Miriam,
And even better than the steady, soaking rain, is the fact that for 3
days we have had temperatures in the mid 70's. But even this early in
the morning it is still muggy.
Thinking back to that trip to New York, so many years ago, I still
remember the feeling of claustrophobia that clutched my chest, because
of the high humidity. Of course I'd been living for a couple of years
in Spokane, where the humidity was around 10%.
The 1973 NFB convention was held at the Statler Hilton Hotel. From
there, my wife Trish and our ten month old son Jamie, wandered the
streets, ate some of the finest food ever, and thrilled at the
diversity around us. By the way, the convention rates were $8 per
night for a single, and $12 per night for a double. Close to the
hotel was a Chinese restaurant, upstairs and hidden from the street.
Platter after platter of the most tasty foods arrived at our table.
We paid something under $4 per person. Probably the best, and most
diverse Chinese food I've eaten, outside of San Francisco.
But back to "Now", and our lovely rain. I listened to democracy now
this morning, hearing of the 8.1 earthquake in Mexico, and the
hurricanes, both Harvey and soon to hit, Irma, along with an
accounting of natural disasters around the planet, and I can't help
but feel fortunate to live on the Olympic Peninsula.
Carl Jarvis
On 9/7/17, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Carl,
I'm sure the senators from New York and New Jersey were angry at all those
Texas folks who didn't want to help us after Sandy, but I'll bet my bottom
dollar that the NY senators voted for aid for Houston. Three people didn't.
Yes, we have humidity on Long Island and in the city, but not usually as
high as 90%. 60% or less makes a really good day. And yes, Manhattan streets
are hectic, and even suburban Long Island streets were a relief each time I
returned from the city.
I'm so glad you finally got some rain.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2017 9:53 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: weather
Miriam,
I don't know the names, but there certainly was hard feelings by the New
York and...New Jersey Senators over Texas voting against aid for victims
following Sandy's devastation.
Regarding our "new Normal" weather here on the Great, beautiful, and Dry
Olympic Peninsula.
If you've ever been to Montana or Iowa in the Dog Days of Summer, you have a
pretty good picture of what Western Washington is beginning to look like.
Normally the only place on the western slopes of the Cascades where
irrigation is needed, is Sequim. Sequim lays between the Straight of Juan
de Fuca and the high rising Olympic Mountains.
The mountains create a rain shadow, parting the clouds and preventing much
of the rain "enjoyed" by the rest of Western Washington. But coming along
highway 101, headed South to Quilcene and on to Hoods Port, Shelton and
finally, left to Olympia, or right to Aberdeen and Hoquium on Greys Harbor
at the South end of the Olympic Peninsula.
Finally the temperature has dropped into the mid 70's, but only yesterday
and today. We reached a couple of 90 plus degrees and days on end of 80
plus. And not a drop of rain for well over two months.
But humidity! Reminds me of one summer I visited on Long Island. My wife
Trish and I were living in Spokane, as dry as dry can be, and we flew to the
NFB convention in NYC, but first spent the last week of June with my
life-long buddy and his wife and kids, at the Coast Guard base at Eaton's
Neck. It never got above 78 degrees during that week, but the humidity was
well over 90%. I had a bag of Oreo cookies that I'd been snacking on during
our flight. Leaving Spokane, they were crisp and dry. The morning after we
arrived, I reached into the sack
and was startled to find little spongy, squishy globs. Oh yes, the
second night we were there, we had the electrical storm of the century...at
least coming from Washington State, it seemed like it to my wife and me.
But that's how it's been around here the past several weeks. Humid, and
muggy. Cathy and Marlene just came in from feeding the horses and report
that it is finally raining. Good news. I never thought I'd say that around
here! But the heavy underbrush has been turned into tinder, ready to
explode at the first lightning crack.
That trip to New York was in June and July of 1973. James was 10 months
old. He had been standing and creeping around our coffee table even before
he was 9 months old. But he took his first real steps on Long Island, and
on the recordings made at the convention, you can hear the tinkle of little
bells that we'd tied to his shoe laces so I could keep track of him. We
were in the upper level and Jamie could run and jingle to his heart's
content.
Hard to think of 44 years speeding by so fast. And little Jamie is now
James, and a dad, too. When I was in the City, I was thrilled at the
variety of people from all over the Globe. Even during the wee hours the
sidewalks were crowded. But when I returned to our quiet Spokane, I told my
friends that now I understood what folks meant when they said, "I loved
visiting New York City, but I'd never live there."
44 years. That's the only time I was ever in that sprawling city.
I've spent many trips to Washington D.C., and Arlington, and Chicago, and
LA, but only the one very memorable visit to NYC.
Carl Jarvis (the retired wanderer)
On 9/7/17, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Carl,
I've been hearing reports of hot weather in your state, of fires, of
ashes falling on Seattle, etc. So I'm wondering how things are on your
beautiful peninsula.
And now that Irma has destroyed a number of islands in the Caribbean
and is moving toward Florida, I wonder if she's planning to visit Long
Island.
Jose is next up out there in the Caribbean.
Trump bragged about withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord, which
wasn't even binding, when he spoke in North Dakota about all the
pipelines he's promoting.
Does anyone know who the three people were who voted against the aid
for recovery from Harvey?
Miriam
