So the one thing I would complain about from the conference trip is something that I've noticed a lot here. Here's the story.
When we were going to dinner, my former student suggested a little brewpub, and we enthusiastically agreed. When we arrived, a sign outside said that the patio was now open: Spring seems to have arrived, after all. The sky was wide-open and blue; the sun was high and bright. There was a nice breeze, and the temperature hovered near 72. No cloud dared intrude on the idyllic moment.
Naturally, I suggested we sit on the patio.
And the response? "It's too hot."
It's a good thing I hadn't found something to drink yet, as I'd have surely choked on it or possibly spit it out.
"Too hot?" I asked, stunned. "This is pretty much the definition of a perfect day."
"You're from Texas. You're used to this."
Used to 70 degrees? Yeah, at Christmas. If I was lucky. I don't care where you live: the day 70 degrees is too hot, you need to see your doctor and/or possibly be put down like a lame horse. I'm not sure what the ideal temperature is for folks from the area. Based on the numbers I've heard them complain about (in large numbers), I think it sits somewhere between 51 degrees and 53 degrees.
We wound up sitting inside - in the air condition, for Christ sakes. It makes no sense - and it feels like a tragedy to me. I just had to get it off my chest.
My emotions around work
2 days ago
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4 Responses to “You Are My (Lukewarm) Sunshine”
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Yo, 70 degrees is indeed perfect. Your former student needs some more schooling, if you know what I mean. Or something.
April 19, 2008 at 10:25 PM72??? That's too cold! I'd only have the beer out there if I had along a spare sweater for when the breeze picked up.
April 19, 2008 at 10:55 PMyou're right. that is a tragedy.
April 19, 2008 at 11:32 PMWhat was everybody wearing? I'd imagine they were wearing typical "spring" conference attire for people from that region, which means winter clothing? If you had a female student along and she was wearing, say, a sweater-dress, yes, indeed, it would be too hot to have a lengthy-ish lunch outside, if she were going back to the conference. So you are right - 70-75 degrees IS the perfect day - but also I have sympathy for those who said it was too hot. The thing is, people from your neck of the woods think it's gross to sweat in dressy clothes. They'd never want to go back to the afternoon's events after that. But also they don't know how to dress in layers, and so it's not like they can peel off clothes to enjoy the weather at lunchtime and then return to whatever refreshed. (This was a skill I had to learn when I moved "south" from all other places I'd lived, a place where spring happens a full 2 months before it happens anywhere I'd ever had to dress professionally.)
April 20, 2008 at 9:10 AMPost a Comment