So you ask: What’s with this Weather Network addiction of Jon’s anyway? He’s been watching it fairly obsessively for about 3 years now, since kindergarten. He was at home sick with the flu one February, and within a couple of days took an interest in both Blues Clues and the Weather Network. Both are still favourites of his, but if Blues Clues was taken off the air I don’t think Jon would really notice, whereas if the Weather Network suddenly disappeared I tremble to think of the consequences!
Everyone who hears of this obsession remarks to us that he must be able to tell us tons about the weather. Uhhh…no, actually Jon has little to no interest in the weather. What he’s interested in are the weather forecasters! He can name all the WN’s on-air personalities and knows when their shifts are. What a groupie!
He also knows when all the different types of forecasts (International Weather, Lawn & Garden Forecast, Claritin Pollen Forecast, etc.) are coming, but the Local Forecast (“every 10 minutes on the 10s”) is by far his favourite to watch and the only one he pays attention to. He even has an eerie ability to turn on the TV just as the Local Forecast is playing (though it could be luck since they are only 10 minutes apart.) Why the Local Forecast? Maybe it’s the predictability of the graphics. Maybe it’s the hummable music (His interest did increase this spring when they introduced a catchy new Local Forecast theme). Who knows?
All we know is there’s gonna be hell to pay if Jon goes over to his Grandma and Grandpa’s later this month and Shaw has kicked the WN off the basic tier of channels like they’ve been threatening to. He’ll have to be satisfied with his other obsession, his LeapPad toy. But that’s another story….