I remember many years ago when I was a student at Harvard-on-the-Plains, more commonly known as Texas Tech University, Lubbock had the mother of all thunderstorms. It lasted most of the night and was just a flash of lightning and clap of thunder one after another after another. I remember I turned off the lights and, just to see if it was possible, read a chapter in a textbook using just the illumination from the lightning. The next day everyone I saw looked like they hadn't slept all night, probably because they hadn't slept all night. FLASH...BOOM! FLASH...BOOM! It was a crazy night.
Last night here in Dallas it wasn't quite that intense, but it was still memorable. So far we've had more lightning strikes than you can count, and 2.5" of rain with another 2+" expected before the storm moves out. Our area lakes, which are all several feet (or more) low, are getting a nice fill-up. We've been on Stage 2 or 3 (I can't remember which) water restrictions for months, and we've been warned that if we don't get some major replenishment before spring we'd soon be on Stage-whatever-is-the-highest. That would mean short showers and ducking behind trees for "relief". Just for the record, La Nina sucks.
Did anyone watch The Prez on TV last night? I actually watched the replay this morning and thought he made a great speech. Now let's see if he can deliver on any of it. I thought it spoke volumes when he mentioned the banking/financial reforms and congressional insider-trading reforms that were still needed, and then the cameras panned the Republican delegation to show them all staring at their shoes. Or maybe they were checking their pay envelopes they were handed by the banking lobbyists as they entered the House chamber. I couldn't tell which. At least the Democratic delegation slipped theirs into their coat pockets to be counted after the cameras were turned off. Smart. :)
S