When I was a kid, it rained. Or it didn't. Unless there was a hurricane in the forecast, it wasn't something we gave much thought to.

If it was summer, there was often an afternoon thunderstorm. Sometimes it lasted the whole afternoon, most of the time it just came and went and we went back to what we were doing.

Now, especially if I hang out the clothes, I am watching the weather, via the internet, like a hawk. Unless there is absolutely no rain in the area (by that I mean from mid Texas to Alabama, and above Arkansas to the middle of the Gulf), I am checking the radar several times a day.

Checking, and fussing when it shows no rain in the area and I step out and it is drizzling. Fussing when there is rain according to the radar and I don't feel a drop.

Maybe I should take a hint from my childhood and go back to stepping outside, looking for clouds, and feeling for rain. And remembering that rain is not the enemy, even though it feels that way in this house.


Today is:

Avocado Festival

Constitution Day, South Korea

Crank Call Day (Not any more, not with caller ID.)

Dodge City Day

Fifteen Minutes of Fame Day

Gion Matsuri, Kyoto, Japan (An ancient festival to appease the gods, held all through July, with the largest parade on July 17.)

Norway Independence Day

Peach Ice Cream Day

POW/MIA Recognition Day

Scillitan Martyrs' Day

St. Alexius Day

Wrong Way Corrigan Day

Yellow Pig Day


Birthdays Today:

Diahann Carrol, 1935
Donald Sutherland, 1934
Phyllis Diller, 1917
Art Linkletter, 1912
James Cagney, 1899Erle Stanley Gardner, 1989

Special Anniversary Today:

Opening of Disneyland


Today in History:

Emperor Alexius III flees Constantinople as the Venentianen conquerors invade,1203
Catherine II crowned tsarina of Russia after the murder of Peter III, 1262
Spain cedes Florida to the US, 1821
First publication of the British humor magazine "Punch", 1841