Blue Jay Invasion & Crazy Dog

Suddenly, Blue Jays are at all the feeders

Wild, digging dog, got a scraped nose bleeder

Another butt cold but sunny day

Winter seems here, not just on the way

Hard to believe it might hit 70 by Sunday

With showers coming, still time to play

The week's volcano list has just come out

And, I'd be leaving Guatemala, too, no doubt

With three volcanoes gassy and blasting

There's ash, lava and boulders outcasting

In the Aleutians, Veniaminof has warnings raised

To highest levels, planes don't want to be ash grazed

Krakatoa and four others still rumble in Indonesia

But, Kilauea's still quiet, Hawaiians that should please ya

While volcanoes numbers are up, quakes, today, are down

With less than 30 shakes all the world round

The gibbous moon rise last night was stunning

Leaving C'ville last night with the heater full running

After the equally stunning Richard Thompson show

Had heard he was amazing but now I know

The old English rocker ripped it on the guitar

Just lovin' to play, showing off, best I've seen so far

The scraped nose dog has returned again

Waiting for me to finish this poem and then

Take him for his official morning walk

And, birds are gone, a passing hawk?

It's Thursday, the work week almost done

And, might be the last day with much sun

So, while not working, I still know the day

And, you can bet, I'll get out and play

I hope you do, too! Today On Earth!

Sunny & Chilly With Wild Wind

We got a big storm over New England

And, high pressure over the Great lakes

To create wild wind, that's what it takes

For low wind chills and blowing sand

Or leaves flying all about

With a dog waiting to go out

Pretty average day for quakes

Mostly along plate boundary zones

And, only 4 magnitude 5+ shakes

Sending out energy in Earth tones

Thought I might spot the moon out now

But, alas, it's down but I'll tell you how

You can check it out late tonight 

Hanging with Regulus in Leo, that's right

For early risers, Venus is the bright morning star

With Virgo's Spica to the west, but not far

I know this has been a crazy mix of rhymes

I never know what coming out, crazy times

Hope you stay warm, don't let the wild wind bite

Still no excuse to stay in, get out, enjoy the sights

Today On Earth!!

And, Mo' Rain, Then Warm, Now Cold

The roller coaster ride that is November continues, 60's Sunday, little rain and 50's for half of Monday, cold front whips through and Tuesday starts in the 20's creeps into the 40's but with Boreas, the god of the north wind kickin' it, feels more like the 30's. Back into the 20's tonight with another chilly day coming tomorrow. Mild air and rain are likely back for the weekend, which kicks off December. They're skiing in Colorado and still digging out from a little blizzard from KC to Chicago.
8 of 38 of the quakes in the last 24 hours have been magnitude 5 or above: near the equator on the Mid-Atlantic ridge, Fiji and New Caledonia are all shook up today, offshore Mexico had some subduction zone activity and PNG was rocked again, with a good little shake just off Madagascar...and, thanks oil industry: Oklahoma.
The moon is gibbous, shrinking toward 3rd quarter and Mars is it for planets in the evening sky, joined earlier and earlier by the brilliant stars of winter with the Pleiades and Aldebaran leading the way up from the eastern horizon. The Milky Way and Summer Triangle, clouds willing, should be lovely in the northwest after sunset. Bundle up and get out and check out your planet, Today or Tonight on Earth.
How about a little haiku...

Over six feet of

Rain in two thousand eighteen

A wet and wild year!

And...It's Gorgeous

After an inch and a half of rain

Sun and warmth is back again

It is a gorgeous Sunday here

Today's blog will be short, but no fear

You still get a reporting, as the planet turns 

And, there are lots of quakes, many concerns

The southern Eurasian boundary is rock'n today

With a 6.3 quake in Iran leading the way

But, New Zealand, Colombia, PNG, Indonesia

And, China, Venezuela, all with Earth seizures

With snow on the plains, rain calming fires out west

Another turn on our axis, just one more daily test

Can you adapt, go migrating, hopefully not die

I suggest: get out and wander about, happy and spry

Cuz if it's like it is here on this gorgeous day

Inside watching bad football is not a good play

So, I'm done with my typing, outside I'm heading

Jonquils need planting, stove ashes need spreading

Just wandering about in warm air with sun

Today on Earth, can't top that for fun!

