Monday, May 30, 2005

I Really Don't Know Clouds at All

When I was very young, I was fascinated by the weather. At the age of 7 or 8, I had a weather book. Even at that young age, I was a nerd. While my siblings were choosing toys after our bi-weekly grocery shopping trips, I would just as often choose a book.

Although I was terrified of the weather and spent a lot of time under the dining room table hiding from thunderstorms, I was amazed by the cloud formations in my book and by sleet and hail and tornadoes and hurricanes and frost and snowflakes. I would look at the sky and say, "That's cumulus." Or, "That's nimbus." Or, "That's strato-cumulo-nimbus." Pretty much, no one else cared, but I was amazed.

Last night, after posting those pictures of the thunderstorms, I was reminded of my old fascination. It also made me think how wonderful it would be if every night, there would be a nice little thunderstorm between 2:00 a.m. and 3:30 a.m.

Wouldn't that be heavenly?

Here are a couple of links to more storm photos:

12 comments:

The Lone Rangers said...

Always loved T-Storms the louder the better. Actually look forward to losing power, lighting candles and just laying back and listening to the rain drum against the roof and against the window.

OldHorsetailSnake said...

I also once studied clouds. But got confused over diff. between nimbus and cirrus, so I gave it up, knowing I would never be an expert. But one thing I wish -- I wish I coulda been the poet who named this formation:

Cumulus
Humilus.

Worthy of Ogden Nash, at least.

Anonymous said...

I'm with you, lone ranger!

Unknown said...

I thought that I was the only nerd kid with a weather book! I even had weather equipment (barometer, etc.) to go with it. At age 12 or so, I let my interest in meteorology aside. In my sophomore year in college, though, I took an elective introductory course in the subject. I didn’t do too well in it for some reason (too busy with music?) but I still have the book.

I think that few things are more breathtaking than standing outside and watching sudden weather changes. Thanks for the post and the links to the cool pictures.

Hypatia Theon said...

Clouds! How I love those. *Reaches over to bookshelf and pulls down Understanding THE SKY: A Sport Pilot's Guide to Flying Conditions by Dennis Pagan which is right beside PARAGLIDING: A Pilot's Training Manual* Ah, yes. I remember how worried my hubby got when I disappeared inside a cloud the first time I flew from HachiRouDake in Nagasaki. *Big Smile* Here's a photo of me flying from Mt. Aso in Kumamoto. Look here, please.
P.s. Thanks for that Taquila image. I just downloaded it.

Laurie said...

Lone Rangers - You would love a hurricane.

Old Horsetail - I liked the name of that one, too.

Tanda - A storm fan club?

Comfort Addict - A meteorology fan club?

Pearl Dragon - Hang gliding! Wow! I'm impressed. Great picture. Enjoy the tequila image.

TLP said...

I love weather too. However, I never even tried to learn all the different terms.

Hubby and I were recently in Maine, mostly at Bar Harbor, and the rain and wind and waves were wonderful.

Good looking blog.

Mommy said...

My boyfriend and I, geeks that we are, got out our cameras during a lightning storm in Baton Rouge last night. Then we went inside and played Scrabble for a bit with the lights out and candles on (we kept losing power)... man, what an aphrodisiac!

se7en said...

wow, them storm cloud photos below are incredible!! I'm a skywatcher myself.

BTW, I wanted to set the record straight hon, I did not go to Texas on my last trip! maybe next go round hehe

8)

Laurie said...

Tan Lucy - One day I'll go to the coast of Maine and I hope the weather is horrible!

Jen T. - That sounds wonderful!

American Housewife - Thanks for the shot. It's been a long day.

Glod - Isn't that the norm for the weather over there? It's a good thing you like it!

Se7en - Okay, you're off the hook. ;)

Anonymous said...

Hi dear, Why is it the electricity
always goes out in the last 15 minutes of watching a mystery movie. The only thing that saved us on the Storm Night, was I had the book and I read the ending of the movie to your Dad by Candle Light. That made it really scary.

Laurie said...

Mom - That sounds very cool. Y'all should do that again sometime just for the hell of it.