This morning, short already, has been full of not so pleasant surprises.
When I hit the door with Makayla for her walk, I expected to be greeted by cool, crisp air--instead it was the humid, heavy air of the on coming hurricane. Ugh.
And then, my laptop decided that it and Windows Vista were not working well together.
That, I guess is life. Surprises.
And, of course, it is really dark now at 5AM. Which means walking Makayla is just a bit more exciting and difficult.
But the day is dawning and my plate is full of stuff to do.
I will be busy and hopefully not too distracted by the those seemingly important things which crop up for a few minutes and then settle back down.
I pray your day is a good one.
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Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Earthquakes and Hurricanes
What a day yesterday was--the earthquake changed our collective view of the region and brought us a step closer to understanding how helpless we feel when the ground shakes and there is no place to hide.
For my part, I recognized the earthquake as the tremors built in intensity, but was really surprised at how much the building shook by the time it was over. It was weird watching the suspended ceiling move about on its own. I had a clock actually fall off my desk and break on the floor of my office.
And this was a relatively minor earthquake compared to the big ones of the west coast and the devastating one that recently occurred in Japan.
We will likely be talking about this earthquake for a longtime.
The news media was quick to press into earthquake coverage and there was localized damage--but mostly a lot of unsettled people. I came home to check on the items we have hanging on the walls--and we, fortunately, escaped with no discernible damage.
Next up--Irene. A hurricane taking aim at the Outer Banks or our weekend enjoyment.
Water, winds, loss of power, downed trees and a pool full of tree debris. What could be better than that?
I was reminded that one of the last hurricanes of significance blew through in 2003 and was named Isabel. What is it with "I" named storms?
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For my part, I recognized the earthquake as the tremors built in intensity, but was really surprised at how much the building shook by the time it was over. It was weird watching the suspended ceiling move about on its own. I had a clock actually fall off my desk and break on the floor of my office.
And this was a relatively minor earthquake compared to the big ones of the west coast and the devastating one that recently occurred in Japan.
We will likely be talking about this earthquake for a longtime.
The news media was quick to press into earthquake coverage and there was localized damage--but mostly a lot of unsettled people. I came home to check on the items we have hanging on the walls--and we, fortunately, escaped with no discernible damage.
Next up--Irene. A hurricane taking aim at the Outer Banks or our weekend enjoyment.
Water, winds, loss of power, downed trees and a pool full of tree debris. What could be better than that?
I was reminded that one of the last hurricanes of significance blew through in 2003 and was named Isabel. What is it with "I" named storms?
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Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Sure Signs of the Impending Demise of Summer
1. It was dark outside when I took Makayla for her morning stroll.
2. My favorite constellation, Orion, is creeping into the morning sky.
3. The outside temperature was 56 degrees.
4. The pool water is getting cold.
5. I had to use my poop-finder flashlight.
6. I turned the air conditioner off in the truck yesterday and was amazed at how much power that under-powered vehicle actually had.
7. Chris wore a sweater last evening as we ate dinner on the deck.
8. I haven't heard the house air conditioning come on in over 12 hours.
9. I'm heading off tis morning to risk life and limb playing racquetball again after the summertime hiatus.
10. The Maryland Renaissance Festival begins tis weekend.
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2. My favorite constellation, Orion, is creeping into the morning sky.
3. The outside temperature was 56 degrees.
4. The pool water is getting cold.
5. I had to use my poop-finder flashlight.
6. I turned the air conditioner off in the truck yesterday and was amazed at how much power that under-powered vehicle actually had.
7. Chris wore a sweater last evening as we ate dinner on the deck.
8. I haven't heard the house air conditioning come on in over 12 hours.
9. I'm heading off tis morning to risk life and limb playing racquetball again after the summertime hiatus.
10. The Maryland Renaissance Festival begins tis weekend.
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Monday, August 22, 2011
Monday Musings - August 22, 2011
1. I had never been on a cruise ship before yesterday when I was treated to a three-hour tour and dinner. Now I am beginning to understand the reason why cruise ships are so popular.
2. Makayla is doing better. The antibiotic and anti-inflammatory are doing the job of helping her to heal that very sore and ugly spot on her back. The vet thought it was a small puncture wound--maybe from a cat when they were playing.
