A Double Bow of Promise

Carolyn walked into the game room last evening talking about the golden light that seemed to permeate both inside and outside. I looked outside and saw a brilliant double rainbow towards the east.

We rushed outside with camera in hand and Carolyn went to grab Darla. Two gorgeous rainbows with colors the bled into each other like a 'loose' watercolor. The clouds were high and sky shown through various cloud breaks. As we watched, a few random drops fell around us.

As we watched Monday Night Football, lightning flashed every few minutes and rain showers became more frequent. We fell asleep to a full harvest moon that would occasionally peek out from the clouds along with lightning flashes across the skies and the distant roll of thunder. Sights and sounds that would continue throughout the night. Pretty cool for So. Cal. in September!

Watch Your Rear

Well, it finally happened. After driving to and from work for the last six years and putting on about 30,000 miles a year, I was rear-ended last night on the way home as I transitioned from the 57 to the 5 as traffic came to a slow stop.

A Ford 150 hit the Camry behind me which was propelled into my back bumper. I think I had just started up a little so the rap didn't seem to do too much damage although the Camry's rear bumper and trunk lid were crunched. The rear fender area is popped out a little and I'm hearing a few more rattles, but, hopefully, nothing serious.

It took nearly an hour to trade info and get the CHP out to write up an accident report which made me late for my monthly poker game. Of course, that probably saved me money because I had an hour less to play or lose. Now, I have to get an estimate and get it in for any needed repairs. Bummer!

This is the first accident I've been involved in since the 1970s, I think. I hope this doesn't increase my insurance rate!

Weekend Activities

The weekend began with the requisite time spent just keeping the house and yard in order. I mowed the lawn and then spent the next hour or two on the ground weeding and trimming while Carolyn began laundry and picking up. Then I pulled out the Mini and washed a few weeks of dust off of it. Then it was time for lunch and a few minutes of college football.

A little before two, we headed up to Santa Ana to the Bower's museum for a plein-air art show where Carolyn's art teacher, Robin McCloud, was displaying some works. The street in front of the museum was filled with two large stretch limos including a Hummer version from which two large wedding parties had dismounted for pictures on the Bower's well kept lawn and rose garden. We spoke with Robin and enjoyed a glass or two of wine at the reception and critiqued the paintings as we passed through the rows of paintings.

Later, that evening, we once again headed north in the Mini to catch a play, Caucasian Chalk Circle, at the South Coast Rep, with tickets courtesy of Lewis. The review of the play was published in the Orange County Register this morning and I think the writer and Carolyn were more in tune with each other than I. I think I found it more that a little silly or rather a polemic while Carolyn found it fun and entertaining. Then it was off to Jerry's Deli for an after-theater snack before heading home.

Sunday, we were able to sleep in and then spend some time reading both papers in bed while enjoying some good java. Then I tackled washing the Altima. Thankfully, the weather was nice but not too hot, in fact, it seemed like a touch of fall in the air at times.

Mid-afternoon, we called Wanda and invited her for a sail and a look at the tall ships which were in the harbor. Picking her up about 3, we readied the boat then motored over by Baby Beach to observe the several tall ships moored by the Marine Institute before hoisting the sails and sailing outside the harbor for an hour and a half or so. We then enjoyed some appetizers and wine while 'slip sailing' as the tall ships briefly left the harbor for a mock gun battle. We were serenaded by the competing cannon blasts as we snacked.

We then took Wanda home to find she had locked her house and left her keys inside and she didn't have a hidden key available. All her windows were locked, but her master bath window was ajar a few inches but with a lock that restricted the opening. It took a while but were able to move the window laterally enough that we were able to remove the window and I could climb in and open the house. I'm glad we hadn't just dropped her off!!

Now it's back to work!

We've Been Flocked!

Robed with slippers and hair askew, I opened the door this morning at 7 a.m. to be greeted by a stand of pink flamingos! We'd been flocked!! And this just weeks after having been TP'd for no apparent reason.

Jane and Ron had 'graced' us with about ten plastic, pink flamingos on our front lawn courtesy of the Anaheim Amateur Ice Skating Assoc. which plants this tacky yard art on the unsuspecting and demands a ransom to remove and/or relocate the flock/stand. So we've invested in a $15 charitable donation and will soon send the flock on their way to the Kandas.

Katrina

I woke up around 3:30 this morning and my mind went immediately to the images I've watched the last few days showing the destruction in New Orleans and the coast of Mississippi.

I was sleeping comfortably on a pillow-top king sized bed; thousands will be, at best, sleeping on cots with thousands of their 'closest' friends. My refrigerator is full; thousands of homes sit with flood waters to the rafters and food rotting everywhere. I was able to buy gas on the way to work at $2.75 a gallon; tens of thousands have no fuel, power, phones at any price. I have a job and a paycheck; millions will be affected as businesses, jobs, customers all are gone.

The stress of life as a refugee with little hope is heartbreaking. Tears well up in my eyes at the disaster, at the individual stories, at the pleading calls for help. They need the calvary NOW! Water, food, medical supplies and a way out.

Questions of God's sovereignty rattle inside my brain. Why? How? Why not?

Our check to the Red Cross is on the way, but that seems so inadequate.