Monsoon's Snow Alert!® for 4 December 2009
Regarding the Saturday 12/5 snow event: A few of the models are blowing this event up into an eight-incher, but I think we all need to whoa the horsey and take a reasonable look at this thing: it's going to be a fairly glancing blow to our area.
Rain showers and drizzle Saturday early afternoon will quickly turn to snow, tapering toward midnight. High temp around 38 and falling through the afternoon and evening. Accumulations will be widely variable. Some areas could get as much as 3-4 inches; some will just get a coating to an inch. Most places will see an inch or two of accumulated snowfall. In general, places south and west of Philadelphia will see more accumulation than places north and east.
Once the rain changes over to wet snow, it won’t “stick” at first because surface temperatures are so moderate. But cold air aloft will filter down in a hurry, bringing temperatures down and making roads Saturday night potentially slushy and a bit slippery. Use caution.
Becoming sunny and clear Sunday with a high only in the low 40s. Look for sunny conditions and highs in the mid 40s during the first part of next week as well.
Next good chance of snow is around the 15th or 16th.
Monsoon's Precipitation Update for Tuesday night, 1 December 2009
Just wanted to alert you to two developing weather stories: heavy rain and wind on Wednesday and possible snow showers this weekend!
Wednesday 12/2 will begin with partly cloudy skies; clouds will increase ahead of a storm front. Expect light to moderate rain to begin by about 2 or 3pm. The rain will intensify (buckets!) throughout the evening and overnight, dropping three-quarters of an inch in most places with an inch or more locally. Watch for flooding in isolated areas. Temperatures will hold rather steady in the neighborhood of 50 for much of the day and evening Wednesday.
Rain will taper into Thursday morning, with a few lingering showers possible into Thursday afternoon. Look for strong winds in excess of 20mph—with gusts exceeding 30mph—overnight and into Thursday morning. Winds will diminish throughout the day on Thursday.
Expect a high into the mid 50s Thursday, followed by a low around freezing as the cold front completes its journey.
Friday 12/4 is looking sunny and cool with a high in the mid 40s and lows into the upper 20s.
On Saturday we could see a few rain and/or snow showers throughout the day, but right now it’s not looking like the moisture is organized enough (nor is the air going to be cold enough) to make this our fifth December 5th snowstorm in the 2000s. Expect highs not above 40 (and falling through the day) and lows Saturday night in the upper 20s. If this becomes anything to get worked up about, I’ll let you guys know.
Sunny, clear and calm for Sunday with a high in the low 40s and a low in the upper 20s.
Next week is looking cool with highs in the mid 40s, and even colder later in the week, when temperatures won’t even get out of the 30s. Look out for a bit of rain on Wednesday 12/9 or Thursday 12/10.
Stay tuned!
Monsoon's One-Year Bunkiversary Extravaganza!
Woof.
It is time once again to celebrate the life and times of The Bunk, who just turned 15 months old. This time last year (Thanksgiving break) was when that magnificent little fuzzball came into our lives.
Over the past few months, The Bunk has acquired a cousin—a Bichon Frise puppy named Buttons, who was welcomed into the Spatz family. Buttons is a wily, diminutive bundle of naughtiness, and the two of them have taken quite well to hanging out together some days. The picture below is a fine illustration of the horseplay in which Bunk and Buttons typically indulge.
The Bunk and Buttons - so named because of his cute little button eyes - have a snarling, furry romp in the kitchen
The Bunk also endured another health issue (though he’s completely fine now): he had a strange growth between two of his “toes,” and it turned out that it was a benign tumor caused by a viral infection. The upshot is that he had to have the thing removed, so about two weeks of pain pills and antibiotics and a wrapped paw followed that. We did use the “cone” for a few days, but he found a way to winkle out of it in his crate anyway, so we just abandoned it. Besides, he left the dressing alone and was, over all, a champ about the whole process.
The Bunk, heavily medicated, rests in his favorite spot; note the bandage on the left front paw
Since he was drugged up and just wanted to be left alone to sleep, Mrs. Monsoon and I neglected to brush him consistently. As a result, by the middle of this month, The Bunk’s coat was a frowzy mass of tangles and mats. And so, the good people at Total Dog and a Little Cat had to shear our boy dramatically when he returned to their fold for some grooming.
The Bunk, shorn, relaxes with loved ones on Thanksgiving Day
We did have The Bunk in a Halloween costume, but he was clad in it so fleetingly that no in-focus photographic evidence exists of this event. We managed to cram a bat-themed headband on him and he sat still long enough for us to snap a picture. Soon thereafter, he cuffed the offending headgear off and began to attack it.
