Weather in New England

Everyone knows about weather in New England. What's the old saying?  "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes." 

Brrrr. 

Well, judging by the way 2013 has started, the month of January has been the epitome of what it means to live in the Northeast. 

You have to feel for the local meteorologists. I mean, how can one day be sixty degrees, and a few days later, snow and ice.  

Then another week, things "warmed up" to the high 40's so I decided to take the hose out of the garage and give my car a wash, just like it was, um, September. 

But this is January right.  Global warming.  Well, hold everything.  

Yes, things got a bit chilly last week. Yep, single digits while walking the dog and single digits while trying to get to work. 

But wait, a minute.  Enjoy that cup of Coffee Exchange Coffee, because now a week later, we're back up in the high 40's, and low and behold, the forecast calls for 54 degrees and rain.  I mean, it was 5 degrees a few days ago.  Think about that swing for a moment.  

Well, it is January in New England, after all. I do need to wash my car again. 

Warming up to winter hoops

Build it, and they will come.

Bryant takes on LIU at a packed Chace Athletic Center on Jan. 26, 2013 

Well, they sure did on this particular Saturday. Everyone loves a winner. That's no secret.  My recent saying is "there's plenty of room on the bandwagon, jump on board."

In this particular instance, Bryant basketball has taken its fair share of lumps on the chin with its move to Division I.  A jump that is not easy to do by any stretch. It takes time and patience and there were many nights where the gym was "filled" with a few students, family and occasional strangers who happened to wander into the building looking for a restroom.

Fast-forward to 2013. Things have changed quite dramatically.  The team has some players.  Players wo can score.  Players who can rebound. And they are being rewarded in the win column.

Crazy crowd at the Chace today for Bryant and LIU @bryantathletics twitter.com/jasonsullivan5…

— Jason Sullivan (@jasonsullivan5) January 26, 2013

On Saturday, the Bulldogs played host to two-time defending championship Long Island, and the fans came out in droves. Bryant's had some great crowds before. In 2005, the team hosted then No. 2 Bentley College in a game where the fire marshall ordered the doors closed as the gym was at full capacity.

With LIU in town, the gym didn't reach capacity, but certainly came close, with 2,300 screaming fans turning the place into a sweaty sauna.

Like the Bentley game, the Bulldogs came up just short in the final seconds, but something magical is happening in Smithfield.

Get your ticket early.

Where has everything gone?

There’s a great Rhode Island saying (and probably elsewhere as well) where locals offer directions by using former landmarks that are no longer there. Guess that makes sense, but if you are new to the area, good luck trying to find that left turn by the old Ann & Hope building that was Ames before it changed to an empty parking lot.

Uh, okay.

I'm okay with it

I’m okay with it.

The Patriots lost the AFC Championship game at home against the Baltimore Ravens.  A game where the Patriots were a nine-point favorites, but came up empty in trying to get back to the Super Bowl and make amends to a heartbreaking loss to the Giants.