Friday Comes In With a Boom and a Bang…

The alarm went off at 6:45am this morning followed by a very, very loud clap of thunder. Of course, the ubiquitous freight train was rolling through downtown as well, flanges squealing loudly on the curve, as it often does during inclement weather.

“Was that thunder?” Tracy raised up out of the bed and asked with a deer in the headlights look.

“Yes, it was!” I replied happily and I hurried to the computer room to turn my computer on and check the radar.

One small little complex of thunderstorms was just parked and sitting over the Valley and putting on quite a show.

“Is it raining?” Tracy then asked as she was getting in the shower.

“No rain,” I replied. “We are getting what Sally Lou (dad’s mom) would call an electrical storm.”

The rain and humidity would make Tracy’s hair extra curly and she already has an ample head of curls as it is – my girl with the curls and the curves.

I got in the kitchen and made us a simple meal of cheese toast and fried bacon. Maggie was underfoot the whole time I was cooking hoping to get some bacon as well.  

Tracy left for work about 40 minutes ago and Mother Nature is still putting on a grand show of lightning and thunder. It is music to these old addled ears as long as the power stays on.

And the Gods Took Great Pleasure in Meddling with The National Weather Service's Affairs…

It was supposed to be stormy all weekend. I guess the weather guessers got it all wrong again. We might get a little rain, but that will be it.

The Storm That Could? No, the Storm in Absentia…

I’ve watched a strong line of storms push across Alabama all day. I grew more and more excited as it closed in on the Valley. It finally arrived about the time Tracy was pulling into the driveway after work. There were strong straight line winds, torrential rains, but where was the lightning and thunder? It turned out to be a bust. At least my power and internet didn’t go out like they often will do with a big storm. The storm looked awful nasty on the weather radar, though. I thought we were going to get a big one!

Yay! It’s Finally Here!

I was beginning to think my little pocket weather radio had gotten lost in the mail. I was giving up hope of it ever arriving. It had been over a week since we ordered it. It was the most anticipated gift out of all my gifts this birthday. Well, it arrived today and meets and exceeds my expectations. This thing is so very neat! I was shocked at how tiny and light it is. The shipping box felt as if it were empty.

“Surely, that can’t be that radio,” dad said when he handed me the shipping box earlier today.

Tracy came home for lunch and I was listening to it in the kitchen while I prepared our noon meal. I was picking up the weather station out of Columbus, Georgia to our southeast.

“Look! Its even got a speaker so I don’t have to listen with earbuds,” I told Tracy very happily.

“I could kill Mr. John for ordering that for you,” is all Tracy said with an exasperated smile.

Tracy says the weather radio gets on her nerves because it is so monotonous.

“That thing is not coming to bed with us tonight,” Tracy then said knowing me so very well.

I had this devilish grin on my face as I handed her a lunch plate of ham and tomato sandwiches and potato chips.

A Chill is in the Air…

As Tracy was leaving for work this morning, she walked out the front door and quickly turned around to come back inside and get a coat.

“I told you so!” I said with a smile and a chuckle.

“But it was 82 degrees yesterday!” Tracy complained of the difference.

It almost feels like fall outside today. It never has gotten above 70° degrees.

River House Bound…

Last week, they installed heating and air at the river house (I am going to get you some pictures up soon, Glittermom!). I asked dad this morning if he is really moving in. He said he really is and that he is selling the big manor on the hill. I can only imagine what moving my father is going to entail. It makes me dizzy just thinking about it.

Newegg Sells More than Just Computer Parts…

Part of my Christmas coming up later in this year. I am so excited! I have always wanted a weather station.

Stormy Night!

When Your Dog Farts, Blame Your Girlfriend…

Tracy and I were spooning on the couch Sunday night. We were watching Masterpiece’s Victoria on Public Broadcasting. Maggie was laying on the rug just below us. Suddenly, this nasty, rotten egg smell wafted up from the floor. I saw Tracy wrinkle her nose first and I smiled. I knew it was Maggie, but I told Tracy, “Jesus honey, you need to check your drawers after that.” She elbowed me very hard in the ribs and it hurt.

“You know that was Maggie!” she exclaimed despondently.

By this time, I was laughing so hard it hurt. Tracy got to laughing as well.

“How can something so cute and cuddly emit something so nasty?” Tracy asked me.

Maggie looked stymied at all the commotion and then laid her head back down and went back to sleep.

Snow January 2019 was a Bust…

We were supposed to get 1 inch of snow this morning. The temperatures were just too warm. The National Weather Service got the forecast wrong all over the state and are having to eat humble pie this morning. They had to downgrade all winter weather warnings down to winter weather advisories. The temperature is supposed to fall into the twenties after sunset. It is going to be a cold trip to the grocery store tonight. I was feeling shaky last night, so dad and I put it off until tonight.

Getting Back On An Even Keel…

I feel much better than I did last week which was hell week. They say blogging is like riding a bike. You just have to get back on and start peddling. Hopefully, I will be back to writing on a regular basis now material permitting. 

Rainy Night Ahead…

A Few Snow Flakes Flying?

If you’ve read me a long time then you know my penchant for winter weather. We have a line of snow showers headed this way and might see a flake or two. The National Weather Service says there will be no accumulations, but I am excited none the less.  It probably won’t get here until after midnight, but I am going to stay up and wait for it. I just called my father and Tracy spreading the good news.

