We headed back to the VA with the Kiddo from Nevada. The traffic leaving Sac and in the Bay Area was exceptionally heavy. We got caught up in the backup from the tunnel electrical fire too. Took the cell phone out and played with it a bit.
Leaving Sacramento Avg. 2MPH
Yeah No cars!
View from VA lunch area
More Traffic Leaving SF
Guess What this Is a photo of???
I have been wasting a lot of time watching tv, playing video games, etc. but I find myself paying more attention to the weather, the sky, the stars, and foliage. Tonight the weirdest storm came. Thunder and lightning – and YEAH rain! I know it might sound strange but a couple of nights ago I was thinking how great it would be to smell the rain and to hear the rain. LOL slim chance in June since it has been in the upper 80’s lately. Woo Hoo it is raining!! And there is thunder and lots and lots of lightning – I do not remember this much lighting let alone at this time of the year.
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The weather chart showed over 1,200 lightning strikes in the foothills at 11pm. Now it here. I was headed out to try and get a shot of the lighting but it was way to close so I went back in. It is the cloud to ground type so I played chicken and have been watching it out the upstairs window while Catfish and Annie huddle for reassurance that all is well.
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So I am enjoying the smells that usually come with a first rain. The strange odor off the road, the clean smell as the rain hits the green leaves and soaks the grass and wet the soil. I wonder what microbe’s or bacteria or old rubber?? cause the smell? So I looked it up.
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The smell is given off by Streptomyces (also called actinomycetes) bacteria. When it is dry actinomycetes produce spores that are released on contact with moisture. Wow now that cool to know. So I do not actually smell the rain but the spores – emm. I think I like my the air smells clean and fresh version better than the spore deal.
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Well back to reading with the window wide open so I can smell the fresh rain air.
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Lately it seems that whenever I open my mouth it ends up with me saying something stupid sounding or I get misunderstood and whatever people thought I meant leads to them thinking poorly of me and I end up feeling the outcast. Go figure.
We did go to the baseball game here and watch the RiverCats. The MS Society sponsored a night out at the game providing us with discount tickets. We all had a good time and the weather was great for it. Not to hot and not to cold – just right as the story goes. I wonder if I am two faced accepting the discount tickets when I really have some issues with the local organizations leadership?
Sunday night I had the pleasure of meeting some people from the now defunct tent city. My friend works for an organization that find housing for the homeless. They arrange renting house and placing homeless into them. It is quite the program. I watched a video some of them put together about tent city a few weeks ago. It was interesting talking with them. Whenever we have a dinner at M and M’s you never know who you will meet.
A few weeks ago I met a young man (18) from a communist Latin American country. He came here to “find work” and a “goodier life” but can not – seems running from political oppression does not get you a green card. Many of the folks have been (or are) experiencing some sort of mental illness, substance abuse problems, etc., but a lot of them just were living one pay check to the next and lost their jobs.
More on this front later – maybe.
I sat watching my computer screen logged on to the Ca Supreme Courts site this morning only slightly hopeful that when they posted their ruling it would say that Prop. 8 was over turned. Oh sigh . .. seems it is ok with the State of California to allow a minority group of people to be denied the same rights afforded the majority. I have lived in this state all my life. I am disappointed with the ever growing crime rate, the noise, the shootings, the graffiti, the loud music, the list goes on . …
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You don’t see homosexual gangs running around shooting each other, destroying others property, yet last time I looked they are the only minority group that the State feels necessary to put onto paper a law that discriminates, denies, and purposely sets apart as not equal . …
I am not saying that racial discrimination does not exist, nor that urban poverty is not a catalyst, I am just pointing out that most educated folks realize this, while at the same time apparently think it is OK to deny gay and lesbian marriages. The court and the voters have spoken.
I have not gotten up this early in a long time – 6am – well it is super early for my lazy butt.
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It was cold cold cold this morning LOL and last week I was b’ing about the heat LOL!
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Here is a shot from the terrible camera in my cell phone of the MS walk end at the State Capitol. Crummy pic I know but hey – did I mention it was cold???
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another shot
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