Connecticut – Page 3 – Geoff Fox: My Permanent Record

Looking At The Weather Here And There

I find myself looking at the Connecticut radar a lot now that we’ve lighted in the OC. It’s been busy the past few days, though as I write this (7:30 AM PDT/10:30 AM EDT) the last of today’s rain is heading toward I-395 and Rhode Island.

I’ve talked about our desire to live in California a lot over the last few years. Friends in Connecticut worried I’d get bored by the lack of active weather and monotony of endless blue skies. They think after a while I’ll lust after clouds and showers and humidity.

I hope not.

It’s summer here when weather changes little from day-to-day, week-to-week. It’s mainly nice for the next five months.

People here talk about the weather back east, gasping at our ability to deal with extended periods of gloom. They’re totally befuddled by snow. They look at it like it’s a poison death ray from the sky!

I’ve played my timelapse from last winter’s blizzard for a few people. They watch slack jawed like it’s video from a Mars rover.

If they’ve been back east or are from the East Coast (as so many here are) they talk about the lushness California goes without. Roads with impenetrable canopies of trees are exotic to them. In Connecticut that’s the norm.

Because of climate and irrigation there is plenty of SoCal color. When you see open vistas they are largely brown or sandy grey. That’s the natural color.

Color is here because someone planted it, not because it naturally thrives. How much growth could there be when any July day only has a 5% (or lower) chance to see even the tiniest sprinkle?

This afternoon as the Sun comes out in Connecticut, people will rush to take advantage. Beautiful days in a beautiful place are not to be squandered. Here they’re a little more cavalier.

The Outdoor Life

We’re homeowners. All the paperwork has been completed. Early this afternoon Helaine and I were handed keys to a home in what was an avocado grove a few years ago.

Am I allowed to say anticlimactic? Of all the benchmarks we’ve passed this was the easiest!

So, here we are in a house without furniture or furnishings. We don’t even have a refrigerator yet.

Soon.

Until then we will stay down the road in our hotel. There’s a story there too. We’re staying in a former lima bean silo!

We still have lots to accomplish, so we headed out to dinner and some Home Depot shopping.

We have a logistical problem. Doppler!

We don’t want to leave her in a hotel room, so we’ve been finding places where we can eat outside. That’s how the fountain photo found its way here. It’s at the local shopping center, a few minutes from the house.

The three of us sat on comfy chairs out in the golden sunshine that precedes sunset. Helaine and I munched from Panera. Doppler patiently watched.

It’s been very hot in parts of the Southwest. Where we live temperatures rose into the 80s with low (for Connecticut, but high for here) humidity. No kvetching from me.

I could get used to this outdoor oriented life. In fact, I will.

I miss my friends, but looked at the Connecticut radar plots today and didn’t miss that.

Connecticut and California — What’s Different

My Cousin Michael and I were talking about mountains yesterday. There are mountains just east of here. I keep wanting to say they’re west.

I grew up on the East Coast. Mountains were always west.

“23 Years here and I make the same mistake,” he said.

There are lots of differences between Connecticut and California more significant than the relative position of mountains or whether the Sun rises or sets over the ocean.

We have moved to Irvine. It is a planned city, one of a handful in the US.

In Connecticut things grew organically. Towns today still uses roads established before Declaration of Independence was signed! There are 169 cities and towns, because that’s what worked back in the day.

I have one friend whose family came over on the Mayflower. They’ve been a presence in Milford since there was a Milford–maybe before.

Irvine was incorporated in 1971.

The layout of Irvine was designed by Los Angeles architect William Pereira and Irvine Company employee Raymond Watson, and is nominally divided into townships called villages. The townships are separated by six-lane streets. Each township contains houses of similar design, along with commercial centers, religious institutions and schools. Commercial districts are checker-boarded in a periphery around the central townships. Source: Wikipedia

Our house in Hamden was on a one acre plot. Here in Irvine we’re on a tiny postage stamp of land. That’s part of the plan. Developers have to set aside acreage for parks, shopping and other businesses. You’re never far from anything, but you sacrifice personal space to get that.

Even if you are across town, the six-lane streets (usually straight as an arrow) often have a 60 mph speed limit with computer coordinated traffic lights that adjust to speed the flow! Please think about that next time you attempt to keep to 25 mph through the center of Cheshire.

All buildings have to ‘fit’ architecturally. Though the houses in our development are all different, they’re all very similar in style and color. It’s not right or wrong, just different than what we’re used to back east.

