ZeeGeezer

2500 Lux

Thanks to Cunégonde (with whom I am half in love but I'm old enough to be his ummm, much elder brother) I've discovered that I have a condition with a name. Early-morning-awakening insomnia. How cool is that? I have a condition. 4 am and I are very well acquainted. If I weren't so tired all the time I'd be excited.

Apparently bright-light therapy may help.

The Showers that Loom in the Spring, tra-la

So I was just looking at the weather, in one of my continuing, and quite successful, attempts to avoid doing any work at all today, and I was struck by something odd. Today is the vernal equinox. At something like 10:52 PST, the sun crossed the plane of the equator heading north and Spring officially began. Now, the word equinox implies that this is the day when the day and night are the same length. How come, then, that the daylength today is officially 12 hours and 8 minutes?

It being the first day of Spring, it is, of course, pissing down with rain. No bike ride today. But yesterday was a gorgeous day.

And since when did Spring start on the 20th? When I was a lad I was taught it started on the 21st.

Cultiver son jardin

The little trip to the garden center yesterday decided it for me - I can't live with the GBF. I had once again to explain the difference between annuals and perennials. He wants showy, if not garish, color all the time with no maintenance. I told him that in that case he needed to start looking at the lovely selection of plastic plants. I pointed out the beuatiful plumbagos that flower forever. He didn't like the color. How can he not like the color of plumbago?

Hurricane watch

I've only been to New Orleans twice, and both times didn't stray far from the convention center or the French Quarter. I did live through a hurricane of sorts once the October 1987 storm that hit southern England. That wasn't much of a hurricane; I think the highest sustained winds were around 80 or 90 mph. But it was terrifying to live through none the less. And the damage the next day was truly shocking. London planes fallen on cars, on houses; roofs blown off; whole forests knocked flat. To this day I find myself apprehensive when the wind begins to blow.

So I can feel something of what the folks of New Orleans must be going through. But not entirely.

Thankfully the storm that hit New Orleans hasn't been quite as bad as had been feared. The alert issued by the National Weather Center is truly firghtening. But still. People will be killed. Lots of people will lose everything they have. And of course, people will be stupid and venal, although more will be sensible and generous.

And there's one tiny bit of amusement.

From the National Weather Center warningt for New Orleans:

THE VAST MAJORITY OF NATIVE TREES WILL BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. ONLY THE HEARTIEST WILL REMAIN STANDING...BUT BE TOTALLY DEFOLIATED. FEW CROPS WILL REMAIN. LIVESTOCK LEFT EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL BE KILLED.

Umm, honey, soups are "hearty". Trees are "hardy".

Name this plant

Orange Wildflower, originally uploaded by zeegeezer.

Took this picture a couple of days ago on the path around the marsh at work.  It's a small wildflower that grows in dry patches.  The plant is reminiscent of chickweed.

I Like this Meme

Age: 54

Where did you grow up? London, ON

WHAT DO YOU CALL:

1. A body of water, smaller than a river, contained within relatively narrow banks? a creek - homophone of creak

2. What the thing you push around the grocery store is called? a shopping cart

3. A metal container to carry a meal in? a lunch box

4. The thing that you cook bacon and eggs in? a frying pan

5. The piece of furniture that seats three people? a sofa

6. The device on the outside of the house that carries rain off the roof? an eavestrough

7. The covered area outside a house where people sit in the evening? a porch

8. Carbonated, sweetened, non-alcoholic beverages? pop, if it's in a bottle; soda if it's in a can

9. A flat, round breakfast food served with syrup? a pancake

10. A long sandwich designed to be a whole meal in itself? a sub or submarine

11. The piece of clothing worn by men at the beach? a bathing suit

12. Shoes worn for sports? running shoes

13. Putting a room in order? tidying

14. A flying insect that glows in the dark? a firefly (but didn't have none where I grew up)

15. The little insect that curls up into a ball? a woodlouse

16. The children's playground equipment where one kid sits on one side and goes up while the other sits on the other side and goes down? a teeter-totter

17. How do you eat your pizza? With a knife and fork until I get to the point where the crust is thick enough that the topping isn't likely to fall in my lap,then with my hands.

18. What's it called when private citizens put up signs and sell their used stuff? a garage sale or yard sale depending on the weather

19A. What's the midday meal? lunch

19B. What's the evening meal? dinner

20. The thing under a house where the furnace and perhaps a rec room are? a basement

21. What do you call the thing that you can get water out of to drink in public places? a drinking fountain

22. Harass: Where does the accent go? "ass"

23. Vehicle: Where does the accent go? first syllable. And you don't say the "h": VEE-ickle

24. Latter: Pronounced with with a "T" in the middle or a "D" in the middle? with a "T"

25. Kitten: Pronounced with with a "T" in the middle or a glottal stop in the middle? Glottal stop

via Rotten Ryan

Didn't Feel the Earth Move

Apparently we felt the earthquake in the office this morning. All the venetian blinds rattled I'm told. I didn't notice it at all. Guess my butt is just numb. Or I thought it was wind.

Even Silicon Valley Has Seasons

It rained yesterday. First time since last spring. Guess that means autumn is here. Weather Underground says 0.06", but I think it was rather more than that, since there were a couple of heavy showers mixed with overall light sprinkliness. And jackets were broken out.