Just look at this cute dog!!

Mo' Rain!

The earth was filled with water again

For 2018, that's the way it's been

Another inch and a half of rain today

With runoff, runoff, every which a'way

Streams, rivers, the ground all flushed

Downward, ocean bound, water rushed

With sewage and trash, poisons and drugs

And, sediment and soil, such polluting mugs

We humans use and trash the planet, SO!

Can't see it from my house, don't need to know!

It ain't happening, 'at's what I believe

Not my fault, problem, can't conceive 

But, the water doesn't listen to us

Not concerned with all our fuss

The Earth couldn't care less

About all our nasty mess

In a million years, Earth will be here

Future humans? That remains unclear

So, enjoy your ride, it's all you get

Sun or clouds, hot or cold, dry or wet

Take your chances, place your bet

How do we assure future goals are met?

Be nice, do more and eat less

Say thanks and clean up your mess

Need and buy less, share a smile

Take a nap, relax for awhile

Life is short, but, oh, what a blast

Dream of the future, smile at the past

Give me a hollar, we outta talk

You can't friend me, I'm on facebalk

I hope you, like I, walked in the rain

Another fun day, some much to gain

Trying to get out of life, all that it's worth

Another wild exploration, Today On Earth!!

A Wahoo Choke On A Cold, Grey Day!

Not sure if today put retailers in the black

But, likely billions more debt went into the sack

Of the American shopper today

Spend, spend, spend, off with your pay

While instead of shopping I went to the vet

To help my big dog, medicine I did get

Then, warm the house, hunkered down in the grey

On a very cold and damp November day

And, all while I typed I listened to rhymes

Not just a little but all of the times

From the pen of the amazing Dr. Seuss

And his tale of a Grinch and all of the Who's

So his rhymes go in and these rhymes come out

To tell of volcanoes, quakes, weather I shout

About Today on Earth, 'case you want to know

Just what's up on the planet, how'd it all go

Yes, volcanoes are still erupting all round the Ring

While quakes numbers were low, but, here's the thing

Change is still coming, tomorrow's back to wet

Not what we really need, but what we'll all get

And, more sadly, after a long, quiet ride up I-81

For all Wahoo's tomorrow, no glimmer of sun

With two turnovers late, a chance to put down the hammer

Their coach wimped out, let's put the offense on stammer

And, stammer they did, a choke for the ages

Utter collapse, overtime, a fumble, fan rages

While in Blacksburg, they're laughing and partying on

"Can you believe it, we thought our bowl string was gone"

Well, I guess it was truly a Black Friday

In C'ville, the horror, On Earth Today!!

Hope For A Happy Thanksgiving!!

A slow day on the planet all full of shake

Only Redoubt volcano had a big quake

The real news today is the deepening cold

But, in NYC balloons are flyin', high wind on hold

The crowds are all bundled and smiles abound

Later families will gather, thanks given round

With turkey, dressing and gravy galore

Then dessert, a nap, football, score!!

Got a look at bright Venus, out walking the dog

Early this morning, with no haze, clouds or fog

And, while I know Virgo's bright Spica is nearby

It was not visible in the slowly brightening sky

Tonight's Full Beaver Moon, while not quite at Perigee

Will still be quite large, and bright; go out and see.

But, today is really about family and giving thanks

For all the good things we have, quiet whiners and cranks

So, today when you've eaten for all that you're worth

Take a walk and give thanks, Today on Earth.

Dog in a sunbeam!!

Chilly Times Ahead!

'Twas the day before Thanksgiving

And all the turkeys were in hiding

Trying to lay low and keep on living

While downward temps kept sliding

But, the sky was clear, sun was a'shining

The brown dog was waiting for a walk

Until then, in a sunspot he'd be reclining

Hoping I'd finish with my computer talk

A few quakes today rock the western Pacific

No real surprises there, but northern Idaho

Today's 4.1 shake, perhaps mildly terrific

But in Japan or Indonesia, no shock TOE

The moon will be a little bigger tonight

Now just 37 hours from Full

Bundle up, get out, be quite a sight

But, it's time to shut down this bull

And, take a stroll...Today on Earth

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!!


