Wednesday we drove to San Diego. Marty had a company meeting there on Thursday. If you remember there are some rules/conditions for these trips. The driver controls the radio/dashboard things; the sun always hits where Janet sits; bad weather conditions Janet is driving; construction Janet is driving, weird acts of God Janet is driving.
Most of this held true on this trip. But Marty got part of the hard stuff this time.
We left San Leandro with an extra feature, 30 MPH winds. Marty starts out driving and the wind is at our back, so not much trouble staying in our lane. We get on I 5 and the winds continue. Ever now and then we get a crosswind, not nice. We look at the road and there is tumbleweed rolling across the road. Just ahead of us a 5 ft in diameter tumbleweed blows across. Marty misses it.
It was wall to wall trucks, buses, and bus sized RVs. These things blow over in high winds. Scary. They are all playing games passing each other, pulling out in front of us with no warning and my favorite . . . the truck passes another truck and straddles the white line, a bus is behind him, and we are stuck going up the road behind a death trap. I had a great picture of this trick and other fun things. My computer is ill again and the pictures are on it. So no pictures.
We stop for a quick lunch and then my turn to drive. The winds are still there and I pass an electronic info sign. It said, "Warning Gusty Winds Ahead". Really, it is going to get worse? Oh yeah, crosswinds, dust devils, and tumbleweed. There were at least 4 more of these signs before we got to the Grapevine.
I hit a small tumbleweed, it just shatters, no damage or impact. Good to know. Marty is sleeping, when all hell breaks loose. A HUGE tumbleweed rolls in front of the pickup beside me. He panics and decides it is better to hit me, a SUV, instead of the tumbleweed. Granted it is 5 to 6 feet across, but really????? He comes into my lane, I slam on the brakes, aim for the emergency lane and I hit the tumbleweed. The brake action tightens the seat belts and I am screaming obscenities at the pickup. Marty wakes up just a little bit terrified. I explained I missed the heavy stuff, stayed on the road and all is right with the world.
After that the trip was a bit anticlimactic, a little dust storm, construction, crosswinds. We switch drivers one more time and make it safely to Richard's and Luis'. We are having a great time. Keep your fingers crossed for a calm day to drive home.
Showing posts with label wind. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wind. Show all posts
Friday, April 19, 2013
Friday, March 25, 2011
RAIN!
It has been raining forever. It started early this rainy season, way back in October. We were told that the computers said it would be a dry season. We might have to conserve water. WELL, that was wrong. Oakland is at something like 136% of average rainfall total.
Yesterday was hell. It was scary how hard and fast the rain came down. The wind was powerful. One weather man this morning said, "I have been in this business a long time, and yesterday was pretty impressive. Yesterday was as bad as it can get in the Bay Area."
I took some pictures yesterday during one of the ''cloudbursts". I didn't get the hail, or the trees bending to the ground. I was fascinated by the amount of water running through our property.
Here I am looking at the sheet of water coming over the top of the gutter. Then at the end of the brick step is white water from the downspout.
Here it shows the force of the water coming out of the downspout. Again, white water in my courtyard.
The rain is letting up a little bit here, but still white water pouring out.
This is not a great shot, I took it through the window. I wasn't about to go out in that downpour. This looks like a waterfall. No, it is the steps down to the lower yard.
This is where all the water is going. It came off the roof and down the driveway, down the back steps and hits that brick wall. It then pours around the end and drops about 6 inches into our little vegetable garden area. Then the water goes through the deer fence into our down hill neighbor's yard. 
I wish I had video to show the water pouring over the edge here. It was something to see.
Check out the stepping stones. They are totally covered.
And it rained all night and more rain is expected through the next couple of days. Oh, did I tell you the water is coming through the wall in our lower level?
Where is the sun? Please bring back the sun!
Yesterday was hell. It was scary how hard and fast the rain came down. The wind was powerful. One weather man this morning said, "I have been in this business a long time, and yesterday was pretty impressive. Yesterday was as bad as it can get in the Bay Area."
I took some pictures yesterday during one of the ''cloudbursts". I didn't get the hail, or the trees bending to the ground. I was fascinated by the amount of water running through our property.
The rain is letting up a little bit here, but still white water pouring out.
This is where all the water is going. It came off the roof and down the driveway, down the back steps and hits that brick wall. It then pours around the end and drops about 6 inches into our little vegetable garden area. Then the water goes through the deer fence into our down hill neighbor's yard. 
And it rained all night and more rain is expected through the next couple of days. Oh, did I tell you the water is coming through the wall in our lower level?
Where is the sun? Please bring back the sun!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
SUCH A WINDY BLUSTERY DAY.
