Blessed

God,

It has been a tough year for all of us who loved Todd and felt sadness at his passing, we miss him so much. Thank you for the time we had with him and please know we are grateful for the little reminders, each day, of Todd's presence in our lives still. For me it is a whiff of Curve cologne or just being on the porch where he spent the last of his days. For others it is something he taught them or holding something he made with his own hands. Some will be reminded of him by a joke or a funny story. Todd was unique as we all are and he is dearly missed. But, God, just know that we are blessed beyond words that we still have one another.

Love always,
Julie

Red sky.....

Yesterday it rained.
Yesterday, the morning sunrise was red.

I can predict the weather and so can you!!

Is the old adage “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailor’s warning” true, or is it just an old wives’ tale? Within limits, there is truth in this saying.Have you ever heard anyone use the proverb above? http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/weather-sailor.html

Shakespeare did. He said something similar in his play, Venus and Adonis.
“Like a red morn that ever yet betokened, Wreck to the seaman, tempest to the field, Sorrow to the shepherds, woe unto the birds, Gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herds.”

In the Bible, (Matthew 16: 2-3,) Jesus said, “When in evening, ye say, it will be fair weather: For the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather today; for the sky is red and lowering.”

Weather lore has been around since people needed to predict the weather and plan their activities. Sailors and farmers relied on it to navigate ships and plant crops.

But can weather lore truly predict the weather or seasons?
Weather lore concerning the appearance of the sky, the conditions of the atmosphere, the type or movement of the clouds, and the direction of the winds may have a scientific basis and likely can predict the weather.

In order to understand why “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailor’s warning” can predict the weather, we must understand more about weather and the colors in the sky.

Usually, weather moves from west to east, blown by the westerly trade winds. This means storm systems generally move in from the West.

The colors we see in the sky are due to the rays of sunlight being split into colors of the spectrum as they pass through the atmosphere and ricochet off the water vapor and particles in the atmosphere. The amounts of water vapor and dust particles in the atmosphere are good indicators of weather conditions. They also determine which colors we will see in the sky.

During sunrise and sunset the sun is low in the sky, and it transmits light through the thickest part of the atmosphere. A red sky suggests an atmosphere loaded with dust and moisture particles. We see the red, because red wavelengths (the longest in the color spectrum) are breaking through the atmosphere. The shorter wavelengths, such as blue, are scattered and broken up.

Red sky at night, sailors delight.
When we see a red sky at night, this means that the setting sun is sending its light through a high concentration of dust particles. This usually indicates high pressure and stable air coming in from the west. Basically good weather will follow.

Red sky in morning, sailor’s warning.
A red sunrise reflects the dust particles of a system that has just passed from the west. This indicates that a storm system may be moving to the east. If the morning sky is a deep fiery red, it means a high water content in the atmosphere. So, rain is on its way.

A Relaxing Saturday

I took it easy on Saturday. My favorite part of the day was just spending the afternoon on the front porch. It was 70 degrees and sunny; a perfect Fall day to enjoy a cup of coffee and read. The tiny leaves were falling in the ever so slight breeze; twirling and twisting their way down to the still green grass. The rays of the afternoon sun were so warm and relaxing as I took in some vitamin D. I could hear small squirrels in the trees and a few birds still looking for snacks. The peaceful day was just what I needed to regroup from my week and do some thinking as well. Some tears were shed as memories of past years were flooding my mind on such a melancholy afternoon.

Attended the Barkeyville Coffee House in the late evening with Will - we enjoyed visiting and listening and catching up with friends. The late afternoon produced a visit from my brother Doug, Mary Kay and their daughter Monica! They had been at the Prime Outlets shopping. I learned Monica's wedding reception will take place at Shakespeare's in Ellwood City - a perfect location for the August 2011 event.


It was a good day overall.

Another Earache ! !

What is it with me and ear problems this year? I missed an entire week of work in February due to a severe ear infection in my left ear. I had another a couple of months ago and now my RIGHT ear is sore and numb feeling as well as hurting. I was lucky enough to call and get an afternoon appointment today - I will not wait until Monday to see if it will go away. Dr. Yost in Butler is my favorite now. Boy oh boy!
What a day to spend not feeling well, it will be in the 60's today and SUNNY. Yeah!!

TGIF

something to brighten our days...


Some weeks just seem to never end...but I am glad this one is ending. We have had many changes at work this week which makes for some people's nerves to fray a little more. I try to go with the flow, maybe it is my Paxil helping me cope? Regardless, some things you cannot do a thing about so put your life in perspective like I do; I follow the lesson of the five balls - work is a rubber ball. The rest are made of glass...

Will and Cody stopped last night to pick up some homemade beef vegetable soup for their supper. Will couldn't wait so he made himself two tuna sandwiches to tide him over until they got home. Amanda is feeling under the weather with a cold, so she was home resting.

I can't wait for the time change this weekend - it stays so dark in the morning - but then it will be dark early in the evenings....the same thing happens every year, have you noticed?

