Storms

Well, we had the predicted storms and then some.  Early this morning, about 7:15, an electric storm blew through.  Later in the day, mid-afternoon, the sky grew very, very dark, and we had a rainstorm, with small hail.  We had sprinkles off and on throughout the day.  The storms may continue off and on the next few days, including wind and even snow. It is that time of year.

A Changing Sky

The sky was bright and sunny today.  The weather predictors were saying we would have a change with possible light precipitation by Wednesday.  By this afternoon, the sky has become heavy and grey with clouds. The temperature has cooled.  We shall see how the weather turns.

I should have suspected that the weather forecasters were correct.  When I awoke this morning, I had joint pain, and no desire to move.  On a work day, I would have forced myself into the hot shower, and get dressed so I could go to work.  On a weekend, day off or holiday, I just rather lounge for a while, and gradually work my bones and body to move, take my shower and take it easy.  Which is what I have done and have been doing today.  

Update Me Because I Am Uninformed

I hope uninformed is correct, and ignorant would not be more correct. I am sorry if ignorant is more correct.  I am asking because I do not want to be ignorant, and I want to be respectful of the LFBTQ community. I listen to NPR a lot.  And have lately heard them use the term queer to refer to homosexuals, male and female, bisexual, and transgender.  The first time I recently heard this on the radio, I wondered about it, because that was a derogatory term I heard in the 1960s and 1970s and perhaps beyond for people who are homosexual. But now, apparently queer is becoming more common.  It still feels uncomfortable when I hear it on the radio.  What gives?

The other thing I have noticed in the NPR reporting is that when they report on persons who are transgender, the term "they" is used instead of he or she.  Again, please enlighten me.  Is this the terminology preferred by people being reported upon, or is it a machination used by the legal or political powers that be at NPR to keep them out of legal trouble? I just want to know.  

Green Book

This afternoon, I went to see the movie Green Book.  It was a very good movie, on many different levels.  I would highly recommend it.  If you are not familiar with the story it is about Don Shirley, a Black pianist who takes his trio South on tour in 1962.  The rest of his trio is Anglo, and he hires an Anglo driver Tony Vallelonga.  The story is about the transformation of Shirley and Vallelonga.   

The Shortest Day of the Year

As you know, December 21 is The Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year.  Every year, I am amazed, but no longer surprised, at how quickly and noticeably the length of daylight hours increases after the 21st..  It is always pleasant.   I dislike the short daylight hours.

The Texas Tech Museum

I was surprised to learn that the Texas Tech Museum was going to be open today, because their schedule usually is consistent with the University's class schedule.  But, they were open, and will reopen on January 2, 2019.

I went to see the exhibit The Pre Modern Bibles.  I had actually gone to the museum once before to see this exhibit, but was distracted by a couple of exhibits:Red That Colored the World and Ladies in Red.   Those were great exhibits. Today, in addition to the exhibit on the Pre Modern Bibles, I went through the Red, Hot and Quilted  exhibit.

I really enjoyed both exhibits.  Amazingly, later today, I was reading a book, The Grantchester Mysteries, Sydney Chambers and the Persistence of Love.   There was a segment of the book  "Ex Libris"  that talked about ancient religious books, and used terms like "glossed" the meaning of which I learned today at the museum. This added to my enjoyment of the book, whereas without that knowledge, I would have just "glossed over" the term, and not worried about what it meant.

It is enlightening that our academic life can enhance our daily life in what is a small but important way!

A Basketball Bonanza

Thursday night, the Texas Tech Red Raiders Basketball Team played the Duke University Basketball Team at Madison Square Garden. The Garden was sold out and the people at ESPN said the viewership was the highest for a basketball game since 2015.  The announcers were very complimentary of the Tech team.  The Tech team got behind at first, lead for much of the game, and lost by a wider margin that would indicate how close the game was.

Friday night, I watched the Milwaukee Bucks win against the Boston Celtics NBA teams in Boston.  

Saturday, I watched the Texas Tech Lady Raiders play against the Texas Southern Lady Tigers.  The Raiders won.  After the game, there was an announcement on the radio that Coach Marlene Stollings is the first Lady Raider coach to start her career with an 8 and 2 record.  I hope this bodes well for her.  We shall see.

Warm Clothers

I like warm clothes at this time of year.   I like turtleneck sweaters, and several years ago, I ordered 3 online.  I do not buy much online, but occasionally I buy stuff. These are rayon/nylon sweaters, and they are very soft, but very, very warm.  That was surprising to me.

This year, I bought a couple of shirts.  They look like flannel shirts, but they are 100% polyester.  They feel like flannel shirts, and are warm like flannel shirts. 

When I wear the turtlenecks under the "flannel" shirts, that is a very soft, very warm combination, and I feel very comfortable with this clothing combination.  

Taki's New Habits

The last few days, Taki has taken to getting on the slide out on my computer desk, and playing with items on the desk.  She likes to sit on the keyboard (a no no) and chews on things on the desk.  There is a small medallion that came in the mail from some organization, and she likes to bat it around and knock it to the floor. Today, she did the same with my Goldfish crackers.  When I told her "no" she stopped, which is unusual for her.  Later she was playing with the medallion again, and would grab my fingers in her mouth. I told her "No biting" and she dropped my fingers.  Maybe, she is learning something. Later, she was trying to scrape a decal off the laptop.  It was fun to watch, but a little sad, because she did not "get it."    

