Have a great time and stay safe. I always enjoy reading your post. Many 🤗 Annaliese

Thanks Annaliese!

My trip went well, other than driving through a lot of rain in both directions. The weather was great for our visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and our team picnic yesterday. I though the picnic was only for our team, but it was actually for a much larger group, there were well over 300 people!

When I left the picnic on Thursday, I drove down to Lexington, KY for the night. Traffic in Columbus, OH was awful. Which prepared my for the slightly less offensive traffic in Cincinnati, OH. I arrived in Lexington around sunset. I wasn't really hungry, so I picked up a gas station turkey sandwich for supper.

Friday morning, I woke up around 3:30am. I checked the weather radar and saw a line of storms heading into Arkansas, so I decided to get on the road early. I made it all the way to Dyersburg, TN before the rain hit. Somewhere around Forrest City, AR, I encountered some of the heaviest rain I had ever seen. Traffic had slowed down to under 50mph, and  suddenly it was like driving in a blizzard. Absolutely zero visibility for several seconds. Luckily, I had visited a rest stop about 20 minutes earlier...

The rest of the drive home was uneventful. I got home around 12:30pm, ate a sandwich, then headed to the DMV. While I was in Cleveland, our local DMV had called to let me know the paperwork to register our car had arrived. I had to wait in line for an hour or so, but left with my new license plates. My next stop was Bass Pro Shops, to pick up an order I had made while in Cleveland. Next, a stop for groceries. Then one more stop at Academy Sports before heading home... to fix supper.

After supper I unpacked the car, then started packing our other car for a trip to my dad's house this weekend. I plan to retrieve all of the framed photos on the walls so I can scan them. It doesn't matter to me who gets the original photos, and this will allow me to give scanned versions to all of our family members.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

I massively envy the weather you folks have there, Jess. I mean it likely isn't fun for anyone but it's just.. extreme to the point of fascination. When you come from a place where 75 Fahrenheit is a heatwave, and where a couple of inches of rain is a deluge... damn I would give anything to see some of the things you experience over there.

One other thing I just wanted to say is this:

Quote from: Jessica_Rose on April 26, 2025, 08:33:01 PMI understand the need to 'move on', but I also believe I occasionally have some useful information to offer.

Girl, it isn't even that. People always need people. It isn't about the information you can give people. It's more about the smile you give people. It's why I've stuck around for close to 17 years at this point. I know very little about very little. But if there's one thing I can be proud of it's having a bit of a knack for making people feel not quite so sad, and feel better about themselves.

You have the same gift, Jess. And sometimes, that's the most important thing we can ever do for anyone, okay?

*massive hugs*

You are a gift to the world. <3

As a newcomer, I want to validate this, for both of you:

Quote from: Sephirah on Yesterday at 08:23:11 PMGirl, it isn't even that. People always need people. It isn't about the information you can give people. It's more about the smile you give people. It's why I've stuck around for close to 17 years at this point. I know very little about very little. But if there's one thing I can be proud of it's having a bit of a knack for making people feel not quite so sad, and feel better about themselves.

You have the same gift, Jess. And sometimes, that's the most important thing we can ever do for anyone, okay?

*massive hugs*

You are a gift to the world. <3

@Sephirah, the spectrum of weather here really is spectacular. Spring is particularly all-over-the-place.

Quote from: flowers_and_trees on Yesterday at 08:57:22 PMAs a newcomer, I want to validate this, for both of you:

@Sephirah, the spectrum of weather here really is spectacular. Spring is particularly all-over-the-place.

Massively jealous, Pema. We just have drizzle. With the odd sunny day. I want to go storm chasing one time in my life. That's like top of my bucket list. Because it just fascinates me. I am like Helen Hunt in the movie "Twister".

We lived near Sacramento, CA for about eight years. Weather there was really boring. No thunderstorms, only one brief snow flurry, and most of the year seemed to be hot and dry.

About a month ago, we were on the way back from my dad's house. Somewhere around Arkadelphia, AR, I noticed what looked like a lot of smoke drifting across the road. We drove through it for several miles. It wasn't smoke. It was yellow. It was pollen. Several place in Arkansas recorded the highest pollen count in history that day.

We do have four seasons most years, but there are variations:

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Snow, Hail, Tornado, Rain
Spiders, Mosquitoes, Chiggers, Ticks

It's not uncommon to have 5 - 7 inches of rain from a single storm, that usually happens once or twice a year. I think our average annual rainfall is 53 inches, but only 3.6 inches of snow. Once Spring arrives, everything turns green quickly, with an explosion of flowers and pollen!

In Colorado, at least once a year we would have 60-degree temperature swings from one day to the next. Highs in the 70's one day, lows in the teens the next. We would also occasionally have a 'four season' day -- snow, rain, hail, sun. It wasn't uncommon to shovel show while wearing shorts and a tank top.

I've been dealing with lower back pain for nearly a week now. I think it's my sciatic nerve. If I don't move, all is well. Sitting is fine. Standing is fine. Changing from one position to another can sometime be quite painful. It's slowly getting better.

We need to finish preparing for our visit to my dad's house, then get on the road. It's only about a three-hour drive, with half of that being on quiet, peaceful two-lane roads.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

I lived in northern Illinois for 25 years, and there were only two seasons each year: Winter and Road Construction.

I wonder if the sciatica is being caused by all the driving? You have definitely been the road warrior lately. Hopefully, it will calm down soon.

Hugs!