The conference is focusing on climate change, but we have talked about hurricanes. On tonight’s 5:30 newscast I will be interviewing Dr. Steve Lyons about the last hurricane season, and what he thinks about the upcoming 2008 season. One things that he stressed, and always stresses is that Tampa is a vulnerable location, second behind New Orleans. It’s our beautiful location on the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, the sloping shelf leaves us very open to a large storm surge.
So plan now! Think of who you can stay with. It doesn’t have to be a place that is far away but out of the flood zones. If you live outside of a flood zone, who could you invite to stay at your house in case of a hurricane? I know it’s only January but having a plan in place is key to a great life in Florida. 
Greenhouse gases keep our planet warm but the amount of Carbon Dioxide that is being released into the atmosphere, has tripled since the 1990s! That is a lot of greenhouse gas that we are adding to our planet's atmosphere. Carbon dioxide or CO2 is released when we do things like drive our cars, flip on the lights, cool/heat our houses. Major amounts of CO2 are released by coal burning plants. CO2 does get sucked up by parts of our planet, these devices are called 'sinks'. For instance, a major sink would be the rain forest in South America. The oceans are also a major sink, but in some studies, the southern ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide has decreased by 30% since the early 80s. In forests, it is found that large trees hold more CO2 than small trees, so the logging of old growth trees also reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that can be absorbed. Thankfully we have the ability to make some easy choices to reduce the amount of CO2; at Christmas buy LED lights, switch to incandescent bulbs, find a car that burns less fuel. As we cut back, developing nations are trying to live the same life we do, so they are building power plants. In China, right now, every 10 days a new coal burning power plant goes on line. The Chinese power plants are using very old technology and are therefore pumping huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. With all of this additional CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere and our sinks declining in absorption, global warming is a fear. In a warming planet scenario, that means a rising sea level, some estimates put a rise of a half a meter by 2100, already the sea level has risen by 7 inches this century. It was brought up at one of our sessions, that many of our power plants in Florida, will be directly affected by rising water, because many of our power plants sit near the water. Also a higher sea level means more damage by hurricanes and other storms. Reducing Carbon Dioxide in the US doesn't have to be hard, we can bring bags to the grocery store, adjust the thermostat, make the most of your car trips (knock all your errands out in one trip).
Yesterday we got to head out on the slopes! If you click on the “summit photos’ link it will lead you to my picture gallery. I’ve posted pictures of us skiing, one picture is of Paul Goodloe and myself out skiing. I didn’t fall! The snow was great and it was so much fun!
Another picture in the Gallery is Dr. Steve Lyons, a hurricane expert giving a talk (which I blogged about yesterday), but in the foreground you will notice quite a pair of pants, that would be a meteorologist Dave Sweeney, from Portland Oregon. He is one of the founders of this conference, and always shows up in outrageous 
clothes! I guess it wakes us up every morning, but it does hurt the eyes.
We didn’t see many hurricanes and tropical storms here in the US, but there were 2 category 5 storms in the Atlantic Basin this year. One of those giant storms, Hurricane Felix slammed into Nicaragua and Honduras as a category 5 storm!
One of the questions that arose from the 2007 hurricane season is, does La Nina play a part in increasing hurricane season activity or not? El Nino usually lessens the amount of storms that form in the Atlantic Basin, so it was thought that La Nina does the opposite, this may not be true. Dr. Lyons put forward this morning, that La Nina may not be as large a factor as originally thought. It now appears the La Nina may not be much different than a neutral, or non La Nina or non El Nino, season. In fact, it may be a player in reducing the number of storms. Just part of the puzzle of this giant global circulation that we are trying to understand.
Nothing like getting on a plane and having the crew tell you that you may have to land at a different airport, because the weather is may be too bad to land. 
That’s what happened when we boarded the plane heading to Steamboat Springs. Steamboat had received a foot of snow the night before and many flights had been diverted to Denver! Where hapless folks had to board buses to try the 3 hour drive, or sit on the ground until the weather cleared.
Thankfully we landed in Steamboat Springs, 
but unfortunately for a lot of people in the airport, multiple flights had been cancelled so everyone was trying to get back into town!
