There’s a quiet pool betting on the next calamity to befall the 24/680, our usually peaceful landscape interrupted by all manner of trial and tribulation in recent weeks – both natural and man made.
If it’s not orbiting whirlybirds and probing Night Suns it’s a heavenly sound and light show like the one that rolled over much of the East Bay this morning – touching off a number of fires and sending bleary-eyed residents scrambling for their cell phone cameras.
All in all, this morning’s spectacular was a pretty impressive display of natural power and beauty, lightning splitting trees or setting them afire and the Boom Boom rumble of thunder threatening our windows.
As usual, a bunch of you were up and getting an early start on your Sunday when the show started and it seemed much of California had descended on our Facebook Page by 6 a.m. and that’s always fun as folks decompressed with commentary and shared photos as Ma Nature lit up the sky.
And then those smoke plumes started rising and our Tip Line started jingling with inquiries and observations and we realized we were in for something more than just a pleasant, rare summer rainstorm.
Then there was an unfortunate crash on Highway 24 – which has been seeing a lot of tribulation lately – and any hope of a leisurely breakfast with pals went right out the window. (Sorry to learn there were serious injuries suffered in that rollover crash).
Once everyone was up, suitably caffeinated or otherwise stoked on lightning bursts or whatever else it is that gets people jacked and ready to meet their day – people started doing what people normally do on weekends: going stark, raving bananas.
We can’t tell you about a lot of what our neighbors report is going on out there – this being a family rag and all – but it appears some people are launching their own personal bio-weapons assaults on unsuspecting stores and coffee haunts while others are stripping down and cooling off in public water features au naturale.
We’re not prudes or anything but, hey, if you’re going to show off the naughty bits in public spaces please make sure they’re mown and landscaped. Some people have tender stomachs.
Also sorry to report that many folks are feeling really, really depressed lately and that’s resulting in a lot of negative energy across personal and public lines. We wish this wasn’t so but it is.
We’re certainly not the ones to dispense advice to the lovelorn but, hey, if you’re involved with someone and things go south as they sometimes do try and make a clean break of it rather than turn it into the Hundred Years’ War. It’ll be easier on the nerves and your pocketbook.
That’ll do for now. Thanks for spending your (very early) morning with us and if you do get out today remember to stay hydrated, please, and take care of your critters.
Stay cool!
Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn’t it a pity
Doesn’t seem to be a shadow in the city
All around, people looking half dead
Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head
But at night it’s a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come-on come-on and dance all night
Despite the heat it’ll be alright
And babe, don’t you know it’s a pity
That the days can’t be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city
Cool town, evening in the city
Dressing so fine and looking so pretty
Cool cat, looking for a kitty
Gonna look in every corner of the city
Till I’m wheezing like a bus stop
Running up the stairs, gonna meet you on the rooftop
But at night it’s a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come-on come-on and dance all night
Despite the heat it’ll be alrightAnd babe, don’t you know it’s a pity
That the days can’t be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city
Love the Lovin Spoonful
That’s a fave!