Temperatures Crashing: The Arctic Texan Tundra

A cold front has rolled across the Hill Country bringing frigid temperatures to a normally sweltering state. We must have been looking the other way because it took us all by surprise and a state of near panic has ensued. Clothing stores have been overrun by students buying sweaters and parkas; student housing officials are scrambling to get the heat on; Autozone has had to order several hundred sets of snow chains for tires.

Last night, as we walked hurriedly to CRU, the sun was dropping overhead while the temperature dropped all around us. Students hurried across campus, dressed in pants and sweatshirts, light jackets and toboggans. I looked over at Nikki who, and I swear I’m not making this up, was literally shivering.

Her teeth chattered violently against each other as she managed to say, “I am soooooo cold. Oh my GOSH, it’s so cold.”

I smiled sadly and threw my hands into the air majestically. We are delicate creatures after all and weather has a way of truly bringing this out.

This morning I drove past Sewell Park, a small part of campus where the San Marcos River is reborn daily before snaking its way through rolling hills. Though I’m not quite certain, it looked as though a group of young men had gathered and were lacing up their skates, their hockey sticks stacked neatly against lampposts.

Yesterday and Today’s Temperature: 83 degrees

**

There’s a classic scene in Dumb and Dumber when Harry and Lloyd sit outside, after traveling to Colorado. It’s snowing and the two sit next to a fire, desperately trying to stay warm. Lloyd, without gloves, shivers wildly and says, “Harry! I can’t feel my fingers anymore.”

Harry replies, “Well why don’t you take this extra pair. My fingers are getting kind of sweaty.” He then takes off his FIRST pair of gloves, revealing the fact that he had been wearing two pairs all along.

With disbelief, Lloyd glares at his best friend, the rage building up inside of him. He finally manages to hiss, “You mean to tell me you’ve had TWO PAIRS OF GLOVES ON THIS WHOLE TIME!!”

Harry replies, shocked by his friends anger, “Umm yeah—it’s the Rockies.”

Lloyd leaps onto Harry, pins him down and begins choking his former best friend to death.

Harry screams and squeals, “HARRY! AHHH, YOUR HANDS ARE FREEZING!!”