Good morning! Happy Sunday. Two weeks to My 34th Birthday. Assuming that I make it to my birthday as I woke up to a horrendous sinus infection. Somebody drank too much of the 36 rack I picked up at the Beverage Center after getting my dry cleaning. I’m hoping that draining my nose plus taking the good sinus meds that I found at the pharmacy a while back will make live bearable again. Already getting somewhat better. I hate winter. 

Mostly sunny and 32 degrees in Delmar, NY. There is a northwest breeze at 8 mph. Not a terrible morning and a nice day on tap. Breeze is making it a bit chilly when the sun ducks under the clouds. But the blue skies raining into my bedroom is nice. I’m thinking about going out hiking to get some fresh air this afternoon but I’ll see how I feel. Watching Meet the Press right now. 

Today will be partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high of 34 degrees at 2pm. Five degrees above normal. Northwest wind 8 to 10 mph. A year ago, we had cloudy skies and a high of 42 degrees. The record high of 65 was set in 1995. 13.4 inches of snow fell back in 1983.

Got most of the things done I needed to get done yesterday, including picking up my dry cleaning, my new blazer, and two more dress shirts. I should be set for work clothing for a while. Also bought some stain removers for the carpet stains. Seems to work decently although at some point I should consider renting a carpet cleaner for downstairs. Broke the belt for my new vacuum cleaner when a tarp tie got caught in it but I’m sure I can order a five pack of belts online. It seems easy to change and replace. Checked the oil and fluids on my pickup truck and it was fine although I needed to add some windshield washer fluid. I got to get to the car wash, maybe on Tuesday or Wednesday after work.  

I think with the sinus infection, camping is off the table for tonight. That’s fine as the weather is expected to be relatively cold and the nights long. I’m also concerned about ice and snow on the roads. Maybe next weekend, although I have to be back for the Albany Pine Bush hike on Sunday afternoon. Or I might wait until it warms up and the time changes in March. I almost want to save the milage on my truck until nicer weather. 

Tomorrow I might go hiking in the Catskills depending on the weather and how I feel. Not sure where I’m going but maybe around North South Lake Campground again. We will see. Probably Northern Catskills, and I’m not sure if I’m ready for the high peaks especially if I’m recovering from the sinus infection. 

The sun will set at 4:48 pm with dusk around 5:19 pm, which is 1 minutes and 11 seconds later than yesterday. Today will have 9 hours and 26 minutes of daylight, an increase of 1 minute and 41 seconds over yesterday.

Tonight will be clear, with a low of 17 degrees at 6am. One degree above normal. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. In 2016, it got down to 29 degrees with periods of rain and snow. The record low of -16 occurred back in 1971.

As previously noted, there are 2 weeks until My 34th Birthday when the sun will be setting at 5:06 pm with dusk at 5:36 pm. On that day in 2016, we had snow and temperatures between 38 and 25 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 31 degrees. We hit a record high of 54 back in 2002.

I got a nasty letter from the landlord about excessive water use. I’ve not seen any leaks in my apartment but who knows about the other units. Maybe an underground leak.  He did fix my sink last summer and I’ll make sure to give him a call if I see more leaks. Of he raises the rent too much to cover the leak, I’ll move out. I like the location but there are other nice apartments available in the same range without the mildew problems. I’ve lived here going on a decade now. I probably will stay in the city where I can catch a bus to work but I’m willing to keep an open mind.