Less than three weeks ago, I lost the humidity readings at the WA1LOU weather station.
Yesterday, I noticed that the humidity readings were back! I did nothing to fix it, so go figure.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
coyote sighting
I saw a coyote this morning while walking the dogs.
As we reached the end of Beecher Road and the beginning of the New Britain Reservoir access road, I noticed an animal heading our way. When it saw us, it stopped dead in its tracks about 100 yards ahead of us. The dogs did not see it and did not react, so I just stood in place to see what it would do.
After about 30 seconds, it decided to detour into the woods and at that point, I could see that it was a coyote.
I wish I had my camera. I had planned to take it this morning, but forgot it in my rush to get the dogs ready for the walk.
As we reached the end of Beecher Road and the beginning of the New Britain Reservoir access road, I noticed an animal heading our way. When it saw us, it stopped dead in its tracks about 100 yards ahead of us. The dogs did not see it and did not react, so I just stood in place to see what it would do.
After about 30 seconds, it decided to detour into the woods and at that point, I could see that it was a coyote.
I wish I had my camera. I had planned to take it this morning, but forgot it in my rush to get the dogs ready for the walk.
Friday, January 26, 2007
still colder, but still next to nothing to shovel
Our brush with winter continues as the temperature bottomed out at 1°F early this morning. Meanwhile, except for small piles of shoveled snow along the driveway and walkways, the snow has disappeared here and our near-snowless winter continues.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Surfin': Netting A Radio Merit Badge
"Netting A Radio Merit Badge," as in Boy Scout merit badges, is the title of this week's installment of Surfin'. Read it here, then come back here to post your comments, if any.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Surfin': Bringing Home the Bakelite
Read this week's installment of Surfin' and discover the benefits of being known as "Mr. Fix-It" of the Amateur Radio variety. After reading the column, you can leave your comments (if any) here.
the party's over
Overnight, it snowed. Not much (maybe an inch), but there was enough of it that I had to use a shovel to remove it.
So we made it through almost one month of winter without any snow. I wonder how the remaining two months will go.
So we made it through almost one month of winter without any snow. I wonder how the remaining two months will go.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
colder, but still nothing to shovel
It turned cold here yesterday and got as low as 8°F overnight. The forecast is for more cold weather throughout the week.
Yet, as we approach the one-month mark of winter, there has still been next to nothing here in the way of frozen precipitation since last winter (not that there is anything wrong with that).
Yet, as we approach the one-month mark of winter, there has still been next to nothing here in the way of frozen precipitation since last winter (not that there is anything wrong with that).
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Surfin': No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
The technologically-oriented pun is the topic of this week's installment of my weekly online column Surfin'.
Read the column, groan, and leave your comments (if any) here.
Read the column, groan, and leave your comments (if any) here.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Thursday, January 11, 2007
weather bits
It is 35°F at the WA1LOU weather station at 1 PM EST, about half the temperature of balmy Saturday. I lost humidity readings at the weather station a few days ago. Something is wrong, but I don't know what. Maybe that nearby lightning strike during the summer is finally taking its toll.
Today was the first day I wore my winter coat since last winter. Today was also the first day I have walked a mile or so during my lunch break since my head cold took hold before Christmas.
The sky does not look promising for viewing the comet this evening.
Despite the wintry temperatures the last few days, the grass is still green around the salt mine (in Wallingford, CT), but is brown at home, which is about 500 feet higher in elevation than the salt mine.
Today was the first day I wore my winter coat since last winter. Today was also the first day I have walked a mile or so during my lunch break since my head cold took hold before Christmas.
The sky does not look promising for viewing the comet this evening.
Despite the wintry temperatures the last few days, the grass is still green around the salt mine (in Wallingford, CT), but is brown at home, which is about 500 feet higher in elevation than the salt mine.
chasing comets
Since I learned about the visibility of Comet McNaught a few days ago, I have been hoping to catch a glimpse of it on my way home from work*, but so far the weather has not been cooperative (cloud cover on the western horizon). Today will be my last chance to view the comet, so I hope the skies are clear after sunset.
