The blue sky blues

The weather is perfect today here in my home town.. the low 80s, no humidity.. perfectly blue sky with no chemtrails in sight.

It must have been really insulting as kids headed off for their first day of school of the 2014/15 year.

I myself recall these days, back in the grind of high school, sweating through 7th period and hating every minute of the walk home in heat.

But as you get older, you appreciate this warmth.. the winter begins to set in.. and the cold hurts. It bites at you like it’s sucking away life and time …

But today is beautiful.. Just amazing. Unless you’re on a big yellow bus coming home from hell.

Tropical winter

Two news events taking place in the weather department today.. First off, there is a possibility that the storm, Cristobal, will become a threat to the United States next week..MORE HERE. Notable news: Most models are not taking this towards New Orleans or New York City as they were previously, but some have it dangerously close to the East Coast.. while others have a Florida impact. Models will soon come together..until then it’s anyone’s guess.

But what is not a guess: Montana and Wyoming are bracing for SNOW! That’s right.. winter beginning before the fall even happens for these two states.. It’s not a sign of the end of the world—but it’s about three weeks ahead of schedule.

I think too often we look at weather anomalies and scream “proof” of climate Armageddon

. Sometimes these freak events occur, and just eventually get used to ‘average’ things out.. we have averages because it’s the middle of the highs and lows that have happened.

But… snow in August? That is a little weird.

It really couldn’t be a more perfect August day..

IT’S A SAD FACT.. SUMMER IS ALMOST BEHIND US

Experts: Record Cold Summer Leads To Changing Leaves In August

Friday morning, Pittsburgh is waking up to temperatures in the 40s.

And the 40sa near me in the Eastern part of the state.

And I concur with the expert quoted: I am seeing yellow and red colors already showing up, a week prior to school evening beginning.. I truly hope this is not a harbinger of a winter of discontent to come..?

We have this from Accuweather: Summer is going to make ‘one last gasp’ late August.. that may upset those who felt summer was just a soft breath of air to begin with. 

Experts: Record Cold Summer Leads To Changing Leaves In August

Happy summer.

Potential Record Ice on Lake Superior May Mean a Cooler Summer

So there you go… get ready for that.

The winter of 2013-14.. the winter that never ends..

Will it be the summer that never begins?

I’ll revisit this post in a few months to see what impact the freeze over had…

Potential Record Ice on Lake Superior May Mean a Cooler Summer

Just think.. if you were not on the Internet you probably would have never seen this photo.

Summer 2013.. 

My wife took this amazing photo of a lightning bug calling for a mate while being in her hand.. 

It may be one of the best photos I have ever seen.. Cool stuff. 

Green grass as the summer night started to fill into the last crevices that still had light.

This summer night is beginning.. And the lightning bugs will light the night.

Hallow's eve already?!

I was shocked when I entered my local convenient market a few days ago and saw pumpkin and other assorted Halloween candy already on prominent display.. I was puzzled, befuddled, but at the same time very static to know that the summer he will soon end and turn into the beautiful autumn weather to come..

But just as quick I remembered, “my god this is summertime”! This is not the time to display a time no decorations or seasonal candy, it is the time to celebrate liberty and beauty, heat and those glorious summer nights of teenage lure.. It would seem that the marketing doesn’t necessarily reflect the glory days of the summer season, after all it appears that those powers that be would rather rush the season through and make you forget that the dog days of August are still to come..

And then came my trip to the mall.

One of my favorite places starting around September this to walk into the Spirit Halloween store. I have always loved this place, it is like shopping for Christmas months before the Christmas holiday season begins.. Ghosts and goblins and terrorizing creatures crawling on the floor, costumes which seem to grow a little more sexual every year, and those rubber knives with blood spattering inside with the push of a button. It is truly a wonderful place to shop!

But yet again to my surprise, be Wildermuth, and secret deep down joy, I saw a sign at the mall that the Spirit Halloween store is now hiring. I guess it is not too early when you need to find seasonal help.. And even though I enjoy those dog days of August I have yet to happen, I also enjoy the anticipation of waiting for my favorite season of all: autumn..

The anticipation will begin in earnest this year, aided by the inclusion of some early pants and signs of the season courtesy of those brilliant marketing executives high aloft and aloof in a city somewhere out there..

Coming this September: Christmas decorations and 2014 New Year’s hats! stay tuned for that

No, the summer is not over yet.

There will still be heat and humidity before the autumn, as Accuweather points out.

But is it not just somewhat amazing how fast this summer has rolled by? It’s almost August..like days away.

I wrote about this before back in June, prior to the mid-summer nightmare of massive heat across America. July is the worst month when you’re a kid.. after 4th of July, it’s all downhill. School clothes, back to school sales.. reminders of the coming horror of September as you see buses being tuned up and painted.. Ugh.

And now here we are. July is over. Four weeks until Labor Day, and apples in the early fall. Where did this time go?

The only theory of where time vanishes that makes sense to me comes from Stephen King: The Langoliers eat it. I sure wish they’d slow down.

No, the summer is not over yet.