We’ve gone from oil heat, well water and a septic system to gas, city water and sewers. No overhead power lines either.

This is a politically conservative area, ironic because Irvine is a city where the government sticks its nose in so many facets of life! Want to change your house’s paint color or add an addition? Not so fast. Approval is necessary and not always easily obtained. The rules and regulations our home’s developer had to follow are epic.

Because of its good schools, jobs, and housing, the city was chosen in 2008 by CNNMoney.com as the fourth best place to live in the United States. In 2012, it was ranked in sixth place. In September 2011, Businessweek listed Irvine as the 5th best city in the US. In June 2010, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that Irvine had the lowest violent crime rate among cities in the United States with populations of more than 100,000. – Source: Wikipedia

All these factors help make Irvine a desirable place to live. My significantly smaller house here has a significantly larger price tag than the one it replaces in Hamden!

That’s not to say this place is better. It’s just different… very different.

What Irvine doesn’t have are all the friends and acquaintances we accrued over 28 years in Connecticut. I wish I could have packed them up and brought them with us. Friends are irreplaceable.

You can’t plan friends. They grow organically.

CT TO CA — Day One

By 4:00 PM the movers had gone, Helaine and I (mostly Helaine) had straightened up. It was time to go.

Emotional? Of course. How can you leave a house of 23 years without a few tears? It’s a great house. It’s full of memories.

And then there’s the whole leaving Connecticut thing. 28 years a Nutmegger. That’s emotional too.

“I’ve never seen traffic like this,” Helaine said that before we’d left Hamden! Probably a product of the thunderstorms and rain showers we’d experience for the next four hours.

It was a slow go across Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. We were both surprised how far from New York City we had stop-and-go traffic from homebound commuters.

The traffic thinned as we approached the northwestern corner of New Jersey. It’s hilly and rural. That’s not what you expect in New Jersey!

We pulled into a rest area and fired up my laptop. Another hour and a half seemed easily accomplished, so I made reservations in Danville, PA.

The goal was Pennsylvania. Mission accomplished.

We’re 238 miles into our journey–less than 10% of the way to SoCal. Tomorrow should produce a lot more miles with a lot more hours behind the wheel.

Tonight The Brook Is Loud

Doppler and I just took a walk outside. Skies are partly cloudy. The air is cool and refreshingly dry. There is a breeze, but not enough to rustle the leaves or cover the sound of Jepps Brook.

Judging by Google, I am the main chronicler of Jepps Brook. It’s the tiny stream a few hundred yards from my front door.

When a brook is small the effects of weather are pronounced and happen quickly.

This week, a month’s worth of rain has sent white water rushing over the smooth boulders that lie in Jepps Brook’s bed. It has temporarily widened the brook, much like a snake that’s swallowed a mouse.

The brook is loud tonight. It’s not New York City loud. You can’t make that comparison.

There are no individual noises, like car horns or sirens. The brook’s signature is white noise.

I have driven past Jepps Brook nearly every day for 23 years. I always slow down. I always look. I am never disappointed. It is endlessly beautiful.

On nights like tonight you don’t need to see it to know it’s there.

When we leave I will miss Jepps Brook as much as I miss any person.

The New Knee

My friend Big John is back in Connecticut. The “Big” in front of his name is well deserved. John is a giant of a man, tall, broad and powerful.

For much of his adult life John worked outdoors. His job was physical. He used every bit of his size and power. It took its toll.

John’s back in Connecticut getting a new knee. He lives in Florida where new knees are the norm, but medical care sucks. Too many old people with chronic conditions. Providing that care takes its toll on the providers.

“This place is number nine in the country,” John offered, referring to St. Francis’ Connecticut Joint Replacement Institute.

I’d been to St. Francis in the past, but didn’t remember it as big as it is. Like so many other medical centers, St. Francis has grown city sized!

Medical care is very big business. These buildings attest to that. That makes me uncomfortable.

The woman at the information desk handed me a map then rattled directions. I prayed there would be another information desk on my route. The hospital’s campus is that complex.

We live in amazing times. After his stay at St. Francis ends tomorrow, John heads to rehab. Within a few weeks he’ll be walking around as if nothing’s happened. All those years of hard work and abuse to John’s knees will be erased.

How cool is that?

It’s Chilly Out There

Doppler and I went for a walk around a half hour ago. Who stole spring? It’s chilly out there! Aren’t we nearly to June?

