Category Archives: Whatnots

LOOK TO THE SKIES

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The weather has been in the news a lot lately. The Polar vortex hit the Midwest with a blast of arctic temperatures starting at a minus 24. Then the wind blew fiercely and the wind chill plunged the already freezing temperature down to minus 40!



Huge snow snow storms dropped up to 30 inches of snow on the East Coast, along with lots of snow in the south. Did you know that snow storms have names, just like hurricanes. Our most recent ones were Harper and Indra. Snowstorms didn’t used to have names, but the Weather Channel, beginning in 2012, began naming snowstorms that will affect a lot of people.

Freezing temperatures create ice sculptures on trees, yet the sky in the background is such a pure blue.

Thank goodness for rain in the West.

The Left or West Coast doesn’t want to be left out, so this year we have been soaked by severe storms. I know you Mid westerners and East Coasters are no longer in awe of thunder storms. But, let me tell you, in 40 years of living in Southern California, there were perhaps two thunderstorms–with real thunder. This past year, we have been thundered upon, several times.

The loud boom is so unexpected, that it startles everyone. When lightening strikes, you feel as if a strobe light just passed you. And strangely, your first thought is why am I in a 70’s nightclub? You don’t think lightning.

These weather patterns create wonderful vistas of the skies. The cooler air and cloud cover create spectacular sunsets and all over the country. Number One took this picture. See the birds flying–trying to get closer to the sun where it is warmer.

Number one took this view from our balcony at 5:00 a.m.

Surprise! It was 35 degrees this morning in Carlsbad!!! Dang, that is cold! The clouds create spectacular sunrises, too.

However, we were presented with a beautiful surprising gift a few days ago. After very heavy rain and thunder, a huge complete rainbow arced in the northeast.

Not only were we given one rainbow, but a second complete complete arc appeared above the first. I have never seen a complete rainbow, let alone two complete ones!

You could even see where the rainbow stopped. We all wished we were the people at the end of the rainbow getting our wishes and pots of gold.

It is beautiful, but the picture doesn’t reveal the vibrant colors of the bottom rainbow. It was as if God dipped a brush in wet paint and brushed it across the sky.

Storms are uncomfortable and sometimes very dangerous, but our latest storms have painted the sky with deep reds, oranges and yellows and topped it off with two vivid, multicolored rainbows.

So, next time, you hear that a storm is coming, make sure you look to the skies and see what a beautiful palette of colors we have been gifted.

Two Week Resolution

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I wasn’t thinking about my New Year’s Resolution until about mid January when I was grocery shopping and I turned down the candy aisle. I, really, was just passing through!

Suddenly, I found four people standing directly in front of the the wall of candy, staring wistfully at each item. I don’t remember seeing that many people in that aisle at one time–not even for Valentine’s Day.

I could hear the gears working in each brain. “I promised myself I would lose weight. How can I lose weight if I give in and buy this candy?” It was almost as if their mom was giving them the, “No you can’t have candy!” reprimand, and the child in them was saying, with their sweet puppy dog eyes, “Please mommy, I will only have one.” Then the child in you silently adds, “at a time.”

Another was thinking, “My resolution was to give up sugar this year. Not because I have to lose weight but because, sugar, according to the experts, is poison for my body. I don’t want to poison my body, but I really want some chocolate!”

The third was thinking, “I made an agreement with my doctor. Since I am pre-diabetic and I really don’t want to be diabetic, I would not eat candy or any thing that turns to sugar in the body, like bread, pasta and rice. I will fill up on vegetables and fruit.”

I am doomed!

The fourth was a tall, thin, young man. He wasn’t thinking about anything. He strode down the aisle, grabbed a couple of large bags of chocolate and left.

I hope he didn’t hear the angry curses that were aimed at him.

Our minds can stay focused on our resolutions or promises for about two weeks. But, only if it is in January. It doesn’t last quite that long the rest of the year. I think the reason we can’t stay focused, is that the resolutions we make are so broad and that there is not a specific element we can focus on. If you tell yourself to give up all sugar–you are doomed before you try! Tell yourself you will eat one less sugar filled item a day. That is doable.

This year, I didn’t make a real resolution nor did I make a promise. I did say I would “try” to do something–but a try–can last 5 minutes without any guilt.

I did say I would continue eating the way I have been, which is: I am sort of eating healthy, sort of exercising, and sort of cutting down on the amount of Diet Coke I drink. This was a resolution that cannot be broken. How do you measure “sort of”? Each person has their own definition, so I am going to “sort of” keep on “truckin” and “sort of” keep my resolution for the first time, ever!

And “sort of” avoid of the candy aisle!

It May Not Be What You Think

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On hot summer days, when the temperatures  rises,  your young charges grow  anxious and rambunctious.

They  run  up and down the stairs, gallop into the kitchen almost pushing you over with their enthusiasm.  Then, they dash shrieking, wailing, and howling out of the house and  into the back yard.

When that doesn’t satisfy them, they start pushing,  bumping, and wrestling until you hear a sharp cry.  One of them got hurt.

Your nerves are frazzled and you obviously don’t have time to take them to the park right now, but for everyone’s–no your–sanity, you realize you have to get them out of the house.

It may seem that a trip to the park is easy, but it is a trial.  Your little ones need to put on their play gear,  but they are so excited that they continue to dart around and turn in circles while you  try to corral them into the car.

As soon as we near the park, they crane their necks hoping to get a look at one of their friends.  They are so excited that as soon as I open the door, they jump out into the parking lot.  I grab them quickly and take them inside the  park.

Most of the caretakers are watching their charges and if one of them is playing inappropriately, usually  the caretaker stops them.  Some just sit and talk with the other parents, oblivious to what is happening with their little ones.  But there is always that bully, or the older one, that pushes, shoves and sometimes bites.

When one makes a disgusting mess, most parents take care of that, but not all.

Some of them pull things away from others on the playground.  The sad part is that no one is watching those little ones and they continue to be a problem child forever.

If someone else’s charge gives you a hug, your little one is very jealous and needs to shove the usurper away.

After a while, they stop running and start sitting in the shade and playing in the dirt.  They love to kick up as much dust as they can.

Now, I can take them home and hopefully get some work done, but both are deaf to my calls and pretend I am not there.   Yes, the dog park is no different than your children’s park!  But wait, these are my children’s dogs, not mine.

Why am I taking them to the park? you ask.   For my sanity.  Besides, dog people are really nice people.