Poor Zed had to wait until daddy-o shoveled a path and area for him this morning to go the bathroom.
This was taken at 2pm. Snow has cleared to some rain so not as deep as this morning when it was 14", but it's still taller than Z!
(and their human parents)
This blog started as The adventures of a D.I.N.K. family where the two "kids" are four legged and how we are going to retire early. Now it's a 1 income, 1 entrepreneur, and 1 pup getting closer and closer to retirement.
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Adventures: Hurricane Sandy
The last couple of days have been crazy. First with the warnings of the storm coming and the rain since Sunday.
My nephew came down from NY on Sunday. Luckily he made it before the storm and is hanging out until Wednesday.
We made it through the storm, but Esa has had cabin fever since Sunday evening! She didn't care if it was raining or windy - she still wanted her walks and to go outside. Zed, on the other hand, was more than comfortable hanging out on the couch. We had to push him outside a couple of times so that he could go the bathroom.
There doesn't seem to be any damage to the house - for once! Since living in our house, we have replaced the fascia & secured it better due to other storms.
I did go into work for a couple of hours yesterday and did a walkthrough to make sure all of the tenants were set. I got to see something we don't see very often - a VERY empty airport and planes lined up ready for the wind.
I hope everyone else is fine.
My nephew came down from NY on Sunday. Luckily he made it before the storm and is hanging out until Wednesday.
We made it through the storm, but Esa has had cabin fever since Sunday evening! She didn't care if it was raining or windy - she still wanted her walks and to go outside. Zed, on the other hand, was more than comfortable hanging out on the couch. We had to push him outside a couple of times so that he could go the bathroom.
There doesn't seem to be any damage to the house - for once! Since living in our house, we have replaced the fascia & secured it better due to other storms.
I did go into work for a couple of hours yesterday and did a walkthrough to make sure all of the tenants were set. I got to see something we don't see very often - a VERY empty airport and planes lined up ready for the wind.
 |
| A very empty Dulles (sideways) |
 |
| Planes lined up for the wind. |
When I got home, we ordered chinese food and just hung out. We were very lucky that we only had the lights flicker a couple of times, but that was it! I'm happy we were able to get on the internet & watch TV!
Dan stayed home. Which I was happy about since he would be driving home in some bad winds.
We hunkered down in the basement when the winds started and watch "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol". Pretty good movie.
Today, I am at work, but it is very slow. United canceled flights, so half of the airport is empty. Right now, it's just rainining. Zed still wasn't in for the walk. He made it to the corner and then Dan let him off of the leash and he went running back home.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Friday's Storm
So we were lucky and only had a little minor damage at our house from the storm on Friday night. WTOP posted an article today on what the storm was.
I headed downstairs to the basement when the storm hit - the house was shaking! We never lost power or TV during the storm. Saturday morning, we didn't have TV, but that was it. TV came back on in the early afternoon.
The fascia (top strip of siding that covers the roof line) on the front of the house came off. Hubby thinks that's the only portion that we haven't had replaced in our 10 years in this house. There is also a bubble on the roof - the shingles must have gotten a little loose from the fascia coming off/wind able to whip underneath.
There was so much damage from this storm. It made me think - what would happen if there was a MAJOR storm that came through (not that this one wasn't)? The storm kept moving so it didn't last long. What would have happened if it did last a long time?
It also makes you take stock in being prepared (emergency supplies, house inventory). Which I need to check out supplies (we do have emergency supplies) and really need to start a house inventory in case of storm damage.
Megan Cloherty, wtop.com
WASHINGTON - The ferocious storm that blew through the Washington-area Friday night is a weather system known as a derecho.
It is not only an unusual weather event for the region, but the circumstances surrounding the storm changed its pattern characteristics, according to ABC 7 Meterologist Mike Stinneford.
Derecho is a Spanish word that means 'straight.' It is in reference to the storm's powerful straight-line winds.
Derechos typically form along the top of a hot air mass and can move an average of 70 miles per hour. That wind speed is normally associated with a Category 1 hurricane.
WTOP Traffic Reporter Dave Dildine is also a weather research analyst. He compiled this chronology of the derecho's movements Friday.
The Storm Prediction Center places the Mid-Atlantic, including the Washington, D.C metro area, under a slight risk for severe weather. They note "considerable variability in storm evolution" but point to the possibility of "damaging winds spreading south-eastward" through the evening.
10:35 a.m.
The National Weather Service in Sterling, Va., introduces increased chances for thunderstorms for the Washington area, stating that they "expect storms to continue to roll east … across much of Virginia."
12:14 p.m.
The Storm Prediction Center begins tracking the evolution of a complex of severe weather in Illinois and Indiana. Operational forecaster mentions that the "extent of the severe threat should be limited to areas west of the Appalachian Mountains."
12:50 p.m.
The Storm Prediction Center issues a severe thunderstorm watch for northeastern Illinois and the northern half of Indiana.
2:54 p.m.
Fort Wayne International Airport records a wind gust to 91 m.p.h. Emergency officials in parts of Indiana begin reporting "massive damage" following passage of storms.
3:30 p.m.
Local National Weather Service offices hold a conference call with Storm Prediction Center. SPC then upgrades parts of Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia to a moderate risk of severe weather and warns of "significant winds." The National Weather Service office in Sterling, Va., warns, "late night/early morning hours will be the prime time for [severe weather in] our area."
4:03 p.m.
The Storm Prediction Center classifies the "widespread/locally significant wind damage" in Ohio and West Virginia as a derecho.
4:52 p.m.
Reagan National Airport soars to a record high temperature for the day and month of June of 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
5:10 p.m.
ABC 7 Chief Meteorologist Doug Hill warns, "later tonight... we will have to be on the lookout for very heavy, potentially severe thunderstorms."
5:37 p.m.
The National Weather Service in Sterling, Va., introduces increased chances for thunderstorms - some severe - for the region. Their forecast discussion mentions a growing concern over wind damage ongoing in the Ohio Valley.
7:51 p.m.
SPC tracks the ongoing derecho across West Virginia and warns "storms to continue to roll beyond the east slopes of the Appalachians and across much of Virginia over the next several hours."
8:00 p.m.
The SPC upgraded parts of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C., to a moderate risk of severe weather and issues a severe thunderstorm watch. The watch includes enhanced/strongly worded warning of the possibly of "thunderstorm wind gusts to 80 miles per hour."
9:08 p.m.
The National Weather Service in Sterling, Va., issues a large severe thunderstorm warning for far the western suburbs with a strongly wording warning of "destructive winds."
9:00 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.
Widespread down trees and wind damage reported by local law enforcement agencies in eastern West Virginia, Western Maryland, and Northwestern Virginia.
9:29 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued for the western suburbs. The Weather Service advises the public seek shelter immediately.
10:10 p.m.
The Weather Service issues a severe thunderstorm warning for the entire metro area and surrounding counties for destructive winds in excess of 80 m.p.h. Warning includes a stern message to the general public, "This is a dangerous line of storms... These storms are capable of producing destructive winds in excess of 80 miles per hour. This is a serious situation. You need to take cover now."
10:23 p.m.
The weather observers at Dulles International Airport measured a wind gust to 71 m.p.h. Airport operations are on ground stop.
10:35 p.m.
Automatic weather reporting station at the USGS in Reston, Va., measures a wind gust at 79 m.p.h.
10:37-10:38 p.m.
Two storm-related fatalities are reported in Fairfax County, Va. One injury is reported on the George Washington Memorial Parkway near the Capital Beltway.
10:42 p.m.
The Weather Service issues a severe thunderstorm warning for eastern suburbs including areas near the Chesapeake Bay.
10:48 p.m.
A weather observer at Ronald Reagan National Airport records a wind gust of 70 m.p.h. as the storm moves into District of Columbia.
10:50 - 10:58 p.m.
Several automatic weather reporting stations in Prince George's County, Md. record wind gusts between 60 and 80 miles per hour. A wind gust of 76 m.p.h. was recorded in Seat Pleasant, Md.
11:05 p.m.
Baltimore-Washington International Airport observers report a peak wind gust of 66 m.p.h. at the height of the storm.
11:15 p.m.
Severe thunderstorm warning is allowed to expire for Washington D.C., metro area as storms push east over the Chesapeake Bay. The National Weather Service continues to receive delayed reports of widespread, severe wind damage from throughout the region.
"Outside a hurricane, a derecho is one of the worst storms that can run through the area," Stinneford says. "It's very unusual to have a derecho come this far south, also to come in the evening, also to come over the [Blue Ridge] mountains."
The storm that hit the D.C.area on Friday night started on the west side of Chicago and gained speed, following a jet stream east. This type of storm tends to die down by the end of the day, says Stinneford, and will lose steam.
Contrary to its historical pattern, Friday's derecho moved from west to east at a rapid speed, traveling up to 80 miles per hour at some points. It gained momentum heading into the Mid-Atlantic and hit after dark.
"This was a very large derecho," says Stinneford. "This is probably one of the biggest ones we've ever seen ... probably one of the worst storms ever in D.C. outside of a hurricane or the type of the damage you see from a major winter storm."