* My daily commute includes driving on I-691 in Meriden, Southington, and Cheshire, CT. Traveling west on I-691 just past the Route 322 overpass, you overlook the Quinnipiac River Valley with a a great clear view of the western horizon. This is the most likely place that I will be able to see the comet.
* My daily commute includes driving on I-691 in Meriden, Southington, and Cheshire, CT. Traveling west on I-691 just past the Route 322 overpass, you overlook the Quinnipiac River Valley with a a great clear view of the western horizon. This is the most likely place that I will be able to see the comet.
snow
There were snow showers in central Connecticut yesterday and when I arrived home after work, I found that the grass and dirt in the yard had a very thin covering of snow... so thin that I would need a micrometer to measure it, but nonetheless, our first snow since last winter.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
iPhone: maybe not
Yesterday, I wrote here how I want an iPhone. After sleeping on it, maybe not. Here's why.
My wife and daughter have cell phones. Their provider is Verizon. Verizon is reputed as having very good coverage in these parts, yet their coverage is very spotty up here on top of Compounce Mountain. Some days there is no signal. Other days you have to stand in just the right place to get a signal. Such is cellular life at 1000 ft ASL; the cellular towers are all below us.
The iPhone's provider is Cingular. Their coverage is reputed as not being as good as Verizon's in these parts. So, an iPhone would likely be useless most of the time up here.
I guess I will stick with my Powerbook using DSL via WIFI.
My wife and daughter have cell phones. Their provider is Verizon. Verizon is reputed as having very good coverage in these parts, yet their coverage is very spotty up here on top of Compounce Mountain. Some days there is no signal. Other days you have to stand in just the right place to get a signal. Such is cellular life at 1000 ft ASL; the cellular towers are all below us.
The iPhone's provider is Cingular. Their coverage is reputed as not being as good as Verizon's in these parts. So, an iPhone would likely be useless most of the time up here.
I guess I will stick with my Powerbook using DSL via WIFI.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
iWant iPhone
I never considered owning a cell phone before. My wife and daughter have cell phones, but not I. However, Apple may have pushed me over the brink today when they revealed their new gizmo, the iPhone.
Monday, January 8, 2007
66 on the 6th
The temperature reached an amazing 66°F here in the afternoon on January 6. Other locations in the state were over 70°F.
I remember snowless winters here in the past. Maybe not snowless, but not much snow to speak of, yet those winters were normal temperature-wise, i.e., cold. This winter there has been no snow at all and the temperatures have been mild.
"What's going on?" as Marvin Gaye once sang.
I remember snowless winters here in the past. Maybe not snowless, but not much snow to speak of, yet those winters were normal temperature-wise, i.e., cold. This winter there has been no snow at all and the temperatures have been mild.
"What's going on?" as Marvin Gaye once sang.
Friday, January 5, 2007
Surfin': There's Still Time
There's Still Time is the title of this week's installment of Surfin'. Read about the online time and measurement resources available from the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST), then leave your comments here.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
baby, it's warm outside
As I write this at 1 PM EST, the temperature at my home weather station is 43°F. Yesterday, the temperature reached 52°F by mid-afternoon.
Snow-wise, I have witnessed a few very light snow flurries maybe three times during the past month, meanwhile, 2006 ended without any snow accumulation this fall and winter.
A broccoli plant grew in my vegetable garden until Thanksgiving when a cold snap seemed to have done it in, but it showed signs of coming back to life in December.
The calendar says "January" and the GPS says that it's 41° 37' 48" North, but it seems like the calendar should say early April or the GPS should be 10 degrees lower.
Weird!
Snow-wise, I have witnessed a few very light snow flurries maybe three times during the past month, meanwhile, 2006 ended without any snow accumulation this fall and winter.
A broccoli plant grew in my vegetable garden until Thanksgiving when a cold snap seemed to have done it in, but it showed signs of coming back to life in December.
The calendar says "January" and the GPS says that it's 41° 37' 48" North, but it seems like the calendar should say early April or the GPS should be 10 degrees lower.
Weird!
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