I came up from equatorial Singapore to the New York winter. Freezing!! Snow, wind. Brrrrrrrr.
Pretty, but brrrrrrr.

Welcome back then, Yorick [img]smile.gif[/img]

And you just be glad you didn't have to go to the swedish winter ;)

Ahhhhhhh it is all nice and warm here in wonderful cuba. No freezing weather for me. Hmm i think it was 80 degrees today pretty good.

Nice to see you Yorick! Hope you had fun in your absence. Over here it is moderately warm really. For Britain it is still cold but London is never really that bad.

Hey Yorick!!!!!

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Barry the Sprout:
London is never really that bad.<hr></blockquote>

True, all the cars sit in traffic queues with their engines running - does a lot to warm the place up....

Hi, Yorick. It's clear but chilly (45 degrees F.) in Texas. You can laugh at us come August. Stay well.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by nick1979:
Hey Yorick!!!!!<hr></blockquote>


NICHOLAI!!!!!!

TD... TD...

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Barry the Sprout:
Nice to see you Yorick! Hope you had fun in your absence. Over here it is moderately warm really. For Britain it is still cold but London is never really that bad.<hr></blockquote>

Well, if I'm not here it's because I'm WORKING MY ARSE OFF. [img]smile.gif[/img] :D So yes, I had fun.

Hugh, Hun!

Been missing you! Byt don't you know that only crazy people live in New York in the winter. ;) . Call me if you get a chance. You still have the number,don't you? Are you here for good now? DETAILS!!

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Sir ReGiN:
Welcome back then, Yorick [img]smile.gif[/img]

And you just be glad you didn't have to go to the swedish winter ;) <hr></blockquote>

Thanks Regin. I have been to Stockholm in the winter, so yes I'm most appreciative. It was about minus 40 degrees centigrade I believe..... [img]redface.gif[/img]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Reeka:
Hugh, Hun!

Been missing you! Byt don't you know that only crazy people live in New York in the winter. ;) . Call me if you get a chance. You still have the number,don't you? Are you here for good now? DETAILS!!<hr></blockquote>

Well, that's the intention. Came back and hit the ground running. Had work on the afternoon I arrived (two fridays ago), and have been flat chat (busy) since.

I still have your number Reeka, I'll give you a bell.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Galadria1:
Hi, Yorick. It's clear but chilly (45 degrees F.) in Texas. You can laugh at us come August. Stay well.<hr></blockquote>

O.k. I'll laugh at you in August. [img]smile.gif[/img] ;)

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Yorick:
I came up from equatorial Singapore to the New York winter. Freezing!! Snow, wind. Brrrrrrrr.
Pretty, but brrrrrrr.<hr></blockquote>

Coldest I've ever been was Prague, Jan 5th, 1995, -15 Celsius. I was on my way home from Egypt, on a cheap flight with transfers at Prague - and a 9 hour wait in the airport. So the 4 of us booked a 'transit tour' of the centre of Prague, to while away the time. I had images of sitting in a heated minibus, driving round and seeing the sites - but no, they dropped us in the town centre and it was a walking tour. My camera shutter froze, and so did I. I was dressed for Egypt - thin cotton trousers, canvas shoes, no socks, cotton shirt, light sweater. I'm not kidding, I didn't even have a jacket. I was pulling dead, frostbitten skin off my legs for a week (yuk)....

Hey, Yorick! Yes, what Galadria says is true: Texas in the summer is bleedin' hot, mate! 105+ F in the shade (40 C or above). Perhaps you'll come see us in Texas in the summer? :D

Cheers,

Yorick!

Good to see you,mate. Its warm today (Monday) A mater of fact I was outside most of the day, in JANURARY! Sad, I know ;)

Oi! The NYC winter is just eight or nine inches total of snow on the ground, and temperatures around 30 F. I know this seems unpleasant (and particularly cold when that wind whips around the skyscrapers), but take pleasure in the fact that winters have been pretty light in the MidAtlantic states for the last few years, Yorick! :D I remember 'em more than forty years ago, before all the asphalt from population centers surrounding NYC and across NY and NJ raised the daily temperature. We had snowfalls of two to three feet regularly within a period of a couple of days, and the snow stayed throughout the winter. What we've got now is luxury compared to the stuff they had back then--or still have, up in the Albany-Buffalo-Rochester area.

