Winter 2015 January 2 Friday (Shanghai, Exercise, Freezing Rain)

31 degrees this morning, Didn’t walk due to slick areas, 1 earthquake

I felt an odd sense of personal disaster in the Shanghai New Year Eve tragedy that killed a number of people. 

Aliene and I recognized the area, it was one of the first areas when we visited Shanghai last summer and we actually were in that area several times.  I recognized the pictures of he buildings (in fact I have many pictures of the area myself).  

The weather was great when we were there and the area was a major source of entertainment, including several weddings.  

I don’t read it every day, but I glance at two on-line China english newspapers occasionally to keep up with China news.  

I recently reviewed my journals while I was there and I am glad I kept the journals, it was almost like I could relive the best parts of our trip.  

Spent a very relaxing New Year Day.  After I took my walk and posted my journal, I went out to pick up the paper and noted some freezing rain.  I don’t think it ever did really get that bad yesterday, but it is supposed to get bad today.  

We just stayed in the house all day and relaxed.  I planned to make tomorrow a “field day”, but if icy streets are coming, I have plenty to do to make it an office day!

I spent part of the time researching hand warmers, I have found them especially needed when I ride my bike and they are nice when I walk also.  My “weak” link in cold weather is my hands. 

I tend to overdress in cold weather, I really don’t realize how good the new clothes are.

Of course, one “problem” is that the clothes are made so good anymore, they literally last for years, so I haven’t updated to the new technology. I do have a good selection of “base” shirts (32 degrees brand) that are excellent at “wicking” moisture and keeping me warm, but not too warm.  I can wear them in a wide variety of temperatures.

I finally got irritated enough at cable tv this morning to call the provider and complain.  They supposedly “updated” some software, although I doubt if it is enough.

We record  all programs we watch (including sports) and watch at our leisure.  I was watching the football game from last night and it kept freezing.   

Other times programs won’t load, so it simply does not do as advertised.  (I like to watch a recorder of Jim Cramer’s “Mad Money” and it frequently won’t load at all.

It is a neat system if it worked as advertised.  There is one “DVR” and everything other TV has a “receiver”.  So anything you record on the main DVR can be reviewed on any TV on the system.  

In theory it is wonderful.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t work all that well.  It works enough that we can see how it SHOULD work, but….  

I doubt if the “software update” will really solve the problem, but at least they are trying.

Might be a challenging couple of days coming up, “freezing rain”, which to me is worse than snow.  

January 2 of the New Year.  I always think, I wonder what my concerns and joys will be a year from now.  I never know, which probably is good.

Strange how time works.  Since I didn’t walk, I technically have an “extra hour” or so this morning.  I’m running later than usual!

That’s it of now, Friday, January 2, 2015.