The Closed Door

The other morning, as I was getting ready for work, there was a whooshing thump.  Haiku heard it too, and looked towards the computer room in the house.

I continued getting ready for work, which includes feeding the cats and cleaning the cat pans.  I often feed Taki in the computer room, and there is a cat pan in that room, also.  So about 20 minutes later, I went to the computer room, and the door was closed tight.  Taki was in the room when I opened the door.

Taki was not too concerned.  I was, because she is not very door savvy, and sometimes, can not remember how to pull a door open.  She knows how to push a door closed, which is what I expect she did that morning.  

I was especially concerned, because sometimes, when I sit in the computer room and use a space heater, I pull the door partially closed, and I had done that the night before this event. So, I have been careful to be sure that when I am done with the computer room, I leave the door open enough that Taki can get out without her accidentally closing the door, and closing herself in.  If this were to happen, it would not be the end of the world, but I would feel horrible if she were shut in all day, or over night. 

Disoriented!

When I drive to work in the morning, I am driving East, and at this time of year, the sun is rising, and I am driving into the sun on the horizon. And, it only gets worse.

Today, I had to work late, and was driving West.  The sun was on the horizon in the west, and I kept expecting it to get higher, at first.  It took me a few minutes driving west to realize that the sun was setting, and the brightness on my eyes would ease as time went on.  A different experience than my morning drive.  More comfortable. I just was not really processing about the sun. I was thinking about other things.  Not always safe when you drive.

Spotty showers

Yesterday, a line of showers passed through the South Plains area.  It was interesting:  Some places simply received big drops. Other places received serious downpours.  You could look across the horizon, and see the areas where the rain was occurring, where there was virga, and where there was no rain at all!  This is one of the neatest things about the weather in West Texas:  You can look across the horizon, and see the variations in weather in the area!

The Wind 2018

A wind storm was predicted for today, and we did get it.  I believe the gusts were in the 60 mph range, with sustained winds well above 30 mph. It was well above freezing, but the wind made it feel colder than that. 

There was not a lot of dust.  The wind was coming in from the northeast, and the open fields are generally to the south and west, and even the north.  

The roaring of the wind is amazing.  

Refreezing After The Storm

There was a lot of melting of snow and ice today, which is good, but after sundown, the temperatures dropped below freezing and all of the moisture has frozen.  About 9:30 PM the Lubbock Police Department announced the closing of the Marsha Sharp Freeway from Avenue Q (north central Lubbock) to West Loop 289 (west central Lubbock.)  It also announced the closing of the Loop 289 from West Fourth Street (north west Lubbock) to South Indiana (south central Lubbock.) I live in south central Lubbock. The biggest problem with these highways are the bridges and ramps that freeze up and are very dangerous. Yesterday, the ramp from South Loop 289 to Interstate Highway 27 was closed due to icing conditions.  

My concern is that the roads will still be icy when I have to go to work in the morning. Some schools, and very few businesses have delayed opening tomorrow. So far, my agency has not.  That does not matter.  I have lots of leave. I may just decide to go into work late.  

Dealing With The Weather

My efforts for dealing with the snow storm were very simple:  I stayed home.  I did not have anywhere I needed to go on Saturday. Sunday, I renewed on line the library books that were due. I shoveled the south half of my driveway: the melting was such that the north half had less than an inch of snow. I should have pushed it to the side, but my back was bothering me.  Most of the side walk was melted. I did clear a path for the mailman.

Winter Weather

Lubbock and much of the southwest is predicted to be facing a winter storm this weekend.  It sort of blew in yesterday, with lots of wind and clouds.   The temperature stayed in the 30s most if not all day, but just above freezing, and we had intermittent rain.  The real rain was supposed to start tonight, and it sort of has.  

I usually do my weekly shopping Friday night after work, and sometimes, Saturday morning.  I decided to shop Thursday night after work, as did many others.  The store was crowded, but the lines were not too long. I stocked up on some extra items, so I would not have to return to the store until after the storm, and purchased items anticipated for the next week.

I topped off the gas tank in my car, which involved a longer wait in line, but that was okay.

I had purchased some kitty litter on Wednesday night, and had left it in the car.  It is still in the car, in case it is needed, but I have no plans to go anywhere until Sunday afternoon.  The weather should be good by then.

Christmas Lights

I put my Christmas lights up over the weekend, actually, Sunday afternoon.  I had many strands of lights, and many no longer worked. I had almost enough for what little I do.  However, I wanted a couple of strands more. 

I was not up to shopping Monday night after work, so Tuesday I went to Home Depot, and could not find what I wanted.  So Wednesday night, I went to Wal Mart and found what I wanted.  I toyed with doing some extra shopping, and did pick up a box of kitty litter, but decided I really wanted to get home and put up the lights.  I was really disappointed because one strand only lit up half way reliably.  So, I used the other strand and just bunched up the half strand and threw it in the middle of the Nandina bush.

I am glad I put up the lights Wednesday. 

A Most Unusual Atmostphere

From my place of employment, we watched the dust blow in and recognized this was typical West Texas, even if it is in the fall, when some 40 years ago, most of the blowing dust was in the spring. 

But, the sky was unusual. If you looked to the south, east and west, there was dust in the air. Looking to the north and north west, we could see clouds building, with possible storms, and blue skies!

I went shopping and about an hour later, left the store.  When I did, the parking lot was wet. The rain was not heavy:  the tarmac under the parked  cars was dry.  You could see the areas where the rain was coming down, also.  When I got home, it was almost totally dry at my house.