The snow is deep! I’m attaching a picture with some giant icicles just outside the window.
The longer I live in Florida the less cold weather gear I have.
We get a lot of emails from people who ask about dressing for the cold, and I give them the same advice that I follow: Women typically have weaker circulation, when I go out into temperatures in the 20s, I layer. Also I get cold easily so I have to put a lot of gear on, you may not have to wear as much as I do.
For the bottom half: 1. Nylons, yes save those nylons who cares if they have a run, they are a great insulator. 2. wool or poly propylene long johns. 3. (if it’s really cold) a layer of running spandex 4.snow pants
For the top half: 1. a under-armour or similar tank top 2. wool or poly propylene long johns 3. a tight fitting wool sweater or tight light fleece top. 4. A vest 5. an insulated water proof ski jacket.
For the hands: I have to wear mittens, gloves do not keep my hands warm. The great thing about some of the ski mittens is that they have built in gloves so when you pull you hand out of your mittens to blow your nose, put on chapstick, or answer the cell phone 
you still have a layer on. I also stick those little heat packets in my gloves too.
For the feet: some snow boots are rated to a particular cold temperature. So you will know just how cold it can get before your tootsies get cold.
For walking in the snow, boots should be water proof and have a good sole. For instance uggs are great for padding around the lodge in but are not great for walking in the snow.
Rembember you already have panty hose on, so just wear a wool thin sock. (no bulky socks) You can always throw a heat packet in your boot.
When wearing ski boots you can also purchase boot heaters, they are great to pop on while riding up the lift.
While we were dealing with temperatures in the 20s here, the current temperature in Steamboat Springs is a COLD! 17 degrees! The conference takes place in the great western town of Steamboat Springs. The town has a unique western flavor and, I am happy to say, great skiing.
It’s a small conference and feels more like camp!
This year we will be concentrating on the global climate and discussing next year’s hurricane season. The speakers are always Great! and I will pass along all the great info along with some pictures!!!
It’s snow meets hurricanes for me next week. I’m traveling to Steamboat Springs, Colorado to learn from some of the best minds in the meteorological world at the 18th annual Steamboat Springs Weather Summit.
A lot of the focus for this weather conference will be on hurricanes, including presentations by the director of the National Hurricane Center.
Steamboat will be a change from our sunshine and palm trees.
We spent the day going into downtown Cancun.
Stores like Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart were filled with people buying stuff. The Mexican economy must be going great.
All is normal in town.
There’s not much for us to buy since we are leaving Saturday and didn’t want to carry too much stuff back to the villa.
It’s very hot. We stopped at Club Internacional, the first resort in our timeshare chain that opened here in Cancun back in 1972. The beach was not so nice but the ocean was calm. We had lunch and left.
Being that it’s our 43rd wedding anniversary today, we need to go out and celebrate.
We’re heading for Playa del Carmen tomorrow.
Since people couldn’t go anywhere last night, all the bars at the resort were full. We had a full house. We didn’t finish karaoke until 12 o’clock. We closed the place down.
We had people from New York, New Jersey and Wisconsin there last night. We couldn’t even sing all the songs we wanted to. Hilda sang “Crazy,” and I sang a song by Ray Charles.
Yesterday, we ran into a bartender we met Saturday from one of the beach bars. He was really worried about the storm then. He has a wife and two children. We told him not to worry.
He said, “You guys were right. Next time there’s a storm, you guys need to be here to chase it away.”
Everything was back to normal last night; the wind has finally calmed down. The pools were open and full.
But the beach is still closed. The water is still very high and very rough.
We’ll probably go downtown today. We might go to Wal-Mart and see what it looks like. I overheard a lady saying people are coming in and buying water and food and taking everything off the shelves.
All is pretty calm, except the wind is still strong. The pools are open, and so are the restaurants and stores.
The beach is still closed. We are having high waves - up to 8 feet. The ocean looks beautiful in the sun but dangerous.
Things are pretty back to normal already.
No one was hurt here, and nothing was damaged.
I went to take pictures of the sun coming, and a burst of sunshine is coming through. It’s calming down, and the sky is breaking. The ocean is really up high. It came already up to the grass of the wall surrounding the resort.
