Thursday, March 18, 2010

70 x 3 = Park

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, and I'm going to get my butt outside as much as possible.

They have predicted three days in a row with 70 degrees as the high. Not only is that amazing for March, but if you consider that  last weekend consisted of a Nor'easter that took out power in NJ and NY, as well as flooding and destroying a huge portion of the shore, (and my personal pain of having a sinus infection) I am going to make an extra effort to make this weekend not suck.

To that effect I shall be sitting in Riverside Park with a book as soon as I can get down there. But I will do so sensibly, after slathering myself in sunblock. St. Patrick's Day may have come and gone for another year, but my skin remains Irish.
My husband mocks me all the time as to how delicate my skin is. To which I reply that not all of us can be blessed w/ rough hides covered in freckles. This, however, is just yet another reason I wish I had some Italian blood in me. Freckle-then-burn for 2 weeks-to-a month before tanning is just NOT a fun way to live.

I grew up sailing, and later became a sailing instructor, and I was always a lobster for the first two weeks. 45 waterproof means nothing to my skin. Especially if a life-jacket has been able to rub at my shoulders.  I remember one parent actually turned open-mouthed to look at me the first day of the Summer, because I was so pale. He did not understand how it was possible to be that pale. Then again, he lived down the shore all year round and had that perma-tan and accompanying squint.
Well, Mr. Chance, all I can say is I'm still winter-pale as ever, but I just turned 30 and I don't have crows feet yet. So there!

Another sun-related anomaly I do not understand is the removal of sunglasses. Personally, I wear them year-round because I have very sensitive eyes (along with the skin. You'd never know I grew up a tomboy to look at me now.) But I'm not getting at general wearing. I don't know if it happens as much in real life as it does in the movies, but why do people remove their sunglasses to see someone better in the middle of the day?
You know the scene I'm talking about. Person stops, looks more closely, and then lifts their sunglasses off their face and says recognized-person's name inquiringly. It has NEVER made sense to me. Surely you are wearing your shades because it is bright out, and they assist you in being able to see without glare or squinting. (Or in my case, slightly less glare and squinting.) So doesn't it follow that if you remove your sunglasses while trying to recognize a person, they would become HARDER to see?
I don't get it.
I'm sticking with my book and my shades are staying on.

*end note - while sitting on this bench, a very small child, sitting in an interesting contraption on the front of her daddy's bicycle, pointed at me and said, "Mommy" as they rode by. Oh my, no, little one. Not even close.

4 comments:

Melissa's Espresso Shot said...

Kudos to you for reading Agatha Christie! You just went up two cool points in my book. Looks like you're reading 'Poirot Investigates'. I actually haven't read that one. I'm reading 'Endless Night' now and it is one endless endeavor. It's okay but doesn't have Poirot or Ms. Marple in it so it isn't as good.

I wish it would be 70 here. I can't wait to enjoy the sun.

Chuck said...

I have read almost every Agatha Christie book...which one is that pray tell??

RocknRollGourmet said...

It is in fact what M.E.S. said, "Poirot Investigates" which is a series of short stories.
Perfect for reading in the park. You can read a story and then look up and spend another 20 minutes day-dreaming and people-watching before starting the next.

Erin said...

there is nothing better than reading a book outside in the warm sun. unless it would be napping midday outside in the warm sun.