UNPRECEDENTED MARCH BLIZZARD

It is now Tuesday morning. Apparently our fellow Americans on the East Coast are hunkering down for the worst snowstorm ever. Surely this is a result of climate change. Nothing like this has ever happened before! Surely there have been snowstorms and blizzards on the east coast - but this is March! Spring officially starts in one week! Carbon emissions have changed the natural order of things. This is what climate change is.  This is unprecedented. This has never happened before! 

Except for the inconvenient truth that it has happened before.

from history.com

1888

Great Blizzard of ’88 hits East Coast

On this day in 1888, one of the worst blizzards in American history strikes the Northeast, killing more than 400 people and dumping as much as 55 inches of snow in some areas. New York City ground to a near halt in the face of massive snow drifts and powerful winds from the storm. At the time, approximately one in every four Americans lived in the area between Washington D.C. and Maine, the area affected by the Great Blizzard of 1888. 

On March 10, temperatures in the Northeast hovered in the mid-50s. But on March 11, cold Arctic air from Canada collided with Gulf air from the south and temperatures plunged. Rain turned to snow and winds reached hurricane-strength levels. By midnight on March 11, gusts were recorded at 85 miles per hour in New York City. Along with heavy snow, there was a complete whiteout in the city when the residents awoke the next morning.

Despite drifts that reached the second story of some buildings, many city residents trudged out to New York’s elevated trains to go to work, only to find many of them blocked by snow drifts and unable to move. Up to 15,000 people were stranded on the elevated trains; in many areas, enterprising people with ladders offered to rescue the passengers for a small fee. In addition to the trains, telegraph lines, water mains and gas lines were also located above ground. Each was no match for the powerful blizzard, freezing and then becoming inaccessible to repair crews. Simply walking the streets was perilous. In fact, only 30 people out of 1,000 were able to make it to the New York Stock Exchange for work; Wall Street was forced to close for three straight days. There were also several instances of people collapsing in snow drifts and dying, including Senator Roscoe Conkling, New York’s Republican Party leader.

Many New Yorkers camped out in hotel lobbies waiting for the worst of the blizzard to pass. Mark Twain was in New York at the time and was stranded at his hotel for several days. P.T. Barnum entertained some of the stranded at Madison Square Garden. The East River, running between Manhattan and Queens, froze over, an extremely rare occurrence. This inspired some brave souls to cross the river on foot, which proved a terrible mistake when the tides changed and broke up the ice, stranding the adventurers on ice floes. Overall, about 200 people were killed by the blizzard in New York City alone.

But New York was not the only area to suffer. Along the Atlantic coast, hundreds of boats were sunk in the high winds and heavy waves. The snowfall totals north of New York City were historic: Keene, New Hampshire, received 36 inches; New Haven, Connecticut, got 45 inches; and Troy, New York, was hit by 55 inches of snow over 3 days. In addition, thousands of wild and farm animals froze to death in the blizzard.

In the wake of the storm, officials realized the dangers of above-ground telegraph, water and gas lines and moved them below ground. In New York City, a similar determination was made about the trains, and within 10 years, construction began on an underground subway system that is still in use today.

Your Food Diary For:

Monday, March 13, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Essential Everyday - Butter Flavored Grits	500	105	5	10	1,700	5
	500	105	5	10	1,700	5
L U N C H
Maki - Maki Tuna Roll	501	95	4	23	100	0
	501	95	4	23	100	0
D I N N E R
Bobaks - smoked polish sausage	690	3	63	30	1,950	0
Broccoli - Broccoli	100	20	1	7	115	4
	790	23	64	37	2,065	4
S N A C K S
Dang - Toasted Coconut Chips, Original Recipe	400	41	24	2	400	27
	400	41	24	2	400	27
Totals	2,191	264	97	72	4,265	36
Your Daily Goal	2,796	349	93	140	2,300	104
Remaining	605	85	-4	68	-1,965	68
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

Your Exercise Diary for:

Monday, March 13, 2017

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Matrix Treadmill	60	844
Daily Total / Goal	60 / 30	844 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	60 / 210	844 / 4,130

WINDY CITY LIVES UP TO ITS NAME

Everyone knows that Chicago is the 'Windy City."  Many people know that the windy part of this description is referring to the windbag politicians that the city is known for. Actually, when it comes to politics...Chicago is know for corrupt politicians and an extremely engaged electorate. Oftentimes during elections people have been known to vote more than once. Chicago is also known for the votes among the deceased as well. As I said, a very engaged electorate!  Today, though, I was talking about actual wind.

I needed to get to my dentist today for a new cap for one of my lower molars. My dentist is four miles from home.  I chose to walk and I was able to extend that 4 mile walk into a six mile walk.  When I left my home, the temperature was a balmy 54 degrees with winds at 25 mph.