Sometimes I get to do weddings outside the County Building. Yesterday I was privileged to do the wedding ceremony for a lovely couple. The bride is the sister of a dear friend. The wedding ceremony was beside the Bay. I mean beside the Bay. It was a beautiful setting. Oakland and San Francisco in the background and the water a foot back and 6 feet down off the pier. There were a few problems: fog, really windy, rather chilly, chairs blowing over, the runner blowing. You know the average problems of a wedding outside. None of that mattered.
Because of the wind the sound man, Joe, decided I needed to be miked. Otherwise all my fluffy words would blow out to sea. That was an interesting thing to have done to me. It was a lapel mike, the wire had to come under my top and then attach to my lapel. The wire and battery/control was to then be attached to the back of my slacks. They were too flimsy to hold up the control. So it was attached to my rather sturdy underwear. Joe and I are now engaged. Marty did help wire me. Then he took his seat. But to turn it on, I couldn't see the buttons, so Joe played with my clothing in the back and turned it on.
Other problems with the wind, dresses. Our Babe of Honor, did a Marilyn Monroe, only more so. She has great legs, and the moment was appreciated by many. Others also fought to not flash the world. It did relieve all the tension.
After dinner they cut the cakes. One traditional and one Danish for Duane's heritage. And then he toasted us and his lovely bride.
I have been involved in a lot of weddings not connected to my volunteering. I have never seen such a great group of guests. We knew no one other than the bride's sister and her husband. People came up to us and talked to us. Really talked to us, not "aren't they a lovely couple". They made sure we felt a part of the celebration. Both sets of parents were lovely, gracious, and highly entertaining. Aunts, cousins, whoever, they made us feel like family. Thank you to all.
It was a joy to do this wedding. I just wish the Babe of Honor had lots more sisters for me to do their ceremonies. There is a brother, hummm.
Because of the wind the sound man, Joe, decided I needed to be miked. Otherwise all my fluffy words would blow out to sea. That was an interesting thing to have done to me. It was a lapel mike, the wire had to come under my top and then attach to my lapel. The wire and battery/control was to then be attached to the back of my slacks. They were too flimsy to hold up the control. So it was attached to my rather sturdy underwear. Joe and I are now engaged. Marty did help wire me. Then he took his seat. But to turn it on, I couldn't see the buttons, so Joe played with my clothing in the back and turned it on.
Other problems with the wind, dresses. Our Babe of Honor, did a Marilyn Monroe, only more so. She has great legs, and the moment was appreciated by many. Others also fought to not flash the world. It did relieve all the tension.
I am about a foot from the edge of the pier. And there are whitecaps behind me. There were even sailboats behind me. Notice the hair is perfect. I had a huge amount of product in my hair. No messy hair for me.
Look at these two pictures of Kat and Duane. You can see signs of the wind with her dress. But the second picture as she began her vows, the sun came out. She was spotlighted by Mother Nature.
I have been involved in a lot of weddings not connected to my volunteering. I have never seen such a great group of guests. We knew no one other than the bride's sister and her husband. People came up to us and talked to us. Really talked to us, not "aren't they a lovely couple". They made sure we felt a part of the celebration. Both sets of parents were lovely, gracious, and highly entertaining. Aunts, cousins, whoever, they made us feel like family. Thank you to all.
It was a joy to do this wedding. I just wish the Babe of Honor had lots more sisters for me to do their ceremonies. There is a brother, hummm.
Monday, January 12, 2009
THNGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT
Last night was not good. I was holding my own in the nightly fight for my half of the covers. I even had more than half of the bed and control of my pillow. But I wasn't getting very much sleep. Things were going bump in the night.
We had wind last night. I have written before about my love hate with wind. Last night was hate. It was loud and things were bumping the house. The security light kept coming on. What was flying through the air to tun it on? I was up one time thinking an airplane was landing on the street. There was a plane, but thankfully it was still in the sky. Something kept whacking the house outside one of our windows. Then there were the noises coming from the courtyard. Not a whole lot of sleeping going on for me.
Mondays I volunteer at school in the mornings and in the afternoon I marry couples. I gave up on trying to sleep around 6:00. I showered, did my makeup, and dried and curled my hair. And then I thought, I feel terrible. I have had no sleep and I will kill the first 6 year who crosses me. For the safety of the children I left a message at school that I would not be in. Great guilt, but I felt awful.
I laid down on the couch hoping to sleep. No luck. By this time I had heard the radio talking about our 45 mph winds. Still bumps. Marty gets up, we talked, and he goes back to bed. I try to sleep. HUGE LOUD CRASH. Great screaming from me. The market umbrella in the courtyard had fallen, just missing the French doors and glass table. We are both up again. He goes back to bed, I went out for the papers. That's when I found out why the bumps under our window. We have a small door in the outside wall that covers the gas meter. The door, which is at least 2 feet wide. was going up and down. I thought about nailing it shut. But that would tick off PG&E. We will think of something.