Surprise! Evanka did what Hillary done
Government stuff on private email, what fun!
But, seems ok if you're a Chump
Excuses, blame soon coming from their rump
While the lies and incompetence continue to flow
Continuing to show off how little they know
And, killing journalists seems a-ok
Just so the money keeps flowing our way
But, the moron
In two years, gone!!

Wild & Mild, Joy & Sadness

What was shaping up as a fun, celebratory weekend, took a sudden sad turn Friday night when my good friend, Jay Gillespie, collapsed during the sound check before a reunion show of the players in the Page Wilson band. He was rushed to the hospital where it was discovered he had suffered a massive bleed, deep in his brain. Stunned family and friends gathered to support his wife Tracy and Jay, an amazingly talented musician, creative builder (my house would likely not exist as it does now without Jay's plumbing, electrical and construction knowledge and skill) and all around fun-loving, positive, wonderful guy. He passed quietly and peacefully onward Sunday afternoon, surrounded by a large, loving group of still stunned, family and old and new friends. I'm still quite shocked and stunned and suddenly even more aware of mortality, turning 64 Saturday. Life on Earth is short, get out and enjoy it everyday!!
On Earth Today, the air is fairly mild but quite wild, with leaves flying and tumbling everywhere. A cold front, dry in Va., is headed our way and tomorrow will be a little cooler before the temp plummets for Thanksgiving, possibly not reaching 40.  Black Friday, a day wise people stay away from stores will also be quite chilly for frenzied shoppers. A slightly warmer but wetter weekend is in the forecast.
The moon, waxing gibbous, will be bright and up most of the evening and likely washed out the dimmer meteors of the Leonid shower over the weekend. With my thoughts with Jay and Tracy, I never came close to remembering one of the more reliable meteor showers of the year. Still could be some out there tonight if the clouds thin. Still be a lovely evening for a moon light stroll.
There is some good news in the greater Quail area and Louisa County as a whole; the proposed Mega-site was voted down last night by board of supervisors, in a two part vote, and is done, for now. We are now engaged and will be watching to see what else they try and pull to extend the water line that was the real, not so hidden agenda behind the debacle.
About 100 quakes at magnitude 4.5 or above with 4 at or above magnitude 6 over the last week; a pretty average week on the planet that features plate tectonics as the driving force. Change will continue, get out and experience it, Today on Earth. Or, like me, take a nap and then get out:)

Here's my closing limerick from the meeting last night; pretty snarky and the one it was really intended for wasn't present, abstaining with his absence on the vote. I, actually, am about to call and apologize to my representative for my tone, he was, most certainly, not involved in the slime that has been oozing around the edges of this sneaky project.

Tonight we find out who’s covered in slime

And, has been lying to us all of this time

Who hasn’t cared what we say

Likely has hidden cash on the way

And, doesn’t think stealing from taxpayers a crime

Finally, Sunshine!!

Another inch and three quarters of rain, pushing the monthly total to over 7" and the year total over 70" but the sun is back and there is no hint of clouds. Today's temps could reach into the mid-50's, a big change after being stuck in the 30's yesterday and 40's before that. As warm as that will feel, it's still below the low 60's average highs for mid-November. The Shenandoah Valley schools are out again today with ice and snow to deal with. The northeast is also dealing with the first winter weather of the season. If the precipitation continues the way it has for '18 into the new year, we are in for a snowy winter. But, as mentioned again and again on this blog, change is the way on Earth and there is no rain in the forecast for at least a week and a warming planet could keep most precipitation in the Old Dominion cold rain this winter; we'll know what kind of winter is was in April.

Yesterday was a quiet day of quakes

Today is rocking with serious shakes

3 quakes above magnitude six

On land, that would mean buildings to fix

But, those big shakes were on the sea floor

Yet, no tsunamis seemed to wash ashore

Still, likely more quakes to come today

And, you never know, could be coming your way!!

