Washing the Sky

Wednesday, April 21, 1999

We had about four hours of thunderstorms last night, starting around 10 pm. Lots of lightning and rain, and even a little hail mixed in for good measure. As far as I know, it didn't do any real damage anywhere, or take the power out around town, but it sure did a beautiful job of washing the sky. It's been a little cloudy, and even downright grey and dull here the past several days, but this morning I woke in time to see the sun coming up behind the trees, a bright orange ball in a pale blue sky. It was gorgeous!

Everything is getting so green! The lawn's been mowed twice now, and looks great, the trees are getting their leaves, and the strawberries are blooming already!!! Here I was thinking that I wouldn't get a chance to have any of them this year, but maybe they'll hurry right along, and I'll at least get a few of the first week's crop. If the birds and squirrels and bunnies don't get them first, that is!

Mom continues to act like nothing at all happened on Monday; she even cracked a joke, and hugged me today. Still no apology, but I have the feeling I won't get one, unless I apologize first. I can live with that... maybe I'll cool off enough and actually take that step.

I got out and returned all my books and magazines to the library, and had the librarian check them all in and make sure I didn't have anything else out, so I no longer have to worry about accidentally packing a library book, or Mom selling one at the yard sale (which has been postponed until next weekend, now). Then I went to the license bureau (actually I went there first), and renewed my identification, so I can fly without any problems.

I can't believe they charged me $10 for something as simple as an ID card; but I guess they've got to pay for their fancy new computer equipment somehow. I left the bureau, new ID in hand; I'd been a little concerned that I might not get it back in time for my flight, until they brought one out to the girl who had been finished just as I got in. I still can't get over Missouri and it's "Non Driver License"... didn't know you needed to be licensed, not to drive a car. Just one more backward thing in this backward state. Hopefully the Commonwealth is a little brighter in that regard.

Maybe I'll escape the apostrophed plurals (your's, our's, their's) and using 'your' instead of 'you're,' if I'm lucky. Argh, those things just drive me crazy! My poor 9th grade English teacher would have had a heart attack, if she'd seen the horrid way these people treat the language. My English usage is far from perfect, I know... but I try to do my best. Sometimes I think these people just don't care. Sheer laziness or lack of education, either way, it still makes me cringe inside.

It's about 6:45 in the evening, and I can't remember when Jev said he'd be back online, but hopefully it will be soon. I'm going to wrap this up and post it, and finish reading Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight -- more on that in another entry, or maybe a review. We're supposed to get more thunderstorms tonight, and I hope they wait until bedtime; it was so nice to fall asleep to the sound of the rain against the roof and windows... very soothing.