The Bunk wears bat headband, fleetingly
For the upcoming holiday, I make this promise: I will clothe The Bunk in festive garb, take a picture of the result, and post it here on the weblog. Speaking of the holidays, here is a shot of The Bunk attacking a little stuffed reindeer toy I could not resist purchasing today at Petsmart.
The Bunk vs. stuffed reindeer toy; Monsoon's prediction: reindeer will be headless by December
The Bunk continues to amaze us each and every day with his steadfastness, his devotion, his sweetness. He follows us around, from floor to floor and room to room, simply because he needs to be near us—not in an annoying way, but it a faithful way. Marika noted on Thanksgiving Day that The Bunk is "a leaner." That is, when he wants to show affection or wishes to be petted, he leans into this person in the most snuggly (yet insistent) way. When one of us comes home—or kith and kin come for a visit—he can’t help jumping up to signal his joy. We’re still trying to curtail this behavior, but haven’t yet had much success.
I’ll wrap up here with a couple more pictures of The Bunk for your delight. Enjoy the rest of your holiday break!
The Bunk sits adorably by the window. Face it: he's the most beautiful dog in the whole world. Seriously. Get over it.
The Bunk takes a well-earned break from roughhousing with Buttons
Monsoon's Quick Weather Update for Thanksgiving 2009
Gobble.
Just wanted to give you a quick update on the holiday weekend weather, as well as what to expect as we head into December…
Tuesday night: Misty and drizzly overnight with a low in the low 40s.
Wednesday 11/25: After a foggy early morning, expect mostly cloudy skies with scattered periods of light rain and drizzle. High 54, low 44.
Thursday 11/26: Clouds mixed with sunshine and a slight chance of an afternoon shower; rain more likely Thursday evening and overnight into Friday. High 58, low 40.
Friday 11/27: Cloudy, chilly and windy with showers throughout the morning and afternoon. Showers tapering at night with clearing overnight. High 44, low 33.
Saturday 11/28: Mostly sunny and very windy, particularly early. Slight chance of some early-morning light snow showers as precipitation moves away; no accumulation to speak of. High 47, low 32.
Sunday 11/29: Partly cloudy and breezy. High 50, low 35.
Monday 11/30: Partly cloudy to start, then clouding up with a chance of rain in the evening. High 53, low 39.
Tuesday 12/1: Overcast and rainy as a cold front moves into the area. Temperatures will dip precipitously at night. High 52, low 27.
The remainder of the week: Noticeably colder with highs only in the mid 40s and lows into the mid 20s.
The following weekend and beyond: Even colder, with highs not even making it out of the 30s for much of this period. The first chance of snowfall appears to be headed into the area around December 7th or 8th…
Have a restful and agreeable Thanksgiving break.
Sarah Palin Book Signing Interviews
Check out this video of Sarah Palin fans waiting outside a Columbus, Ohio Borders for her book signing last week.
It makes one wonder how this country ever elected someone like Barack Obama.
Favorite quotes from her supporters:
"Um, fairness? Realness?" - on what specific policies Sarah Palin stands for
"The way the country's goin', I wonder if we're gonna have an election in 2012."
"I don't even think he's an American citizen." - from a "birther"
"When you're right, you don't have a compromise. Compromise is for people that are wrong."
"We do need to have profiling. I mean, the politically correctness has got to get out now. I mean, we're Americans, and she sticks up for the American people. Not for other people. We're first, other people last."
"To be honest witchu, I don't know anything about her foreign policy."
"Limit spending and ... cap and trade, and all that."
"Well, his Marxism, Leninism, socialism..." - on what Barack Obama intends to institute in America, according to his books
"The state that she did govern was right across the street from Russia."
Chilling. Breathtaking. Depressing.
Comments? I welcome any and all.
Monsoon's Forecast - including the official Monsoon Martin Winter Weather Outlook® for 2009-2010
After an unseasonably warm weekend, temperatures are going to take a steady nosedive over the next couple of weeks, leading perhaps to our first snowstorm! Temperatures overnight tonight will get into the mid 30s.
Below the WeatherTable and narrative is my Winter Weather Outlook for 2009-2010. Enjoy! Comments and counter-predictions are welcome.
The weather:
Weather narrative: Cooler this week with highs in the mid to upper 50s. Mainly dry with showers and drizzle possible late Thursday and throughout the day Friday. The weekend looks nice: highs in the mid 50s and autumnally crisp.
We’ll begin next week with a bit of rain, after which temperatures will begin to dip – highs will be in the upper 40s to about 50.
The following weekend is looking potentially interesting (note the four-letter word in the WeatherTable) and much colder.
