There's been something very strange going on in central Arizona last night and into today. There's some sort of wet stuff coming down from the sky, though only in small quantities and very haphazard. I assume it's rain, but it's been so long since we've seen it, I'm not sure I recognize it anymore.
Lovely gentle soaking rain overnight here in the Phoenix area. Weather maps show the rain is moving into southwestern Colorado. Of course the local news broadcasts are full of stories of how puppies and kittens band together to ride out the wet stuff, but nothing on whether or not the rain is enough to make a difference in the wildfires scorching Colorado, New Mexico, and other areas in the rain's path.
My latest adventure was on the local bus. I was riding home Thursday afternoon when the driver slammed on his brakes. I was seated in one of the sideways-facing seats, and was launched airborne until my head hitting the wheel well stopped me.
The driver didn't seem to give a damn. He took my name but I doubt he filed a report.
I got off the bus and stopped at the library long enough to hop on a computer and send the transit agency an email from their website.
Then I went to Kaiser. The advice nurse said they had no appointments, and I should go to the ER. I had a CAT scan -- no signs of broken bones. Still went home with discharge instructions about a broken neck.
The doc didn't think there were any breaks, and neither do I. Muscle pains I do have.
I called and filed a report this morning. I had the route number, time of the incident, bus number, and driver ID number. The ball's in their court.
I'm not looking to get rich or anything. I do want my medical expenses covered. Even with insurance an ER visit is costly.
And if, as I suspect, the driver didn't file any report at all, I'll be asking some pointed questions about that.
That was a hard way to spend your day. Hope you are well recovered, and the bus company follows through. For being hit on the head I am impressed that you could do such good follow through.
Meanwhile, I'm planning a quiet Fourth at home. I'll grill a steak and some corn on the cob for dinner. Fireworks aren't my thing -- the noise bothers my ears.
Happy and sane 4th to all. Here in Northern California we are experiencing wild fires, therefore the fireworks were cancelled in our neck of the woods thankfully. Family joined us and we cooked our hotdogs, and corn inside the kitchen and not out on the barbecue. Potato salad and watermelon along with a flag cake is our usual celebratory fare this time of a year.
Hang on a bit. I am on my way. Just bought some more red, so will also bring some.
Before you both rush over, are you aware that it's about 106F/41C here?
That’s ok, Pigwidgeon. Mid winter here and minimum in my Sydney suburb has been well down into single figures Celsius. I have beautiful sunshine into my place, but the minute the sun goes from front of building, temperature plummets. Cold change forecast for weekend with a heavy drop of snow in most areas where snow falls . Alps in south and across many parts of \Great Dividing Range too.
It's currently 96°F here, and we're going to a barbecue this evening. Fortunately the people hosting it have air-con, so I don't think I'll be spending too much time outside!
I was at a yummy cookout at my sister and brother-in-law's on the Fourth! After food and sangria, we walked to the golf course behind their home and watched amazing fireworks! A very good day.
We did end up sitting outside later in the evening once it had cooled a little, but my goodness, it was hot. Glad to report a good thunderstorm this morning has cooled things down a bit.
Here in the Phoenix area I think we've "only" gotten as high as 115 so far, but we set a new record yesterday. When my dog and I went out at 6 a.m. yesterday, the air just about knocked me over -- much too hot for that time of day, and very heavy feeling. (I commented to my dog, who was NOT interested, that the heat and humidity were up and the barometric pressure down.) It turns out that our low of 94 was a record as the "highest low" for the date. We're just not cooling off at night anymore.
Fire camp is setting up across our main road. Hundreds of tired and hunger firefighters getting some food, a shower and sleep as they change shifts. We are about an hours drive from fires but getting smoke from backfires set to keep us safe. A lot of planes are flying overhead. and trucks coming in and out. Bless them all and may they be safe.
I went outside about an hour ago and... the ground was wet! There seems to have been some sort of strange weather phenomenon last night. Is this "rain" of which I've heard so much but only glimpsed twice, briefly, in 2018?
Oh that we had some of Pigwidgeon's rain. I have been watching the comings and going at the fire camp. Rather amazing set up. They bring sleeping dorms, showers, laundry, all as trailers behind big semi trucks. Just roll into place and they are ready to go Amazing. Kitchen and mess hall as well I would guess although I have not seen that. They are reporting making headway on fires. One fully contained ahead of schedule.
I went outside about an hour ago and... the ground was wet! There seems to have been some sort of strange weather phenomenon last night. Is this "rain" of which I've heard so much but only glimpsed twice, briefly, in 2018?
I went outside about an hour ago and... the ground was wet! There seems to have been some sort of strange weather phenomenon last night. Is this "rain" of which I've heard so much but only glimpsed twice, briefly, in 2018?
Monsoon made an early appearance?
No, this is about normal -- usually some time around the Fourth of July.
