Thursday, January 21, 2010

25 Years Ago




Interrupting my memories of Block 37, I was reminded that 25 years ago today, our HIGH temperature was -27 with a wind chill of -77 degrees. Needless to say, a record. I worked downtown that day, just as I did when the temperature hit 106 in 1994, dressed in my monkey suit and tie. People have asked what it is like to be on an el train with the doors opening every few minutes, causing the temperature to drop ten degrees in just seconds, the cold carried by the passengers' clothing itself. I always say its like that final scene in John Carpenter's remake of The Thing, you just stare at the guy across the aisle from you, waiting to see who closes their eyes from the cold first. January of 1985 was a bitch all around.

3 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

I love the analogy with The Thing. Did you hear they are planning a Prequel to that movie?

Lana Gramlich said...

I have 3 words for that; "Fuck that noise."

James Robert Smith said...

-27??!! Great Jove! That certainly puts our recent southern "cold" spell into perspective!