Beyond the forecast: The cold trend will continue into December as highs stay in the mid to upper 30s and lows will continue to dip well into the 20s.
Winter Weather Outlook: And, as promised, here is the official Monsoon Martin Winter Weather Outlook® for 2009-2010. I’ve examined the data, I’ve crunched the numbers, I’ve consulted the models, and I’ve mulled my hunches. Here’s what I came up with…
Over all, I expect that the upcoming winter will be a bit colder than normal, and we’ll have a bit more snowfall than normal. (Snowfall totals for Berks and Lancaster Counties usually average in the range of upper 28” to 34”. Philadelphia and suburbs are usually in the low to mid 20s. This forecast is for Berks and Lancaster Counties only.)
December will begin with colder than normal temperatures and some wet snow by the 2nd week of the month. I think we could also see a small Nor’easter by mid-month. Things dry out for a couple of weeks, but the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day may be snowy. Predicted snowfall: 6”
January will begin with mild and rainy weather, followed by a period of relative pleasantness. By mid-month we’ll see some snowstorms (or ice storms), and they’ll make an appearance at the frigid end of the month too. Predicted snowfall: 12”
February looks bitterly cold, especially the first two weeks. I see a couple of Nor’easter storms this month, either of which could bring blizzard-like conditions and dump in excess of a foot of snow in the region. The month ends, and March begins, with moderating temperatures and rainy weather. Predicted snowfall: 18”
March will bring another smaller storm, and then we’ll see a warm-up by mid-month. This rapid thaw could bring significant flooding in some areas. Predicted snowfall: 4”
The Recap: An active winter lies ahead: temperatures will be a bit below normal with some bitterly cold periods; snowfall will be above normal. Look for snow totals in the vicinity of 40” by the end of the season. I’m predicting 3-4 school cancellations and 5-6 delays this season. Get those scrapers, shovels, and snow-blowers ready!
Monsoonian Rhapsody: Kyma Seafood Grill
Saying there’s a great seafood restaurant to be found in Lancaster County is a bit like suggesting that it’s feasible to get an authentic cheesesteak in Mississippi, or that a white person can look good with dreadlocks. Well, Topher, let your natty dreads fly and get your cracker ass down to Biloxi to order “one, widout,” because there is a great seafood restaurant in Lancaster County.
It’s called Kyma Seafood Grill (pronounced KEY-muh, from the Greek word for wave), and it opened on June 30th, 2009. Locale is 1640 North Reading Road (Route 272) in Denver at the former site of the Silk City Diner, in the same building as Johnny’s Steakhouse, which is located downstairs and is accessed at the rear of the building.
Brothers Nick and George Barakos, who own both Johnny’s and Kyma, basically gutted both the drab, pedestrian interior and the mediocre, family-restaurant menu of the Silk City Diner, leaving only the footprint of the former eatery. The result is a sleek, modern décor with upscale touches: neon blue and red strip lights lining the top edge of the main dining room, wave murals and a dynamic, wave-inspired logo, and lots of dark wood. The brightly-lit bar area is contrasted by more moderately lighted seating areas—booths and tables—accommodating about 160 patrons.
But it’s the fresh, masterfully prepared food at Kyma that will make us go back for more. Kyma’s single-page, oversized menu includes both cold and hot appetizers, all in the $10 price range, as well as a variety of salads (in the $10-$15 range). Kyma offers specialty drinks as well as more traditional fare, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. (Mrs. Monsoon recommends the Fallen Mermaid martini—and making sure you have a ride home.) Most impressive to me is the fact that they use Pepsi fountain products; most restaurants, to their detriment, use Coca-Cola or concoct their own, vaguely cola-like travesties.
The entrées include seafood and steaks—most of which are in the $15-$20 range, with some $25 or a bit more, depending on market price. Check the menu for details, but entrée offerings include ahi tuna, halibut, tilapia, steak & lobster tail, and various shrimp and crab dishes. Kyma is particularly known for its Colossal Crab Cake, if online reviews are to be believed. The steaks are the same that are served at Johnny’s Steakhouse downstairs, so the quality and preparation are outstanding. In addition, entrées come with choice of soup or salad and one side; sides include fries, roasted garlic mashed potato, steam veggies, rice pilaf, and more.