The major takeaway from this storm from a meteorlogical perspective was the size of its swath, he says.
"Outside of a hurricane, you will never see wind damage this widespread or this long-lived unless you had a land-falling hurricane."
I headed downstairs to the basement when the storm hit - the house was shaking! We never lost power or TV during the storm. Saturday morning, we didn't have TV, but that was it. TV came back on in the early afternoon.
The fascia (top strip of siding that covers the roof line) on the front of the house came off. Hubby thinks that's the only portion that we haven't had replaced in our 10 years in this house. There is also a bubble on the roof - the shingles must have gotten a little loose from the fascia coming off/wind able to whip underneath.
There was so much damage from this storm. It made me think - what would happen if there was a MAJOR storm that came through (not that this one wasn't)? The storm kept moving so it didn't last long. What would have happened if it did last a long time?
It also makes you take stock in being prepared (emergency supplies, house inventory). Which I need to check out supplies (we do have emergency supplies) and really need to start a house inventory in case of storm damage.
Timeline of derecho that hit Friday
Monday - 7/2/2012, 2:29pm ET
The storm tracked more than 600 miles, at times traveling at 85 miles per hour. (Courtesy NOAA)
Megan Cloherty, wtop.com
WASHINGTON - The ferocious storm that blew through the Washington-area Friday night is a weather system known as a derecho.
It is not only an unusual weather event for the region, but the circumstances surrounding the storm changed its pattern characteristics, according to ABC 7 Meterologist Mike Stinneford.
Derecho is a Spanish word that means 'straight.' It is in reference to the storm's powerful straight-line winds.
Derechos typically form along the top of a hot air mass and can move an average of 70 miles per hour. That wind speed is normally associated with a Category 1 hurricane.
WTOP Traffic Reporter Dave Dildine is also a weather research analyst. He compiled this chronology of the derecho's movements Friday.
Timeline of Friday's derecho forecast
8:53 a.m. eastern timeThe Storm Prediction Center places the Mid-Atlantic, including the Washington, D.C metro area, under a slight risk for severe weather. They note "considerable variability in storm evolution" but point to the possibility of "damaging winds spreading south-eastward" through the evening.
10:35 a.m.
The National Weather Service in Sterling, Va., introduces increased chances for thunderstorms for the Washington area, stating that they "expect storms to continue to roll east … across much of Virginia."
12:14 p.m.
The Storm Prediction Center begins tracking the evolution of a complex of severe weather in Illinois and Indiana. Operational forecaster mentions that the "extent of the severe threat should be limited to areas west of the Appalachian Mountains."
12:50 p.m.
The Storm Prediction Center issues a severe thunderstorm watch for northeastern Illinois and the northern half of Indiana.
2:54 p.m.
Fort Wayne International Airport records a wind gust to 91 m.p.h. Emergency officials in parts of Indiana begin reporting "massive damage" following passage of storms.
3:30 p.m.
Local National Weather Service offices hold a conference call with Storm Prediction Center. SPC then upgrades parts of Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia to a moderate risk of severe weather and warns of "significant winds." The National Weather Service office in Sterling, Va., warns, "late night/early morning hours will be the prime time for [severe weather in] our area."
4:03 p.m.
The Storm Prediction Center classifies the "widespread/locally significant wind damage" in Ohio and West Virginia as a derecho.
4:52 p.m.
Reagan National Airport soars to a record high temperature for the day and month of June of 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
5:10 p.m.
ABC 7 Chief Meteorologist Doug Hill warns, "later tonight... we will have to be on the lookout for very heavy, potentially severe thunderstorms."
5:37 p.m.
The National Weather Service in Sterling, Va., introduces increased chances for thunderstorms - some severe - for the region. Their forecast discussion mentions a growing concern over wind damage ongoing in the Ohio Valley.
7:51 p.m.
SPC tracks the ongoing derecho across West Virginia and warns "storms to continue to roll beyond the east slopes of the Appalachians and across much of Virginia over the next several hours."
8:00 p.m.
The SPC upgraded parts of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C., to a moderate risk of severe weather and issues a severe thunderstorm watch. The watch includes enhanced/strongly worded warning of the possibly of "thunderstorm wind gusts to 80 miles per hour."
9:08 p.m.
The National Weather Service in Sterling, Va., issues a large severe thunderstorm warning for far the western suburbs with a strongly wording warning of "destructive winds."
9:00 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.
Widespread down trees and wind damage reported by local law enforcement agencies in eastern West Virginia, Western Maryland, and Northwestern Virginia.
9:29 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued for the western suburbs. The Weather Service advises the public seek shelter immediately.
10:10 p.m.
The Weather Service issues a severe thunderstorm warning for the entire metro area and surrounding counties for destructive winds in excess of 80 m.p.h. Warning includes a stern message to the general public, "This is a dangerous line of storms... These storms are capable of producing destructive winds in excess of 80 miles per hour. This is a serious situation. You need to take cover now."
10:23 p.m.
The weather observers at Dulles International Airport measured a wind gust to 71 m.p.h. Airport operations are on ground stop.
10:35 p.m.
Automatic weather reporting station at the USGS in Reston, Va., measures a wind gust at 79 m.p.h.
10:37-10:38 p.m.
Two storm-related fatalities are reported in Fairfax County, Va. One injury is reported on the George Washington Memorial Parkway near the Capital Beltway.
10:42 p.m.
The Weather Service issues a severe thunderstorm warning for eastern suburbs including areas near the Chesapeake Bay.
10:48 p.m.
A weather observer at Ronald Reagan National Airport records a wind gust of 70 m.p.h. as the storm moves into District of Columbia.
10:50 - 10:58 p.m.
Several automatic weather reporting stations in Prince George's County, Md. record wind gusts between 60 and 80 miles per hour. A wind gust of 76 m.p.h. was recorded in Seat Pleasant, Md.
11:05 p.m.
Baltimore-Washington International Airport observers report a peak wind gust of 66 m.p.h. at the height of the storm.
11:15 p.m.
Severe thunderstorm warning is allowed to expire for Washington D.C., metro area as storms push east over the Chesapeake Bay. The National Weather Service continues to receive delayed reports of widespread, severe wind damage from throughout the region.
"Outside a hurricane, a derecho is one of the worst storms that can run through the area," Stinneford says. "It's very unusual to have a derecho come this far south, also to come in the evening, also to come over the [Blue Ridge] mountains."
The storm that hit the D.C.area on Friday night started on the west side of Chicago and gained speed, following a jet stream east. This type of storm tends to die down by the end of the day, says Stinneford, and will lose steam.
Contrary to its historical pattern, Friday's derecho moved from west to east at a rapid speed, traveling up to 80 miles per hour at some points. It gained momentum heading into the Mid-Atlantic and hit after dark.
"This was a very large derecho," says Stinneford. "This is probably one of the biggest ones we've ever seen ... probably one of the worst storms ever in D.C. outside of a hurricane or the type of the damage you see from a major winter storm."
The major takeaway from this storm from a meteorlogical perspective was the size of its swath, he says.
"Outside of a hurricane, you will never see wind damage this widespread or this long-lived unless you had a land-falling hurricane."
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Mother Nature, "You Rock my World"
"You rock my world"
- "Singles", 1992
Yes, our world was rocked yesterday by Mother Nature in a way I NEVER thought I would feel. An earthquake - how can that be? That's not supposed to happen on the East coast!
Anyway, we (our office) had no idea what was going on. See, our office is in the baggage claim level of the airport's main terminal with the ticketing level/departures ROAD above us. Yes, a road so the only thing above us is cement and road joints.
I was sitting in my boss's office next to him and all of the sudden we heard rumbling, then it got louder and the whole building what shaking. When we first heard the rumbling, we all thought it was an accident on the departures level, that someone had driven into the building or something. When it got louder, my boss yelled "get the hell out of here" - seriously, it sounded like the building was going to collapse.
By the time we all walked out of the office to baggage claim the shaking had stopped, but we all went outside to see the "accident". Once we realized there was no accident, we all realized - THAT WAS AN EARTHQUAKE!
We went back in the office and I started calling around - Dan, then my brother/SIL in NY - and checking the internet. The rest of the day, I was basically hyper with adrenaline from it.
I didn't feel any aftershocks. Supposedly we had one at 8 pm and at 1 am. Not sure if it was felt around here.
Oh, and once again, Washington DC does not do well with emergencies. It was utter chaos with traffic. The government closed because they wanted to check structural damage on the buildings, and today schools are closed and government is on leave without absence (basically, come in if you want).
Dan left at his usual time (2:45 pm) and didn't get to his office until 5:30 pm and that was basically from sitting in traffic in DC. CRAZY!
It's just crazy how this place gets. I think I'll stick out west of the city - Unless I could walk everywhere.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Vacation - July 16 - July 23
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Driving, driving
and more driving
We finally left the house around 10 am on Saturday and got up toWatertown
Watertown , NY
Watertown
We got about ½ mile from the house and figured out that we
didn’t have the shopping list. 2nd
time out, we had better luck and ended up at Ricky’s for lunch before
groceries. It was really good.
Really roughing it….
