Feb 8: Staying Warm

I took a little drive along the Fort Lauderdale beach today. Workers continue to clean up from the huge band-on-the-sand Super Bowl party held there this weekend. But lots of Super Bowl tourists clearly are still in town, soaking up the warm temperatures and sunshine. I know this in part because of all the football stuff they're wearing - like some loyal folks in Peyton Manning jerseys. And who can blame any of these people for not hurrying home? I'd linger here too if I was living anywhere much north of Atlanta. Wow, what a storm in the Mid-Atlantic region, huh? I mean, when the president of the United States is calling it "snowmageddon," this should tell us how nasty it really is. No thanks. As an ex-northerner, I've been through it many times and don't miss that mess one bit.

Think about it. The federal government shut down. And airports shut down too. And all the schools. I read that the weather experts recorded 18 inches of snow at Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC and 32 inches not far away at Dulles International Airport. That's serious snow anywhere, but in Washington? Like the prez said, "snowmageddon."

Oh and down here, how's our weather you ask? Is it warm in Super Bowl land? Well, you may have noticed some fans sitting in shortsleeves last night during the game. According to my car's temperature gauge just now, the outside air was 68 degrees and climbing. I hate to say this if you're living up in the big storm somewhere, but even that mild temperature feels slightly nippy to those of us who live in South Florida. I'm wearing a winter shirt and jacket when the tourists are walking around in tank tops. But it's a lovely day and I had my car windows open as I drove south on A1A, past the Fort Lauderdale hotel where the NFL Headquarters was located and past the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center that served as the home for all the Super Bowl media. The game's over but our great weather is just getting revved up. From this point on for the next few months, South Florida should enjoy its most pleasant temperatures of the year. The high today is supposed to be around 73 degrees. Tomorrow, it goes up to nearly 80. That'll be nice - I can finally get out of these winter clothes.