Hurricane Florence

Image courtesy of ABC News.

Florence is a "monster;" she's a Category 4.

Both the Carolinas braced for when she comes ashore.

Mass evacuations all along the southern coast.

Residents who try to ride it out at home are toast.

Florence isn't like the other hurricanes we've seen

And she's gonna hang around the region, which will mean

Rain they're measuring in feet with flooding in its wake.

Choosing to ignore the warnings is a huge mistake.

Stock up on supplies; check on your neighbors if they're old.

Please stay safe...  Evacuate if that's what you've been told.

Do not risk yourself - or others - leaving things to fate.

Get yourself to higher ground before it gets too late.

Dear Mother Nature... Really?

 

More than half way through the month of April and it's cold!

We had snow this morning...  Winter's getting pretty old.

Don't know how much more of cold and rainy I can take.

I've  grown really sick of it.  I need a little break.

Somewhere warm and sunny - near an ocean - would be nice.

Margaritas on the beach?  Don't need to ask me twice.

It's not gonna happen but a girl can always dream...

Still, if I don't see the sun tomorrow I will scream.

The Boston Red Sox Home Opener - 2018

(A more appropriate sport for current conditions at Fenway Park.)

Red Sox' Opener's today...  They're home at Fenway Park,

Where the wind chill feels like it's below the freezing mark.

Fans will bundle up in layers and make a joyous sound

When the Red Sox take the field and Price steps on the mound.

I refuse to make predictions about who will win;

('though we've started 5 and 1) it's still a sports gods' sin.

It is much too early to risk jinxing anything...

Up here, where the Red Sox play, it isn't even spring.

They're predicting snow tomorrow - Saturday, as well.

After that they say we'll have a lengthy, chilly spell.

At the rate that temps are falling down on Yawkey Way

We should just delay the Red Sox. Let the Bruins play.

Thank You National Grid, et al.

 

Massachusetts just survived a pretty tough two weeks;

Three Nor'easters blew through here, as Mother Nature sneaks

One last blast of winter in - with two more feet of snow

Covering the broken trees that fell six days ago.

 'though there is a lot of shoveling I must complete,

Once I'm done I get to come inside to lights and heat

'cause we got our power back before this latest storm

And we made it through unscathed... I hear we're not the norm.

Lots of people on the Cape are sitting in the dark

As the temperatures descend below the freezing mark.

Thank you to the power crews who came from out of town,

Hard at work replacing all the lines these storms brought down.

I know we'll all get through this because we always do...

Blizzards in New England in the Spring are nothing new.

Doesn't mean we have to like it though - unless you ski -

Most of us are sick of winter here... Including me!

Snow?

Past two days were bright and sunny - in the 70s.

Yet, today, New Englanders are breaking out their skis.

Forecast says it's gonna snow today into tonight...

Makes me want to utter phrases that are not polite.

I know that it's only February here up North -

Where I've seen an inch of hail fall on July the 4th,

Where we've had a foot (or more) of snow on April 1st -

Still, to have a taste of Spring - then lose it - is the worst.

Thoughts and Prayers to Texas

Floods of Biblical proportions struck the Texas coast.

Rain's still falling; Harvey's back... It looks like Houston's toast.

They've got snakes and alligators swimming up the street.

Rainfall's being measured now in multiples of feet.

People in their thousands fled but have no place to go.

Everybody's offered help (including Mexico.)

If you'd like to join the effort, please donate on-line

Or text "HARVEY" and send to 909-99.

Up the Creek

I feel bad for people on vacation for the week;

Here, in Massachusetts, I'm afraid they're up the creek.

They don't have a paddle either.  Soon they'll have to bail...

It's been raining steadily: there's thunder, lightning, hail.

I've been in that boat before and so I feel their pain;

(Even though an ocean view is gorgeous in the rain)

If you only get a short time off for summer fun

It would stink to pick a week that's so devoid of sun.

Florida's Looking Better Every Day

(Photo courtesy of Scott Erlich of Winchester, MA/via WCVB ULocal)

I cried "Uncle!" days ago...  We got another storm.

Icicles the size of glaciers have begun to form

On the eaves of houses hidden by the mounds of snow;

So much that we're running out of space for it to go.

Only see my neighbors if they're shoveling their roof

(Not because we're trying to be distant and aloof)

Snowbanks have become so high that people disappear.

You would not believe how much snowfall we've gotten here.

Minus 20 with the wind chill, now; it's bitter cold.

More snow for tomorrow - not a lot, we're being told.

Weekend storm's another matter.  That one could be big.

Never mind our throughway; this is Boston's biggest dig.

A Valentine's Blizzard

Valentines in Massachusetts plan on staying home;

Blizzards aren't the best of times for anyone to roam

Far from hearth or home-cooked meal... I'm broiling some fillets.

I just leave my house to shop for groceries these days.

That's not what the local restaurants want to hear, I know...

But, with blizzard warnings up, I've got no urge to go

Anywhere but cuddled up with blankets on our couch

(When it comes to cuddling, my sweetie ain't no slouch.)

Oldest son is coming home.  We've missed him very much.

Happy I'll have my 3 Valentines where I can touch.

Somehow, I have promised, he'll get back to Plymouth State

But, if it's still snowing here, he'll probably be late.

Uncle!

(Photo/Courtesy of Charlie in Stoneham via WCVB's ULocal)

Hearty, old New Englanders like me - 'though born and bred

To the winter season in the region are in dread

Of the 5 day forecast we've been hearing on the news;

It's not good for us or our exhausted snowplow crews.

Thursday into Friday - snow...  More snow Sunday night.