So I call coming to the cottage “roughing it” since you can’t drink the water (it’s from the lake). Well, this morning about 5:30 am, we had a MAJOR thunderstorm and lost power. GREAT – really going to REALLY be roughing it!
Wildlife
I forgot to mention yesterday that we saw a beaver about 7:15 pm swimming by. I was too worried that Zed would see it and go jump in the lake after it that I didn’t grab the camera to get a picture of it. More than likely we’ll have another spotting.
Canada
We went to the cave side first – what a mistake with puppies. It was very rough terrain in certain places. Especially when we went down by the water. Esa was just pulling like crazy the whole time – not very safe when everything is damp!
Weather (again)
It’s so FREAKING hot here – it’s crazy! When we checked on Friday, it said it was going to be in the 70s/80s – nope – more like high 90s. We both feel really bad for the pups – at least we can go to a/c places – they won’t even get into the water to cool off.
Home!
What a long drive home yesterday, but we both figured that since our layover going toCanada
We finally left the house around 10 am on Saturday and got up to
We only made 3 stops on the way up – one for a bathroom
break (outside of Hershey , PA ),
the second at Wendy’s in Binghamton , NY for lunch and then in the suburbs of Syracuse
Lunch was interesting.
We had a “picnic” in the lot by the drive-thru lane and the road leading
behind Wendy’s to the truck stop. One
guy going through the drive-thru yelled to us “having a picnic lunch?” Another lady started to walk towards me when
Dan was coming towards me with our food – I’m sure it was to talk about the
dogs, but then changed her mind when she saw Dan walking the same way.
We then took the pups for a walk and ended at Taco Bell to
grab something to take back to eat. I
can’t tell you the last time I had Taco Bell.
It was good. Then it was time to
TRY to sleep. Well, we believe that Esa
was so tired that she couldn’t get comfortable and keep whining and going to
the door. So Dan took her out about
midnight. Come to find out, there was a
party in the parking lot. No wonder the
halls were a little loud. Zed would bark
or growl every once in awhile and it also didn’t help with getting Esa to
sleep.
Esa would do well, when we (one of us taking turns) petted
her to sleep then we would go to sleep.
Until the neighbor’s baby next door started crying, which wasn’t bad,
but then they would SCREAM at the baby.
“Go to F’ing Sleep” “I don’t have any “F’ing cereal up here” (I think
that was towards the father). This
happened a couple of times during the night.
It didn’t help that the bed was terrible – every creak and crack from it
whenever you moved. It was just a bad
night. So anyway, we got out of there
ASAP this morning and got on the road.
O Canada
The drive from
We finally got to the cottage about 12:30/1pm. Unloaded a little and then went over to the
neighbors to say hi. Actually, Esa made
her way over there first and then I followed.
She was excited to see her international friends, Luka & Duke. Then it was unpack the car, make the shopping
list and head out.
Groceries went well - $200 later! Actually not too bad – kind of equal to our
big trips, but with no coupons. This
evening has just been hanging out and will probably be an early night. It’s kind of humid, so hopefully it will cool
down some tonight.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Really roughing it….
So I call coming to the cottage “roughing it” since you can’t drink the water (it’s from the lake). Well, this morning about 5:30 am, we had a MAJOR thunderstorm and lost power. GREAT – really going to REALLY be roughing it!
Esa woke up around 7:30 am and still no power. About 8:45, I called HydroOne (the power
company) and found out that over 6,000 customers were without power and they
expected it to be on by 9:40. So we had
untoasted bagels and English muffins for breakfast. Within 10 minutes of eating, the power comes
back on.
I had kind of figured today would be a hang out day at the
cottage anyway. But with the rain, there
was no way we were going to go geocaching.
So, I’ve finished my first book (Miracle in the Andes )
and the pups have been hanging out with their “international” friends – Luka
and Duke. Dan went on the paddleboat
while I (and the pups) took a nap. I
started my second book “The Lake Shore Unlimited”.
It looks like it’s going to storm again so who knows what
will happen with the power.
I forgot to mention yesterday that we saw a beaver about 7:15 pm swimming by. I was too worried that Zed would see it and go jump in the lake after it that I didn’t grab the camera to get a picture of it. More than likely we’ll have another spotting.
It’s a little noisy around here. There is a falcon nest in the trees beside
the cottage. The babies squawk like
crazy. They have been jumping branch to
branch, spreading their wings. I’ve
tried to get a good picture and got some.
The pups (and their international friends) had fun chasing a
squirrel this morning. We were next door
talking with the neighbors and Esa saw a squirrel. Of course the other 3 followed. The squirrel ran around the tree a couple of
times (with all pups following) and then up the tree with all 4 dogs looking up
at it. Esa and Zed were the last to let
it go. I basically had to pull Esa away
and Zed finally left the tree. It was
cute.
Book Review –
“Miracle in the Andes ” by Nando Parrado
A lot of the books I find out about are because they are at
the newsstands at work and I go and glance at them. This was one of them. I had mentioned it to my boss at the time and
she got it for me for Christmas. We both
enjoy stories about adventures (of course, this one was an unplanned
adventure).
This story was wonderfully written and you could easily
picture yourself there/watching a movie of this. This is an amazing story of survival. It’s just unimaginable on how these guys
survived 72 days in the Andes in the bitter
cold - Along with trekking through the mountains to get to civilization. Would I be able to do it? Maybe when I was in my 20’s like these guys,
but no way today. Would I be able to eat
the flesh of humans? In a life or death
situation – probably. Would I be able to
mentally survive afterwards and live a “normal” life? Probably not.
The story was a real life “Lord of the Flies” and “Lost”. You get a survivor’s point of view of the
different personalities and who were the leaders and who were the followers.
It was a very easy read and hard to put down. You kept wondering what was going to happen
next. I thought the pictures were
amazing. They looked like guys out on an
adventure and not who were stranded in the mountains left for dead.
These guys had the will to live – and Nando expresses how
strong that was for him in the book. He
was determined to get back to his father.
When he did, he saw how his father’s life had fallen apart. Without his return, his father would not been
able to live.
I liked the follow up on Nando’s life and all of the
survivors. I’m shocked on how normal
their lives are. Of course, deep down, I
bet they live their life to the fullest and enjoy all the moments they have
with their family. At least, I hope they
do.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
The annual chase
Well, the trip to
She got a head start since Zed was outside with me and I had
to get him inside first, get her leash and go after her. It didn’t help that I only had flip flops on
and with the grass still damp from the morning, I had no traction “in” my shoe.
I finally got her after about 5 minutes (maybe a little
more).
Geocaching
We went to Warsaw Caves & Kettles today.
Of course, we always have an adventure – even when we are
just pulling out of the driveway. Dan
was working on getting Esa in the car and had said to me, leave the tailgate
open. Well, we left it open as we pulled
away from the house. LOL.
Within a mile from the house, we had to stop because a whole
flock (if that’s what you call it) of wild turkeys were crossing the road –
with all different aged babies. Some
really small others a couple of months.
We went to the cave side first – what a mistake with puppies. It was very rough terrain in certain places. Especially when we went down by the water. Esa was just pulling like crazy the whole time – not very safe when everything is damp!
We were trying for an Earth Cache down by the water, but we
couldn’t figure out what “knobs” were and what “slab” we were supposed to be
at. So we decided to go back up – it was
hard enough getting down. Esa decided to
make a jump up the slab and slid back down into the water between two slabs –
That’s all we need, for Esa to sprain a leg.
Then of course, Zed does the same thing.
Luckily, I grabbed his harness as he was sliding backwards, because he
probably would ended up between the two slabs.
After that, we decided to just stay as close to the trail as
possible. We went a little farther and
decided to turn around – it was just too hard with the pups. So we went to the Kettles side. Much easier!
We started down the path and found one geocache – you could
see it plain as day from the path – too obvious. No camouflage or anything. Dan got it while I “tied” the pups up on a
down tree and got them some water.
On to the next one – we decided to go towards the lookout
instead of the kettles – bad choice. The
geocache that was hidden at the lookout had a lot of DNFs (did not finds) and
no real clues in the logs. We tried our
best, but gave up. We walked a little
further and decided to turn around. It
was about 1pm (about 2 hours into the trip).
Esa was getting tired – she was actually laying down when we
stopped. Still – Esa kept pulling
though!
We got back to the car and both of the pups crashed. Dan decided to keep the GPS on while driving
back and when we got close to one (in a cemetery in Warsaw
It doesn’t sound like we did a lot of walking, but my
pedometer said 7,777 steps (about 2.2 miles) plus the terrain – it was a good
workout! Overall, it was a good
trip. The pups had so much fun going up
the stones, jumped crevasses, looking down crevasses, and just sniffing
around. I felt I looked down more than
up and around when we were moving – afraid I would slip. Still it was fun.
Tomorrow we are going to a regular park, so it should be
much easier terrain.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Geocaching
Today, we went to Jackson Park. We went there 2 years ago for
geocaching. There were 4 caches that we
wanted to find. We found 3 out of the
4. By the 4th, everyone was
tired. We walked about 2 miles – this
time easier terrain. Most of the time anyway.