3. I can tell that football is back and that the O's are sliding into their season ending slump. They have managed two wins in their last ten games. So much for the hope we all had at the beginning of the season that something new and special was going to happen this season.
4. The thunderstorms of yesterday really eloped bring my pool to overflowing! Unfortunately, I could not swim in it yesterday due to the pace of the day.
5. Well, it is the beginning of another week. This week should be better than last week.
6. All of the rain sure is making the grass grow!
7. We discovered last week that the county school board wants to build an elementary school on the main street near our house. It is almost within sight of another elementary school. And all because the community didn't want a school at a site near train tracks we're toxic chemicals are carried. Talk about the ultimate knee-jerk. Oh yeah--they want to open the school for the 2013 school year.
8. To all off the teachers and staff of Howard County Public Schools--have a good year. I'm sorry the summer is over.
9. Smile. Some days are better and some not so much but a smile is like putting icing on the cupcake.
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2. Makayla is doing better. The antibiotic and anti-inflammatory are doing the job of helping her to heal that very sore and ugly spot on her back. The vet thought it was a small puncture wound--maybe from a cat when they were playing.
3. I can tell that football is back and that the O's are sliding into their season ending slump. They have managed two wins in their last ten games. So much for the hope we all had at the beginning of the season that something new and special was going to happen this season.
4. The thunderstorms of yesterday really eloped bring my pool to overflowing! Unfortunately, I could not swim in it yesterday due to the pace of the day.
5. Well, it is the beginning of another week. This week should be better than last week.
6. All of the rain sure is making the grass grow!
7. We discovered last week that the county school board wants to build an elementary school on the main street near our house. It is almost within sight of another elementary school. And all because the community didn't want a school at a site near train tracks we're toxic chemicals are carried. Talk about the ultimate knee-jerk. Oh yeah--they want to open the school for the 2013 school year.
8. To all off the teachers and staff of Howard County Public Schools--have a good year. I'm sorry the summer is over.
9. Smile. Some days are better and some not so much but a smile is like putting icing on the cupcake.
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Sunday, August 21, 2011
A Flash of Light and a Kaboom
And that is how I woke up this morning with a ferocious thunderstorm dancing on top of my house.
Another thunderstorm.
Fortunately there was no wind. So the pool survived.
What a way to start Sunday morning.
The cat even jumped out of the window through the shade--just to add some excitement to the storm, as if it needed additional excitement.
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Another thunderstorm.
Fortunately there was no wind. So the pool survived.
What a way to start Sunday morning.
The cat even jumped out of the window through the shade--just to add some excitement to the storm, as if it needed additional excitement.
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Saturday, August 20, 2011
Makayla at the Vet
I found a small lump on Makayla this morning and so we are at the vet having it checked out. Initial indications are a small infection. But she is being clipped for a better look.
I'm a wreck.
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I'm a wreck.
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After the Storms
Ugh. I looked out at the pool this morning after the week of rain and storms.
I've got a lot of work to do.
Leaves and debris in and around the pool that are going to take up a lot of my day.
Ah, the joys of owning a pool--standing tall against the storms that come against it to maintain a small piece of paradise.
Of course the cooler temperatures are having an impact of the water temperature, too.
And people wonder why I'm not a fan of August.
I just heard on the Today Show that Philadelphia is going to set an all time record for rain--and I am sure we are not far behind. According to the paper we are 2.3 inches above normal for the month of August to date.
But now it is time for breakfast--then to the pool, but not for enjoyment immediately.
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I've got a lot of work to do.
Leaves and debris in and around the pool that are going to take up a lot of my day.
Ah, the joys of owning a pool--standing tall against the storms that come against it to maintain a small piece of paradise.
Of course the cooler temperatures are having an impact of the water temperature, too.
And people wonder why I'm not a fan of August.
I just heard on the Today Show that Philadelphia is going to set an all time record for rain--and I am sure we are not far behind. According to the paper we are 2.3 inches above normal for the month of August to date.
But now it is time for breakfast--then to the pool, but not for enjoyment immediately.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, August 19, 2011
Friday and the promise of the Weekend
We all do it.
That irrational belief that Friday is the last day of the work week and that all we need to do is suffer through it to find relaxation a sanity on the other side. And then we find out that the weekend is even more crazy than the work week.
