Bonjour, Maman. Comment ca-va?
Where are you calling from? France? Canada?
Oui. Je suis sorti des Etats-Unis.
My mother doesn't speak French. So she knows that when I say anything in the language, I am: a.) recounting a conversation with one of my friends in France, b.) recalling some other encounter in a Francophone land or c.) playing a joke.
Today, she knew it was "c" but she confessed that, for a moment, I'd "flown the coop", if you will. And, if I did, she probably wouldn't blame me, as she shares my disdain for the President whose name I dare not say.
Then, after telling her I am in Canada, I laughed. "Well, not quite. But the conditions at the moment aren't much different.
Yesterday afternoon, students e-mailed to ask whether my classes would be in session today. My response, of course, was that they would be if the college were open. I knew that snow had been predicted, but I didn't know that by mid-afternoon, the National Weather Service was predicting blizzard-like conditions.
Last night, the decision was made to close the college, and the university of which it's a part, today. And the snow is even more intense than what was predicted last night. It's all the more amazing when one considers that yesterday afternoon, it was sunny and the temperature reached 17C (64F).
How much is it snowing? Even Citibike, this city's bike share program, shut down.
Hmm...Maybe they have to allocate part of their budget for studded tires or tires with chains.
Where are you calling from? France? Canada?
Oui. Je suis sorti des Etats-Unis.
My mother doesn't speak French. So she knows that when I say anything in the language, I am: a.) recounting a conversation with one of my friends in France, b.) recalling some other encounter in a Francophone land or c.) playing a joke.
Today, she knew it was "c" but she confessed that, for a moment, I'd "flown the coop", if you will. And, if I did, she probably wouldn't blame me, as she shares my disdain for the President whose name I dare not say.
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| Montreal sous la neige |
Then, after telling her I am in Canada, I laughed. "Well, not quite. But the conditions at the moment aren't much different.
Yesterday afternoon, students e-mailed to ask whether my classes would be in session today. My response, of course, was that they would be if the college were open. I knew that snow had been predicted, but I didn't know that by mid-afternoon, the National Weather Service was predicting blizzard-like conditions.
 |
| Astoria under the weather |
Last night, the decision was made to close the college, and the university of which it's a part, today. And the snow is even more intense than what was predicted last night. It's all the more amazing when one considers that yesterday afternoon, it was sunny and the temperature reached 17C (64F).
How much is it snowing? Even Citibike, this city's bike share program, shut down.
System Alert: Due to heavy snow in the forecast, the Citi Bike system is currently closed. Stay tuned for updates on the system reopening.
Hmm...Maybe they have to allocate part of their budget for studded tires or tires with chains.
