The Storm Isn't Over Yet

Last weekend, a snowstorm swept across North Carolina. We got about six inches. Schools were closed and city services came to a halt for a few days. Most of the snow is now gone, but the storm isn't over yet. Right now I am storming mad over the fact that the City seems to be dragging its feet on a hazard created sometime after the snowfall.

OK here's the story.......

My daughter came home from college today and discovered the storm drain cover in front of our house had been removed. Upon further investigation, my husband discovered that the storm drain cover had broken in half. How could this be? It was perfectly fine last Saturday when he and our neighbor's friend, Ray, were shoveling snow.

We called the city to report the situation and were told the projected completion date would be April 26. OK, that's two and a half months away! My husband pointed out the fact that we have children who play in the area---children that include my three-year-old grandson. That didn't seem to give them a sense of urgency.

Now if I lived in an undesirable neighborhood, I might understand how and why the City would take so long to respond---but I live in a middle class community, where people actually vote so maybe it's time to use that as leverage.

Personally I think the culprit was the road grader the city sent to our street FIVE DAYS AFTER THE STORM, to scrape up the pavement.

Hot Fun in the Winter Time!

Not only is this baby boomer living in a "dry state" (with no signs of water relief in site) but she is also walking around in flip flops and shorts in the middle of what's supposed to be known as Winter.

It was almost 80 degrees here in North Carolina today! It's two weeks before Christmas and no sign of a winter wonderland. What's a poor baby boomer like me to do? Suck it up and enjoy it, I guess.

Baby Boomers aren't supposed to like the cold anyway, right? It's bad for our arthritis. Lord knows, we don't know how to drive in the rain so just imagine what it would be like to have us on the road when there's snow AND ice. Another thing: what could be worse than looking at a baby boomer with dried up, wrinkled and cracked skin?

You know what, I really don't have anything else to say because I feel a hot flash coming on and it's not caused by global warming.

We're in a Serious Drought!

52 is the number of days officials in Durham, NC say is left before we run out of "easily accessible premium water." This was the information I read in my morning newspaper.

I knew we were having some drought issues but I didn't realize we are really down to the wire now! We've had some sporadic periods of rain but NOTHING in comparison to the torrential downpours other parts of the country has seen. As a matter of fact, I don't think we've had a decent amount of rain in over a year.

Our primary source of water comes from Lake Michie. When I drove past the lake a couple of months ago, it looked more like a dried up swamp but I guess it just didn't register with me. City officials say they have a temporary solution which is to connection 500 million gallons in the quarry to its main water supply. They estimate that would add another 25 days to the overall supply.

I guess that means I'll have to stop watering my well-kept lawn and washing my brand new car. I guess I could put laundry aside for a week instead of washing every other day and there's no reason to run the dishwater when I can wash by hand once a week. If push comes to shove, I may only "flush" twice a day instead of the current 20 flushes.

But.....giving up the 45 minute shower may cause this "baby boomer in menopause" to have to go to jail on principle.

Hot Flashes and NO Air Conditioning

What do you do when you have a hot flash and NO air conditioning? I certainly hope I don’t have to find out because the police may have to pay a visit to my home. I’ve been pretty fortunate lately. I haven’t had a hot flash in awhile. I attribute that to the strenuous exercise I’ve been doing. I figure if I sweat hard enough, I can sweat away a hot flash. Whatever! Right?

Yesterday, the air conditioner went on the blink. It just stopped working for no reason at all. Here we are in the midst of a heat wave and it decides it wants to act up! Even my dear, sweet husband---who ALWAYS complains about how COLD it is in the house—was feeling the heat. I went outside to have a talk with the thing. I asked it did it not care that I was a woman in menopause and I could flip out at any moment and throw it down the embankment next to my home. I could also go on a rampage in my neighborhood forcing my unsuspecting neighbors to call 9-1-1 to have me committed.

But then I thought about the sermon my pastor preached earlier that morning. He said if we have a strong foundation we would always be able to find peace in the midst of our storms. OK…That made sense. It’s how you handle the trials and tribulations that come your way. Getting upset over no air conditioning would only make me hotter and madder and probably raise my blood pressure. Besides, if it got really bad, I’m sure one of my nice neighbors would invite me to come into their nice, cool homes to cool down. Focusing my attention on other things---like finding a good scripture to meditate on---or picking up one of the many books I’ve finished yet also helps.

OK so although I have no air conditioning at the moment, I haven’t had a hot flash either so I’m alright.

Thank God for my strong foundation because, otherwise, I’d be blogging from prison.

Hot Flashes in this Heat!

Is it just me or is anyone else trying to figure out if they’re having hot flashes while exercising or is it just this unbearable, intense heat wave we’re experiencing?

I woke up this morning at 7:15 am---I was going to head out to the Duke Trail to get my morning walk/run in. I turned on the TV. It was already 77 degrees and the humidity was over 80! OK…I had to ask myself, “Am I going to go out there and perspire like a pig like I did yesterday?”

Yesterday’s temperature was 75 degrees when I woke up but the humidity was in the lower 70s. I figured I could handle that so I took my bottled water and off I went. I hadn’t even walked a quarter of a mile when I began sweating profusely! I thought I was having a hot flash! I took a swig of water. It was hot enough to make tea. People were passing me left and right. One woman passed me wearing makeup! And to top it all off, she didn’t have a drop of sweat on her face. I figured she must be testing a new product because it made absolutely no sense to be wearing makeup in that heat. Or maybe she was hoping to catch the eye of one of those sweaty baby boomer men who came running by.

Well, I decided not to go to the trail today. Besides, I have a gym membership so this would be a good day to use it---even if I have to drive 15 miles to get there. Another thing…I’d much rather have a hot flash in the gym because of a thing called air conditioning.