are a few pictures that I took a couple of years ago. I prefer to go to watch the morning flights, it's so peaceful and the crowds are way smaller. Unfortunately, over the years, my best balloon pictures were taken with my 35mm camera and I don't have my scanner hooked up. These are pictures that I have taken with my digital.

(above: watching the balloon being filled)

(above: partially filled)


(above: almost there)

(above: a few balloons that have taken flight)

(above: Another special shaped balloon. The kids love these!)

(above: waiting for the next one to go up)

(above: the morning crowd isn't too bad.)

Let it snow, let it snow, let it SNOW!

Last night I checked the weather report, which is what every person around here does before they lay their head down for a long winter's night. The prediction was snow (not unusual) and a lot of it (again, not unusual). I knew I was prepared, as prepared as one could be, and turned off the news and was in dreamland in a NY minute.

The radio alarm went off at exactly 5am. I have to use the radio instead of the BEEP, BEEP alarm because it never wakes me up. I tend to incorporate the beep sound into my dreams and happily continue the dream, usually incorporating it as a phone ringing or something, which never wakes me. I also have to turn the radio to a hip-hop station because the music annoys me and I will eventually hear it and arise seconds after hearing the roaring of the beat.

First thing I did was check out the window and to my surprise, it wasn't too bad. I had about an inch or so on my car and I thought to myself, whew, dodged another one!!! I switched on the news and heard the dreaded words "LAKE EFFECT SNOW BANDS"! They were on the way and would be here just about the time I was going to hit the road.

Now, usually lake effect snow comes from the Lake Ontario area, but today we were getting a double whammy. The snow was coming from Lake Ontario and Lake Erie! Both would converge on our fair city metro area and we would be engulfed off and on throughout the entire day and it would probably last until Friday around noon. Jeez, does it ever end?

After about 45 minutes or so, showering and getting ready for work (I leave a few minutes before 7, but always leave enough time, just in case..). I opened the door and heard a scraping sound. Walking outside, I rounded the corner toward the driveway and my lovely, wonderful (just retired) neighbor was out there cleaning up the driveway. He had already brushed off my car and was now clearing the snow that had accumulated at the end of my drive. Now, I need to tell you that the dreaded "LAKE EFFECT SNOW" had already started and it was like a winter wonderland out there...not the nice kind, the kind that makes you tremble with fear that you might get stranded on the highway, and if you do...you cannot get out of your car because the next car to go by you, may not see you in the blinding snow.

After a short but heartfelt "Thank you" he told me I should get on the road, drive safe and to 'keep an eye' on his tax dollars (That's a sort of joke in the neighborhood. They all seem to think I have some 'say' in how it's spent...we all know better...).

I put it in drive, said my "hope I get there in one piece" prayer and I was off! I cannot explain how hairy the drive was. You know how in a snow globe it snows down gently like feathers from heaven? Well, take it from me...it was nothing like that. The snow came fast and furious and because it was still dark (even more than usual because of the clouds and snow) it was kind of mesmerizing. The snow, when it's coming at that rate, sort of looks like it's coming straight at you and you have no where to go but forward. You couldn't change your mind and turn around because the fear that the person coming might not see you and send you into a spin, is almost as bad as the driving itself.

The first 3 1/2 miles of my 7 mile trip was the worst I've had to drive in yet this year. It seemed to take a lifetime...then, the snow slowed and the roads were clear, less slippery and looking around, I realized that the "LAKE EFFECT SNOW BAND" had not reached this point and perhaps the rest of my journey would, maybe (cross your fingers) be safe and not so treacherous.

I was right! The rest of the drive to work was uneventful and honestly, fairly easy. It's funny how 'LAKE EFFECT SNOW" is so picky about where and when it'll land. It's nasty, scary and annoying at the very least. It's a dirty word around here. Nobody moves to Central NY hoping to live the lake snow experience. But, on a good day, it can be a cozy and warm and a great way of life. I mean, we live here don't we? We choose to stay and since we grew up with it and it's challenges, we've realized that it's just a way of life. The other seasons are wonderful...and SNOW season, isn't that bad on the whole. You get used to it, plan for it and plan around it. It's great to get snowed in at home, it's...not so great...to get snowed in at the office. It's a fact of life around here.

So, off I go....I'll watch the 11pm news report tonight...figure out how much snow we'll get overnight and another day will dawn...