Another Day, Another Shower

When there is lots of water available, and there is plenty on the east coast right now, what is forecast to be a clear day often isn't. Today for example, mostly sunny and in the 80's with a slight, slight chance of showers. Still hasn't hit 80 here and 0.3" of rain in the early morning proves once again, that meteorology is a very inexact science. It is pleasant outside today with a little breeze and at this moment the sun is winning the battle with the clouds, likely, that will change. A cold front ravaging the north central states is sinking our way, will settle just to the south and hangout until middle of next week bringing cooler temps and chances of even more rain. At the tirehouse, almost 10" have fallen in September; good chance the ninth month will surpass the 10 1/2" that fell in the sixth - which had just bested the 8 1/2" in the fifth. Those three months will have recorded more rain than fell in all of 2017. And, parts of North Carolina received 30"+ in a couple of days. Wild, wet world!!
A quiet quake day, less than 30 so far. Fiji was rocked with a 5.8 and then an hour later a 5.9 quake. The Galapagos Isles had the only other 5+ quake today, no doubt ruffling some finch feathers and drawing minor notice from a few iguanas. Not much shaking elsewhere. That too will change.
The moon will have moved another 12 degrees away from Mars in the sky tonight, now trailing well behind the red world as we, too, pull away from the slower next planet out. The closer and faster, next planet in, Venus, will set a little earlier tonight, catch it right after sunset. Jupiter is still bright in the southwest but Saturn fades a little more each day, no doubt, still spectacular in a telescope: the rings!!
Downloaded and reading an interesting new book, Robert Kaplan's, Earning the Rockies; a take on the effects the immensity of our country/continent has had on our place in the world. His insights gleaned as he took the northern route across the country at about the same time I was touring our large nation's southern regions in 2015. He wandered and lingered and listened to strangers, while I darted across long stretches then dined and golfed and visited with friends. But, looking back on my trip, I think his well penned insights are spot on, and explain much about where we are right now as a nation. About time for another stroll in the forest, no doubt, crossing the bridge I rebuilt yesterday, again. I just didn't quite realize how striking the pattern would be.
But, how about a shot of what will likely be a part of my meals for several days to come. Here's what you want a shitake log to look like, today on Earth.