It’s hot. It’s sticky. 100 degrees.. ugh.

Happy summer. So at least your can dress cool.

I think all men and women agree: This would make a great bikini to own..  Just watch out for John Voith in the bottom right corner of your mind..

June 25.. the best time of year

It’s not Christmas in July, it’s not Christmas.. but to a kid who was off for summer, it’s the best day of the year.

I say this based on my own experience.. 

I fondly remember this day throughout my early childhood and then teenage years. June 25.. the day when the summer was hot and heavy, but in the scheme of things, still with so much more to go.

The clock starts to tick away after June 25, of course.. we head into July.. the middle of summer and time off from school.. But by July 25 you’d often be insulted and angered seeing “Back to school” sales.. August? well that is just a waste. Each day grows faster.. every night gets longer.. and by the time you’re ready to look at a calender again it’s already Labor Day and school begins anew..

I get melancholy for those old days of my early life often. Especially on June 25ths. The best day of summer…

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOy3jaBqIMU?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=281]

Twitter and Facebook is alive and and well tonight with images of the ‘supermoon’ .. the night when our lunar neighbor is closer to the earth than usual and the fact it’s a full moon only adds to the glory of how big it looks in the sky above us..

It looks super.

And immense..

Amazing images are showing up in Twitter feeds and Facebook friends’ images from around the United States..

You need a good camera. And maybe a tripod And slow, slow exposure.. and a brief moment in time with the moon above..

Oddly enough, above my head tonight, the supermoon not only looks larger than normal in the  East sky by it also appeared to be slightly blood red due to atmospheric conditions. But now, at 10:40 when this post is being written, the moon is brighter and more beautiful than normal..

I picture lovers’ kisses and childrens’ wishes..

And when the 2am crowd leaves the bar tonight, bright lights in the sky will light their drunken way home..

May you all be safe and sound under that supermoon.

Sleep well tonight ..

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

Well happy summer to me..

… there’s mother f$@$ng snakes in the mother f$&$ng house..

Fireflies and summer nights. . and memories of when they were both magical. Happy solstice.

The solstice.. and the longest day of the year is upon us.  

This is something magical about summer nights.. the notion that it doesn’t get dark until 9pm or so in the middle of the summer season adds to the mystery. Also adding to the strange feeling of joy, love, teenage fun, and laughter: Those fast cars with the tops down, motorcycles without helmets, and fireflies littering the night sky.

 But I noticed something different this year: Less fireflies than normal. It could just be my little place on the planet lacking them so far.. maybe not enough heat has broiled and boiled the landscape yet. But by now?? We’d see them..

I can only speculate on the cause. Bees are collapsing due to —something> Monsanto? Other animals are having a tough time escaping whatever affliction is being placed on them by whomever.

So if fireflies are next, just as the monarch butterly started to be about two years ago, it would only make logical sense. I certainly hope not.

 I recall summer nights long ago, living in my little home town of Centralia, PA, when I would be accompanied in my childhood by my then teenage brother and sister, with their friends, and run into a large field where hundreds  of fireflies just sort of hung out all night. I did the whole childhood collection of fireflies in jars.. and now? Those jars are empty.

Those fireflies just don’t seem to be there anymore..

 

How It's Made: Hot dogs

It’s summer. No better time like the present to get revolted at that American classic: the mysterious hot dog…

How It's Made: Hot dogs

Welcome to the summer of 2013. Already. Seriously, this year is going fast.

*Summer begins in June. Some think it starts on Memorial Day. Me? I think it begins with the first summer blockbuster, which this year is IRON MAN 3. Just explaining why I am already wishing a happy summer.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG8MQ8f4nF4?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=374]

Greetings earthlings across the pale blue dot.It’s the weekend. Are you ready? Summer seriously winding down.

The crickets are chirping loud.. I see some yellow tint to some leaves. I just can’t believe that the long hot summer was so short..

This time of year may be the best. Now until October. Beautiful nights.. amazing mornings.. Sunny and warm but not oppressive.

But this time of year goes by rather fast, too.. Gone soon will be the noise of leaves rustling in a summer breeze. Soon a howl of cold wind

But we cannot be depressed. The midsummer night’s dream turns into an autumnal depression.. followed by winter suppression.

But at least we have Christmas……. And the Mayan calender excitement on 12/22.. if we make it through December we’ll be fine.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

Now it feels like summer

There has been heat wave after heat wave. Droughts abundant. The Mississippi River is drying up and corn crops are obliterated. But it truly didn’t feel like summer until the parade of nations in London. The Olympics will take our minds off of real life for a while.

The irony is these nations that march in together and place their flags side by side often hate each other and are confined to wars with each other. 

We are in the 21st century but yet so many of the people from countries coming in are leaving a homeland of disease, death, and pestilence. 

The modern era is still a stone age for some. 

But the games are beginning..

Tears .. Gold medals .. high drama. High expectations. And high security.

Let there be peace on each for two weeks but a battle in sports! 
Let there be peace on earth after that too. Too hard to ask?

Yea.. I guess so.