No Calm in the Storm....

Yesterday afternoon was the first time I went into the pool this season. The new pool cover was working well and the water was a comfortable 88-89 degrees. Walk (or jump) right in water temp. And that is what I did, it was very refreshing you see we are having trouble with our upstairs AC unit and as the temp would rise so would my frustration.

So I had a refreshing 40 minutes or so. After coming in and showering I returned to my computer and returned to my task at hand... getting the site ready for my summer school class. Tony had gone back to school for an awards night so the house was quite. Then I looked up and out the window and noticed... everything was dark, a dirty dark; the wind was blowing and the sky was full of clouds.

Then the sky began to light up with continuous lightening strokes. I had the misfortune to be out in this weather, running an errand with a friend. The wind was blowing and hard, things were flying everywhere, shaking the car we were in. Then it started to rain and I am talking a heavy, big drop rain, flash flood rain. And with the wind, the rain was coming in at an angle.

In my 55 years on this earth, I never experienced such an intense 2-3 hour storm as this one. Continuous lightening, not lightening then a little thunder, then another lightening... NO it was lightening, lightening, lightening bam bam bam; continuous for 2hours at least.

Then... as quickly as it came, it calmly left. The rain was gone and the lightening stopped, I was able to open the windows for the night. This morning things were a mess around here and by here I mean the valley. Fences down, trees down, umbrellas every where... one of ours was in the pool, the pool cover was crumpled in the corner of the yard and there was a 1/2 inch layer of dust and dirt in the entire bottom of the pool. Yes, the same pool I swam in just a few hours earlier. The crystal clear water now had debris and dust and dirt everywhere.

Same thing in the house, on the tables, in the window jam... a layer of dust everywhere. Well today is Friday, so the cleaning lady is here, the gardeners just left and between all of us, we are getting things back to normal around here. But this storm will not soon be forgotten.

Sometimes...

Sometimes you just have to follow your gut... let me explain what I am talking about.

I was feeling a little blue thinking about the loved ones I have lost the past few years. I have been told by many that I need to take care of myself and make time for me, so that is what I decided to do today.

After my final I decided to visit a local casino that I once went to with my brother. He was so happy showing me around and telling me of the various jackpots he had won over the years.

As I entered, I was saying (in my head) OK Alvin show me what to play. I am a firm believer in listening to your gut (or on my case, dead brother). I had fun, but for the most part it was an uneventful day. I played a little blackjack (one of my favorites), a little Texas Holden, and a few slot machines here and there. I had a good time and let my brain just rest after a very stressful semester.

As I started to leave the casino, I passed a $1 machine with a $91,450 jackpot. I always play a little on a long shot machine like this one; you never know when you will hit the big one. And today as I stepped off the elevator, something said... go play that machine. When I get a feeling that strong, I play and it has proven (over the years) to work well for me.

I stuck in a twenty and played the max ($2) a pull. I got a few dollars here and a few dollars there but in the end my twenty was gone. My gut said play another so I stuck another twenty in the machine. I played that twenty down to $4 and then I hit 2 of the three symbols needed for the jackpot... I didn't win the jackpot. Then I looked and noticed that the machine said call an attendent for pay out, then it said 2940 credits... then all of a sudden it hit me I was playing a dollar machine so 2940 credit are 2940 dollars.

It took way too long to get paid off but when all was said and done I walked out with $3000 cash in my pocket. It was a good day.

Lost season closer....

Every year I say what can possible go wrong... well this season was the season to end all seasons. I have been sick all day for Juliet and Sawyer, how very sad, they lost each other. Those two have not been happier in the last four years then when there were together (with out the others, no pun intended) I don't know what that bomb is going to do to the change in time travel, or the crash, but personally, I thought those two should have stayed on the sub and gone to Tahiti and lived happier ever after.

All I can say is that this better work and next season better have a happier ending. I can't take much more than this.

I can't wait until 2010... I can't.

My mother...

Happy mothers day, I miss you.

Tough Few weeks...

Well it has been a tough few weeks for me which may explain my migraine headaches. I have been doing really good since the doctor adjusted my meds in February. I am thinking maybe two migraines (counting this one).

But with my mother's birthday May 2nd, my father's birthday May 8th and Mother's Day this Sunday, a lot of feelings and thoughts are occupying my thought process. And although my brothers birthday is in November, he and cousin Susan have also been popping up there as well.

Some days it is just incomprehensible to think we will not see any of them again in this life. Actually as Andrea and I visited my mother's grave last Sunday, I thought we should be celebrating their new birth days.. to their new beginning, not this one. I don't think they are really concerned with this earthly birth anymore; it is the new one they are celebrating (I am sure).

But for us Earth bound creatures... Happy Birthday mom and dad and Happy mothers Day as well. Thank you for being their for me... for us. Your lessons, your examples and your teaching will remain with us forever.