They’re patrolling. I was just taking some photos, I told them. They’re taking turns watching where the pool section is.
We filled the tub, and we didn’t have to use the water. Luis was worried. You never know—it’s better to be cautious.
We turned on the TV this morning and are watching to see what’s going on in the world.
It got a little rough last night, and the winds were howling. The ocean is a little high but not that bad. There’s no damage we can see. We slept well and woke up once, at 3 a.m. The winds were still rough. Hopefully it’ll calm down because it’s kind of misting, and the palm trees are swaying.
People were outside last night until the wind started howling and the rain started coming down.
It was a little scary at the beginning.
This morning, security is out, and you can’t go near the pool yet. The wind is still gusting.
We didn’t lose power or anything. There’s probably not going to be much open today, so we’ll eat some sandwiches here and drink some coffee.
The staff really handled it well. They’re concerned but were not afraid. Nobody seemed to be panicking. People were optimistic, and that really helped. Some guests were complaining about the curfew but that’s the only thing we heard.
We’ll see if the workers come back today. We’ll have to see if there’s flooding on the lagoon side. Maybe we’ll get some sun and go to the beach tomorrow.
The ocean was coming over the wall. It was coming up to the stairs last night, and I’m sure it’s higher than that now. Whenever they let us leave the resort, I’m sure we’ll venture out to Captain’s Cove. Now it’s a matter of how fast things will come back to normal.
Hilda’s already snuck out to take a closer look. I bet the security people will bring her back. She wants to see the ocean. I think they’re going to chase her.
We’re getting a lot of rain and some strong winds, they decided it was going to hit far enough south to stay here.
They put a 9 o’clock curfew in place.
The ocean is pretty rough out there.
The staff and security are chasing people back into the rooms. There are silly people wanting to get near the ocean.
We sat outside and watched the storm come in until it started to rain. Then we went inside.
We might lose power. We have one big candle for the whole place. We couldn’t find any flashlights at the store – but we didn’t go to Wal-Mart downtown.
We’re watching the TV and the news here.
The mayor didn’t push evacuation because the storm is supposed to hit is so far south. The locals say Chetumal is a small and very poor town. It will hit them very hard.
Some of the staff people are staying here tonight.
A woman who works here told us that after Wilma the (Nichupte) Lagoon and the Caribbean Sea joined together and flooded the area, coming in through the hotel.
I want to see a hurricane but I have enough sense not to wish for it.
I think everything’s going to be fine, but if I see trees flying and broken glass…
We’re watching the weather, watching the trees and how they move. Right now they’re predicting it will go through the middle of the (Yucatan) Peninsula, through Tulum and Chetumal.
They took all the furniture from our balcony so it doesn’t come flying through the windows and told us to close the curtains to stay between the bathroom wall and the tub if we do stay through the storm.
There’s a little bit of wind. We think they’ll wait until early evening to tell us if we’re evacuating. They’re not sure what they’re doing with the hotel zone.
The resort is updating us regularly by phone and online.
There’s not a lot to do –they don’t want you going out to the city. It’s too chaotic. We were doing karaoke at the resort until 11 o’clock last night.
Tonight the restaurants are going to be closed by 8 o’clock.
Yesterday the place was empty, it was just Luis and I and another couple. He sang “Cuarenta y Viente” by Jose Jose, a song about a romance between a 40-year-old a 20 year-old, but he was singing it 60-20. He also sang something by Conway Twitty and another by Brook Benton.
Being that there was nobody there, the other couple kept clapping when we went and we did when they went. Then the waitress sang and the bus boy sang. But tonight we’ll probably stay here in the room and watch TV.
Last night I made a Hildarita, we’ll probably make some Hildaritas again.
How to make a “Hildarita”:
For a plain Hildarita:
Take one lime and muddle it with two tablespoons of baker’s sugar by using a pestle.
Add three shots of tequila and one shot of triple sec liqueur. Mix with ice in a shaker and pour in a salt-rimmed glass.
For a blue Hildarita:
Follow the same steps as above but add a shot of Blue Curacao liqueur and a shot of vodka.
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