We started on the wrong side of the water, so had to skip rocks to
cross. Zed wasn’t really into it, so I
had to pick him up and carry him over.
We chatted with a couple with their 11 wk old puppy –
actually a couple of times since we kept crossing paths.
Weather
Well, we are back to hot and humid again. Monday night, with the storms, it ended up
being really nice yesterday. Luckily,
there are a lot of fans here! Oh, we did
lose power for about 10 seconds again on Monday night. There were storms all around us.
Book Review – “The
Lake Shore Limited” by Sue Miller
This was a book that was given to me by one of my managers
at the airport. It was an advanced
reader edition and probably something I wouldn’t have bought.
It was a good summer read.
Different chapters were based around each character and how their lives
intertwined/the relationships that they had with each other.
The main story was about Billy, a playwright and how she
wrote stories about her life. The main
play in this story was about her boyfriend that she lost in 9/11, BUT she was
going to breakup with him, so she had mixed feelings on how she felt about his
dying and how she should act.
This is actually the first story I have read that mentioned
9/11. Weird how history can be used in a
novel and you wonder if this really touched home with someone. First of all, if you lost someone in 9/11 and
truly missed them, would you dislike this book?
Secondly, what if someone was in the predicament that Billy was in and
not know how to react?
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Weather (again)
It’s so FREAKING hot here – it’s crazy! When we checked on Friday, it said it was going to be in the 70s/80s – nope – more like high 90s. We both feel really bad for the pups – at least we can go to a/c places – they won’t even get into the water to cool off.
Shopping
Today we went shopping at Walmart, got more bottled water,
grabbed some crazy tasting potato chips (ketchup, General Tso’s, Buffalo Wings
and Bleu Cheese, and Ballpark Hot Dog) along with onion and ketchup flavored
Doritos. I had talked about the ketchup
ones at work and wanted to bring some back.
We bought a bag of Buffalo Wings and Bleu Cheese on Sunday for us and
let me say – they taste like the real thing!
The plan was to stop at McDonald’s and use the wi-fi. Unfortunately, we couldn’t connect and it was
so busy that we couldn’t get anyone’s help.
So much for getting a little connected while here! We’re just going to wait until we get home.
Going home early?
We might head out tomorrow depending on the weather. This is just crazy hot and we both can’t get
comfortable plus feel really bad for the pups.
This sucks – we are both having a relaxing time, just
uncomfortable with the heat. So, we are
going to check the weather/news and make a decision. If so, then we will just drive half way
tomorrow and then the rest of the way on Saturday.
Book Review –
“Mennonite in a Little Black Dress” by Rhoda Jensen
I had seen this book in the bookstore and put it on my TBR
(To Be Read) list on paperbackswap.com.
I was able to pick it up at the Loudoun County Public Library book sale
a few weeks ago.
I really enjoyed this book.
It was sort of like the storytelling idea. It was based on today, but then had stories
from her childhood. It was also great
that at the end of the book she had a little Mennonite “history lesson” so that
the reader could understand a little bit better the religion and lifestyle.
Anyway, it gave me some ideas for storytelling. Basically when something today happens that
reminds you of something that happened when you were a child (or later).
Friday, July 22, 2011
Last day of vacation – luckily, it hasn’t been too hot
today. It’s about 80 degrees out, but
really no humidity. I just got a text
saying that it’s going to be 102 degrees at home. OK! We
made out today!
We have just been hanging out at the cottage and Dan is
going to go get a few geocaches locally (it’s like 2 pm). I’m going to pack and clean a little then hang
out and read.
Book Review – “The
Nobodies Album” by Carolyn Parkhurst
This is another book that one of the managers at work gave
me. It’s another advanced reader that
I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have bought if it wasn’t given to me.
It’s basically a story about re-writing an ending of a
story. It had several endings of
different books (that the main character in the story had written) with the
revised ending. One thing that I thought
about is Parkhurst would have had to thinking of XX number of stories to put in
this one novel! That’s just crazy!
It was a good summer read.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Home!
What a long drive home yesterday, but we both figured that since our layover going to
Both pups did really well.
It did take a while to get Esa in the car after the lunch stop, but
that’s not that bad since we stopped at least 4 times.
The worst part was at the 1000 Island Bridge
We stopped at McDonald’s for lunch in Whitney Point, NY and
had a picnic. There was a geocache about
200 ft away, so he went and got it while the pups and I hung out on the
blanket.
We finally got home around 9 pm. We just emptied the car and relaxed a little
then I went to bed.
Today, EVERYONE slept
in – I did until about 9 am. Esa was
just so exhausted that she is just laying around today. I unpacked everything and took a nice long
shower. It felt nice to have clean water
and not lake water.
We went to the movies to see Harry Potter. Great movie.
I’ve never read the books, so the story was all new to me.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Catching up - What happened in January & so far in February
I can’t believe it’s been since the first of the year since I blogged! It has been busy – now time to catch up. Most recent first…..
Esa’s 4th birthday – February 14Wow, I can’t believe our baby girl has been in our lives almost 4 years! Our lives have changed since she came into it. I got my “Betty Crocker” on and baked some doggie treats for her bday. Full of peanut butter and both pups love them. Dan and I both tasted the frosting (peanut butter and honey) – yummy – and the cake batter (flour, peanut butter, honey, egg, oil, carrots) was ok.
Scrapbooking (AGAIN!) – February 13
So, SIL DD and I planned another scrapbooking day when we got together on the 29th. SIL came over to our house, while hubby went geocaching. We are going to try to get together monthly for either scrapbooking or just to get together.
Valentine’s Dinner – February 12
Hubby & I went to OTani’s Japanese Steakhouse to celebrate Valentine’s Day. We don’t go there too often, but really enjoy it when we do! YUMMY!
Capitals vs. Sharks – February 8
Oh Caps, come on and get back in the groove. Neuvy did great – over 30 saves. We still had fun. There was a lot of good people watching. There was a toddler with her parents and she was enjoying herself (until Momma left and she started crying) – it was cute. Then in the 3rd period, a lady sat down next to the guys in front of us. She was definitely drunk and SSSOO talkative. It was funny. Finally she got up and her significant other had come to get her. Not sure if she just didn’t know where her seats were or what.
Happy birthday to our favorite 1 year old – February 6
Our neighbor’s son, Jax, turned one on February 5 and they had his birthday party on the 6th. Jax’ parents are starting him right and getting him into hockey. He’s already been to 2 hockey games and his party was a hockey theme (with the Capitals game playing on the TV). I can’t wait to get him skating and when he really understands the game.
Zed, Zed, Zed – February 3
Oh our boy, Zed. You are getting to be an expensive little dog, Z! He had another trip to the emergency vet. He woke up and wasn’t able to put any weight on his left front paw. We are still not sure what happened, but he is a lot better now.
At first, he was on pain meds with a “cast”. When we took the bandage off on Sunday, it was still swollen and he still didn’t like us touching it. Getting the bandage off was another story! They had put tape directly on his fur and it was NOT coming off. I ended up putting him in the tub and soaking it for about 10 minutes before the tape came off without too much pulling, but there was a lot of fur on it!
Our vet came over on the following Tuesday and put him on anti-inflammatory meds. That has really helped and as of today, will be going to every other day with the meds for another week and then off of it if everything goes well.
Zed with his poopy bag winnings & sporting his cast.
Scrapbooking – January 29
WOOHOO! A whole day to scrapbook! My Creative Memories consultant had a scrapbooking fundraiser, so it was great to get some work done and hang out with my friend, MW, and my SIL, DD! The event was in Old Town Manassas, which I never really have been too. Need to go back and just walk around – definitely a lot of history that is so close by.
Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow – January 26
DC knew that the snow was coming. The government let out 2 hours early. Unfortunately, it was almost the same time as the bad weather started. I wasn’t really worried about the snow, the Jeep does well & I know how to drive in it. So I headed out around 4:30/5 pm. It took a while to get the car cleaned off, but no issues, except I was soaked (no hat) and I couldn’t get off the airport grounds! The traffic was backed up at both ways off of the airport and was NOT moving. So, after about 30 minutes of trying to get off the airport grounds, I called the office and said “don’t bother leaving, you can’t get off the airport.” By the time I got back to the employee parking (about 1 mile or so away), it was basically a whiteout. All of the signs were so covered that you couldn’t see them.
We ended up walking the concourses, checking on everyone and then having dinner. While I was walking around, I stopped by InMotion, who last year had a Travelocity gnome and I mentioned to the manager that I wanted it. He said that I could have it, but I never got it. Well, this year, they are having the same promo and I mentioned again, I would like the gnome. He was like “I have one in the back”, so I got my gnome! Everyone was looking at me while I carried it down the concourse and then to the office. Someone actually said to me, “I like your gnome”. LOL! My plan is to take pictures of it all over Dulles. Just something fun to do.