We visited Kyma on Saturday night, arriving at about 5:15. We were greeted immediately and seated in a small side room that offered privacy but did not leave us feeling “cut off” from the rest of the patrons. (We did not have to wait, but the place got crowded pretty quickly. On our way out, we noticed several parties waiting to be seated.) Our waitress, Madeline, was exceptional, offering drink and entrée ideas, answering questions, and chatting amiably about her own background and preferences. The timing of salad and soup, then entrée, was exquisite. She was also snappy with a Pepsi refill, bringing a replacement before I even had to ask. The ambiance and professionalism of the staff left the impression of a popular dining spot in the city rather than a restaurant along a mostly industrial stretch of 272.
After the obligatory bread and butter, Mrs. Monsoon and I settled in and made our choices: I would have the Snow Crab Legs (1 ½ lbs. steamed, with butter, $22), with a cup of the Chesapeake Crab soup and a side of fries; she would have the Chilean Sea Bass ($25) with the roasted garlic mashed potato and a side salad.
Friends, yum. The house vinaigrette on the side salad was very good; the thick-cut sea bass was grilled lightly and cooked to perfection. The crab soup had a bit of “bite” to it, but I have a lightweight palate for hot n’ spicy fare, and I was just fine.
The crab legs were freaking delicious. They’d been “scored” and steamed flawlessly, so the shells cracked easily and yielded large chunks of succulent meat. There was a little side of melted butter, too, but the sweet crab scarcely needed it. The fries were out of this world—batter-dipped, crispy, and flavorful.
The food at Kyma is prepared just the way the menu indicates, with no unnecessary ingredients or culinary-school flourishes. It is not fussy or pretentious, and the cook had not smeared old bay seasoning over everything. Those who know me can vouch for my persnickety-hood, and have probably seen a minor hissy-fit or two when an otherwise palatable food is unexpectedly slathered with a Hollandaise mushroom gravy. No such histrionics were needed at Kyma.
The food is well worth the money, but prices at Kyma are not cheap, so it’s not a place we’ll be able to afford on a regular basis. (A couple should expect a check in the $60-$70 range, before gratuity.) But I would highly recommend a visit for its delectable seafood and excellent service.
Kyma is open Tuesday through Tuesday from 4 to 10pm; Friday and Saturday from 4 to 10:30pm; and Sunday from 4 to 9pm; it is closed Mondays. Reservations are only accepted during the week and may be made by calling 717-335-3833.
Directions can be MapQuested from their website, but here are the basics…
From Reading, take 222 South to the Pennsylvania Turnpike/Denver exit. Make a right at the light at the end of the ramp. At the next light, turn left onto 272 South. Kyma will be on your right after about a mile.
From Lancaster, take 222 North to the Pennsylvania Turnpike/Denver exit. Make a left at the light at the end of the ramp. At the second light, turn left onto 272 South. Kyma will be on your right after about a mile.
From Philadelphia and suburban points, take the Pennsylvania Turnpike west to exit 286. After the toll plaza, continue straight for about a mile to the third traffic light. Turn left onto 272 South. Kyma will be on your right after about a mile.
Quick Weather Update from Monsoon for Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Well. 30s and rainy last Thursday for the Renaissance Faire trip; 70s and sunny tomorrow. Last week I was shivering in the Shire, and today the ladybugs were desperately flinging themselves against my window by the hundreds. Could we have some “average” fall weather (highs in the low 60s and upper 50s; lows in the upper 30s or low 40s, with moderate precipitation)? The answer is yes, by the weekend. Here’s a quick update.
Thursday 10/22: pleasant and unseasonably warm with plenty of sunshine. High 74, low 48.
Friday 10/23: overcast and a bit cooler with showers developing by late afternoon, continuing and becoming heavy at times overnight. High 62, low 54.
Saturday 10/24: cloudy and windy with a shower or thunderstorm early, then clearing, remaining breezy, and cooling off. High 64, low 45.
Sunday 10/25: partly cloudy, seasonably cool and breezy. High 57, low 39.
Monday 10/26: partly cloudy and autumnally appropriate. High 60, low 41.
Tuesday 10/27: more clouds than sun; a few showers. High 62, low 48.
Wednesday 10/28 & Thursday 10/29: partly to mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with some showers possible late Thursday. Highs in the mid to upper 60s; lows in the upper 40s.
Friday 10/30 and Halloween weekend: cloudy, turning colder and perhaps a little rainy on Friday night (high 58, low 36). Clear and colder on Saturday and Sunday, with highs in the mid to upper 40s, and lows in the low 30s.
The first week of November: More of the same. Those of us who haven’t yet seen the first frost will see it this week. As temperatures could dip into the upper 20s at night and there is at least one interesting system moving through, we could see some…no. I dare not speak its name yet.
P.S. Major weather outlets have released (or are preparing to release) their 2009-2010 winter weather outlooks. I am preparing such a package of prognostication and will release it by month’s end.