There was a pretty nasty apartment fire over Tampa way this afternoon, thought to have been sparked by a lightning strike. I can't remember seeing lightning strike maps very much up North, but here in the Lightning Strike Capital of the United States, we see them every day on the news.
So our weather guy cues up the lightning strike map for the afternoon, zooms in on the apartment block, backs up through the time lapse until he sees a lightning strike over that very block (at 3:16 pm), and BOOM! the apartment is on fire. Nobody has been hurt, all residents evacuated and the fire is out now, but isn't that just amazing? I was amazed. --cds
Monday, June 9, 2014
Saturday, June 7, 2014
The Grand Canyon Essay
Because I am not a very adventurous traveler, I don't really have a list of places that I absolutely must visit and view before I expire. That hasn't always been the case -- when I was a teenager and avid National Geographic reader, I couldn't imagine NOT wanting to travel to every single country on Earth and see with my own eyes all world's wonders. Oh well, that didn't last long. Instead I discovered the joys of independence and Vermont boys who worked on race cars (I know, I know... but it worked for me). I also came to realize that all these historical places and lovely landscapes would be packed with, you know, People! And what if I was exploring an ancient pyramid and discovered a gum wrapper in the sand? That would so totally ruin my vibe.
Thankfully, I discovered the genre of travel books. Not guide books, but books written by actual travelers who went, saw and recorded, and most importantly, took excellent photos. I even remember the first of this sort that I read, The Great Railway Bazaar-By Train Through Asia by Paul Theroux. I've ploughed through all of his books over the years (no pictures but he's an excellent writer). Though I've read so many wonderful travel books, I think my favorite has been Peter Matthiessen's The Snow Leopard. Oh, and I once read a beautifully written essay on the Tibetan custom of sky burial, but I can't seem to find it now, and don't Google it, fair warning, because the Google search gets gross and definitely not beautiful.
Soooo, oh yes, the Grand Canyon. Since we were driving home from Utah via all the state roads that we could (highly recommend if you're not in a huge hurry), we decided to stop by and view 17 million years of geologic history, no big deal.
Having stayed the night before in Page, Arizona, Jim and I drove in from the east on Route 64 (East Rim Drive), and stopped at almost every viewing/parking area. Our first reaction (after thank God for good truck brakes)? We would never, ever, ever bring children to these spots. I'm serious, there is the roadway, there are some bushy trees, there is a very low rock wall, and then there is air. And way, way, way, way, way, way, way down at the bottom, 17 million years ago, there is a river. So lovely I don't have the words to describe it and certainly not the photography skills to capture it, but my eyes know true beauty when they see it.
Which sort of brings me back around to my love of travel books and my belief that I really don't need to physically travel to see the world, especially these days when such gifted photographers exist and are willing to share. I won't bore you with the rest of my photos because they are crap and occasionally hysterical, like our attempt at a selfie with this view in the background while we clung to each other in the brisk wind. Deleted, you will be relieved to note. --cds
Thankfully, I discovered the genre of travel books. Not guide books, but books written by actual travelers who went, saw and recorded, and most importantly, took excellent photos. I even remember the first of this sort that I read, The Great Railway Bazaar-By Train Through Asia by Paul Theroux. I've ploughed through all of his books over the years (no pictures but he's an excellent writer). Though I've read so many wonderful travel books, I think my favorite has been Peter Matthiessen's The Snow Leopard. Oh, and I once read a beautifully written essay on the Tibetan custom of sky burial, but I can't seem to find it now, and don't Google it, fair warning, because the Google search gets gross and definitely not beautiful.
Soooo, oh yes, the Grand Canyon. Since we were driving home from Utah via all the state roads that we could (highly recommend if you're not in a huge hurry), we decided to stop by and view 17 million years of geologic history, no big deal.
Having stayed the night before in Page, Arizona, Jim and I drove in from the east on Route 64 (East Rim Drive), and stopped at almost every viewing/parking area. Our first reaction (after thank God for good truck brakes)? We would never, ever, ever bring children to these spots. I'm serious, there is the roadway, there are some bushy trees, there is a very low rock wall, and then there is air. And way, way, way, way, way, way, way down at the bottom, 17 million years ago, there is a river. So lovely I don't have the words to describe it and certainly not the photography skills to capture it, but my eyes know true beauty when they see it.
Which sort of brings me back around to my love of travel books and my belief that I really don't need to physically travel to see the world, especially these days when such gifted photographers exist and are willing to share. I won't bore you with the rest of my photos because they are crap and occasionally hysterical, like our attempt at a selfie with this view in the background while we clung to each other in the brisk wind. Deleted, you will be relieved to note. --cds
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Four Years Old!
Our little Miss Ruthanne is four years old today. She was VERY excited for her birthday even though she told me over the phone that she is not a grownup yet. So darn cute. Here are some photos from their most recent Florida visit:
Ruthie loved the petting zoo and carefully set about brushing all the animals she could reach. She was also interested in knowing their names and wasn't shy about asking the attendant for the name of each pig and goat.
Lunch with Doc McStuffins and Jake the Pirate.
Funny faces with Mommy and Daddy.
Clapping games with other little girls while waiting for Minnie and Mickey.
Both loved the pool, though Marcus seems more interested just now in his toes.
Ruthie loved the petting zoo and carefully set about brushing all the animals she could reach. She was also interested in knowing their names and wasn't shy about asking the attendant for the name of each pig and goat.
Lunch with Doc McStuffins and Jake the Pirate.
Funny faces with Mommy and Daddy.
Clapping games with other little girls while waiting for Minnie and Mickey.
Both loved the pool, though Marcus seems more interested just now in his toes.
So there is our little Ruthanne fix for today. Happy 4th Birthday Miss Roo! --cds
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