b.rox

There was a little frost outside this morning, but our cold snap seems to be coming to an end. The morning bike ride was chilly but not bone-chilling. It looks as though we won’t see freezing temperatures for the rest of the week. Hopefully the rest of the season! Personally I’d be happy if I [...]

By strange coincidence, I found myself watching The Big Chill Friday night. It’s one of those super-famous movies that I’ve just somehow never seen.
Alas, when the flick was over and I turned in for the evening, I neglected to leave a trickle of water running, as I’d done Thursday night. This, despite the fact I [...]

We are experiencing the coldest damn weather since we moved here to New Orleans ten years ago. In fact it may break records going back much further than that.
Our new house is raised and has no subfloor. I’d been told a cold wind can whip under the floor something fierce, and sure enough over [...]

I’m still trying to catch up to the present.
We celebrated Xy’s birthday last Tuesday. Since she was feeling sick and I was run ragged it was a pretty lame birthday, but of course she’s used to such disappointments, as are all children of late December. I tried to recontextualize the Escape as Xy’s birthday present, [...]

I wasn’t feeling quite right. When Xy offered to take our daughter with her on a shopping expedition I assented. It was just starting to rain so I urged her to drive carefully. Off she went.
We’d heard the weather reports the night before talking about a possibly severe “rain event” but I thought that was [...]

Overnight New Orleans got pounded by heavy, heavy rain for several hours. Also some serious gusts. We lost power for a while during the night and there was of course some street flooding throughout the city.
The weather has caused our fumigation to be postponed. They were set to tent the house this morning, but during [...]

We’re finally getting a couple days of cooler, drier air, so it’s time to break out the autumnal tunes.

I think just about everybody in New Orleans is in a better mood today. It won’t last, but we’ll enjoy it while it’s here.
What passes for autumn in the subtropics really doesn’t compare to what I grew [...]

Here’s a mix of fourteen tracks for the equinox, about an hour of music, a mystical blend of jazz, electronica, a little hip-hop and some raging heavy metal (sorry Beth) including music by John Coltrane, Death Cab for Cutie and Heaven Shall Burn.

I kind of feel sorry for the autumnal equinox. Of all the four [...]

Lots of stuff going on lately, and so little time to write. The days slip away uncounted. I can’t stand that. So here are some things that have gone down over the last five days or more.

Xy made a trip to the north shore with Persephone and Daisy and Lavender to visit the splash park [...]

Unseasonably cool weather again today, something we’ve been enjoying off and on for the last couple weeks. Nevertheless I feel that summer is here. Xy’s done with school, not just teaching but also the extra days teachers have to work after classes end. (In fact she’s cleared out her classroom and brought home a huge [...]

In celebration of the Vernal Equinox, I’m bringing the mohawk back.

Not the fauxhawk, mind you. I’m talking about the real thing, baby. Bring it back!
And while you’re shaving your head, here’s a diverse selection of tunes inspired by the equinox.

“Vernal Equinox” from the 1977 album of the same name by Jon Hassell is straight-up genius.

I’m feeling better, though by no means 100%, and I’m back at work today. Ironically, as I’ve gotten over my cold, the weather here’s colder than ever. Yes, a cold front swept through overnight, and it’s mighty chilly in New Orleans. (Strangely enough our car has started without problems despite the recent cold weather.) How [...]

Here’s something I’ve never seen before: It’s snowing in New Orleans.

Update: So early this morning as I was taking the girl to school, I thought to myself, “It’s cold and wet and damp and nasty — but at least it’s not snowing.” Rimshot.
Boss Lady and O were beside themselves. Sadly enough, the only thing they [...]

The weather has been a bit on the cold side this week, by which I mean highs in the 60s. It was in the 60s in my office when I arrived Monday morning. But by Monday afternoon it was sweltering, over 80º F. Not outside, inside. And the internal temperature continued to run hot as [...]

It was cooler today, with a bit of a nip in the air, the first hint of cold weather since spring.
I object to this turn of affairs. I don’t know if it’s my body or my mind that takes greater umbrage. But I can feel myself clench up, mentally and physically. I was a little [...]

The autumnal equinox takes place today at 10:44 AM Central Time. It seems to be like the autumnal equinox gets short shrift. The solstices are celebrated (Christmas, Midsummer) and of course the vernal equinox is the subject of an enduring myth. But the poor old autumnal equinox gets no traction in the popular mind. I [...]

My cousin Leslie and her family in Houston went to Austin for a wedding around the time of Ike; they are still waiting for power so they can return. But this news from Mom in Indiana threw me for a loop:

The remnants of Ike hit Indiana pretty hard. Nothing compared to Texas, of course. The [...]

A cold front came through yesterday, pushing rain before it. Now the weather here is distinctly cooler and drier. The oppressive heat and humidity of summer is gone, at least for a little while. Furthermore, we’re over the hump of hurricane season. After the 10th of September, I think, the historical record indicates a dramatic [...]

Our little girl is not feeling well. Runny nose, a touch of fever, general fussiness. Is it a cold? Allergies? Or just more teething? We’re not sure. She’s not off her feed, she still smiles and laughs in between crying jags, and still plays like her usual self. So we’re not too terribly worried except [...]

I got Iked on my bike this morning.
I was partway to work, and I noticed the sky was getting dark — really dark. Hope I can make it there before… And then the heavens opened and the water poured down.
By the time I got to campus, the rain had practically stopped. I guess that was [...]