summer rain

thunder & lightning & a quick, torrential downpour yesterday

a crack so loud i jumped in my chair

then another
each time sounded like electricity hit
nearby

i looked out the back door
almost expecting to see a tree or something tall
broken, or smoking
(or on fire? does a lightning strike set something on fire?)

all 3 of my cats
inside the house
2 accounted for, but one found such a secure hiding place
i couldn't find her for almost half an hour

anyway
it scared me
but you know how scary things can be exciting?
get your adrenaline pumping
like riding a roller coaster that speeds straight downhill, or the loud booms
of the exploding fireworks at the end of the show

i felt revved up
alive
i watched the rain make a three foot wide
rushing river by the curbside in the street & marveled at the water
pouring down over my wind chimes

then the sun came out & it was over
raindrops sprinkled for a few more minutes
sticky humidity hung in the air
ten minutes later it pretty much looked like it hadn't rained at all

this summer has been the rainiest in memory
in all my forty-seven years
and i'm loving it

Umbrella girl

It's been raining on and off here for 2 days. But it's not freezing, so it's okay. I can't blow my leaves to the curb for pickup, however. They are too soggy! And this year the leaves are EVERYWHERE! Bah.

I've been asked to have Brittany here overnight tonight. Her mother has to close at work, which I think is 2 a.m. I'm sure it will be fine. She's become very comfortable here with me and I enjoy her company. If I had a daughter, I would want her to be just like Britt.

"Umbrella Girl" ATC by Marsha of Stafford, TX. Sweet!