50 degrees=Shorts + T-Shirt

October 22nd, 2007 at 09:11pm Walla Words 461

Well, I just returned last night (Sunday) from a trip to Stanford, CA. It’s always a pleasure to spend time in sunny California…and it lived up to its name. No rain, sunshine, with a light wind. A temperature far below what I would see in Texas this time of year…at least that’s what I thought!

But, of course, I would be wrong.

I expected a return to sunscreen and sweaty golf clothes, but instead I got a cold front. Now, do not mistake this paragraph as a complaint. I make a point to take whatever weather the gods throw at me without a objection…mostly. I’m merely introducing the sheer irony of this situation.

It’s just a bit of a shock to the system when the weather first turns down here. It’s usually a good thing: a sign that November is just around the corner…and Thanksgiving…and Christmas break (not to mention my birthday, my 21^st birthday—12/12…hint, hint).

Anyway, I woke up this morning…after just five measly hours of sleep…to the sound of rain drops outside my window. Now, normally in Texas, this does not automatically come with the temperature drop I have become so accustomed to in Aspen, but today was my lucky day, apparently. 51 degrees with gusts of 28 mph! Woo wee feel that breeze! And that rain on my jeans and my shoes and socks and backpack and…well, you get the point. I mean, I should get a medal just for showing up to class today after a midnight arrival at home last night.

So…back to the point. What really shocks me more about this weather is the way people dress. Yes, you finally get to see jackets and scarves in Austin after a long awaited hot summer, but more surprisingly, the lack thereof! How is it possible that I see idiot after idiot—I mean student after student wearing shorts??! Sometimes accompanied by nothing more than a t-shirt! How does this happen? And why am I freezing my (a$$) off while these people seem not to have noticed that it is 50 degrees?!

It also makes me wonder why I’m always the cold one. I never cease to get ridiculed for my low tolerance of cold temperatures (in Texas, this usually comes in the form of overzealous A/C units. Those bastards! And yes, I’m referring to air conditioning units themselves). And while I’m on the topic, what is wrong with the world? Why do we need to waste all this energy on making sure that the fat guy in the front row doesn’t feel a drop of sweat underneath the folds in his man boobs? OK, maybe that’s taking it a little far, but do we really need it to feel like a refrigerator everywhere we go? I mean, I think the novelty of “Come on in, its cool inside!” should be long gone by now, and we can come to an understanding on the temperature! But, again, I would be wrong. And just in case you’re wondering, I have no problem complaining about indoor temperatures, because they are controlled by man. I can’t control the weather, but A/C, now that’s someone’s choice.

Now that I've got that off my chest, I can go back to those crazy shorts-wearers. Here I am, standing out in the cold wind, arms crossed, brittle bones, hunched up like an 80-year-old, wondering when the wind might stop blowing when there go six people in summer attire. I suppose I just need to re-acclimate to the cold weather. Must be the result of poor circulation. Bad genes. Either way, to you crazy fools that don’t realize when you need to be wearing fleece and rain gear: take a gander out the window before you dress. Check out the weather forecast, and stop distracting me with your inane lack of clothing. Is it a fashion statement? Is it pure ignorance? Is it a test of willpower? Can someone please explain how this is possible? I really would like to know what is pumping through their veins that's missing from mine. I look forward to your reply. Thanks, and enjoy the snow.

Entry Filed under: Fashion, Sports, Education, Aspen, Colorado, People, Pitkin County, Outdoors, Women, United Post

12 Comments Add your own

1. Mitch.Mulhall | October 23rd, 2007 at 8:23 am

Hi Kristin,

A couple of observations:

1. During high school at GSHS, our football coach wore short sleeve shirts for every game, day or night, in sun, wind, rain, or snow. We had some pretty good teams back then, which meant playing into late December, as I recall. Yet, there was coach Miller, standing on the sideline in a short sleeve T-shirt. In retrospect, I think he wore short sleeve shirts as a gesture of support—if his players had to play in the conditions, he had to brave them, too, or something like that.