Edit – I spoke too soon. It looks like the line of snow showers is fading as they hit drier air south.

Rainy Night About to Start…

Current Weather Map…

That cold front is about to pass us by and will push tropical storm Michael out into the ocean again. After the cold front, it should get really gusty around here and temperatures should drop throughout the day.

Post Hurricane…

I just took a ride through town. There are tree limbs down and debris everywhere, but no downed trees. We, thankfully, escaped any major damage. We received 4.71 inches of rain. I checked the river house and the river is very high, but not flood stage. Thank the maker our power didn’t go out. A computer junkie like me would feel lost. Sharyn, the storm went up the coast so I think you got what was a cold front moving through. It would cause rain and storms. It should be noticeably cooler today and tonight.

Gotsta Get Out of Here…

The first outer bands of Hurricane Michael were among us. I was in a hurry to finish my chores and head home today. A steady rain had already began to fall.

“Don’t go,” Tracy pleaded with me. “Barbara is a bore. All she talks about is her kids and grandkids.”

I chuckled.

“I just want to get home before the shit hits the fan,” I replied.

I bid farewell to everybody and headed to Daniel’s to get some of their crispy well done burgers. I then made a beeline straight to home.

On a positive note, this storm will usher in fall weather. It is supposed to get down to 49° degrees tomorrow night. It looks like ninety degree days are gone until next spring.

Line Worker? Please Climb My Power Pole…

They’ve changed the map. We are now under possible instead of most likely. I do pray the power doesn’t go out. We’re right on the edge, though. At least we are on the western side of the storm and that means less high winds and less damage.

Within the Sphere of Influence…

Glittermom wrote if I was ready for Michael. The worst of the storm should hit us Wednesday night. In all probabilities, my power will be out for 3 to 4 days. We are going to be on the edge of hurricane force winds if the forecast pans out. I am already morose and dreading it. Gotta get me a good dose of computer gaming in the next two days before all hell hits. My tablet is fully charged containing several movies and TV shows I like to watch. I have plenty of medications, non perishable food and water. I also have a full tank of gas in my car. All three of my flashlights have fresh batteries. I guess I am as ready as I am ever going to be.

It looks ominous folks!

Creatures of the Night…

Charlie woke me up at 8am with breakfast this morning. I never know when he will get here. I was abruptly woken by a loud knock on the door and I sleepily opened the front door in my underwear and a t-shirt as Charlie handed me the goods. Maggie was going strong, though – so glad to see him. She was proud to get her sausage biscuit.

“Horsefly was ready for bed and I had to hurry,” Charlie told me.

Horsefly sleeps in the day and doesn’t venture forth until after nightfall. 

“Enjoy your biscuits,” Charlie said and he was gone in a flash.

I bet Charlie didn’t dare wake my father that early. I just arrived home from my father’s house and noticed he had fixed a strong pot of coffee – the house smelling wonderfully of roasted coffee beans. Boy, was he surly this morning. Auburn lost really badly last night – got the pants beat off of them by an unranked Mississippi State.

“We just won’t talk about it,” he told me when I sat down in the den meaning the Auburn game. 

“Looks like we may be getting a hurricane,” dad then said changing the subject.

“Today will be the last 90° degree day and then the daily temperatures fall progressively,” I told him. “I do think fall is on the way.”

Old Fuss and Feathers still rations out my cigarettes to me. I had to ask for an extra pack this morning as I had gotten behind. I normally only smoke one pack a day. He didn’t balk which I feared.

“I might smoke me a few today, too!” he jokingly told me and I laughed.

Cigarettes are prohibitively expensive these days and my father never complains about the cost. He’s good to me about that vice.

You Should’ve Seen Jermaine Grin…

This afternoon was spent tuning up Jermaine’s big V-8 engine. I just love working on old cars. Jermaine wanted to do it yesterday afternoon, but I was too lazy and tired after volunteering.

There was a marked difference in the before and after. You could set a glass of water on Jermaine’s air cleaner and it wouldn’t vibrate off after I tuned it up. I was really proud of myself at how smooth the engine was running.

The hardest part was gapping and installing the new spark plugs. I had eight old plugs to uninstall and eight more to gap and install. Once that was done then it was smooth sailing after that.

It started to thunder and that was my cue to head on home and watch the weather as Jermaine climbed in his car to go fill it up with gas. He called me later telling me how much more powerful his engine was as well.

“Go easy on that old V-8,” I told him as I grinned and chuckled.

Sept. 10th Tablet Scribblings… Finished With My Day…

It is time to hit the road folks. I didn’t get to sleep until 2 am last night and I feel a serious nap coming on. I also almost forgot to take my medications and was wondering why I felt a little jittery and nervous come noon.

This morning started off FUBAR. Lopez Landscaping showed up to mow my lawn at 7 am. I was just leaving to head to the Humane Society. I had to scramble back inside and lock the dog door so Maggie wouldn’t escape when they mowed the back yard. I hope there aren’t any accidents when I arrive home. Maggie can hold it with the best of them, though.

“Y’all can’t come at seven,” I told the foreman. “You’re going to wake up all my neighbors. It’s inconvenient for me as well.”

I am very excited about the weather. We have a 70% chance of thunderstorms today. I hope to be awakened in a few hours by the clap of thunder. A line of storms is already forming to our South.

Seeing the End of the Storm…

Blue skies ahead…