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Sunday, August 24, 2008

Hot Town, Summer in the City, Back of My Neck Feeling…

posted by on August 24 at 17:46 PM

…wet, sopping fucking wet.

summerday2008%2Cjpg.jpg

It’s August, right? Not complaining. Just asking.

RSS icon Comments

1

Slummin' it by the stadiums, eh?

Posted by Justin | August 24, 2008 5:58 PM
2

diz eez da nordwess

wad u esspek?

Posted by agkagk | August 24, 2008 6:04 PM
3

Sure we can sit around in a funk, or we can do what the good people of Cherbourg do (as captured in Jacques Demy's wonderfully intimate documentary) - carry colorful umbrellas about and sing every word that comes out of your mouth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vuq62H25qis

Posted by kinaidos | August 24, 2008 6:17 PM
4

moving isn't an option?

Posted by DW | August 24, 2008 6:20 PM
5

This is a job for an almanac. Put your concerns right to rest, an almanac would.

Posted by elenchos | August 24, 2008 6:21 PM
6

We haven't had a decent rain in Baltimore in a long time. . . I, and my plants, would kill for that rain!

Posted by Balt-O-Matt | August 24, 2008 6:41 PM
7

Yeah, that's the trouble with human-induced climate change.

Used to be no point complainin' about the weather. But nowadays, when Seattle skips summer and goes straight to fall, I feel like somebody owes me something.

Posted by Eric Arrr | August 24, 2008 6:45 PM
8

So, I have to wonder. The Chinese were doing some weather control to keep the Olympics pleasant... are we getting their rain, or am I hopelessly naive?

Posted by wench | August 24, 2008 6:50 PM
9

So is the Stranger (read ECB) going to do a followup of the "success" of the closed off street in Cap Hill today?

Please make sure to point out all the happy people who had their vehicles towed in preparation for the fun and frivolity, only to have the entire event scrapped hours early, due to rain, lack of participation, lack of interest, and the general anger & annyonance expressed at the liberal freaks in charge of promoting said event.

We'll see if folks still have unbridled enthusiasm for the ridiculous idea, but geeee it really sounded like a swell idea when it was gushed about!

Posted by Reality Check | August 24, 2008 6:54 PM
10

COMMENT DELETED: Sock Puppetry

We'd rather not moderate your comments, but off-topic, gratuitously inflammatory, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate remarks may be removed, and repeat offenders may be banned from commenting. We never censor comments based on ideology. Thanks to all who add to the conversation on Slog.

Posted by Comment Deleted | August 24, 2008 6:58 PM
11

COMMENT DELETED: Sock Puppetry

We'd rather not moderate your comments, but off-topic, gratuitously inflammatory, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate remarks may be removed, and repeat offenders may be banned from commenting. We never censor comments based on ideology. Thanks to all who add to the conversation on Slog.

Posted by Comment Deleted | August 24, 2008 7:07 PM
12

Oh it's OK to complain and cold and rain in August in Seattle. It's NOT OK to complain about heat and sun since we get SO FUCKING LITTLE OF IT.

Posted by Baxter | August 24, 2008 7:16 PM
13

ahhh, fall is finally here and it is getting dark already with the cloud cover.

Posted by Whitworth Fag | August 24, 2008 7:18 PM
14

I spent the whole day in a pool in New Mexico. It was 90 here. Times like "They didnt give me my Carmen Miranda Rights!" makes me miss Seattle, but days like today- no way.

Posted by catnextdoor | August 24, 2008 7:26 PM
15

You could be on the Gulf coast, where it has rained all damn week, culminating with nonstop rain from early this morning until now, thanks to Fay.

Posted by Sheryl | August 24, 2008 7:35 PM
16

It's Seattle. It rains here. Frequently. You've been here for greater than a decade. This really should not be a surprise to you.

Posted by Gitai | August 24, 2008 7:45 PM
17

Yeah, yeah. I've lived here a long time. I'm not bitching about rain in Feb, or March, or April or May or June. Well, not now. I bitched about rain in June back in June.

But don't we always here from you mossy natives that Aug-Sep are the two months that make it all worth while, the time when we can count on some sun and some warmth around here? And you're telling me 60 and raining on a Sunday in August—and for a chunk of the rest of the week—doesn't both you? Not a bit?