2. A colleague of mine wears shorts about 365 days per year. I saw him in a pair of Levis the other day and did a double-take. I thought maybe his wife was out of town… maybe he’d let the laundry pile up too high. I’ve never understood his preference for short pants, but I’m quite sure it’s a subject about which I know as much as I want to know.

Frankly, I’m surprised you don’t have more anti-freeze coursing through your veins. I remember folks in TX bundling up when it got down to about 50 degrees—tennis weather in Colorado…

Just as a heads-up, if you’ll be traveling by auto over Thanksgiving or Christmas… Beware of the inevitable ice storm. It starts out as rain, freezes, and turns everything into a popsicle, and I mean everything. Trees. Cars. You name it. Anything outside will have a quarter-inch coating of ice on it, including the sidewalks and streets.

But this is not the half of it. In these conditions almost everyone, including many people you have come to know and appreciate, will fail to drive slowly in these conditions. Worse, they will not know how to brake on ice, nor how to steer out of a spin. What may seem second nature to you is foreign to them... The point is, when an ice storm hits is the perfect time to hole up and get that term paper done.

Oh, and BTW, you're due for an ice storm any day now...

Cheers,
2. Walla Words | October 23rd, 2007 at 4:47 pm

As to your coach, that's very brave of him. Every time I flip on NFL post season it seems like those coaches are wearing down jackets almost without fail.

[Frankly, I’m surprised you don’t have more anti-freeze coursing through your veins. I remember folks in TX bundling up when it got down to about 50 degrees—tennis weather in Colorado…]
Yes, unfortunately, I may have lungs equipped for high altitude, but I missed the gene for handling cold weather. Sad, but true. When it gets cold, I put on more clothing. Ironic, isn't it, that I prefer heat...believe me, people down here are surprised at me, too.

I'm pretty sure being cold was a major factor in my decision to quit ski racing (chair lift rides with a speed suit on...are you kidding me!??) and switch to freestyle. I actually remember watching freestyle (moguls) in the '98 Winter Olympics in Nagano and thinking, "They get to wear their jackets?? Wow! I wanna do THAT sport!"

And as to the ice storm...you couldn't be more right. This place really shuts down for ice. I have had the pleasure of experiencing two major ice storms down here, and it is quite a sight. People really don't know what to do with themselves. I see a lot of credit cards used as ice-scrapers. I always chuckle. Last year I even saw about 8 snow flakes! In Texas! Can you believe it?!?

[...due for an ice storm any day}??? Not that I'm calling you a liar, but the temp actually warmed up today. I was actually kinda hot in my sweatpants/rainpants combo...lol. We'll see. Either way, I'm off to Tuscaloosa, Alabama tomorrow, and I won't be back until Sunday night. (golfstat.com/texassports.com)
3. Mitch.Mulhall | October 23rd, 2007 at 6:38 pm

Kristin,

Went to texassports.com. Looks like you're the token non-Texan on the team... Speed-suit shivers or not, it looks like you've found your sport and a good place to play it... Good luck in Tuscaloosa this weekend... I'll be looking for the results.

Cheers,
4. Mitch.Mulhall | October 23rd, 2007 at 8:12 pm

For the record... I never played for Don Miller's GSHS football team.

I did play soccer for Ralph Trapani, before GSHS had a soccer team. And I did play for the town team... a long, long time ago.

All of which is quite beside the point. But I did want to make this clarification.

Cheers,
5. reckless G | October 23rd, 2007 at 8:37 pm

Good post! I’ve often wondered at the winter shorts wearers. The shirtless skiers take the cake though!

When I first got here ten years ago I thought I’d never get used to the cold. Then a few years ago when I was working as a painter I was finishing up a job at Burt Bacharach’s house in Aspen. I’d loaded up the last of my tools and was about to take off when Burt asked if I’d give him a ride to the Club. He said he needed to get ready first and I told him I’d wait in my truck.