Small satisfaction, I suppose. But give it another month of temperatures hovering around freezing, and things will begin to pick up, climate-wise. Downside is, the MidAtlantic states have become among the worst places to be during spring. Warm, wet winters have made the climate a bronchial sufferer's disaster zone. :rolleyes:

By the way, Yorick, did you get a chance to see the giant Christmas tree in front of Radio City Music Hall, while it was still beautifully decorated? This is an NYC tradition dating back more than three quarter's of a century (not much by European standards, I know, but still...), and they do a fabulous job on that tree in front of the outdoor ice skating rink. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 01-21-2002: Message edited by: fable ]</p>

<font color"green">Well actually this years winter in NY is saddly, weak :( . I expected snow when it was needed, Christmas, New Years... And now it all of a sudden snows, the only thing that really keeps the winter in NY cold is the ocean breeze. So dont worry, snow or now snow, it will be cold here [img]smile.gif[/img] , but its so much better than snow... Sad thing is its starting to melt :( .</font>

Agreed, Durwyn. NY winters once were snow-packed: they hit in mid-December, and the snow finally vanished around the beginning of March. But changes in climate have made 'em generally pretty light, except when a storm blows through, usually off the Great Lakes or from the Midwest.

Yorick, are you trying to say that it's colder than a Brass toliet on the shaddy side of an iceburg?

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by fable:
By the way, Yorick, did you get a chance to see the giant Christmas tree in front of Radio City Music Hall, while it was still beautifully decorated? This is an NYC tradition dating back more than three quarter's of a century (not much by European standards, I know, but still...), and they do a fabulous job on that tree in front of the outdoor ice skating rink. [img]smile.gif[/img]

<hr></blockquote>

Alas no. :( I only got back two fridays ago. :(

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by John D Harris:
Yorick, are you trying to say that it's colder than a Brass toliet on the shaddy side of an iceburg?<hr></blockquote>

No. It's cold enough to freeze the balls of a brass monkey.

Another Aussie mate here exclaimed to me today his bewilderment that the majority of the earths people live through really cold weather like this. He said "why didn't they (humans in the past) all just move to the equator or something?"

Hey all you Aussies. Move to Texas. We've got the best climate going. Until August. LOL

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Yorick:
Another Aussie mate here exclaimed to me today his bewilderment that the majority of the earths people live through really cold weather like this. He said "why didn't they (humans in the past) all just move to the equator or something?"<hr></blockquote>

I have very, very occasionally wondered out loud to my wife (when we were both living down in Missouri, her home state) why her Bavarian ancestors chose to move there. It's hot and muggy in the summers, and bitterly cold and snowy in the winters: the worst of both worlds. The way I figure it, some 19th century Prussian taskmaster instructed all his recruits to find the worst spot in the world to settle, and St. Louis, Missouri was what they decided upon.

This, of course, earns me my wife's undying gratitude.

More seriously, I have to wonder why people would settle in, say, Amarillo, Texas--another spot gifted with extreme temperatures; or Lubbock, Texas, the so-called "dust capital of the USA;" or International Falls, Minnesota, known for being the coldest spot in the continental USA. These are not places any sane person would go to, unless they were transported there behind bars.

I suspect this is one of those great mysteries that shall accompany me to my grave.

NYC winters are pretty mild in comparion to the rest of the state. I went to school in Potsdam NY and two years in a row had low temps in the -30f vicinity (-60 wcf because it's very breezy up there). I'm origonally from south of Buffalo and they can get snow like nowhere else I've ever been. Went up for Christmas eve dinner one year and there was no snow on the ground. Ate dinner and chatted for a couple hours (maybe 4 total) and when we came out to drive home the snow was pushing over the hood of the car as we drove (over two feet in just a couple hours)

These days my house is in Elmira, which has winters similar to NYC, but even so I'm enjoying spending this winter in Irvine... the city is about as pleasant as you can imagine climate wise. Winter days rarely below 60f, summer days rarely above the 80s and always a nice breeze. If you live here you know why people live in the more extreme climate areas... because the nice spots are so crowded with people there's no room to fit in edgewise.

Yorrick,

How did you like that blast of snow we got yesterday? Where in Manhattan are you working?

I'm NYC as well and well, the snow was really good and all, but its MELTING!!!! nooooo :( ...

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Epona:


True, all the cars sit in traffic queues with their engines running - does a lot to warm the place up....<hr></blockquote>

Good, isn't it. I often think they do it on purpose sometimes, they see all of us pedestrians shivering and they start revving their engines. Let it never be said that car drivers have no sense of social conscience.

And Yorick? I am a student, what is this "work" you are referring to? Please explain what it is as I am completely stumped (Mwhahahahaha!!! :D ).

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Gray Mage:
Yorrick,

How did you like that blast of snow we got yesterday? Where in Manhattan are you working?<hr></blockquote>

That looks like Gray Mage's sig I thought! And it is! Haven't seen you in a while, just wanted to say hi!

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Durwyn:
I'm NYC as well and well, the snow was really good and all, but its MELTING!!!! nooooo :( ...<hr></blockquote>


Where abouts? And it's just about gone.... :mad:

Epona, hi, how's life treating you?

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Gray Mage:
Yorrick,

How did you like that blast of snow we got yesterday? Where in Manhattan are you working?<hr></blockquote>

GREY MAGE!!! Good to see you again mate!

I loved the snow. So pretty. Also sent me down some interesting mental pathways. It felt like Europe, but it wasn't of course. I associated snow with Europe prior to this, and orange leaves or boiling summer with New York State.