By the time we got back to the office it was about 8 pm. My boss, Chris, left about 8:15 and I went out about 8:30. Well, I went out again, cleaned the car again, and backed out, figured there wasn’t enough room, pulled back in, backed out again while turning the wheel and started to slide towards the truck next to me. NNNNNOOOO!!!!! The snow plow truck was working on the employee parking so I asked the driver to just direct the truck/make sure I’m not sliding into the next one. Within a minute, I was out of there. This was 9 pm. I took my time getting home, but it still only took 30 minutes. What really surprised me, I beat everyone home. Chris didn’t get home until 11 pm and Susan, our admin, didn’t get home until after 11 pm. CRAZY! Dan ended up staying at work and working a double, which was probably the best thing because it took some people anywhere from 6 to 12 hours to get home depending on how far they had to drive.
Dinner with Friends – January 22
We finally got together with our friends (and veterinarian) for dinner on probably the coldest night of the year. We went to Johnny Rocket’s in Ashburn. I had never been to this location and hubby had never been at all. I was shocked at how SMALL this place was – and busy! I was also shocked that it is owned by Mr. Redskin himself, Dan Snyder. Come on, Snyder, take a chance and get a FULL size restaurant! We had a great time none the less.
Work Travel - January 13 & 14
I had a work meeting in Baltimore and got to spend the night there. The time was full of events, but was wonderful. Our theme was “Back to the Future” – yes, tied to the movies and we even got to see some snip-its from the movies. The best part of the meeting is that our office got an award – and I’ll say it – all because of me and my hard work at getting participation in our customer service program!
My immediate idea was to pass the award around to the tenants since they were the reason we won the award (highest average secret shop score). Well, I got some kudos for that idea! The head of our division LOVED the idea and said it on the division call. WOOHOO!
Work update
Speaking of work, we have been extended for 5 months (until June) with a 30 day kickout clause. So, basically, we are a month-to-month. Everyone doubts we will be gone before June.
Good news on work, besides the “Tour of the Cup” idea, I have been doing some changes with our cart program and getting kudos for it also! We have a brand new concept coming in (used Apple products) and I got a deal done with a current inline who never had a cart location with us before.
Coupons
I’m starting to get back into Hot Coupon World. I forgot how much I like it. I joined a coupon train and have done a couple of trades already. I will say, I’m getting coupon obsessed when walking the neighborhood. So many neighbors complain about the free papers we get (on Sunday & Thursday), but the Sunday papers have coupons! So what have I been doing? Picking up the Sunday papers that have been sitting there for a couple of days! Obviously, the people don’t want them if they have been sitting there a couple of days. Needless to say, I have a lot of coupons to cut (I bought a paper cutter just for it), but that will lead to trades!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
no power and tornado warnings
Jun 4, 2008
no power and tornado warnings
So last night I woke up to a flash and then realized no electricity. I got up to find out what time it was – luckily my watch has a glow in the dark feature! 1:30 a.m. – I look out the window and see that Dan's home, walk downstairs and we sat in the dark for about 30 minutes. Dan was so upset. He had just gotten home, made a sandwich, went downstairs turned on the TV and then no power. Dan called to report the outage and said that it would be about 4 a.m. before the power came back on. Luckily, the Esa alarm goes off about 6:30 a.m. so I wasn't worried about getting up in the morning. When I went back to bed, the radio said about 5000 homes were without power – wow.
YIKES – excitement today with the weather. One of the concourses actually closed down due to tornado warnings. All of the passengers and employees were evacuated from the concourse. Then reopen about 30 minutes later. Come to find out the tower was closed for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
no power and tornado warnings
So last night I woke up to a flash and then realized no electricity. I got up to find out what time it was – luckily my watch has a glow in the dark feature! 1:30 a.m. – I look out the window and see that Dan's home, walk downstairs and we sat in the dark for about 30 minutes. Dan was so upset. He had just gotten home, made a sandwich, went downstairs turned on the TV and then no power. Dan called to report the outage and said that it would be about 4 a.m. before the power came back on. Luckily, the Esa alarm goes off about 6:30 a.m. so I wasn't worried about getting up in the morning. When I went back to bed, the radio said about 5000 homes were without power – wow.
YIKES – excitement today with the weather. One of the concourses actually closed down due to tornado warnings. All of the passengers and employees were evacuated from the concourse. Then reopen about 30 minutes later. Come to find out the tower was closed for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Monday, May 12, 2008
fears, paying off the house and a vegan cookie?
May 12, 2008
fears, paying off the house and a vegan cookie?
I did not sleep well last night – it's been raining all night and I just heard the rain and wind. I think I'm freaking a little bit about tornados since there have been so many of them. If something happens to our house, we are screwed since we don't have an inventory done. Never mind the pictures and family tree stuff. Maybe that is something I will work on when I'm off.
So I mentioned to Dan about paying the house off in 11 years with an extra $1,000 to it each month. He's all for it – and reminded me that he wanted to do that over a year ago!
I just had my FIRST vegan chocolate chip cookie – IT WAS WONDERFUL! I really liked it. Made by Alternative Baking Company
fears, paying off the house and a vegan cookie?
I did not sleep well last night – it's been raining all night and I just heard the rain and wind. I think I'm freaking a little bit about tornados since there have been so many of them. If something happens to our house, we are screwed since we don't have an inventory done. Never mind the pictures and family tree stuff. Maybe that is something I will work on when I'm off.
So I mentioned to Dan about paying the house off in 11 years with an extra $1,000 to it each month. He's all for it – and reminded me that he wanted to do that over a year ago!
I just had my FIRST vegan chocolate chip cookie – IT WAS WONDERFUL! I really liked it. Made by Alternative Baking Company
Thursday, July 19, 2007
So there are others......
So there are others......
07/19/2007 10:54 am
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So, I'm not the only one obsessed with the weather - at least I'm not as obsessed as these guys!
******
Eyes on The Skies
Backyard Weather Watchers, Tracking Raindrops and Wind Gusts
By John Deiner
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 19, 2007; H01
Keith Allen was just 8 years old that day back in the early '50s when he was struck by a thunderbolt.
While touring the Washington studios of WRC-AM radio -- a prize won at a church bazaar, no less -- a DJ named Willard Scott (yes, that Willard Scott) asked him to read a weather update on the air. It was a seminal moment.
The chance encounter turned Allen into an atmospheric addict, tracking troughs and ridges, thunderstorms and blizzards, highs and lows for the better part of six decades. It led to the $1,000 weather station plunked atop his Chevy Chase garage, the mounds of climatological data piled in the corners of his office, the half-dozen digital thermometers propped near windows around his house, most blinking slightly different temperatures. Since 1988, he has been doing the local weather reports for Verizon. If you call 202-936-1212 to hear the forecasts, you've likely made his acquaintance.
"Willard Scott was the best thing that ever happened to me," he said. "The best."
Allen, 65, is among this region's legion of home-based weather watchers, buffs, observers, enthusiasts, geeks . . . call them what you will. Unlike professionals who typically major in meteorology or atmospheric science in college, these amateurs just dig scanning the skies and measuring what falls from them.
They can sniff out the Weather Channel on any cable system in any time zone, but hours of listening to Jim Cantore doesn't begin to satisfy the true fanatic. They're driven to assemble gizmos in their homes and yards to track temperature fluctuations near the sandbox and rain totals from last night's gullywasher -- and then share the micro-data with one another and the pooh-bahs at the National Weather Service.
Allen's personal weather station, for example, includes a hygrometer (measures dew point), a 15-foot anemometer (wind speed) and an electronic rain gauge that sets off alarms at the first sign of drizzle . Super-buffs spend hundreds on automated systems that wirelessly send readings (temperature, barometric pressure, humidity) straight to their computers.
"People just love the weather. It's something we all have in common, and in Washington people are very sensitive about it," said Fox 5 chief meteorologist Sue Palka. "It's almost always the first thing I ever talk about with people, and it's funny how many tell me what it's doing outside."
Unlike Allen, Palka keeps it simple at home. She has a few digital thermometers and a low-tech device to measure precipitation: a metallic squirrel holding a glass tube with the inches marked off. "I picked it up at TJ Maxx," she admitted, "but it works."
She may be on to something. Retiree Marty Brumback, former chief of personnel and document security at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has been tracking the weather for 21 years, the past nine at his White Plains, Md., home. Brumback said that for $150, you can piece together an "extraordinarily accurate" weather station in your back yard. It's easy to spend a lot more, however: For about $600, you can install Davis Instruments' wireless Vantage Pro2, a gangly all-in-one-system that'll give your yard that alien-invasion look you're after. According to Brumback, it's among the more accurate stations at the best price.
Then again, he's a big advocate of simple four-inch rain gauges: They're plastic, cheap (about $25) and remarkably precise. You just plunk them in your yard and see how high the water piles up. In any case, he advised, "be careful what you buy. Sometimes the higher-priced devices are no better than the cheaper ones."
Though a member of the D.C. chapter of the American Meteorological Society, Brumback is no meteorologist. (Indeed, about 20 percent of the chapter's approximately 200 members are not professionals; anyone who really, really cares about the weather is welcome to join the group on the local level.)
He's also a part of the Maryland/Delaware Atlantic Coast Observer Network (ACON), a group of about three dozen spotters who jot down every bit of info their weather stations spew out and compare notes. Virginia ACON-ites cull their data with North and South Carolinians. The data are compiled into a report each month and sent to ACON members, as well as the National Weather Service.
