New Year's Eve

Mornin'!  This is it...my last entry for 2017!  As I sit here doing a quick reflection of this past year, my first thought is that it gets a thumbs up.  I feel obliged to put something in writing.  Many of you don't know this but my blog allows me to see who's reading my entries.  I can't actually see "who's" reading but I can see "where" the reader is.  I'm happy and proud to say that folks from all over the world check out my weather reports for some reason.   From Steelville Missouri to Portland Oregon; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to Rio Grande, New Jersey; Jonesboro, Arkansas to Ottawa, Canada; Australia to Ukraine and so on.  Anyone reading this now...Happy New Year's  Eve!  I'm happy and grateful to report I'm alive and well with no health issues (I've graduated to an annual visit to the oncologist instead of every six months from my bout with breast cancer 5+ years ago).  My hubby and better half  (of 46 years) is alive and "partially" well (with a brand new torn meniscus...could be worse) and with no other health issues. A new grandbaby coming (to our youngest child/our daughter) was announced to us this year (due in March) as our oldest daughter married a wonderful guy this past Spring who is now part of our family extending it even a bit more I'm happy to say.  And, two days ago I left work forever stepping out of the workforce as a retiree.  As the New Year knocks on the front door, I've been keeping the focus on the present (which seems to be putting a smile on my face) because at this moment, the future looks bright, wondrous and mysterious.  Aging only proves that our lives have continued, endless twists and turns in that "Road of Life" and who knows what's next?  Retirement is making me smile but also makes me bite my lip.  I keep wondering what's going to fill my 40 hours a week now and the only answer I'm coming up with is...hunkering down this very very cold weekend.  By hunkering I mean...layered sweats, homemade soup, good music, fireplace on, reading my book, watching the Mummers Parade tomorrow, catching up on movies, bundling up the pooch and taking our walk along the Harbor, and walking around to the local neighborhood dive bar (The ShipNShore) and sit right at the harbor watching the Eagles game with a couple pints this afternoon.  All this happening on a bitter cold pretty much-deserted island down the Shore!  I'll take it. I'll think of retirement Tuesday when I would normally be heading into work.
So speaking of "bitter cold"...it's is 7° wind chill factor as the porch thermometer said 21° this morning.  The wind is howling (both of my heavy wooden rockers were actually moved from where they were by the stiff winds) NW 25-30mph.  It'll be partly sunny / partly cloudy today with those stiff winds hanging on at 15-20mph +constant gusting.  Temps won't get any higher than 23°.  Tonight...mostly clear, low teens (12°) with an extremely dangerous wind chill of -3° as the winds continue out of the NW at 18-20mph +gusting.  Tomorrow...unfortunately it'll be a repeat of today...partly sunny, cold and blustery.  Oh...tomorrow's the "Full Moon" so you'll undoubtedly see higher tides.  Even with the harbor icing up, the tides still push that ice up and down...it's pretty cool (the ice moans as it lifts and lowers).  So I guess I'll see you all next year on the other side. Thanks for taking time to read my words!  Happy and Healthy New Year!
High tide:5:53a.m. and 6:26p.m.
Low tide:12:13p.m.
Ocean temp:45°
Sunrise:7:16p.m.
Sunset:4:49p.m.
Moonrise:3:42p.m.

Last Weekend of 2017

Mornin'!  It's 25° in Wildwood NJ.  Every time I hear "25" I don't know why but always think of the movie Jaws as Quint disputes Hooper's announcement of the size of the great white by yelling out "25" after the shark swims alongside the boat.  There's a thin blanket of snow on the island as snow continues to shower down from the overnight.  We're only supposed to get a dusting to an inch as it'll be cloudy today with on and off snow showers at least until later this afternoon.  Temps will rise into the low-mid 30s with breezes currently out of the S-SW at 15-20mph but will be switching from the W-NW at 20-25mph.  Oh...we could see peeks of sun before the sun sets. You never know...it could make for a beautiful sunset.  Tonight...mostly clear with some leftover clouds and dry as this snowy system heads on up the road.  Temps will be where they are now...mid-upper 20s with NW breezes at 30-33mph.  Tomorrow...a mix of clouds and sun and very cold...high in the low 20s.  Monday...sunny but even colder and windier.
High tide:5:30p.m.
Low tide:11:18a.m.
Ocean temp:45°
Sunset:4:48p.m.