The automated weather observer at Meriden/Markham Airport reports 49&#176 with a wind chill of 44&#176.

“I didn’t know we had wind chill in May,” Helaine noted.

Ain’t it the truth! Last May 24th Meriden hit 75&#176.

I’m not sure how chilly it will get, but in their tech discussion the Weather Service office covering Meriden writes:

COLD AIR ADVECTION WILL CONTINUE BEHIND THE FRONT. THE BOUNDARY LAYER WINDS INCREASE AND KEEP MORE MIXING CONDITIONS IN PLACE. A SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN MAV/MET BLEND WAS USED FOR LOWS WHICH WILL BE IN THE UPPER 40S.

So, even though they’re forecasting lower temperatures than the computer guidance (MAV/MET), the forecast might not be cold enough! And then there’s the rain, which has been with us on-and-off for the past few days.

A low pressure system just east of Boston is the culprit. It will weaken and temperatures will become more springlike for the weekend. Not tonight.

Doppler and I both say, “No mas!”

We’re Watching The Skies Over Connecticut

As of 3:20 PM there are two Severe Thunderstorm Watches covering Northern Connecticut. Both run until 9:00 PM (though they’re sometimes cancelled before the expiration).

PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE…
SEVERAL LARGE HAIL EVENTS WITH A FEW VERY LARGE HAIL EVENTS TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER POSSIBLE SEVERAL DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH POSSIBLE

As mentioned earlier, the Lower Midwest is primed for tornadoes again. Tornadoes are unlikely in Connecticut today.

If you’re interested in geeking out, this page from the Storm Prediction Center leads to all the forecast and observed parameters for the Northeast today.

Remember, forecasts age quickly. Don’t depend on my blog post for current storm info.

The Rural Side Of Town

We had to leave so the house could be shown today. Helaine and I are getting very good at this! Another day at Ikea wasn’t needed, so Helaine and Doppler took a ride with me to shoot some photos.

There is no place like Connecticut. Incredibly beautiful. We will miss that a lot.

It’s tough not to notice the speed at which we transition from bare trees to fully leaved. That’s obvious in today’s shots. Three weeks ago there were few leaves open. Today, many tree lined roads are covered with a green canopy.

These photos were taken on River Road and Tuttle Avenue in Hamden, just at the edge of Sleeping Giant State Park. That part of town is really rural.

When You Grow Up In Apartment 5E

When you grow up in Apartment 5E with a view of parking lots (and the distant Throgs Neck Bridge) you miss a lot. My joke, told often: Until I was 21 I had never seen grass that wasn’t in a baggie.

Call me nature challenged!

Now I live in the woods. I am the guardian of dozens of trees and more traditional grass.

This time of year I look up a lot. With flowering bushes and lots of color it’s easy to miss what’s going on in the trees. Leaves are beginning to come out for the season.

Please tell me I wasn’t the only kid who never looked? I missed so much. I’m glad I look now, because the show is amazing.

The first signs showed in March. Little nubs appeared on tree limbs. Now it’s obvious they’re leaves, but they’re still tiny and often curled tight for their own protection.

Like I said, I look up a lot. I never tire of this show.

I Need Spring Like Crazy

Doppler just went out for her last walk of the night. She’s cute.

Normally, when she’s ready to go outside she’ll climb onto my lap and lick my face. Not this time of day.

We laze on separate sofas, both prone and with Afghans. For a few minutes she’ll stare at me. Then she’ll bark

It’s her signal, the weakest, quietest bark possible. Actually, it’s more dog grunt than bark. It’s Doppler’s equivalent of clearing her throat.

I got her leash and a flashlight. We went out in the chill. Where the hell is spring?

Bridgeport was 10&#176 below average today. Bradley was 18&#176 below! Much of the state never saw 50&#176.

We really need spring after this crazy winter. Bridgeport had over twice as much snow as usual. At Bradley it was around 40% over norm. Here on Mt. Carmel we had over a month of continuous snowcover.

It seemed endless.

Wednesday will be closer to the weather we’re used to in late April. Over the weekend 70&#176 is possible.

Right now I need spring like crazy and I’m not embarrassed to say it!

Back To New Haven

When I worked on Elm Street I was in New Haven every day. Now my trips have a purpose. Today it was lunch with my friend Josh, formerly a publisher, now a do-gooder for the United Way.

We found a parking spot right in front of Prime-16 where we had lunch (Lamb burger with feta cheese–yum!).

