Beach Daze

Every time my eyes see the Gulf of Mexico in the summer, my mind is taken on a journey into my childhood. Driving to the beach with my brother and parents in the station-wagon, on a hot Florida summer day, with the windows rolled down and Huey Lewis and the News on the radio. As I close my eyes and drift away into my imagination, the hot summer breeze and blazing summer sunshine hit my face, and for that moment, I feel free. The water looks like a pool of limitless possibilities...similar to life. Approximately 80 percent of Earth's surface is covered with water (Source: http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/edresources/water_5.html). That statement alone should metaphorically tell us a lot about what the world has to offer. So much life has yet to be lived. So many stones remain unturned, not geographically speaking. Just the sight of this beautiful beach daze sends my mind racing with hope. Hope that one day my journey will be surrounded by others who share my passion and appreciation for the landscape God has painted for us.

Believe it or Not

Believe it or Not...this is a picture of Lake Michigan. When I was living in Chicago, I was always amazed at how cold it actually was. In the city by the Lake, it always seemed much colder than in the burbs. Although some may disagree...I am from Florida and before living in Chicago, I had never seen any winter precipitation or the thermometer drop below zero. My family is originally from Chicago so, my mother sent me to Chicago with the ugliest, warm clothes. She said when you are cold, fashion is not a priority. In the words of Metallica, "Sad but True".

Winter Wonderland

This is one of my favorite days, when I lived in Chicago. My Chicago family and I had a marvelous day sledding. It was a cold December morning. This photo shows a beautiful sun dog. God's wonderful gift to us on this bitterly cold day. Although I was freezing the beauty from this photo kept my heart warm...and I was also warm from falling several times off of the sled.

Weather Wonders

I wonder if everyone looks at the sky the way I do. Not only do the clouds bring me a sense of being, they also look like a science project to me. Even if you did not like math or science most of us were forced to take it until college. I love science projects! That must be another reason I love weather forecasting.
I wonder if people think I am spitting out non-sense when I deliver the forecast. I wonder if anyone but me ever takes a moment to just look up and embrace the wonderful gifts from God. When I look up at the sky and see a series of cloud formations I get lost and my mind is free from stress...briefly of course.
I wonder if the whole world thinks the planet is melting. I wonder if people know what our most dangerous element to the planet is. The sun. The sun adds an element to the sky that shines through the clouds. Depending on what time they meet will determine the radiance of colors are delivered.

The Eastern Pacific is Already Heating Up...Hurricane???

***This is an abbreviated version based on information form the National Hurricane Center

TROPICAL STORM ALMA SPECIAL ADVISORY

NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI, FL

ALMA STRENGTHEN...HURRICANE WARNINGS ISSUED...

AT 9 AM PDT THE GOVERNMENTS OF NICARAGUA AND HONDURAS HAVE ISSUED HURRICANE WARNINGS FOR THE PACIFIC COASTS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES.

A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA...IN THIS CASE WITHIN THE NEXT 12 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.

AT 9 AM PDT, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ALMA WAS LOCATED ABOUT 50 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MANAGUA, NICARAGUA AND ABOUT 210 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR. ALMA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH NEAR 7 MPH AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TODAY.

ON THIS TRACK...THE CENTER OF ALMA WILL REACH THE COAST OF NICARAGUA TONIGHT AND BE NEAR THE COASTS OF HONDURAS AND EL SALVADOR DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 65 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. ALMA COULD REACH THE COAST AS A HURRICANE. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES FROM THE CENTER. ALMA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 10 TO 15 INCHES OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AMERICA FROM COSTA RICA NORTHWESTWARD THROUGH PORTIONS OF NICARAGUA...HONDURAS...ELSALVADOR...AND GUATEMALA.

ISOLATED MAXIMUM STORM TOTAL AMOUNTS OF 20 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN AREAS OF HIGHER TERRAIN. THESE RAINS MAY PRODUCE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUD SLIDES.

Source: NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI, FL

Click the link below to visit the National Hurricane Center Website:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

The tension builds…as hurricane season 2008 looms!

Forecasters from Colorado State have upgraded its 2008 Hurricane Season forecast. The Colorado State forecast team proclaims; “the U.S. Atlantic basin will likely experience a well above-average hurricane season this year.” The Colorado State University team's forecast now anticipates 15 named storms forming in the Atlantic basin between June 1 and Nov. 30. Eight of the storms are predicted to become hurricanes, and of those eight, four are expected to develop into intense or major hurricanes. (Credit: NOAA)
Here is a link to the full story provided by Science Daily:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080409133718.htm
Here is a link to the National Weather Sevice:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/tropical/

Weather...or not?

Let's talk about the weather. Weather has always been so fascinating to me...mainly because no matter where you are, it is always there. A constant in a world of variability. I find solace when I gaze up at the sky on a cold winter day viewing the wispy cirrus clouds above...peeking out the window during an evening thunderstorm as lightning lights up the sky displaying flashes of the energy from the storm...or waiting for the bottom to drop out before a summer pop-up shower on the Florida coast then, the rain tapers off right before the sun goes to bed on the horizon of the Gulf Coast and all seems well with the world.

Another wonderful aspect of weather is that it links all of us together: humans, animals, plants...all living things. We all depend on it and follow it whether we like it or not. Also, what other topic can you strike up a conversation with a complete stranger about other than the weather?

I am taken by the splendor of our atmosphere. The weather is always changing and so are we. The fact that we can predict the weather but, know deep down anything can happen, relates a lot to life in general.