When I returned home,  the temperature had warmed by one degree, but the wind had kicked up to 36 mph. When I was walking against the wind it was extra difficult and when I was walking with the wind, it was still difficult.

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Your Food Diary For:

Friday, February 19, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
3 Egg Omelette - Ham and Cheese, 1 Omelette	400	1	30	40	1,225	0
CHERRY VANILLA GRANOLA	480	80	14	10	120	30
	880	81	44	50	1,345	30
L U N C H
Jason's Deli - SPICY SEAFOOD GUMBO, 1 Bowl	230	26	8	12	1,710	3
Jason's Deli - Amy's Turkey-o, 1 sandwich	480	56	17	29	1,380	11
Jason's Deli - Flatbread Cracker, 6 cracker	300	36	12	12	570	6
	1,010	118	37	53	3,660	20
D I N N E R
Mariano's - Meatball, 3 meatball	435	9	33	24	600	0
Mariano's - Fried Shrimp, 8 oz	340	50	0	30	800	10
Mariano's - Grilled Brussel Sprouts, 2 cup	130	26	5	11	46	0
	905	85	38	65	1,446	10
S N A C K S
CHERRY VANILLA GRANOLA	240	40	7	5	60	15
Old Scotch Whiskey, 6 ounce	414	6	0	0	0	6
WHOLE FOODS - YOGURT PRETZELS, 40 g (approx 8 pcs)	190	28	0	2	180	19
	844	74	7	7	240	40
Totals	3,639	358	126	175	6,691	100
Your Daily Goal	3,941	492	131	198	2,300	147
Remaining	302	134	4	22	-4,391	47
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 2,011 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Friday, February 19, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking, 4.5 mph, very, very brisk pace	78	1,206
Walking, 4.5 mph, very, very brisk pace	52	806
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-1
Daily Total / Goal	131 / 30	2,011 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	655 / 210	10,302 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 3639 calories

total calories burned (elliptical) 2012 calories

total net 1627 calories

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fitbit day 170

20344 steps  

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Saturday weight 229 lbs

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THE MOVIE THAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT

If you do not know what the movie is that everyone is talking about, then the premise of the title is false. Still, I think that you can figure out that I am talking about Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  As the months and years were approaching after this film was announced, I had little interest. Only about 48 hours prior to its Friday release, did I get bitten by the hype.  I read that that this movie was much like the original films from the late 70's early 80's. I read that the film had a mix of action, emotion and humor. Everything that I read turned out to be true. I went with my 13 year old daughter who had low expectations for this film. As I sat in my reserved seat, which completely reclined, with some snacks that were 'smuggled' in from the outside, I found myself transported to another time and place. The movie claims that the action takes place "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...."  That is meant to be the location and timeline of the story. I found myself transported a long time ago, not quite in far away galaxy, but far enough from where I am now. I found myself transported into the 17 year-old who viewed that first movie nearly 40 years ago when I was living on Long Island. The movie surprised my daughter who also enjoyed it. The movie was both new, inventive and familiar all at once. This prediction is not too difficult to make: The movie will be financially successful. It deserves it. 

Your Food Diary For:

Saturday, December 19, 2015

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
steel cut oatmeal - steel cut oat meal	600	108	10	20	0	4
Starbucks - Reduced-fat Turkey Bacon	230	28	6	13	560	3
	830	136	16	33	560	7
L U N C H
Campbell's  Manhattan Clam Chowder	240	36	6	10	1,600	6
Generic - Whitefish, Lightly Blackened	183	0	2	40	1,734	0
Generic - Grilled Brussel Sprouts, 1 cup	65	13	3	6	23	0
	488	49	10	55	3,357	6
D I N N E R
Trader Joe's - Turkey Jerky Original, 4 oz	240	24	0	44	1,080	20
	240	24	0	44	1,080	20
S N A C K S
WHOLE FOODS CHERRY  GRANOLA	420	70	12	9	105	26
WHOLE FOODS DRIED MANGO SLICES	110	28	0	2	1	20
WHOLE FOODS DATE PIECES	240	60	0	2	20	44
Add Food Quick Tools	770	158	12	13	126	90
Totals	2,328	367	39	145	5,123	123
Your Daily Goal	3,329	416	111	167	2,300	124
Remaining	1,001	49	72	21	-2,823	0
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 1,399 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
MATRIX TREADMILL	65	635
Walking, 4.5 mph, very, very brisk pace	36	504
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	260
Add Exercise Quick Tools
Daily Total / Goal	102 / 30	1,399 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	794 / 210	11,895 / 4,130

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total calories consumed 2328 calories

total calories burned (treadmill, short walk) 1139 calories

total net calories 1189 calories

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fitbit day 108
20595 steps

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