The moon was just below and west of Mars last night, no chance of seeing that here, but will still be near the red planet tonight, pin high and just east. Mars is moving (from our view) from Capricorn into Aquarius and is slightly gibbous in its right angle position relative to the sun and Earth. Saturn is getting lower and lower in the west each night, still hanging above the teapot of Sagittarius. The third asteroid discovered, Juno, is as close to Earth as it has been in almost 40 years or will be for another 40+. It's only the 11th largest asteroid but is quite bright, still you'll need a scope to spot it west of Orion and south of Taurus. The next week will be excellent for checking out the late Autumn sky but a waxing moon will wash out dim stars and the galaxy, so, bundle up and get out and check it out - I recommend dusk myself, watch your universe turn on its lights, Tonight On Earth.

70" Of Rain

I'm closing in on 70" (yes, seventy) of rain for 2018, after barely reaching 31" in 2017; far and away the wettest year I can remember. 54" in 2011 is the most I can find in my weather journals - but there are gaps... lots of gaps. Working on filling them and not blogging but will get back... With 10 year average (06, 07, 09,11-17) of 44.71". And, it's still raining. The good news: this will end later tonight and leave us with a cool but dry weekend and into next week.
Today the word is runoff; there is no space in the ground for this rain to infiltrate so it's all runoff. The HersheyDog creek is rolling and roiling along. The paths/trails I just cleared the leaves off are water filled rills today - hopefully not moving to gully status. It's interesting that the water ripping through the creek is fairly clear, has all the small, stream clouding sediment been swept away this year, makes sense with 70" of rain. And, still California burns, although I think they have rain forecast this weekend... which will, of course, now lead to mud slides. A dry, mild climate makes for great living until you realize that your planet is heating up and that lovely dry climate is really an arid region that has fire as part of the normal way of the world. And, if you move into that dry forest and call someplace Paradise, as the Eagles said, you can kiss it good by. Sorry for their loss but be aware you are living in a town made of kindling. Without care, and lower numbers of humans, we can't have our cake and eat it, too. Earth rules will kick in at some point.
A much shakier 24 hour period for quakes and while the volcano list only has 15 mountains on it this week, those mountains are stirred up and blasting new rock and gasses onto the surface and into the atmosphere. Fuego and Krakatoa seem the most fired up; but Indonesia and Central America have others cranking on the list. Still no Kilauea!! And, fortunately no Yellowstone although there were some small quakes in the area.
I did catch a glimpse of the thickening crescent moon last night but the clouds blocked Mars, which was nearby. The moon was at a right angle with the Earth and Sun this morning: First Quarter and neap tides - the opposite pull of the sun and moon mellowing out the ocean, causing less tidal range. Minor relief for the eastern seaboard from ocean flooding, rain will be enough.
The large brown dog and I did a walk earlier and are still drying out. We'll go out again, because it's just rain and we'll both dry out. Be prepared if you make the move to venture out, Today On Earth.
I can't resist...

DonnyJonny the Chump is looking for someone to blame

For the republicans losses, oh what a shame!

Well, check out a mirror

And, you'll see a terror

As well as the reason, you're not very good at the game!

Rex said it the best

He is truly a moron

Slow, thin skinned, bully

Another Cold, Raw Day

Another cloudy, cold November day
Locked in with northern air seems the way
With more big rain coming for Thursday
Keeping out door play at bay, I say...
While here I sit at a new island stool
Bright blue and comfy, looking cool
With red stools coming this afternoon
Props to Overstock, they gott'em here soon
Check it out
Stylin', no doubt

And, can you spot the large brown dog in the pic
He's shredding a new rope toy, his standard trick
After which he heads out to eat a little bird seed
Seems sunflower roughage is in his dietary need
Very few quakes today on Earth
And, the volcano list will update tonight
Sky viewing will show the crescent moon bright
Rain in your face here, makes a look of little worth
So, get out while it's dry, Today on Earth!

How about a little political haiku

When Chump saw Putin
It brought a smile to his face
Treasonous disgrace!

Fire & Rain

Talk about a tale of two coasts

One ablaze, the other rain record boasts

With snow and cold in between

A normal day on Earth is seen

Out west, the slightest  spark starts an inferno

Back east, a flame thrower wouldn't start a burn-O

Here at the house O tires, new bar stools are here

Now I've a cool place to park, come sit for a beer!

