Meteorology runs in my genes

We planned a fishing trip with Papa Don on Memorial Day. Papa Don provided the bait (worms, which he confirmed still tasted fresh) and poles and we provided the chocolate pie. While the pie was a surprise, I can’t take credit for the idea.  For our wedding, Papa Don actually gave us a pie plate, “the” chocolate pie recipe card, and a not-so-subtle request to come with pie in hand when we visited… I was just following instructions.

We arrived at Papa Don’s (45 min drive) by 8:15. Yes, we rise early… but so does the sun… and the boys have been noticing. We fished from the gazebo where Papa Don and his friends dump their dinner remains most nights – I find it a bit unfair that these nearly-domesticated fish come so eagerly for a meal and then get a hook instead. On my first cast I had “big slippery” on the line and he was drawing line out of my pole. Eventually the line snapped and we were left wondering how many feet long he was. We headed back to Papa Don’s apt for some morning pie and rides on his scooter.

During our visit I couldn’t help but notice all of the weather instrumentation around his apt. I believe I counted 5… but he assures me there are more. First there is a meat thermometer in the air conditioning unit (see pic – this is part of a research project he is conducting to determine why there is a large discrepancy between the temp in his living room and his bedroom; pic of research notes below), a carefully-mounted exterior temperature gauge, a 3rd unit sitting on top of the thermostat (part of another experiment I am told… or perhaps a verification source for the first experiment), and the “water temp” thermometer – this gauge is inside of a laundry bag with a long rope attached so that it can be dropped into the fishing lake. So I guess I have my answer when people ask why I chose meteorology — it runs in my genes.

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