Anybody Seen A Guy Building A Big Boat?

We talk about the weather a lot in Oklahoma.  Only natural, the weather here can be deadly.  In more ways than one.  Giant monsters of storms can come out of nowhere and eat your whole town, sheets of ice can fall and make travel dangerous, heatwaves can come that will make you wish you were dead, and, on occasion, we get steady, unrelenting rain in the middle of freakin' July.
So, this blog post is also about the weather.  Mostly.
Today, it was so rainy, that my walks both took place in the rain.  I tried wearing the Wellies, but my ankles were too restricted by the boots, so trudged home and put the non-slip sneakers that were still wet from the morning walk back on for the evening walk.  Didn't get as soaked on the evening trip.  Still, had to hang my light jacket up to dry.  At least I didn't have to put it, my capris and my socks in the dryer like I did after this morning's walk.
On these walks, I had the soundtrack for Pacific Rim to keep me company.  Excellent music for walking.  The music was running through my head so much, I just bought the soundtrack to help get the little theme out of there.  Seems to help. Also fit the atmosphere of the day today.  I mean, in Pacific Rim, it seems to be cloudy and raining a LOT.  So it fit my very damp walks very well.

Everything here had gotten dry again, and my herbs and flowers were suffering.  We needed the rain.  Of course, I had just watered the yard around the foundations of the house the day before all the rain started.  I guess I had to guarantee our rainfall, but boy, that gets hard on the water bill.

Today had some positive notes as well.  I got to use the new digital audio recorder to record my voice lesson, and it worked just fine.  No more cassette tapes for me.  We will also be able to connect Karen's microphones to the recorder and make good quality recordings of some of my songs. 

Now it is Tuesday, and I have more to write.

Today, we actually see the sun!  Amazing!  My walk was reasonably dry.  As the sun came out, this came up on my Pandora mix.  So very appropriate, and uplifting after all the dreary wet weather.  In the middle of JULY, for God's sake!

Got all my errands run this morning, so we once again have fruit and other low fat things to nibble on in the house.  Also, filled up my car with gas, and found out I got over 26 mpg this last month.  For me, driving a compact station wagon all around town with no highway miles, that's pretty good.  It'll go down again because of the air conditioner use soon.  I was only down to about 1/4 tank.  I cannot let it get below a quarter tank.  Saw too many commercials on AFN while in Germany about preparedness and safety. Thank God we never had to do a non-combatant emergency evacuation, but we had to have all our ducks in a row just in case.  To this day, I get nervous if I have less than half a tank of gas.

About time to head for work.  Tuesdays are my Mondays as far as work goes.  Here's hoping we aren't too slammed with check ins.  It IS summertime at your library!  Glad to know the people love us and come see us so often.  The library is one of the busiest places in town!  (Though the cynics among us say it's because of unlimited dvd checkouts and free internet.  Though PLENTY of books circulate as well.)

Glad to report that it appears we won't be needing the Ark after all.  Hope all of you have a fabulous Tuesday!
As Ever,
Katie

Poetry Experiments

Hiding.
C.K. Armistead
June 5, 2013

Behind the smile
Can you see the tears?
Beyond the wiles
I have used all these years.

Be a lady, be charming
Smile, always smile
Deep thoughts are alarming
And seldom in style.

But the thoughts are there
Drawing me to ponder
The truth of the face I wear
And luring me with wonder.

I am a lady, I am charming
I do smile, and gladly
My thoughts are not alarming
Nor do they pass sadly.

I can see now that there
Is more to everyone
Than the faces we wear
So easily undone.

We all wear a mask
To hide truths that we fear
When the better task
Would be to show the tears.



Oklahoma Spring

C.K. Armistead June5, 2013

When the sun is shining
And the air is sweet
The sky is the most beautiful
And life feels complete.
 Then the clouds will gather
And the thunder will be heard
And we all will wonder
If tornadoes will appear.
 You learn right quick
On this prairie plain
What's really important
And what's just a game.
 Houses can be rebuilt
Lost things replaced
Good neighbors and friends
Are better than gold.
 It's not the beauty of this place
That makes us want to stay
Not the low cost of living
We don't think of it that way.
 The reason we're still here
Has more to do with love
With grit and perseverance
And faith in God above.
 Even those who don't believe
Are welcome in this place
For we love our neighbors
Regardless of race or creed.
 And when the storms are over
We come out and set to work
Rebuilding lives and memories
Glad to see each other well.