ACON was started in 1985 to foster communication among amateur weather observers, according to group coordinator Kevin Shaw, a cartographer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But those were the prehistoric days before Web sites with real-time weather data were omnipresent. So why does ACON persist today?
"We grew into this thing that we loved, and we weather observers are a real persistent group," said Shaw, who's in the process of updating his own backyard station. "We just wanted to keep things going."
Another local group, the Washington-Baltimore Climate Review, has several hundred members recording what's going on in their yards. In addition, enthusiasts can join the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network, whose volunteers measure precipitation and share findings online. Anyone can blog on Weatherbug.com, run by a Germantown firm that operates a network of 8,000 tracking stations nationwide.
But if you just want to know if it's going to rain tomorrow, you can dial the phone and hear the ready-for-radio voice of Keith Allen. Assisted by a staff of eight forecasters scattered around the region, Allen is constantly fine-tuning and updating his Verizon recording; it averages 80,000 to 100,000 calls a day, down from 225,000 in 1985 but still impressive.
Other interests? Well, when he has the time, he watches his new large-screen hi-def TV.
"I love this thing," he said, alternating glances at the set with squinty-eyed glimpses out the window at his cat-adorned weather vane. "The Weather Channel just looks amazing on it."
var comments_url = "http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/18/AR2007071800657_Comments.html" ; var article_id = "AR2007071800657" ;
07/19/2007 10:54 am
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0 trackbacks
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So, I'm not the only one obsessed with the weather - at least I'm not as obsessed as these guys!
******
Eyes on The Skies
Backyard Weather Watchers, Tracking Raindrops and Wind Gusts
By John Deiner
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 19, 2007; H01
Keith Allen was just 8 years old that day back in the early '50s when he was struck by a thunderbolt.
While touring the Washington studios of WRC-AM radio -- a prize won at a church bazaar, no less -- a DJ named Willard Scott (yes, that Willard Scott) asked him to read a weather update on the air. It was a seminal moment.
The chance encounter turned Allen into an atmospheric addict, tracking troughs and ridges, thunderstorms and blizzards, highs and lows for the better part of six decades. It led to the $1,000 weather station plunked atop his Chevy Chase garage, the mounds of climatological data piled in the corners of his office, the half-dozen digital thermometers propped near windows around his house, most blinking slightly different temperatures. Since 1988, he has been doing the local weather reports for Verizon. If you call 202-936-1212 to hear the forecasts, you've likely made his acquaintance.
"Willard Scott was the best thing that ever happened to me," he said. "The best."
Allen, 65, is among this region's legion of home-based weather watchers, buffs, observers, enthusiasts, geeks . . . call them what you will. Unlike professionals who typically major in meteorology or atmospheric science in college, these amateurs just dig scanning the skies and measuring what falls from them.
They can sniff out the Weather Channel on any cable system in any time zone, but hours of listening to Jim Cantore doesn't begin to satisfy the true fanatic. They're driven to assemble gizmos in their homes and yards to track temperature fluctuations near the sandbox and rain totals from last night's gullywasher -- and then share the micro-data with one another and the pooh-bahs at the National Weather Service.
Allen's personal weather station, for example, includes a hygrometer (measures dew point), a 15-foot anemometer (wind speed) and an electronic rain gauge that sets off alarms at the first sign of drizzle . Super-buffs spend hundreds on automated systems that wirelessly send readings (temperature, barometric pressure, humidity) straight to their computers.
"People just love the weather. It's something we all have in common, and in Washington people are very sensitive about it," said Fox 5 chief meteorologist Sue Palka. "It's almost always the first thing I ever talk about with people, and it's funny how many tell me what it's doing outside."
Unlike Allen, Palka keeps it simple at home. She has a few digital thermometers and a low-tech device to measure precipitation: a metallic squirrel holding a glass tube with the inches marked off. "I picked it up at TJ Maxx," she admitted, "but it works."
She may be on to something. Retiree Marty Brumback, former chief of personnel and document security at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has been tracking the weather for 21 years, the past nine at his White Plains, Md., home. Brumback said that for $150, you can piece together an "extraordinarily accurate" weather station in your back yard. It's easy to spend a lot more, however: For about $600, you can install Davis Instruments' wireless Vantage Pro2, a gangly all-in-one-system that'll give your yard that alien-invasion look you're after. According to Brumback, it's among the more accurate stations at the best price.
Then again, he's a big advocate of simple four-inch rain gauges: They're plastic, cheap (about $25) and remarkably precise. You just plunk them in your yard and see how high the water piles up. In any case, he advised, "be careful what you buy. Sometimes the higher-priced devices are no better than the cheaper ones."
Though a member of the D.C. chapter of the American Meteorological Society, Brumback is no meteorologist. (Indeed, about 20 percent of the chapter's approximately 200 members are not professionals; anyone who really, really cares about the weather is welcome to join the group on the local level.)
He's also a part of the Maryland/Delaware Atlantic Coast Observer Network (ACON), a group of about three dozen spotters who jot down every bit of info their weather stations spew out and compare notes. Virginia ACON-ites cull their data with North and South Carolinians. The data are compiled into a report each month and sent to ACON members, as well as the National Weather Service.
ACON was started in 1985 to foster communication among amateur weather observers, according to group coordinator Kevin Shaw, a cartographer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But those were the prehistoric days before Web sites with real-time weather data were omnipresent. So why does ACON persist today?
"We grew into this thing that we loved, and we weather observers are a real persistent group," said Shaw, who's in the process of updating his own backyard station. "We just wanted to keep things going."
Another local group, the Washington-Baltimore Climate Review, has several hundred members recording what's going on in their yards. In addition, enthusiasts can join the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network, whose volunteers measure precipitation and share findings online. Anyone can blog on Weatherbug.com, run by a Germantown firm that operates a network of 8,000 tracking stations nationwide.
But if you just want to know if it's going to rain tomorrow, you can dial the phone and hear the ready-for-radio voice of Keith Allen. Assisted by a staff of eight forecasters scattered around the region, Allen is constantly fine-tuning and updating his Verizon recording; it averages 80,000 to 100,000 calls a day, down from 225,000 in 1985 but still impressive.
Other interests? Well, when he has the time, he watches his new large-screen hi-def TV.
"I love this thing," he said, alternating glances at the set with squinty-eyed glimpses out the window at his cat-adorned weather vane. "The Weather Channel just looks amazing on it."
var comments_url = "http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/18/AR2007071800657_Comments.html" ; var article_id = "AR2007071800657" ;
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Entry for July 14, 2007
Entry for July 14, 2007
07/14/2007 09:36 am
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I had a busy day yesterday - but a good one. I felt like I actually got things done. This is my weekend to work, so off Friday and Saturday, work Sunday.
We dropped off the Jeep for it's 30,000 mile checkup, went to Chipotle, Best Buy (to get one of Mae's b-day presents), then I started my errands. AC Moore) where I didn't get what I went there for, but found a lot of other things that I bought!), Home Depot (finally bought indoor plantation shutters for the master bath and some flowers for out front), got my toes done, then grocery store. My inital plan was to head up to Leesburg and hit the Home Depot there, but then remembered the Ashburn Home Depot, where, right across the street was a nail place and Giant!
Got home, went and picked up the jeep and left the nissan for it's 50,000 checkup, then started on the pasta salad for today. Tom, Kat & the kids are coming over around 1 p.m. and Dan requested pasta salad since he didn't really get a lot last week.
We had a FREAKY storm last night at 11:30 p.m. I had just gone to bed around 10:30 or so and woke up to Esa yipping and the flash of lightning and clap of thunder. So, I went downstairs to calm Esa down. OH MY LORD - THE STORM CAME RIGHT OVER US! I was laying on the loveseat across from Esa's crate and SAW the lightning strike come down. It obviously hit something because the next thing I know, I hear the sirens. The freaky thing - within 15 minutes, gone - no rain, and lightning and thunder are in the far distance.
Let me just say, I was scared for a minute there. I thought the house was going to get hit. I'll just say it now - I have this fear of losing everything - even though it's all just material things. I think it's just because you work so hard for everything you have, and it could be gone in a flash. Of course, that can happen with people too!
07/14/2007 09:36 am
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I had a busy day yesterday - but a good one. I felt like I actually got things done. This is my weekend to work, so off Friday and Saturday, work Sunday.
We dropped off the Jeep for it's 30,000 mile checkup, went to Chipotle, Best Buy (to get one of Mae's b-day presents), then I started my errands. AC Moore) where I didn't get what I went there for, but found a lot of other things that I bought!), Home Depot (finally bought indoor plantation shutters for the master bath and some flowers for out front), got my toes done, then grocery store. My inital plan was to head up to Leesburg and hit the Home Depot there, but then remembered the Ashburn Home Depot, where, right across the street was a nail place and Giant!
Got home, went and picked up the jeep and left the nissan for it's 50,000 checkup, then started on the pasta salad for today. Tom, Kat & the kids are coming over around 1 p.m. and Dan requested pasta salad since he didn't really get a lot last week.