It was a beautiful March day, probably in the 50s. The robins were playing in the puddles of snowmelt on the driveway. Burt came out and climbed into the passenger seat. He was wearing a big down jacket and knitted cap. Looking over at me in my t-shirt and cotton work pants with my left elbow hanging out the open window, he asked; “Is winter over?”
6. Walla Words | October 24th, 2007 at 8:59 pm

Mitch,

Yes, I sure am the token non-Texan...I think next year that will be changing. It's definitely an eye-opening experience for me.

Reckless G,

Shirtless skiers deserve to fall and get raspberries on their bare skinned backs! Ha-ha...no, i don't mean that. I like the Burt story...and to think about it scientifically, I would say that when I am home, I do eventually acclimate to the cold...but I'm still colder than the rest of the locals, usually. I'd still pick a down jacket over a shell any day. And I'd rather be hot than cold.

My roomie this weekend in the hotel likes to keep it goose-bump temp in the room, so I'm hoping I brought enough warm clothing
7. Mitch.Mulhall | October 24th, 2007 at 9:36 pm

Kristin,

golfstats.com looks like a great way to see how you're doing near real-time. Right now there's nothing up there about the Ann Rhoad's Intercollegiate, but I expect that will change as the weekend approaches.

I presume you're in Alabama to get used to the course? How do you fit your studies into this golf schedule?

Cheers,
8. B Jon Traylor | October 26th, 2007 at 9:29 am

Well Kristin, seeing as though you are attending that other school in Texas, or t.u., as commonly referred to by some of us.... I'd have to summise that those who think the aweful color of burnt orange is somehow illustrious must indeed be trying to make a "fashion statement!" by wearing shorts in the cold and wet winds.
Actually, I'm sure there were greeks in togas somewhere in that town that day.
I'm just giving you some friendly ribbing. I'm an Aggie, of course, so I must do so!
I had a coach in high school in West Texas, Bud Burke was his name. I don't care how cold the late October and November nights got, or how wet or windy, he was alsways sporting a pair of black coaches shorts. He looked like of a wet version of Big Bird running up and down the sidelines yelling at me, "Penicho, Penicho, Penicho!" Thats spanish for Parrot, which of course is another story. Best of luck to you in school.
FYI -- we gonna beat the helloutta t.u. at Thanksgiving at Kyle Field. -- J
9. Mitch.Mulhall | October 26th, 2007 at 10:03 am

Looks like golfstats.com has the field up now. Looks like Kristin teed off at 8:30 am and is currently +1 through 9 holes...

Cheers,
10. Mitch.Mulhall | October 26th, 2007 at 10:14 am

Wow... you can view Kristin's scorecard near-real-time here. Check it out...

Cheers,
11. Walla Words | October 26th, 2007 at 2:50 pm

Well Penicho!

I guess we'll see what happens come Thanksgiving!

Funny anecdote...on my recruiting trip to Texas I accidentally posed a question to one of the current players, referring to the school as TU (thinking University of Colorado=CU, ergo, University of Texas=TU)...and she just about slapped me in the face! Didn't make THAT mistake twice.

Then, a year later, when returning from our first tournament, as we were exiting the airplane in Austin the pilot gave me what looked like a thumbs up sign. I, thinking nothing of this common symbolic message, returned the thumbs up to his saying, "I knew there was another Aggie on this plane!!" WHAT!??
I then turned to my teammate and asked her to clarify what made the pilot jump to that outrageous conclusion, only to find that not only have Aggie's stolen the All-American "whoop" but they have also stolen the thumbs up...and don't tell me it makes a difference that you stick out your little pinky when you do it. that does not excuse the lameness.

Keep watching golfstat people...send me some mental messages!! I'll be finishing strong tomorrow...that's a promise.

-KDub
12. Mitch.Mulhall | October 26th, 2007 at 4:13 pm

[send me some mental messages!!]

A flute without holes, is not a flute. A donut without a hole, is a Danish.
~Ty Webb, Caddyshack

Good luck tomorrow!

Cheers,