Has New Haven heard I’m leaving? Is it trying to win me back? Parking was much too easy!

If all you know about New Haven is what you’ve heard on TV news, you have a terribly misleading impression. New Haven is loaded with restaurants and culture. It is a classic American city in every sense of the word. The center of New Haven is made for people on foot.

We took a quick walk across the Green. Flags at half staff. Too much of that. My thoughts turned toward Boston.

The trees are still bare, but there are plenty of buds. New Haven will soon be under its summer canopy. Right now there are enough open spots to include Yale in my photos.

There’s a Shake Shack in New Haven now. I need to try that before we leave.

As we walked down Chapel Street, Josh pointed down the alley that leads to Zinc Kitchen. What you see in the photo on the left (click o n the photo for a larger view) is what we saw, but only when you stand in the right spot. Pretty cool!

We’re moving where cities are planned. New Haven grew up more-or-less organically. I like that.

I will miss New Haven. Good memories.

Now It’s Spring. No, Really.

Helaine just asked if we should open the windows tonight? Yes! Clouds overnight won’t let it fall much below 50&#176 here at the “Maison de Renard.” Showers, should they come, will be beneficial.

Finally it feels like spring. Was today not perfect?

We had low to mid 70&#176s inland with temps around 80&#176 at the shore. The dew point temperature was low. That means comfortable.

It also means highly variable temperatures day-to-night. Without the clouds we’d sleep with closed windows and much chillier temperatures.

Today was a seasonal benchmark day for us too. The flannel sheets have been removed. We’re back to cotton.

Let me say this about flannel sheets. OMG! It’s as if the thermostat was set 10&#176 warmer. Highly recommended.

Here’s where we currently stand. Mother Nature is poised to explode. Within the next week to ten days Connecticut will be blanketed in spring color.

It doesn’t last long. Blossoms will fade. Trees and bushes will revert to green for the summer’s duration.

Take advantage. You have been warned.

Seriously, How Can This Not Be Winter?

I’m a meteorologist. I know winter is over… officially. Unofficially, enough already! This is getting crazy. We didn’t break 45&#176 at my house. Where is the warmth we crave?

For the doubters, a few photos to make my point.

We begin with the parking lot at the Hamden Plaza Shopping Center. Not only is this pile of snow ten feet tall, it’s filthy! It will see April!

The sunset was lovely, but look at the trees. Not a leaf. Not a bud. No color anywhere. Where are the forsythia when you need them?

Tonight: All The Slippery Is In The First Quarter Inch

There’s a line I’ve been saying on TV for a generation. When it comes to snow, “All the slippery is in the first quarter inch.” Was that ever true tonight!

Our connecting flight from Baltimore got to Bradley a few minutes before midnight. We were 58 minutes late!

The pilot mentioned the Windsor Locks METAR as we taxied toward takeoff: one mile visibility, light snow. By the time we landed the visibility had dropped to a half mile and the precipitation intensified to moderate snow.

Bumpy descent? A little.

For the last fifteen minutes we flew through snow. It was horizontal snow. I assume all that snow hitting the windshield meant the pilots were solely depending on instruments until we were nearly on-the-ground.

This is the kind of things 737’s do–especially when 9,500 feet of runway is available. It still makes me nervous, especially when braking isn’t optimum.

As we broke free of the clouds, just before landing, the snow’s impact was obvious. Every road we flew over or near was white, as was the runway we landed on.

The drive home was slow.

The roads remained covered as we drove away. The snow wasn’t deep. The stripes marking the lanes were still dimly visible through the accumulation.

It didn’t make any difference. Traction was in short supply. We saw a few cars off the road or on the shoulder after an accident.

I did 40-45 mph most of the way in Helaine’s 4WD SUV. I drove gingerly. That’s the secret to snow. Make no fast moves!

Road crews were out, but there was little they could do. It was falling too fast for plowing to make a difference.

We followed a shoulder-to-shoulder convoy of plows and spreaders who blocked all passing attempts from Middletown to Hamden! Other than their blinding strobes and our significantly reduced speed their labor had no impact I could see.

Roads in Hamden seemed pure and virginal. The snow was untouched.

I climbed the little hill to our neighborhood in 4WD Low. If you have a 4WD vehicle and have never used a low gear, you’re missing an incredible safety feature. We took the hill as if we were wearing spikes.

We’re home now. Enough traveling.

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