I finally did go back to sleep for a couple of hours. I got up at 11:00 and still felt sluggish. More guilt, I called the marriage desk and said I would not be in today.
I am now thinking about a little nap.
We had wind last night. I have written before about my love hate with wind. Last night was hate. It was loud and things were bumping the house. The security light kept coming on. What was flying through the air to tun it on? I was up one time thinking an airplane was landing on the street. There was a plane, but thankfully it was still in the sky. Something kept whacking the house outside one of our windows. Then there were the noises coming from the courtyard. Not a whole lot of sleeping going on for me.
Mondays I volunteer at school in the mornings and in the afternoon I marry couples. I gave up on trying to sleep around 6:00. I showered, did my makeup, and dried and curled my hair. And then I thought, I feel terrible. I have had no sleep and I will kill the first 6 year who crosses me. For the safety of the children I left a message at school that I would not be in. Great guilt, but I felt awful.
I laid down on the couch hoping to sleep. No luck. By this time I had heard the radio talking about our 45 mph winds. Still bumps. Marty gets up, we talked, and he goes back to bed. I try to sleep. HUGE LOUD CRASH. Great screaming from me. The market umbrella in the courtyard had fallen, just missing the French doors and glass table. We are both up again. He goes back to bed, I went out for the papers. That's when I found out why the bumps under our window. We have a small door in the outside wall that covers the gas meter. The door, which is at least 2 feet wide. was going up and down. I thought about nailing it shut. But that would tick off PG&E. We will think of something.
I finally did go back to sleep for a couple of hours. I got up at 11:00 and still felt sluggish. More guilt, I called the marriage desk and said I would not be in today.
I am now thinking about a little nap.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
THOUGHTS OF WIND
The wind: do you like it, hate it, are you scared of it?
I am sometimes just a little afraid of the wind. We live in the Oakland Hills, wind is not our friend. Especially when it is the Diablo winds coming from inland and not from the sea. This wind is strong, hot, and dry. You can feel your skin drying out, your mouth is dry, and you feel anxious. And this is when we get the raging fires. So we are all a little nervous with the winds. The last two nights I have often waked up from the noise of the wind and from the sounds of the house. Things pop that don't usually, branches hit the house, and the security light keeps coming on. Is someone on the driveway, is it an animal, or did the wind blow things in front of the security beam?
Sometimes the wind is great. At night when the house is warm and we have the windows open, a gentle breeze will fill the house with cool fresh air. Even though it is summer time, we sleep under a down comforter, the breeze blowing over the bed.
The wind blowing long grass on a hillside looks like the sea. Petals blowing from fruit trees in a gentle wind looks like a snow storm. But it is spring in California.
The wind blowing leaves in the fall is good. The sounds of the dry leaves, the leaves swirling in the air, the color of the leaves piled against the fence, that is fall.
My favorite wind, Randy Strong's glass art. http://www.rstrong.com/ Check out the gallery and look at the Wind series and the Sonoma Breeze art.
Wind is usually good. Wind is scary right now. We are the lucky ones this time in Northern California, no fires, yet. Southern California has the fires this time. Our crews are there fighting fires.
The wind is calm right now. Hopefully the front has moved through and we will go back to off shore breezes. Keep your fingers crossed.
I am sometimes just a little afraid of the wind. We live in the Oakland Hills, wind is not our friend. Especially when it is the Diablo winds coming from inland and not from the sea. This wind is strong, hot, and dry. You can feel your skin drying out, your mouth is dry, and you feel anxious. And this is when we get the raging fires. So we are all a little nervous with the winds. The last two nights I have often waked up from the noise of the wind and from the sounds of the house. Things pop that don't usually, branches hit the house, and the security light keeps coming on. Is someone on the driveway, is it an animal, or did the wind blow things in front of the security beam?
Sometimes the wind is great. At night when the house is warm and we have the windows open, a gentle breeze will fill the house with cool fresh air. Even though it is summer time, we sleep under a down comforter, the breeze blowing over the bed.
The wind blowing long grass on a hillside looks like the sea. Petals blowing from fruit trees in a gentle wind looks like a snow storm. But it is spring in California.
The wind blowing leaves in the fall is good. The sounds of the dry leaves, the leaves swirling in the air, the color of the leaves piled against the fence, that is fall.
My favorite wind, Randy Strong's glass art. http://www.rstrong.com/ Check out the gallery and look at the Wind series and the Sonoma Breeze art.
Wind is usually good. Wind is scary right now. We are the lucky ones this time in Northern California, no fires, yet. Southern California has the fires this time. Our crews are there fighting fires.
The wind is calm right now. Hopefully the front has moved through and we will go back to off shore breezes. Keep your fingers crossed.
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