In this tunnel of our winter that oncoming light

Is a train wreck up ahead (if they can clear the tracks.)

No relief in sight for our poor old and aching backs.

I have got a snowbank that's, at least, 1 story high;

Ice dams on our roof have caused a leaky ceiling...  Sigh.

Even old New Englanders (who aren't inclined to whine)

Reach an upper threshold for our winters.  We've passed mine.

Congratulations to My World Champion New England Patriots

(Not mad anymore Bro.)

"Cue the duck boats" and confetti; then strike up the band.

Patriots have just been crowned the best team in the land.

Seahawks made it much too close...  They had it on the 1

But, for reasons unbeknownst to me, they didn't run.

When Seattle's Russell Wilson tried to throw a pass

Butler's goal line interception saved New England's ass.

Vindication for the weeks of listening to crap

Came when Brady took a knee after the final snap.

Ten years since their last parade but this makes number 4

Belichick and Brady won (in case you're keeping score.)

There is joy throughout New England, but there's also snow.

Hope the plows can do their job 'cause we intend to go.

Battening Down The Hatches

 Forecast for New England? Major blizzard's on the way.

"This could be historic," local weather people say.

Having lived through these before, I offer this advice:

Stock up now so you're not driving in the snow and ice.

Plan on losing power (though, I'm praying that we won't.)

Make sure you've got water, bread, and batteries.  I don't.

Sitting in the dark while cold and hungry isn't fun

So, I hope that you'll forgive me but I've gotta run.

Building an Ark

It's cold and it's windy and wet

So, as I've explained to our pet,

No walks in the park...

I'm building an ark,

'cause we're gonna need one, I'd bet.

I fear that our dog is upset

For there's not a puddle she's met

That she doesn't mark.

She's starting to bark

But I haven't given in yet.

Uncaring how drenched we'll both get

The dog's still insisting I let

Her out in the dark.

Refusing to hark...

Perhaps we'll go visit the vet.

Not Even On A Dare

Give me blizzards any day; their howling winds and snow.

I will stop complaining when Nor'easters start to blow.

I will even take the floods we get from too much rain

Over storms Tornado Alley faces...  They're insane.

Massive, whirling funnel-clouds which drop out of the sky?

Some folks learn to live with them, I guess...  At least, they try.

But you couldn't pay me to; not even on a dare.

I'm too big a chicken to consider living there.

Carpe'ing the Diem

These 6 Iranians were arrested for being happy.

It's another sunny, pretty, Massachusetts' day.

Might as well enjoy blue skies...  Tomorrow's will be gray.

Carpe' diem! Seize the day - should you ask my advice.

Forecast says it's gonna rain.  The weekend should be nice.

I'll believe it when I see it 'cause you never know,

When you're in New England, which way winds are gonna blow.

I will rhyme the news tomorrow, when the weather stinks;

Well researched with back-up proof provided in the links.

Not today, however...  I don't feel the urge to brood.

News is so depressing lately, it would wreck my mood.

I have plans to spread some mulch or, maybe, pull a weed.

Better yet - I'll park my butt out on the deck and read.

The 118th Boston Marathon

Congratulations to men's winner Meb Keflezighi of San Diego, CA

Praying Boston's Marathon is run without a hitch.

Weather's looking perfect; 'though our winters are a bitch

There is nothing prettier than Massachusetts' spring.

Still, you wouldn't catch me running. Not for anything.

Not because the terrorists have made me too afraid;

It's because I couldn't run...  Not even were I paid.

Why does someone choose to run until their feet have bled?

First to run a marathon (Pheidippides) dropped dead.

Why would runners put themselves through agony like that?

My knees hurt just thinking of it.  I'm too old and fat.

If I go I'll bring a chair and cheer as they go by

But I guarantee that's not a sport I'm gonna try.

Springing Forward

A Public Service Announcement

Saturday we change the clocks to try and fool our brain;

Seems like there's more sunlight with the hour that we gain.

Proof that seasons come and go and Spring is on its way

'though we've half convinced ourselves that Winter's here to stay.

Even those who love the snow are sick of it by now...

It's too cold for skiing and the folks who drive a plow

Lost their minds 3 storms ago because they're human, too.

They, like all the rest of us, want Winter to be through.

When we hear the news Niagara Falls is, mostly, frozen

Winter weary northerners regret the states we've chosen.

As the year rolls into March, with all of us still freezing,

We begin to think a southern clime would be more pleasing.

You don't get this in Florida. (Photo/www.thebookoftravel.com)

The Never-Ending Winter

Tomorrow it's going to rain

Which means we must clear out the drain.

It's clogged up with snow

There's no place to go

For water.  It's kind of a pain.

We must or we're facing a flood

So now - with some tears, sweat and blood -

We're hacking at ice.

Some Spring would be nice,

But then we'd be dealing with mud.

The Snow Plow Guy Blues

 

The forecast is calling for snow.

The winds are beginning to blow.

The piles are so high

That our snowplow guy

Has no place for new stuff to go.

The Winter Games?

Palm trees in Sochi. (Photo/Courtesy of SwissInfo.ch)

In Sochi, 'neath swaying palm trees,

The temperature's 60* degrees.

It's gotten so warm

Ice crystals can't form.

The Winter Games need a hard freeze.

The snow has been turning to slush.

Snowboarders are having to rush

Their tricks in the air

Afraid they'll land where

They'll lose all their speed in the mush.

It's making it hard to be bolder

Aware you could fracture your shoulder.

Let's send them our snow.

Surprising to know

The Summer Olympics were colder.

*(That's 16 degrees for you non-Farenheit people.)