Look, a lot of natives like to play the "Oh, whatever—it rains here, get over it" card. But it gets to you people too, hence the suicide rate, right?

Posted by Dan Savage | August 24, 2008 8:25 PM
18

God you're like a fucking girl. Girl!

Posted by Mr. Poe | August 24, 2008 8:29 PM
19

I have to say that even though I miss Seattle, today (like so many others before it) was a really nice day in Chicago.

Posted by David E. | August 24, 2008 8:38 PM
20

Yeah, I'll admit it. I've lived here most of my life and this is some fucked up summer weather. It doesn't normally do this.

I think the thing that people react to is that your complaints are usually, like, "Argh, it's raining! I hate Seattle!" Which, obviously, annoys people who are from here and have chosen to stay here. Thus the habitual, "Well the fuck off back to Chicago."

But you're right, this is unseasonable weather and, for those of you who live for the nice weather that we normally get this time of year, it must be disappointing.

Me, I like a break from the heat.

But I do see your point.

Posted by Judah | August 24, 2008 8:50 PM
21

This is just that storm that all those people prayed for, on its way to Denver.

Posted by Justin J | August 24, 2008 9:05 PM
22

COMMENT DELETED: Sock Puppetry

We'd rather not moderate your comments, but off-topic, gratuitously inflammatory, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate remarks may be removed, and repeat offenders may be banned from commenting. We never censor comments based on ideology. Thanks to all who add to the conversation on Slog.

Posted by Comment Deleted | August 24, 2008 9:17 PM
23

Wha - ? Today was a GORGEOUS day. I spent most of the afternoon with the doors and windows open, listening to the rain and occasional thunder, smelling the moist, clean air, feeling temperate drops slalom down my arms and legs. The plums and pears are soaking up the sky-juice, growing round and fat and plump, like hundreds of little purple and yellow pregnant women ready to burst.

It was a perfect day for cleaning, doing laundry, making a big pot of mac & cheese, getting in a bit of reading, and listening to some music. And when the rain stopped, it was sheer delight to walk up and over the hill, have a quick cocktail before settling in for the 7:00 p.m. showing of "Medium Cool" at NWFF.

Seriously, if this is all it takes for some of you to pack it in for the year, you clearly are not from around these parts.

Besides, I hear it was gorgeous yesterday, while I was stuck inside for a five hour board meeting, so fuck you all very much if today didn't meet with your expectations.

Posted by COMTE | August 24, 2008 9:40 PM
24

Come on, Dan.

Not only was it a good day to live here, but you and yours got to see a rare win for the M's today, didn't you?

(You had really good seats from what I could tell from seeing you on tv. ;) )

Posted by pgreyy | August 24, 2008 9:48 PM
25

#23 we are of one mind. I checked the weather on FRIDAY then got my outdoor game on yesterday, squeezed in a quick hike this morning, and saved this afternoon/evening for indoor entertainments (online chess, reading, etc....)

Plan *ahead* folks to take advantage of every sun break and accompanying acts of random nudity :D

Posted by Jaxxi Hax | August 24, 2008 9:52 PM
26

I'm a native, and yes, this summer has been a rip-off. It's one thing to have a brief drizzle here and there this time of year, but lately when it has rained, it's been a Goddamned deluge. On Wednesday, our roof leaked to where we had a bucket in our son's room to collect the dribble from the sagging and peeling plaster ceiling. Shit. And today, we were out running errands at glorious Northgate and got soaked to the skin between the car and Macy's. We were actually grateful to be inside the mall. THAT'S pathetic.
Also, with the few hot days aside, nights throughout this summer have been in the low 50s. Our furnace kicked in a few times, even.
The only thing I wonder about is that we probably have a few brutally dry hot summers ahead. Climate change for ya'.

Posted by Madashell | August 24, 2008 9:57 PM
27

I've been here for a year and four days. I grew up in St. Louis. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the rain, especially in the summer. If I were in St. Louis now I would be in a stupor of misery. Sucking on an ice juicee like whatsherface huffing on the computer cleaner, with absolutely no other reason to cling to life.

Posted by Phoebe | August 24, 2008 10:34 PM
28

Girl.

Posted by Mr. Poe | August 24, 2008 10:44 PM
29

It's true: it doesn't rain in Seattle in the summer. We get less rain, and more importantly vastly less summer rain, than any of those Eastern cities. But not this year. This year kind of sucks.

Blame El Nino.