A quiet day of quakes on our broken up sphere

And, tonight's Mars Moon dance, clouded out, I fear

But, right now a big brown monster is interrupting this blog

So, I need to get out and walk freshly cleared paths with my dog

Whether you're in flood or ablaze, sadness or mirth

Get out, adventure, Today on Earth.

Serious Freeze on Veterans Day!

The growing season had been slowed before

But, hours of freezing overnight shut that door

The sun is trying to warm our world

A light breeze, and down leaves swirled

It's shaping up to be a lovely day

Get out, but dress warm for work or play

Today marks 100 years since the end of World War 1

A horrid fight, 17 million dead, no one really won

But, still we make weapons and wars go on

Gun makers enriched, more lives gone

With big bucks made, it's unlikely to cease

Cuz, there's just no money to be made with peace!!

Shocker, another mass shooting, in Cali this time

Money for guns but not mental health, political slime!!

On Earth, another shaky day on the planet

Magnitude 6.3 out in the middle Atlantic

With other boundaries slipping about, too

But, no major shifts to mention to you

So, it's time to go find my bird eating dog

And, wind down another blog

Two birds banged the window early today

And, Breyer got 'em both, I'm sad to say

But, life and death, sadness and mirth

That's all there is, Today on Earth.

How about a little space limerick-ish

Last night the moon and Saturn were close in space

And, tonight the gap closing will be the case

Then the moon moves to Mars

Hanging with Capricorn stars

Bundle up, get out and put deep space light on your face!

Chilly With Leaves Flying

The colors are fast fading

Wild wind has leaves parading

Flashing and crashing to the Earth

Compost coming to aid rebirth

The circle of life in action today

Trees shutting, winter on the way

And, it will feel like winter tonight

Into the low 20's with wind to bite

Layers, hats and gloves now needed

Toasty southern air long receded

A shaky day on the plate broken sphere

Even a 2.5 quake in Goochland, near here

Pacific/Australian boundary rules list of shakes

With west central South America next for quakes

The Ring O Fire is also the hopping volcano place

Sabancaya in Peru, 30 explosions a day, in your face

Popo, Etna, Fuego and Krakatau blasting away

And Veniaminof in Alaska, still erupting today

The waxing crescent moon tonight near Saturn

In 5 more days, still bright Mars gets its turn

That's it for the evening planet show

Jupiter and Mercury are actually out there

But, too low and close to the sun for

eyes to bear

Venus is popping up higher in the morning sky

After just catching us and passing us by

Will be a nice night for checking out the Milky Way

Just don't have much exposed skin in play

Because the word for the day is blustery

With wind and cold all we'll see

But, behind the glass at the tire house

We're as toasty as an indoor mouse

My new island now bolted to the floor

Sure changes the look coming in the door

And, here's a look, for what it's worth

Better bundle up, Today On Earth!!

Congrats Abigail Spanberger!!

Congrats to hard working Abigail
Sent Brat hiding with tucked tail
And, Dems take back the house
D J Chump seems quiet as a mouse
A large brown dog needs a walk
Then I'll finish this little talk
Later...

Election Day Rain: Another Deluge

Another inch of rain today

Just the usual 2018 way

Now over 66" for the year

Groundwater is high, that is clear

The HersheyDog creek is roiling along

From up at my house, I hear the water song

And, leaves, browning fast are a'flying

Today's results, hopefully will bring no crying

And, a pretty quiet earthquake list

No movement here 'tween layers of schist

We were hoping the mega-site would go away

But, again, they kicked it along for another day

Time to head off to cast my vote

On this drying, mild day, sans coat

And, work on my island

Sand and sand and sand

Then oil and wax, for what it's worth

Get out and vote, wisely, Today on Earth.

This tree is keeping an eye on the forest...

Another Overnight Deluge

Another, nearly, 2 inches of rain

And, I'm not going to say it's a pain

Because without the rain, life dies

I know, that's not a big surprise

But, I have a dog waiting at the door

With needs more pressing than a poem, for sure

I'll be back...

