goodbye snow, hello ice

Right now, the atmospheric conditions are perfect for sleet (ice), which makes the streets and sidewalks slippery. I had to walk on the new layer of soft ice built on the left over frozen snow in order not to fall. In a place like Queens County, where sanitation and other city trucks clean the snow late, this means trouble and high probability of falling flat on one's ass.

first snow, what about the winter to come?

Winter's finally (but not officially) started in NYC. It snowed lightly last night (2" at most). Nonetheless this means there was some formation of ice on sidewalks and streets early this morning. This means that grounds and floors of all sorts on constructions (buildings, subway, etc) were wet becoming possibly dangerously slippery. This also meant several traffic accidents as well.

Although the average temperature today's been about 19°F, the wind factor makes it feel much colder. Now I'm not complaining. This weather's much better than roasting at 102°F (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/07/hell-on-earth-102f-nyc.html). Then again, both extremes can be fatal, but I still prefer the cold.

ruthless winter to come: dark side of the moon-lit earth

All Gallows' Eve just passed with ghouls and ghosts asking for candy. It's still autumn with its pumpkin pies and naked trees (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/10/all-hallows-eve-fun.html). Nevertheless the temperature's dropped to 43°F, but it feels like 36°F with the windshield factor (as of 2010/11/10 at 07:41). That's a huge drop from 102°F this past summer (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/07/hell-on-earth-102f-nyc.html). This is merely a preview of what this coming winter in NYC (at least, no idea about other areas on the US) could be like -- ruthless, bitter and plainly life-threatening. Then again, I don't think there's any other place on earth that I'd rather be for winter with a cup of coffee in my cold hands looking out the window at the snow.

With this new low temperatures, many people started wearing heavy parkas and layered wool coats. Stupidly enough, I'm only wearing a two-layer nylon jacket since I forget to wear anything heavier. Besides since I just moved (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/11/moving.html), I don't even know where most of clothes are in the mess that I've got in the apartment that I'm still making sense of.

all hallows' eve: the fun

Hallowe'en (Halloween) is the night when the dead walk the face of the earth or when the weirdos walk the earth if you live in NYC. It's the night of costumes, mischief, pumpkins with candles and a good excuse for freshly baked pumpkin pie.

It's simply my favorite time of the year (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/10/autumn-pumpkins-apple-pies.html) -- an old Pagan celebration of the occult (the unknown) followed by All Saints Day. It's no surprise that these two traditions are intertwined as the dead are celebrated in a variety of customs.

To me, it's a bit different though. The day before Hallowe'en is my brother's birthday (46). It's a two day excuse to party and drink before going to church. Well at least, this is what it could and should have been (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/10/no-bother-no-sisters.html). Nowadays we're older and dull with children, work and other mundane obligations. At least, we still have Hallowe'en to act like children or at least make our children silly.

autumn: pumpkins & apple pies

Although winter's the calmest time of the year with its blankets of fluffy snow, autumn is my favorite part of the year. The weather cools. The wind chills. Foliage starts with its beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow. The airs smells of pumpkins and apple pies. Halloween is mere days away and we wait eagerly for the lost souls to walk the face of the earth.

In all, this might simply be the most Pagan time of the year, but it's simply beautiful as vegetation dies off -- death yet not barrenness. The beauty of nature in this time of the year surely reminds me of the presence of God (Lectio Divina) -- as much Pagan as Christian.

summer sickness

Summer is finally here. Regardless how much many people like hot weather, I truly hate it. This season makes me literally sick and nauseous all the time. I prefer fall and winter when I don't feel sick.

Now what does this have to do with the main theme of the blog? It has no thing really aside from the fact that it's my sole opinion.

living in New York, sin & weather

Living in New York can a test to one's sanity. This city might just be the worst part of earth to be a Christian or a believer regardless of religion or faith. I'll list a few reasons why.

1. People (myself included much too many times) are rude and annoying to others. For example, in the subway you can be surrounded by nice people, idiots, thieves, murderers or any type of individual you can think of. The same is true in the streets, work and pretty much everywhere in the city. You never really know how others would react provoked or not hence you need to remain in a constant defensive mode.

2. Winter is brutal (5°F in the coldest of winter with winds up to 30 mph) and summer can be even worse (105°F with 100% humidity). Temperatures go from one extreme to the other. As the weather is right now (92°F on 05/26/2010, too early for this weather; http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KNYC/2010/5/26/DailyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA), it seems this year will more brutal than others. This makes a big number of people wear as little as possible during summer -- next to nothing leaving very little to the imagination or barely covering themselves.

3. Drugs, alcohol and other vices are also everywhere. It's hard to raise a child here, but not impossible. It's just a matter of supervision and trust. As a parent, you must do to everything possible not to allow your children to lose the naive (practically blind) trust that as little children they had in you.

The whole environment of the city is toxic and can sure test a person's will and/or faith. You either think about having sex with the semi-nude inhabitants (above #2) or punching the idiots in the face (above #1). I often fall on the second group.

Nonetheless, if you were to ask my friends or me, we wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Needless to say, most of my friends are good people and spiritual, but just a few go to church or temple. Then again as I've mentioned, it's hard to be 100% Christian (good, loving, godly, etc) in this city.