There are a few of you out there who know I have no love of the local news – as presented by our local television stations. A prime example came over the airwaves this morning (or more precisely, the cable). The weather personality said it was pretty cold outside, and we should all allow a few extra minutes to let our cars heat up before our drive to work. According to two outside opinions (solicited to provide you the best damn blog entry possible) the weather personality was being earnest.

At my house it was 55 degrees (F) outside.

I wonder if he add-libed that line, or if it was written for him? Either way, I often wonder how much of what they say is just pulled out of thin air, made up on a whim.

This was the first place I lived away from home. The place was old, in a built in the tasteless, late ’50s kind of way. It had very little character, unless you like sprawling, soulless brick boxes.

Still, I remember the days when everyone laid out in the sun by the lake on nice days… except for when the alligators were out sunning themselves. I remember pizza deliveries, people leaving for break with food in their compact refrigerators (and the smell it made after the power had been turned off for a week), walks to the racquetball courts for a grudge match at 2am, and all manner of activity that will go without mention (lest my daughter be reading).

Hume Hall (and the adjacent Hume Rock Cafe) was torn down seven years ago, but it will live on in my heart forever.

The other day I was reading a blog somewhere (it might have been bikehugger.com), and I read someone else’s recollection of Hume Hall. I searched the internet for pictures of the old place, but I didn’t find any. Have you ever been someplace and never thought to take a picture, thinking “why would I want a picture of this?” That is, if you thought of it at all; only to find yourself one day wishing you had. You can’t see me right now, but I’m raising my hand.

Yep, that’s me.

I finally found one that I kinda liked:

Hume Hall, UF