Today marks FIVE months - Todd has been gone. Some days it feels like just yesterday and I still wish I could tell him things, I miss talking to him and sharing life with him. I think the hurdle coming up will be hard, Thanksgiving. Cody and Amanda are hosting again - just like last year.

This time last year, Todd was spending a few days in the hospital in Butler with a fever and weakness. It was his first scare with uncontrolled coughing, a high fever and being away from me, he did not want to ever go back to the hospital - he chose to die at home when the time came, I am so glad it happened that way!

Stand-Up Comedy Night !!

An evening of Laughs!! First dinner at McGinnis' Pub with Tim, Donna, Tom, Etta, Sue and myself. I had the Club Spinach Salad - yummy. Oh, and two drinks on special - Long Island Iced Teas. Excellent choice! Outside for a bit before the Entertainment of the evening in the Grand Ballroom; Charlie Wiener Comedian and first act with Herbie Gill. Both excellent, make your laugh so hard you cry, funny guys! It was a night with many laughs.

Charlie's poster states: Charlie has survived two heart attacks, three wives and two teenage daughters. Charlie is a 60's rocker who is resisting growing up. His show is one of a kind. This show is rated "R".

His website www.charliewiener.com states: Charlie Wiener has headlined comedy clubs across the United States and Canada for a quarter of a century. In that time he has appeared at Zanie's in Chicago, Nashville, St. Charles and Mount Vernon, Goodnight's in Raleigh, The Admiral Theater in Bremerton, Wa., The Improv, Catch a Rising Star in Reno, Providence, Princeton, NJ and Atlantic City, The Riviera and The Plaza in Las Vegas, Loonee's in Colorado Springs and Laff's in Tucson and Albequerque.

He has shared the stage with Ellen Degeneres, Bobcat Goldthwait, George Lopez, Gordon Lightfoot, Randy Newman, Todd Rundgren, Meatloaf, America, Jefferson Starship as well as many, many others. He has performed in forty-six states and half of Canada, driving almost two million miles and aging himself by a multiple of six. He is old, broke down and in pain which he bitches about most of the time but that's the way old people are!

The father of two adult daughters and three very odd dogs, he has lived a full life but isn't ready to cash in his chips just yet. His greatest joy is taking the stage and promoting the concept of old people becoming a drag on the younger generation. Power to the old people! is his battle cry and the the audience follows. Well, they're in wheel chairs, walkers and leaning on canes, don't move very fast and need to stop to pee every few miles... but they follow. And the young see him as hope for their future. That maybe someday if they waste their lives they, too, will get to be bitter old people as well. And that life doesn't necessarily end at 25. Some people are still doing 'it' into their forties and even fifties. (Yes, I know, it's disgusting to even think about that but it's true, I swear to God, they are!)

With appearances on A&E, Comedy Central, his own cable shows 'Off The Wall' and 'Wienervision', CBC, NBC, ABC and CBS as well as being heard regularly on XM radio he has brought the concept of having fun while piling on the years to an art form. Audiences consider him one of the best they have heard... well, those that can still hear. Some have need of a lip reader.

Charlie finds there is nothing funnier than everyday life - especially his. His subject matter ranges from travel to politics, road rage to stupid people, fatherhood to marriage, marriage to marriage to relationships back to marriage around the corner to sex (and lack thereof), then cutting through the alley of dealing with customer service into the bright white light of homosexual relationships onto the highway of love. Yes, it's high energy, fast paced and extremely hilarious. Those who have witnessed a Wiener show vow they will be back if they are still among the living.

For more than forty years in music and comedy, Charlie has proven himself to be the consumate entertainer and one of the most requested stand-up comedians working the road. Charlie Wiener stand-up comedy with that old, old world edge. If wisdom comes with age does it not seem logical that cranky is right on its heel???

Dear Todd,

The days of fall have arrived with cool, cool nights and breezes, too. It would be nice to chat with you around a bonfire and talk about whatever. I remember how we loved looking into the coals and just telling stories and our dreams for the future. Will was here yesterday and I had him rearrange the living room to open up the fireplace. I am still debating on whether to turn the cable TV back on - the dark nights will be lonely without some noise in the house to block out any 'scary' noises outside.

I have been getting some 'things' done around the house - I hired a handyman. Jeff Bon is a "Jeff of all trades" and he loves to talk - he is 5 years older than me and single so I don't have to worry about taking him away from a wife when he works for me. He is a great friend already. Tomorrow he is going to go purchase the siding for the mobile home - it will be re-insulated and re-sided before too long. I am getting gutters and downspouts as well. He already put the de-icer heat coils on the roof to prevent ice build-up this winter. I have paid for the winter's propane allotment and I am almost ready for winter. Jeff is going to work for mom tomorrow afternoon for a bit, she is missing you, and all of the odd jobs you were able to do for her. We all miss you. Last year at this time, we were just beginning the journey that ended in June. I have a lump in my throat now - you sure put up a good fight, buddy. You were an inspiration to so many people. Live until you die!

Today is the last day of the fiscal year for the government and my short break is now over, I have a few more cases to check and then I will be finished for the evening. Another day, another year starts tomorrow.

Love you always.

julie