Let It Rain

Coming from Southern California, I've never experienced any real weather.  And when a storm did hit it was without a doubt, more annoying than pleasurable.  A few hours of rain creates more traffic - because everyone knows that slick roads mean you either need to drive TOO slow or TOO fast.  And of course for all those accidents caused by the speed or lack thereof, you get automatic permission to stop your car in the middle of the freeway and gawk at all the metal carnage, thus further slowing the mounting lanes of cars behind you.

And don't even get me get started about the news coverage.  A bit of rain ensures that the first 45 minutes of the 1 hour local newscast will undoubtedly be titled "STORMWATCH" and be comprised of newscasters interviewing idiots on the street about how the "storm" has impacted their lives.

Pfffft!

Having lived in the tropics and now entering into my 4th rainy season, I can actually comprehend what the word "storm" actually means.  Brilliant electrical storms accompanied by deafening thunder so intense that it mimicks an 7.0 earthquake.  Rain that really does come down in sheets.

You can't call them raindrops because the word drop implies there is some space between them.  No so here.

But the rain here is different.  Rather than getting everyone all uptight, it seems to bring with it a soothing, calming vibe.

 

The good news is, it rarely gets cold, it's just wet.  You still run around in shorts and flip flops, or if you're a stylish girl like myself, funky rubber boots!  :)

Ask And You Shall Receive

It's funny how blessings can manifest themselves.

We recently moved into a new house that had been abandoned since 2008.   Unfortunately no one was keeping an eye on the place and by the time we stumbled across it, it had been vandalized and appeared that perhaps transients were using the place from time to time.

We had agreed with the landlord to restore the place in exchange for a few months of free rent.  When we first arrived to start the process of cleaning up, someone had left a number of large trash bags full of random items, old clothing, broken radios, etc. inside the house (the locks and front door were broken so entry at this point was easy).  We took the bags outside to the yard in hopes that the bags' owner would come by, realize the place was getting cleaned up and find a new stash place.

A few days later, we came back and the bags were back inside the house, along with a nearly new refrigerator.  Ironically, we had been having problems with our refridge and had been discussing how we might get ourselves a replacement.  However, with the cost of appliances here, we weren't really sure how we were going to come up with a new one, guessing we'd cross that bridge when we got there.

So, we again put the bags back outside, again, hoping the bags' owner would figure it out.  Not sure what to do about the fridge, we left it where it was.

No one ever showed up for the bags or anything else and we scored ourselves a practically brand spanking new refrigerator.

Just goes to show, you never know how your needs will be met, but if you just have faith that they will be, things are able to happen in the most unsuspecting ways :)