We had a FREAKY storm last night at 11:30 p.m. I had just gone to bed around 10:30 or so and woke up to Esa yipping and the flash of lightning and clap of thunder. So, I went downstairs to calm Esa down. OH MY LORD - THE STORM CAME RIGHT OVER US! I was laying on the loveseat across from Esa's crate and SAW the lightning strike come down. It obviously hit something because the next thing I know, I hear the sirens. The freaky thing - within 15 minutes, gone - no rain, and lightning and thunder are in the far distance.
Let me just say, I was scared for a minute there. I thought the house was going to get hit. I'll just say it now - I have this fear of losing everything - even though it's all just material things. I think it's just because you work so hard for everything you have, and it could be gone in a flash. Of course, that can happen with people too!
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Mobile Lounge hit by Lightning yesterday
Mobile Lounge hit by Lightning yesterday
07/05/2007 01:08 pm
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So, found out today that a mobile lounge (a bus-like automobile that takes people from one concourse to another) at the airport got struck by lightning yesterday - luckily, it was slow yesterday and no one was hurt.
Entry
Date
07/04/07
Loc Time Summary
iad
1732
ightning strike/mobile lounge rd between taxiway a & B:
Action Taken
lightning struck a mobile lounge travelling from terminal b to the main terminal. the lounge had just crossed taxiway b when a lightning strike caused it to stall. while the operator attempted to re-start a second strike travelled through the lounge exiting the chasis by way of the left rear tire. two windows were blown out and the lounge sustained damage to the body and the tire. the operator and six passengers were not injured and refused medical treatment at the scene.
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07/05/2007 01:08 pm
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So, found out today that a mobile lounge (a bus-like automobile that takes people from one concourse to another) at the airport got struck by lightning yesterday - luckily, it was slow yesterday and no one was hurt.
Entry
Date
07/04/07
Loc Time Summary
iad
1732
ightning strike/mobile lounge rd between taxiway a & B:
Action Taken
lightning struck a mobile lounge travelling from terminal b to the main terminal. the lounge had just crossed taxiway b when a lightning strike caused it to stall. while the operator attempted to re-start a second strike travelled through the lounge exiting the chasis by way of the left rear tire. two windows were blown out and the lounge sustained damage to the body and the tire. the operator and six passengers were not injured and refused medical treatment at the scene.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Entry for July 04, 2007
Entry for July 04, 2007
07/04/2007 09:25 pm
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Today has been a nice day - so much like a weekend, but had some great food! (not like Dan never grills anyway - he loves it!)
I played with the laptop and copied pictures onto it along with my Creative Memories software program. Kind of sucks that I'm starting from scratch on setting up the folders and such in the software, but better than nothing. One good thing with starting over is that I have it set up where it will download directly from the camera AND it's actually noting the date the picture was taken. On the desktop, the pictures were going directly into Kodak Easyshare software and only noting when the pic was downloaded and not taken.
Suzanne came over and we had chicken, hot dogs, chips, dips, veggie platter, crackers, cheese, pepperoni - tons of good stuff. Dan tried a new sauce recipe from "Top Secret Restuarant Recipes". Tony Roma's Carolina Honeys - REALLY GOOD!
Then it was a 2 hour nap with me waking up to Tornado warnings! We took Esa for a fast walk around the block and expected it to downpour, but it missed us. I expected a call for delays at work, but no calls - SP might have taken care of it.
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During the short walk, we saw the saleperson from our home builder. I recognized her, but couldn't remember her name - we didn't chat much because we were trying to get home before it downpoured. Then I remembered - 5 years ago today, we moved into the house! Dan said - kind of weird that we see Pat on today of all days.
Fireworks are going off right now and no response from Esa - I guess that's good. She's not freaked out or anything. I tried to have her see them, but we can't see that many from our backyard (except what the neighbors are doing).
Anyway - it's nice to have a day off in the middle of the week - too bad it's not like this all of the time!
07/04/2007 09:25 pm
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Today has been a nice day - so much like a weekend, but had some great food! (not like Dan never grills anyway - he loves it!)
I played with the laptop and copied pictures onto it along with my Creative Memories software program. Kind of sucks that I'm starting from scratch on setting up the folders and such in the software, but better than nothing. One good thing with starting over is that I have it set up where it will download directly from the camera AND it's actually noting the date the picture was taken. On the desktop, the pictures were going directly into Kodak Easyshare software and only noting when the pic was downloaded and not taken.
Suzanne came over and we had chicken, hot dogs, chips, dips, veggie platter, crackers, cheese, pepperoni - tons of good stuff. Dan tried a new sauce recipe from "Top Secret Restuarant Recipes". Tony Roma's Carolina Honeys - REALLY GOOD!
Then it was a 2 hour nap with me waking up to Tornado warnings! We took Esa for a fast walk around the block and expected it to downpour, but it missed us. I expected a call for delays at work, but no calls - SP might have taken care of it.
During the short walk, we saw the saleperson from our home builder. I recognized her, but couldn't remember her name - we didn't chat much because we were trying to get home before it downpoured. Then I remembered - 5 years ago today, we moved into the house! Dan said - kind of weird that we see Pat on today of all days.
Fireworks are going off right now and no response from Esa - I guess that's good. She's not freaked out or anything. I tried to have her see them, but we can't see that many from our backyard (except what the neighbors are doing).
Anyway - it's nice to have a day off in the middle of the week - too bad it's not like this all of the time!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Entry for February 14, 2007.
Entry for February 14, 2007.
02/14/2007 12:24 pm
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We have been under sleet since yesterday afternoon. I didn't sleep very well because of the sleet hitting the windows all night - plus worrying about Dan getting home. It took him about 1 1/2 hours last night.
Last night was hard. We received a REALLY nice card from the emergency vet along with Babe's pawprint and some fur. I just started bawling! I needed some of her fur though - I just needed to feel it again. One of these days, it will get easier.
Dan got me a card and a heart box of Reese's peanut butter cups - YUMMY! He knows that's like the only candy I like. I had to make a quick stop at Borders today to get a card and puzzle book. I think we're going out to dinner this weekend and celebrate.
In hockey trading news -
Richard Zednik
Up front, 31-year-old right wing Richard Zednik is healthy and in the last year of his contract. Zednik’s good health, his speed and the three 20-goal seasons on his résumé will make him attractive to potential suitors. It’s possible that the Caps could sign Zednik to a contract extension, but it’s also possible that they’d trade him and then talk to him about returning when the free agency season opens on July 1.
Dan just called me and let me know that my jersey came in - WOOHOO - but then he adds - just in time for him to be traded.
02/14/2007 12:24 pm
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We have been under sleet since yesterday afternoon. I didn't sleep very well because of the sleet hitting the windows all night - plus worrying about Dan getting home. It took him about 1 1/2 hours last night.
Last night was hard. We received a REALLY nice card from the emergency vet along with Babe's pawprint and some fur. I just started bawling! I needed some of her fur though - I just needed to feel it again. One of these days, it will get easier.
Dan got me a card and a heart box of Reese's peanut butter cups - YUMMY! He knows that's like the only candy I like. I had to make a quick stop at Borders today to get a card and puzzle book. I think we're going out to dinner this weekend and celebrate.
In hockey trading news -
Richard Zednik
Up front, 31-year-old right wing Richard Zednik is healthy and in the last year of his contract. Zednik’s good health, his speed and the three 20-goal seasons on his résumé will make him attractive to potential suitors. It’s possible that the Caps could sign Zednik to a contract extension, but it’s also possible that they’d trade him and then talk to him about returning when the free agency season opens on July 1.
Dan just called me and let me know that my jersey came in - WOOHOO - but then he adds - just in time for him to be traded.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Entry for February 07, 2007
Entry for February 07, 2007.
02/07/2007 10:08 am
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So, the misfortune continues.
Yesterday, the sound went on the laptop at work. Needless to say, I can't stand working without music. So, right now, I have my Ipod shuffle on and one earbud in.
I was supposed to take an adult ed class tonight, but school is closed today because of snow. Probably for the best since I'm coughing a lot today.
Oh well - as the saying goes - "If I didn't have bad luck, I would have no luck at all". Still - I'm staying positive!
02/07/2007 10:08 am
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So, the misfortune continues.
Yesterday, the sound went on the laptop at work. Needless to say, I can't stand working without music. So, right now, I have my Ipod shuffle on and one earbud in.
I was supposed to take an adult ed class tonight, but school is closed today because of snow. Probably for the best since I'm coughing a lot today.
Oh well - as the saying goes - "If I didn't have bad luck, I would have no luck at all". Still - I'm staying positive!
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Entry for June 27, 2006
Entry for June 27, 2006
06/27/2006 09:33 pm
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Another day of training. It sucks. Almost everything for the airports wasn't set up, so we couldn't do about have of the step-by-step processes.
The big bad news - I've broken out in hives on my face. Who knows why. It could be the change in skin cleanser mixed with a different product line moisturizer. It could be the sheets on the bed. It's only on one side of the face so I'm thinking it might be the second. Luckily I have Benedryl and hydrocortizone. Next step will be the dry face.
