An American icon is dead. Christopher Reeve reportedly passed away suddenly on Sunday. Reeve, an inspirational figure since his horseback riding accident, was making great strides in his goal to walk again. Partial use and touching sensations returned back to his limbs periodically keeping his hope alive to obtain his goal. What a shocker to everyone this is and what an inspiration he was to many. I’m sure he is walking once again, just not on Earth.
The first named Atlantic cyclone of the 2004 season brushed North Carolina’s coastline today. What started out as a weak surface low that developed into Tropical Depression #1. Later in the week the system boggled the hurricane forecasters with increased strengthening into Tropical Storm Alex and then a Category 2 hurricane with 100mph winds. Fortunately, the strongest winds and convection remained on the eastern side of the storm, sparing the Outer Banks.
What a nice summer day it’s been. It’s been great day to get out and run a few errands, enjoy the weather, and watch yet another freaking thunderstorm rumble its way through the intersection of I-40 and I-95 (also known as Target Rain). I’ve come to expect and live with Internet outages with gusty hurricane force winds and rain, but please, leave the pine cones on the dang tree. My back starts hurting just watching those useless wastes of crap fall from the sky. I’ve only picked up enough this summer to feel the cussin’ Winner Queen from bow to stern. The only real use I’ve ever gotten out of a dumb pine cone was when I was in elementary school and we made bird feeders by smearing Jiff all over them.
I was sitting in my office today and glanced out the window only to see the first squirrel I have ever seen in my yard. Normally rabbits, snakes, lizards, spiders and tree frogs are the popular species at 101 Phyllis Drive, but this time the trusty ole bushy tailed squirrel has made his way into the ranks of the 101 Zoo. As I sat there and watched the little creature, I wondered what it would be like to be a squirrel. In some ways I think he’s lucky because he doesn’t have a job that requires working on the Internet with turtle speed dialup, he doesn’t have any bills to pay, or others to please. The only real worry he has is an occasional hungry red-tailed fox.