The Big Chill Continues

Mornin'!  It's 17° in Wildwood NJ.  It's overcast with a Northerly breeze at 6-8mph and wind chill factor (feels like 8°).  It wasn't easy hitting that back porch with nightgown and slippers! We're staying with the Big Chill a bit longer.  Today's going to start out with cold temps and cloudy skies.  Today's temps will barely get out of the upper 20s with Ms Sun showing up later this morning / early afternoon.  Breezes will be out of the W-NW at 10-12mph.  Tonight...mostly clear, low 20s, Northerly breezes at 10-12mph.  Tomorrow...homemade soup (french onion is being tossed around since we have more onions in the root cellar than we handle) kinda day to go along with the gray skies and snow showers throughout tomorrow's raw, cold weather. Temps will be in the low-mid 30s and Westerly winds 10-20mph.  Don't get too excited about that temperature though as Sunday and Monday have low-mid 20s as a high and that's not including the wind chill.
High tide:4:29p.m.
Low tide:10:22a.m.
Ocean temp:45°
Sunrise:7:16a.m.
Sunset:4:47p.m.

Sunny and Very Cold

Mornin'!  It's 18° in Wildwood NJ.  It feels like 7° with the wind chill (winds out of the N-NW 20-25mph).  It's brutally cold out there.  I'll have to be honest...I left no time to stand and soak in the island.  I missed it if there was a nice briny fragrance of the sea as I ran to the back door almost squealing in frigid pain.  I did note the clear sky with stars and almost full moon (Full Moon kicks off the New Year) shining in the cold darkness.  It'll be a bit on the brutally cold side even though Ms Sun's checking in and shining down today and tomorrow.  Not so much on Saturday as we're still supposed to get a full day of snow showers.  Today will be sunny, in the low-mid 20s with winds continuing out of the N-NW at 20-25mph creating that wind chill.  Tonight...clear with temps back down into the upper teens with N-NW winds.
High tide: 3:23p.m.
Low tide:9:23a.m.
Ocean temp:46°
Sunrise:7:16a.m.
Sunset:4:47p.m.

Wintry Humpday

Mornin'!  It's 28° in Wildwood NJ.  It's overcast with a light breeze out of the North at 10-15mph.  It'll be overcast and gray throughout the day...well at least until later this afternoon (Ms Sun may peek through) with temps hovering around where they are now.  Breezes...same.  Tonight...clear, temps in the mid 20s with breezes out of the N-NW at 23-26mph.  Tomorrow...sunnier but colder temps.  We're still seeing snow on Saturday's forecast.
High tide:2:20p.m.
Low tide:8:19a.m.
Ocean temp:46°
Sunrise:7:15a.m.
Sunset:4:46p.m.

Sunny with Some Clouds Thrown In

Mornin'!  It's 30° in Wildwood NJ.  Hope all my readers had a lovely Christmas Day.  Hubby and I did our little road trip Christmas eve to spend the evening along with Christmas Day at our daughter's with the family. I'm very grateful for that lovely holiday weekend. We arrived back on the island last night. As I stepped onto the back porch this morning to check the weather conditions, the first thing I noticed was the quiet.  No sounds of the ocean crashing.  No sounds of any vehicles.  No tree leaves rustling.  Just total dead silence.  There is some milky cloud cover (I could spot a few stars here and there). It's a little breezy (W-NW 18-24mph) and you can feel the winds. No more rustling leaves (this weekend's blustery weather finished off any leaves remaining on the trees). It'll be a cold and breezy day (W-NW 10-20mph) with temps in the mid-30s with a mix of clouds and sun.  Tonight...clear and cold with temps in the mid-upper 20s with a wind chill of 19° as breezes will be out of the West at 10-15mph.  Tomorrow...much like today but a tad colder especially tomorrow night...12° is in the forecast.  Friday and Saturday...I'm watching what could be a snowstorm on the island.
High Tide:1:21p.m.
Low Tide:7:04a.m. and 7:31p.m.
Ocean Temp:47°
Sunrise:7:15a.m.
Sunset:4:45p.m.

Christmas Eve

Mornin'!  Happy Christmas Eve! It's 39° in Wildwood NJ. It's cloudy and breezy (NW 6-12mph).  We may see Ms Sun rise and shine this morning but the clouds aren't going anywhere.  It could make for a beautiful sunrise, but you know...always remains to be seen!  It'll be a mostly cloudy day with temps in the mid-40s and breezes out of the NE at 10-15mph.  Later this afternoon... cloudy and early tonight...the light showers begin as temps drop back down into the mid-30s.  Later tonight...rain into the very early hours of Christmas morning.  Once the rain passes through, the winds will be checking in.  Expect a cold, mostly sunny, blustery day for  Christmas with temps barely tapping 40°.  Merry Christmas everyone!
High tide:11:38a.m.
Low tide:5:40p.m.
Ocean temp:47°
Sunset:4:44p.m.