I pondered about the whole idea of 'being an Australian American'. Very wierd feeling to decide to live in another country.

I saw some Aussie on the subway. Some young women full of friendly vitality. They went nuts when I said I was an Aussie too. Anyhow, one had a Melbourne accent, and I realised I missed the Melbourne accent. Bizzare....

It's good though. I really like this country. I like the seasons, the extreme colour shifts from season to season. I like the people, the immigrant, multi-cultural vibe of NYC makes it easier to 'feel American' than in say Sweden where I could never be Swedish, or Singapore, where I was often the only Caucasian in a sea of Chinese.

Hey Yorick long time no see! I feel sorry for you, since it's hot as heck outside right now.

You guys ancestors move to the worst places because at the time they move to them, they're free and if not free, cheap. *Opens history book.* Remember way back in the 1800's when you just had to stake a claim, and suddenly you owned land? Well I'm sure a lot of our ancestors got land that way. As to why they didn't move... *shrug* *closes history book*

Actually I and the only other Aussie at the huge Singaporean church both had similar experiences where we actually forgot we weren't Asian. We'd catch a glimsp of ourselves in the mirror and it would be a shock.

Once I had a mate working with me, and we agreed to meet in a foodcourt. I went down and the place was packed. In dispair I thought "He's never going to find me."

Of course he walked straight up to (six foot tall) me. When I expressed my suprise, he looked at me in bewilderment like I was an idiot.
"Are you kidding? You're the only non-Asian"

I felt really at home there. Loved, at home, needed and happy, but always a foreigner. A legal alien as it were.

Now in America I'm deciding what to do about my accent. Do I put in the 'R's to facilitate easier communication? (Believe me it's a problem) Or do I firmly cling to Aussie pronounciation. My accent isn't strong anyway, sounds English to some ears (in Australia and here). I heard a south African on sunday who had put in the R's and it sounded demented, so now I'm not sure.

[ 01-22-2002: Message edited by: Yorick ]</p>

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Yorick:


I associated snow with Europe prior to this, and orange leaves or boiling summer with New York State.
<hr></blockquote>

Snow? Us, snow? You must be mistaken... actually we DID get some snow this year - and immediately prayed for it to melt. Because, for some reason, the snow had gotten packed by the many cars and pedestrians, melted slightly, then froze into ice. After that, we had max temperatures of -5 degrees celsius for a few weeks, so we had solid ice all over the streets. It's finally begun to melt, but just last week, there were places in the city where simply WALKING could be classified as suicide, and riding a bike was out of the question *thinks of a certain ice-covered hill on the way to piano lesson...* :(

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Barry the Sprout:


Good, isn't it. I often think they do it on purpose sometimes, they see all of us pedestrians shivering and they start revving their engines. Let it never be said that car drivers have no sense of social conscience.

And Yorick? I am a student, what is this "work" you are referring to? Please explain what it is as I am completely stumped (Mwhahahahaha!!! :D ).<hr></blockquote>

;) Yeah, yeah. Moosik is my kwaft.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Yorick:
Now in America I'm deciding what to do about my accent. Do I put in the 'R's to facilitate easier communication? (Believe me it's a problem) Or do I firmly cling to Aussie pronounciation. My accent isn't strong anyway, sounds English to some ears (in Australia and here). I heard a south African on sunday who had put in the R's and it sounded demented, so now I'm not sure.

[ 01-22-2002: Message edited by: Yorick ]<hr></blockquote>


I say keep the accent, it's always a breath of fresh air to hear an Australian accent, in this sea of "New Yaulk" Accents.

I say we all take a vote.......


What do you say....

Are you with me?!?!?

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Yorick:
...Now in America I'm deciding what to do about my accent. Do I put in the 'R's to facilitate easier communication? (Believe me it's a problem) Or do I firmly cling to Aussie pronounciation. My accent isn't strong anyway, sounds English to some ears (in Australia and here). I heard a south African on sunday who had put in the R's and it sounded demented, so now I'm not sure.<hr></blockquote>

Hugh, darlin' - just be yourself. Don't 'lose' your accent, it's part of who you are. I LOVE accents - of all varieties. You don't need to change that to 'fit in' or be understood. ;)

*HUGS*

Hey Gray Mage [img]smile.gif[/img] , I live in Brooklyn, work in NYC. I work in a fairly small Russian networking company on 6th Ave and 57th... And on my days off I go to NYC a lot hehe, so if you're around there perhaps we can go eat lunch or something heheh.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Durwyn:
Hey Gray Mage [img]smile.gif[/img] , I live in Brooklyn, work in NYC. I work in a fairly small Russian networking company on 6th Ave and 57th... And on my days off I go to NYC a lot hehe, so if you're around there perhaps we can go eat lunch or something heheh.<hr></blockquote>


I just moved from 745 5th avenue, btwn 57th & 58th(small world), Now I'm down by times square, lunch would be cool.