It has been a long day. I woke up about 3 a.m. but needed to wake about 4:15 to catch the van to Houston VA hospital for a couple of appointments. So I didn’t return to sleep.
The sultry weather was certainly different from the mild temperatures and climate from the mountains near Estes Park, Colo., the place I spent all of last week for union steward training.
It is taking me a bit to return to the hot, humid temps. Slowly but surely, I am getting there. We’ll see what happens.
jeref
Howdy Buckaroos! Greetings from the Rocky Mountains. I wish I could say I was vacationing but I am actually training this week. Still, the view and the ultra-pleasant weather is quite a reward in itself. I am meeting an old friend who lives in the area so I will make this short. I just wanted to let those of you who follow the blog, both of you, that I still care about you! Happy Week to you.
Summer starts Friday and it seems like the typical summer weather is shaping up here in the subtropical climes of the Gulf Coast United States.
Here in Cajun Texas folks can feel themselves drained by the hot weather while getting cooled off — and repeat — from a thunderstorm popped up by that “warm, moist air” of the Gulf of Mexco. As I write, a cluster of T-storms, one portion having caused a severe thunderstorm warning at one time, seems as if it is entering western Jefferson County. Jefferson County is where I call home as of now. In fact, I can hear rumbling thunder as I write. Perhaps if I was to look west I would see lightning, but I am to lazy to go outside right now.
During this time of year one may also see what is known as “heat lightning.” I used to watch heat lightning on warm summer nights when I was a kid. My Mom and Dad would talk about heat lightning as if it was some mysterious weather phenomenon. Perhaps it was back in the day. Most people are getting perhaps a bit more sophisticated about weather these days what with The Weather Channel, and Doppler radar and the Internet.
Here is a pretty good explanation for “heat lightning” from the Wikipedia:
“Heat lightning is the name used for the faint flashes of lightning on the horizon or other clouds from distant thunderstorms that do not have accompanying sounds of thunder. This happens because the lightning occurs very far away and the sound dissipates before it reaches the observer. Heat lightning was named because it often occurs on hot summer nights and to distinguish it from lightning accompanied by audible thunder and cooling rainfall at the point of observation.”
Of course, growing up during the Vietnam war, I also would often hear the distant sound of what one might think was thunder but had no accompanying light show. This was what might have been from artillery fired at Fort Polk, which was across the Sabine River and into Louisiana some 35 miles away. Hearing something from such a distance might seem far-fetched these days, especially for the urban dweller. But where I grew up was mighty, mighty quiet and remains so for the most part.
Along with the scattered thunderstorm, there just might be the summer drought. Just as possible there might be the tropical storm or disturbance from the Gulf which could turn into a hurricane. A tropical storm is rustling around right now about 55 miles off the coast from Veracruz, Mexico. Probably someone down in that vicinity needs the rain.
What, if anything, will happen in the way of tropical activity for us? It’s just wait and see. Buy you some supplies: Food, plywood, batteries, whatever you need for such an event which hopefully won’t come.
Happy Hurricane Season!
We can say in earnest, provided earnest isn’t around, that hurricane season is here. Tropical Storm Andrea is out in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center seems to believe this will remain a tropical storm and move over mid-Florida and up the East Coast a might. No mention of the storm getting revved up to hurricane force though stranger things have happened. Remember Humberto? No? Well neither do I. I slept through the whole damn event. I just woke up in the morning and I had missed it. Although, it wasn’t the pick of the litter as hurricanes go anyway.
Hopefully, Andrea won’t be much either. But just in case, be prepared like the Boy Scout or the old hippies living in the woods, getting their groove on by raising corn and swine. Just having a good ol’ time. Oh and be sure to check your spaghetti. Continue reading “Time for the spaghetti and a nice tall Hurricane, Pat O’Brien style”
“May Day, May Day, May Day … “
It was 68 degrees about an hour ago at the Jack Brooks Regional Airport in Nederland. That is about 15 miles southeast of Beaumont. This is May 3 and here I’ve been on the Gulf Coast near the Texas-Louisiana border freezing my cojones off. I don’t have to give that, “sure it’s not Montana,” speech. But it is only 3 degrees warmer here than in the often-shivering spot where my dear friend Sally lives, a place called Pittsfield, Mass. For those of you unfamiliar, Pittsfield its bordered by Vermont to the north, Connecticut to the South and New York to the West. And to the East? Why just the rest of Massachusetts.
What made it less than tolerable today was the steady northwesterly wind. Shiver me timbers and me box o’ Cheerios!!!
Speaking of cereal, I’ve got to get something to eat. I don’t feel like cooking. It’s a long story why. But with food inside me, I’ll feel something better. Aye matey? Here’s to a good weekend, a fair wind, following sea and a Derby full of dough on your favorite horse.
“Weep no more, my lady … ”
