WAG - Aloha, cold weather
I'm attempting to counter-program the weather with my winter ensemble.
Today, I'm sporting a little orange, yellow, black, red, and white Polynesian shirt. Yes, it's tacky; what Hawaiian shirt isn't?
A casual glance around the newsroom tells me that I'm the most vibrantly dressed person. There's one or two people in bright pinks and a magenta running around, but this selection from my wardrobe definitely seems to be the sharpest outfit to pierce the drab winter grays, greens, and blues that currently populate the room.
This is not your usual outfit to step out with in 20 degree weather (to be fair, it did warm up to 30-odd degrees, but only for a few hours and you'd have to be a person like me to notice.)
The windchill was enough to keep me from going out in shorts and sandals - though I did wear such an outfit earlier this week when it was umpteen degrees warmer (I do have my limits, even if the ones I have cause my mother to worry/shiver).
The idea is to convert positive intellectual optimism into physical heat conversion. I told my girlfriend this afternoon that the idea is to, "Think warm, be warm...."
Okay, I'd wager your response equalled hers in the reaction that such a supposition is a total crock.
You'd mostly be right.
You're either warm or you're not. While psychologists have fiddled with bio-feedback over the years, which shows one does have limited control over their body's sensations (it has been proven that with practice and concentration, one can increase blood flow to an area which can heighten sensation as well as increase the temperature), one isn't going to start sweating bullets in the middle of an ice storm (granted, in such conditions you may perspire out of fear, but it won't be a recation to the body starting to physically overheat internally [it would only be mentally]).
Upbeat thinking can only take you so far, even when it's forced. I'm reminded of a scene from The Muppet Christmas Carol where Kermit and the freezing rat underlings of Scrooge humbly request more coal.
Note: Rather than just recollecting this scene, I'm going to interupt myself and present the transcript of the exchange:
Kermit the Frog: If you please Mr. Scrooge, it's gotten colder and the bookkeeping staff would like an extra shovel full of coal for the fire.
Rat #1: All of your pens have turned to inkcicles.
Rat #2: Our assets are frozen.
Ebenezer Scrooge: How would the bookkeeping staff like to be suddenly... UNEMPLOYED?
Rats: [singing and suddenly girded in island garb] HEAT WAVE! This is my island in the sun. Oi! Oi!
Note: As I shift back into the normal flow of consciousness, one final word on acquiescing to bosses' wills. A short time ago, the executive editor of the Missourian wandered over here. Articles had started to come through and I'd paused in my blogging for a while (the only reason I'm writing now is because I have eight and a half minutes left one my lunch break). Anyway, he took a look at me and told said liked my shirt. "Thank you," is all you can really say in reply, but I still think that's cool.
So, the lesson is, while the clothes may not change the weather, they may have an impact on your personal outlook and the people around you. The sun may still be hidden behind the clouds, and a serious load of snow coming our way according to the current forecast, but you can still brighten up the day by having a sunny disposition and a gaudily tacky glowing shirt.
Since the Hawaiian phrase " coming our way according to the Aloha" can be used as both a greeting and a farewell, and I'm not sure in which direction you're headed, I once again leave you with said benediction...
... and continue to be brightly dressed no matter what storm may slam us.
'So_go_on_Mother_Nature___HIT_ME'