Sorry, Graven Image, but there wasn't enough to share, and what little we got is desperately needed here.
Nice storm just now on Phoenix's West Side. Very high wind -- knocked some of my porch furniture over -- followed by driving rain with some (not a lot of) thunder and lightning. Lights flickered a few times but electricity remained on -- thank God. It's pretty much over now -- maybe lasted about 1/2 hour. Very nice.
The Arizona Republic (what passes for a newspaper in the Phoenix area) said the storm was mostly in the East Valley (where I live), so I'm surprised to hear the West Side got hit so hard. LOTS of wind, sheeting rain, and then some thunder and lightning once the rain was pretty much over. A wheelchair-bound man in Mesa (east of me) was trapped in his house, later rescued, when a huge tree fell and crashed into his house. The storm was pretty much at the beginning of the evening rush hour, so I hope people got home safely despite flooded roads and fallen trees and debris (streets here flood very quickly).
Yeah, I was watching the coverage on the TV news and it did look like the East Side bore the brunt of it. I stepped outside after the rain had slowed to a trickle and noticed that there were some tree branches down in front of my apartment. Nothing hit the building, though, or my covered car parking.
Should add -- When I took out the trash this morning I noticed a tree had been uprooted just around the corner from my apartment. Thank God it fell in the direction it did -- or else several tenants would be homeless this morning.
{{{Sabine}}} Try and have a wonderful holiday, and I hope you come back to good news.
@Piglet . Thanks. Spent the morning at a beach with clear aquamarine water. Not thinking about a thing. Not even the World Cup or someone's visit to Europe/UK/Finland.
Not sure how I will get myself out of island time when I get back.
Ate the most wonderful grapefruit this morning. Little pleasures....
Had a wonderful time on vacation, but on the flight home I bumped my head on the overhead bin and gave myself a concussion. All's well now, but the embarrassment lingers.
Oh, and I'm still on island time and things don't work that way around here.
The trip was fantastic, tropical and sunny. I can't begin to describe the ocean now, but at some point I will probably try to work it into a poem. Temps were the same as the Midwest I left,. But the sea breeze was always present so I rarely felt oppressed by the heat. Alas, Indiana humidity greeted us at the airport.
Ate curried jackfruit. Had heard of jackfruit but hadn't had it before. Very yummy (I love curry, esp Caribbean style).
Won't see the doc about the P-word until August. Thanks for the good wishes, folks.
Oh, and I was completely away from current events. The closest I came was watching the World Cup. Otherwise, no shenanigans to get a person all worked up. That was wonderful.
Comments
People have been electrocuted talking on land-line phones during a thunderstorm.
The driver didn't seem to give a damn. He took my name but I doubt he filed a report.
I got off the bus and stopped at the library long enough to hop on a computer and send the transit agency an email from their website.
Then I went to Kaiser. The advice nurse said they had no appointments, and I should go to the ER. I had a CAT scan -- no signs of broken bones. Still went home with discharge instructions about a broken neck.
The doc didn't think there were any breaks, and neither do I. Muscle pains I do have.
I called and filed a report this morning. I had the route number, time of the incident, bus number, and driver ID number. The ball's in their court.
I'm not looking to get rich or anything. I do want my medical expenses covered. Even with insurance an ER visit is costly.
And if, as I suspect, the driver didn't file any report at all, I'll be asking some pointed questions about that.
Yes indeed, All will have to work hard, starting now, to get a good result in 2020. May that election emulate 1980.
Monsoon made an early appearance?
No, this is about normal -- usually some time around the Fourth of July.
Sorry, Graven Image, but there wasn't enough to share, and what little we got is desperately needed here.
I'm counting on the soothing sound of the ocean to calm my nerves. Also counting on the umbrella drinks.
If it's bad news, I want to be able to accept it with grace.
@Piglet . Thanks. Spent the morning at a beach with clear aquamarine water. Not thinking about a thing. Not even the World Cup or someone's visit to Europe/UK/Finland.
Not sure how I will get myself out of island time when I get back.
Ate the most wonderful grapefruit this morning. Little pleasures....
Had a wonderful time on vacation, but on the flight home I bumped my head on the overhead bin and gave myself a concussion. All's well now, but the embarrassment lingers.
Oh, and I'm still on island time and things don't work that way around here.
Ditto!
The trip was fantastic, tropical and sunny. I can't begin to describe the ocean now, but at some point I will probably try to work it into a poem. Temps were the same as the Midwest I left,. But the sea breeze was always present so I rarely felt oppressed by the heat. Alas, Indiana humidity greeted us at the airport.
Ate curried jackfruit. Had heard of jackfruit but hadn't had it before. Very yummy (I love curry, esp Caribbean style).
Won't see the doc about the P-word until August. Thanks for the good wishes, folks.