If you were thinking that all the remnants of our recent Spring were behind us, you'd be in good company. After all, once we Auburn-ites bump up to a post-Memorial Day one-hundred degree day, we're generally in for summer weather for the rest of Summer, which in turn causes inside each of us a deep craving for cool, gray, wet weather. This “unseasonable” weather has certainly been amusing to me... even a bit surprising, since I just finished re-stocking my trusty old van with a few dozen A/C parts that had been instrumental in the rescue of so many of my early June customers! So when the sound of my lawn sprinklers drifted through open living room windows this morning, I had to re-locate the puppy pile that had accumulated on and around my lap on the sofa, set down my coffee-stained Auburn Journal, and go outside to shut those sprinklers down until further notice. We can save some water for later with a rain like this.
But there are many among us that aren't surprised with wild swings in daily high temperatures, or 55-inch rain seasons followed by 27-inch years. Their acceptance here may be the result of having come to terms with the variances in our weather necessary to provide our region with an average climate. Or maybe they've mellowed now that their teenage offspring have been raised and sent off to college, and nothing much fazes them anymore. Whichever. But this phenomena is really nothing more than 'weather'... even as much as some would love to directly correlate it to global warming or climate change. I choose to let those with their specifically-trained big brains make that sort of heavy-duty proclamation.
But there are many among us that aren't surprised with wild swings in daily high temperatures, or 55-inch rain seasons followed by 27-inch years. Their acceptance here may be the result of having come to terms with the variances in our weather necessary to provide our region with an average climate. Or maybe they've mellowed now that their teenage offspring have been raised and sent off to college, and nothing much fazes them anymore. Whichever. But this phenomena is really nothing more than 'weather'... even as much as some would love to directly correlate it to global warming or climate change. I choose to let those with their specifically-trained big brains make that sort of heavy-duty proclamation.
Note the moist ladder lurking in the background
As you made your way through town yesterday and today, or even down the hill to Roseville or Sac, how did you like all that moisture you traveled through? Did it stir any memories? I'll bet it did. And it must have awakened at least a few of your six senses. Like on Monday, when our dusty, paved asphalt roads set loose that first wonderful assault on our noses. Aahhh... warm, wet asphalt. Mmmm..
And when the fields and pastures of already golden summer-dried weeds got enough of a soaking, their unique, amazing aromas certainly must have convinced you to inhale several deep breaths through your nostrils. With its curious sweetness tickling your sinuses, didn't you reminisce of some youthful adventure or another?
There's been a weight to the air these last two days. Not an oppressive Ozarks-type pneumonia-inducing weight... more of that gauzy pleasant Pacific coastal air density you feel at about 12 noon on any day during the June Gloom period in Santa Barbara... about an hour before it burns off. I wonder... when exercising aerobically outdoors in this, what does it feel like to breathe so deeply? I've been awful lazy these days and don't have a clue.
And when the fields and pastures of already golden summer-dried weeds got enough of a soaking, their unique, amazing aromas certainly must have convinced you to inhale several deep breaths through your nostrils. With its curious sweetness tickling your sinuses, didn't you reminisce of some youthful adventure or another?
There's been a weight to the air these last two days. Not an oppressive Ozarks-type pneumonia-inducing weight... more of that gauzy pleasant Pacific coastal air density you feel at about 12 noon on any day during the June Gloom period in Santa Barbara... about an hour before it burns off. I wonder... when exercising aerobically outdoors in this, what does it feel like to breathe so deeply? I've been awful lazy these days and don't have a clue.
And how about all those great summer colors up against our dumpy, lumpy gray oatmeal skies? When the sun isn't available to wash out the brilliance and depth of the hues all around, don't they stand our so well? I know my eyes were younger then, but when Linda and I lived east of Portland back in '80 or so, it was the popping color everywhere in that constant pall of overcast that was so memorable. For good or bad, I still can't shoot a decent picture in sunshine OR in the gray light, but isn't it so easy to capture it inside one's own mind? If I could only print all these pictures in my head, stunning colors and all... my Christmas gift-giving would be so much easier.
Nice little break in the weather, that. Good thing it ain't gonna last all summer long though. PCWA needs to sell water to pay their people's wages and retirements. PG&E's shareholders will be sorely disappointed come dividend-time if we all leave our Air Conditioners turned “OFF” the summer long. And what about me? How'd you like to see me there at the Raley's parking lot exit... Budweiser in one hand, cardboard sign in the other, proclaiming, ”Why lie? I just want a little warmth, and your spare change.” In fact, the old Weather Underground is telling me tonight that by this weekend, we might just be sweltering again... maybe longing for these good old days of late June, 2013, when we couldn't wait to get back to normal.. and turn our lawn sprinklers back on.
Mr. Daisy and Mr. Lumpy staying warm and dry