And, while I had a fine stroll in the wood

It was dog free, cuz he don't listen so good

And took off to see his girlfriend next door

As soon as his poop hit the forest floor

And, though I hollered throughout my walk

He wouldn't come join me, only give a bark

But, he was waiting back at the house

Now, sleeping on his bed, quiet as a mouse

The creek is running high and fast

Washing leaves and debris on past

Towards the South Anna and the Bay

More sediment and detritus on the way

The wet '18 rolls on: over 65 inches so far

4 storms at nine tenths of an inch

5 times over the one inch bar

7 storms over an inch and a half

4 times more than 2 inches fell

3 times over 3" and 1 storm dropped 4.5"

The South Anna has been out of it's banks 5 times

That's a recap of the crazy rain we've seen

So far, in the year 2018

With more rain later and storms on Election Day

Bad weather could depress the turnout

But, let's hope that's not the way

'Cause we need a leash on the Chump burnout

A return to some civility and hope

Not the fear and hate from this dope

But, just thinking of him turns up my hate

That's the issue with a our current fate

His believers just won't believe he keeps on lying

Denial of any personal fault, reality they aren't buying

That makes it hard to discuss any real solution

To real issues: human greed fueling cancerous growth and pollution

Alas, again, one more reminder, for what it's worth

The planet just doesn't care, Today, or any other day, on Earth.

Cool & Crisp With Leaves A'Flyin'!

Colors seem both fading and peaking

Just settle to Earth, what leaves are seeking

Poplar leaves are mostly gone

Dogwood vibrant reds rage on

As leaves go, the sun shines on in

For tirehouse heating, that's a win

Enjoy a last cool and dry day

Before rain returns and dampens your way

The big brown dog has returned home

Done with his daily neighborhood roam

Now, sleeping on the floor in the sun

Recharging for his late morning run

No monster quakes on the list so far

6.0 in the Philippines tops the bar

With little shakes in TX, NMex and AZ

But, most quakes, as usual, on a plate boundary

A thin, waning crescent moon, hiding now in deep blue

30ish degrees ahead of the sun, but Wednesday, New

The Milky Way, that milky swath running overhead

Was gorgeous last night, check it out before bed

But, until then, get out and enjoy with mirth

This fine fall offering, Today on Earth.

Warm & Humid November!

Humid southern air, muggy and still

Has made the leaf drop chill

But today the colors like a bowl of Trix

But, look quickly now, get your fix

Because later today more will fall

A front with rain and wind squall

Is headed our way

Yep, this very day

And, behind the front the chill returns

Once again wood stove fire burns

When you live in the Old Dominion

Weather changes like a Chump opinion

But, we're not alone with changing weather

The entire planet held by our star's tether

Is different each day in every spot

Change constant: cold to hot

And back again, and again more change

Often quicker than we can arrange

Our clothing layers

No global warming bleat naysayers

They are wrong and Earth cares not

Rain or snow, cloud or sun, warm or hot 

Spinning, revolving is what it does

Universal forces, just because

But, we have the chance to enjoy

The chaotic changes, really a joy

Joyfully go out into the fall and play

Because another day has come you way

Today

On

Earth!

Leaf Covered World!

The tree's show of color exploded today

And, the wind took my mossy green yard away

Now it's a shifting sea of dead leaf brown

Noisy, the howling wind, leaves rustling around

November began with a late summer feel

Later and later warmth, the very new real 

My wandering dog is still not back

He will return, he will want a snack

Today's quake list numbers are low

But, 6.2 in Chile heads up that show

Another off Portugal, Greece still after-shocking

The volcano list has 18 wild mountains a-rocking

The Pacific Ring rules volcanoes and quakes

And, today I met two people that have what it takes

To work to change the political tone

We showed up to remind them, they're not alone

Abigail and Tim, impressive but down to earth

Proof American values and honesty have worth

Positive ideas and plans not mistrust and fear

Get out and vote, perhaps good tidings will appear

The wind it still swirls and the brown dog returns

The approach of a front and a treat he has earned

Hope you got out and enjoyed this nice day

Because winter is coming, the tilted planet way

Today's wakeup call, a bee sting on my hand

But today's dentist trip for a clean, fill and

Then a great meeting with Spanberger and Kaine

All made up for the sting, I can't complain

Hope your November is full of joy and mirth

And, that you had a fun, delightful, Today on Earth