This past week--coming off a short vacation, has been especially trying. I'm still in my summer mode, yet the work load has soared to full bore with the start of the post-summer activities. I wasn't mentally prepared for the change occurring so soon and so it took me too long to ramp up and I felt as if I was drowning in administrivia all week.
So, as I cruise into the weekend--the next to last weekend of August, I too am hoping for a sane Friday and I harbor the thought of even bolting through the door a bit early to use some of the extra ours I've accumulated this week.
I can imagine it even now: a deep breath as I charge the door coupled with the wish for blue skies so I can ride with the top down and the wind racing through my thinning hair as I drive up the parkway and begin the weekend wit my friends recounting the fun we had together last weekend while alsovcelebrating the last weekend before Howard County School teachers report for duty on Monday morning and summer vacation officially ends.
So today is really special.
It marks another one of those endings--the lasts I wrote about earlier in the week.
And it will be followed by a first--the first day of the start of another school year.
Friday.
Who knew?
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That irrational belief that Friday is the last day of the work week and that all we need to do is suffer through it to find relaxation a sanity on the other side. And then we find out that the weekend is even more crazy than the work week.
This past week--coming off a short vacation, has been especially trying. I'm still in my summer mode, yet the work load has soared to full bore with the start of the post-summer activities. I wasn't mentally prepared for the change occurring so soon and so it took me too long to ramp up and I felt as if I was drowning in administrivia all week.
So, as I cruise into the weekend--the next to last weekend of August, I too am hoping for a sane Friday and I harbor the thought of even bolting through the door a bit early to use some of the extra ours I've accumulated this week.
I can imagine it even now: a deep breath as I charge the door coupled with the wish for blue skies so I can ride with the top down and the wind racing through my thinning hair as I drive up the parkway and begin the weekend wit my friends recounting the fun we had together last weekend while alsovcelebrating the last weekend before Howard County School teachers report for duty on Monday morning and summer vacation officially ends.
So today is really special.
It marks another one of those endings--the lasts I wrote about earlier in the week.
And it will be followed by a first--the first day of the start of another school year.
Friday.
Who knew?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Newspapers and news
Do you read a newspaper everyday?
I don't mean online--but actual newsprint with the ink smudging off onto your hands. The unique smell of paper and ink chock full of words and images of what is happening around the world.
I do read the paper--my choice is the Baltimore Sun because it haas a lot of local news and coverage of the Orioles as well. I also read other papers on-line, for instance I get the NY Times delivered to my email--so I get that perspective on the news, too.
I had an interesting discussion the other day though about reading the paper.
When I say I'm reading the paper, I mean sitting somewhere with the physical paper in my hands poring over the words and stories contained within.
Generationally, though, that interpretation/vision has changed. I was conversing with the twenty-something crown and realized that when they said they were reading the paper, they were referring to the online approach only--and their dainty hands never tough the real article.
Check it out. The simple phrase "reading the paper" has two very different visual images associated with it depending upon the generation of the reader/speaker.
My version has someone at a desk or in an easy chair reading a physical document; while the other is of a person at a computer somewhere reading the electronic media.
Does it matter? I guess not.
But we need to wonder, what other common references do we have that have fundamentally changed with the advent of the information technology age?
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I don't mean online--but actual newsprint with the ink smudging off onto your hands. The unique smell of paper and ink chock full of words and images of what is happening around the world.
I do read the paper--my choice is the Baltimore Sun because it haas a lot of local news and coverage of the Orioles as well. I also read other papers on-line, for instance I get the NY Times delivered to my email--so I get that perspective on the news, too.
I had an interesting discussion the other day though about reading the paper.
When I say I'm reading the paper, I mean sitting somewhere with the physical paper in my hands poring over the words and stories contained within.
Generationally, though, that interpretation/vision has changed. I was conversing with the twenty-something crown and realized that when they said they were reading the paper, they were referring to the online approach only--and their dainty hands never tough the real article.
Check it out. The simple phrase "reading the paper" has two very different visual images associated with it depending upon the generation of the reader/speaker.
My version has someone at a desk or in an easy chair reading a physical document; while the other is of a person at a computer somewhere reading the electronic media.
Does it matter? I guess not.
But we need to wonder, what other common references do we have that have fundamentally changed with the advent of the information technology age?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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