Rain, rain, and more rain. It's been raining and flooding all over the place. The have a volunteer evacuation somewhere close to Baltimore. Supposedly, it's ok at home. Babe seems to be doing much better - eating and drinking more.
We have ants in the house - we think they are coming in the back door. This is the second time we've found quite a few - not a major line of ants, but enough. About 2 months ago, as I was going to the garage there was a ton of ants on the sidewalk. Last year, it was at the garage door - HUGE line of ants.
06/27/2006 09:33 pm
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Another day of training. It sucks. Almost everything for the airports wasn't set up, so we couldn't do about have of the step-by-step processes.
The big bad news - I've broken out in hives on my face. Who knows why. It could be the change in skin cleanser mixed with a different product line moisturizer. It could be the sheets on the bed. It's only on one side of the face so I'm thinking it might be the second. Luckily I have Benedryl and hydrocortizone. Next step will be the dry face.
Rain, rain, and more rain. It's been raining and flooding all over the place. The have a volunteer evacuation somewhere close to Baltimore. Supposedly, it's ok at home. Babe seems to be doing much better - eating and drinking more.
We have ants in the house - we think they are coming in the back door. This is the second time we've found quite a few - not a major line of ants, but enough. About 2 months ago, as I was going to the garage there was a ton of ants on the sidewalk. Last year, it was at the garage door - HUGE line of ants.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Entry for June 26, 2006
Entry for June 26, 2006
06/26/2006 08:54 pm
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The first day of training is over - thank goodness. It went pretty fast and not too boring.
I forgot to mention that when I was driving up to here, I saw a car that must have lost control, but somehow, the backend of it was up a tree! I've never seen that before and have no idea how that happened! Too bad I didn't have my camera. I also saw a cat in the median of 95!
We went to an italian restaurant for dinner in Towson - I didn't realize it was right down the street from a club Dan and I went to for New Years about 2 years ago! When we left, it was POURING! not just raining - POURING AND ROADS FLOODED! We all ended up being soaked. My clothes are still wet.
06/26/2006 08:54 pm
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The first day of training is over - thank goodness. It went pretty fast and not too boring.
I forgot to mention that when I was driving up to here, I saw a car that must have lost control, but somehow, the backend of it was up a tree! I've never seen that before and have no idea how that happened! Too bad I didn't have my camera. I also saw a cat in the median of 95!
We went to an italian restaurant for dinner in Towson - I didn't realize it was right down the street from a club Dan and I went to for New Years about 2 years ago! When we left, it was POURING! not just raining - POURING AND ROADS FLOODED! We all ended up being soaked. My clothes are still wet.
Thursday, June 1, 2006
Entry for June 01, 2006
Entry for June 01, 2006
06/01/2006 05:20 pm
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Back home - for now.
We had a TERRIBLE thunderstorm last night. We lost power in the hotel for like a minute. The storm reminded me of the storms here.
06/01/2006 05:20 pm
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Back home - for now.
We had a TERRIBLE thunderstorm last night. We lost power in the hotel for like a minute. The storm reminded me of the storms here.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Entry for April 30, 2006
Entry for April 30, 2006
04/30/2006 08:05 pm
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So I haven't really been typing what's been going on here - some stuff, so I figured I catch up a little. Along with adding some pics.
The hockey game was fun. Our seats were great. Everyone got a free practice jersey. I'll add the pics that I took. A funny thing that happened before the game - we were over by where the sportscasters were. So Brett Haber from Channel 9 was there ( http://www.wusa9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=34449) and we watched the whole time he was preparing for the "live" sports section/broadcast. Dan kept joking around that he should run behind Brett while he's on TV. Anyway, Brett was done and he just happened to look over towards us and I clapped my hands/applauded him for a job well done. He just started to laugh and said thank you, thank you. LOL.
On the way home, I was trying to get a picture of some road signs - didn't really turn out - but for a good laugh! I was trying to get the two signs that are together that are almost my maiden name - ROSSLYN CLARK. One sign is for going to Rosslyn, VA and the other is the Clark Street exit. Just needed to change the two letters and it would have been a cool picture.
Took some pictures of the flowers coming up in our back yard. I'll be adding them too.
We had a little peeking tom last week. This little bird kept coming to our back door trying to get in. He kept coming back, so I was able to get a picture of him. I told Dan I bet it's the baby bird that I SCARED out of the nest we had in our plants hanging on the porch last year. He's come back for revenge.
Today, we went to the National Weather Service open house (http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/lwx/). It was pretty cool - especially since I'm so into weather! Funny - I never was into it when we were learning about it in science class! Took a couple of pics there too. We went in a Tornado/Hurricane similator that Loudoun County has - it was pretty cool.
I have a couple of pics from when we visited Aunt Helen too.
Friday, I went to a Tastefully Simple party (www.tastefullysimple.com). It was fun. Sandy and Suzanne went with me. It's fun to finally have some of my friends actually meet that haven't yet! So Suzanne & Sandy and Michelle all got to meet after talking about each other to each other. I told Suzanne and Sandy to go to the party hungry and they ended up almost being sick from snacking on the dips and that!
Last night, we went to a little party that my boss, Stephanie, was having. It was ok - Dan enjoyed himself with the wine - he was little tipsy when we left! Funny thing is, he didn't know he liked wine that much!
Tomorrow, Babe has a doctor's appointment to get her nails clipped. Yes, I can't do them myself and Dan won't hold her down - he hates her screaming. I'm going to have her belly clipped too while I'm at it. She's getting MUCH better at me brushing her.
04/30/2006 08:05 pm
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So I haven't really been typing what's been going on here - some stuff, so I figured I catch up a little. Along with adding some pics.
The hockey game was fun. Our seats were great. Everyone got a free practice jersey. I'll add the pics that I took. A funny thing that happened before the game - we were over by where the sportscasters were. So Brett Haber from Channel 9 was there ( http://www.wusa9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=34449) and we watched the whole time he was preparing for the "live" sports section/broadcast. Dan kept joking around that he should run behind Brett while he's on TV. Anyway, Brett was done and he just happened to look over towards us and I clapped my hands/applauded him for a job well done. He just started to laugh and said thank you, thank you. LOL.
On the way home, I was trying to get a picture of some road signs - didn't really turn out - but for a good laugh! I was trying to get the two signs that are together that are almost my maiden name - ROSSLYN CLARK. One sign is for going to Rosslyn, VA and the other is the Clark Street exit. Just needed to change the two letters and it would have been a cool picture.
Took some pictures of the flowers coming up in our back yard. I'll be adding them too.
We had a little peeking tom last week. This little bird kept coming to our back door trying to get in. He kept coming back, so I was able to get a picture of him. I told Dan I bet it's the baby bird that I SCARED out of the nest we had in our plants hanging on the porch last year. He's come back for revenge.
Today, we went to the National Weather Service open house (http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/lwx/). It was pretty cool - especially since I'm so into weather! Funny - I never was into it when we were learning about it in science class! Took a couple of pics there too. We went in a Tornado/Hurricane similator that Loudoun County has - it was pretty cool.
I have a couple of pics from when we visited Aunt Helen too.
Friday, I went to a Tastefully Simple party (www.tastefullysimple.com). It was fun. Sandy and Suzanne went with me. It's fun to finally have some of my friends actually meet that haven't yet! So Suzanne & Sandy and Michelle all got to meet after talking about each other to each other. I told Suzanne and Sandy to go to the party hungry and they ended up almost being sick from snacking on the dips and that!
Last night, we went to a little party that my boss, Stephanie, was having. It was ok - Dan enjoyed himself with the wine - he was little tipsy when we left! Funny thing is, he didn't know he liked wine that much!
Tomorrow, Babe has a doctor's appointment to get her nails clipped. Yes, I can't do them myself and Dan won't hold her down - he hates her screaming. I'm going to have her belly clipped too while I'm at it. She's getting MUCH better at me brushing her.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Entry for February 12, 2006
Entry for February 12, 2006
- PrivacyOnly I can see this
- |02/12/2006 01:03 pm
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LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW - Dan measured about 9 to 11 inches. The roads are pretty clear now - but I bet anything, school will be closed tomorrow - I'm thinking it'll be icy in the morning.
Additional pictures on the photos page.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Entry for January 15, 2006
Entry for January 15, 2006
- |01/15/2006 05:44 pm
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Nothing much going on today.
It is REALLY windy out - luckily no damage to the house. A couple of the neighbors have siding off - we've gotten it in the past.
Yesterday, we went to a charity hockey game between the FBI & Secret Service. Both of the directors were there - Along with their detail. It was funny - Dan didn't even recognize the director of the FBI (Director Mueller). He was right out there with skates, gloves and a stick! Too cool! He left after the first stop in play.
Forgot to take the camera, so no pictures.
It is REALLY windy out - luckily no damage to the house. A couple of the neighbors have siding off - we've gotten it in the past.
Yesterday, we went to a charity hockey game between the FBI & Secret Service. Both of the directors were there - Along with their detail. It was funny - Dan didn't even recognize the director of the FBI (Director Mueller). He was right out there with skates, gloves and a stick! Too cool! He left after the first stop in play.
Forgot to take the camera, so no pictures.
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