Posted by Fnarf | August 24, 2008 11:03 PM
30

First, this is a passive-aggressive Seattle complaint if I've ever seen one!

Should I feel bad that I actually kind of enjoyed the gloomy raininess today?

Posted by Jeff | August 24, 2008 11:41 PM
31

Windows open + raining outside + warm temps = fine afternoon napping weather.

Posted by PA Native | August 25, 2008 1:00 AM
32

Of course it's raining--it's PNE time in Vancouver, when we send the geese to Seattle to make room for the 4H kids' cows and stuff. It always rains in the last two weeks of August!

Posted by JD | August 25, 2008 1:45 AM
33

#17

here is not

hear is OK

paragraph two - hear from you

Posted by Proofer Plus | August 25, 2008 3:15 AM
34

I drove back to Pugetdopia yesterday evening from Spokane (where is was mid 80s and sunny all weekend) passing through the Columbia Basin where it was hitting the 90s and when I walked into the grocery store in my cargo shorts, flip flops and t-shirt (and tan) and noticed all the natives smiling in REI fleeces and Helly Hanson and LL Bean raingear and comfortable hiking boots and looking, for all the world, pleased to be back in their usual garb, I realized that folks over here, by and large, are much happier in the rain.

Posted by Bob | August 25, 2008 6:55 AM
35

Dan you are totally right- I am a native and can be caught red-handed saying, "...but the indian summers- aug to sept make the year-long gray worth it."

For it to be 60 and raining, on august 24th- totally NOT normal and NOT cool. Screw all you, "You're in Seattle, duh!" attitudes.

Oh, and as for planning ahead- that doesnt work in Seattle either. You can only accurately predict the weather in Seattle three hours ahead of time because it's in a valley between two mountain ranges with water in the middle, where currents move erratically (aka unpredictably). I spent my whole life thinking weathermen were bullshit psychics until I moved to the desert and can actually plan ahead. Whoever said that it worked for him this weekend was very lucky.

Posted by catnextdoor | August 25, 2008 7:21 AM
36

@29, your entreaty to blame male Latino children for our weather is probably the most racist thing I've ever read on SLOG.

Shame on you.

And yes. Girl! :-)

Posted by Jubilation T. Cornball | August 25, 2008 7:22 AM
37

i believe in the meteorological circles this phenomenon is titled with the 13th month's name:

AUGUARY

Posted by jezbian | August 25, 2008 7:30 AM
38

Please please please please please stop whining about the weather. If it matters so much to you, move.

Posted by andrew | August 25, 2008 7:46 AM
39

@38: If not reading people's complaints about the weather matters so much to you, close the tab.

Posted by Darcy | August 25, 2008 8:25 AM
40

Dan, thank you for asking and not complaining. :)

I consider this somewhat abnormal but not completely batshit odd. It could rain like this conceivably any time in the summer. It has just done that a few more times than normal, that's all.

Fnarf mentioned El Nino. Not sure it's *just* El Nino, because El Nino has historically made the PacNW drier than normal for an extended period of time, too. El Nino, among many other factors, do shake things up randomly.

While not ignoring Climate Change, I don't think the weather we're seeing in Seattle is a bellweather of that. If you look farther north to the Arctic and Antarctic, that's where you should be really worried about Climate Change.

BUT DESPITE ALL THAT: I'd still much rather be here during any summer in the world, regardless. I dislike heat above 90F far more than I dislike grey skies, and I dislike humidity above 70% when it's warm enough. None of the above happens here often, so I still feel pretty damn lucky.

Tropical Storm/Depression Fay also really puts any concerns/complaints about the weather this week here to shame.

Posted by mackro mackro | August 25, 2008 8:28 AM
41

It's so beautiful.

Posted by Vince | August 25, 2008 8:36 AM
42

I was fine in shorts and a t-shirt, and outdoors for a significant chunk of the day. I just ducked in when it was dumping. Among all days rainy, yesterday was a rare-feeling warm and wet.

Posted by Lloyd Clydesdale | August 25, 2008 8:58 AM
43

amen dan! i agree. i've said goodbye to summer this morning.

Posted by joey | August 25, 2008 9:44 AM
44

Yeah, this weather is definitely unseasonal. Still, I gotta say I was dying last week when it was so hot. I like this; it's more familiar.

Posted by Greg | August 25, 2008 9:47 AM

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