Calling all Skywatcher Members - the Feb pdf is now available for downloading

18 January 10

Leslie and I suffered an allergy attack that consumed boxes of tissue three days later. We sneezed and snorted for 10 days. And just as our heads cleared and we thought it was safe, Mercury struck again. First a flat tire on a shopping trip. Then the furnace in our house stopped. Burr. They fixed it and it went out again. The cold front is here at this point and a water pipe outside also breaks – no water inside. Repair men came in a flash and fix it all. The bill for the furnace and the pipe were the same: 99 bucks. I was pleased it was all done that well and cheaply. But we weren’t done. Thunder and lightning roared on the last night of Mercury Rx and we had a torrential downpour of rain – more than 5 inches. One lightning bolt struck within a mile of our house and knocked out our power around 9 pm. We gave up and went to bed. You got to be ready for what’s coming weather-wise on the south Texas coast. Especially when Mercury is Retrograde. It was so cold down here that huge green sea turtles washed up on the beach, either dead or stunned, and about to die. Salt water fish also were stunned by the cold – the bay water got down to 41 degrees and usually would be in the low 50’s. So far, the newspaper reports “419 cold-stunned turtles have been found along the Texas coast since the cold weather snap. About two thirds were found dead.” The survivors are now swimming in warm water due to the state’s Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network. (all I know is what I read in the paper) The good news on the nature front is that 21 of the 22 whooping crane babies that were born in Canada last Summer have made the trip safely to Texas where they will feed and become adults. And now the flock stands at 244 whoopers. Conservationists were pleased. And with all the rain there will be lots of crabs and wolfberries for the whoopers to eat. We are done with the worst drought on record in Texas. Water is standing in the cotton fields right now. The farmers are delighted. How things change so quickly here. Already, I like the feel of 2010. Even with Mercury playing his tricks. Mars, too. As times change.

  1. Whew! That’s quite a run for you guys. The turtles’ fate makes me so sad—the cranes helped make it better a bit. In any case, it’s an eventful start of the year. I hope the next few weeks are easier…it does feel like it’s going to be a better year, doesn’t it?

    (Still sending folks your way, BTW. And lovin’ your stuff.)

    ;0)

    HR

    — Heather    Jan 24, 03:48 AM    #

  2. Every time you write about the South Texas Coast, I always picture your house right on the shores of the Gulf. Most likely you don’t live right on the Gulf, but that’s my imagination.

    Five days ago ( January 28th) I had the misfortune to tear some major muscles in my right leg. I noticed at about the same time, that there was a square dance going on in the skywatch, with Saturn & Pluto, and Uranus calling the moves. Interesting how that seemed to work out. I tore my muscles because I was dancing to some very intense music (DJ Icey). At 57 years old, you would think I’d know better. But NO, I was cranking up the volume, and dancing like I was Donald Duck on steroids. It was fun.

    I always like reading your South Texas Chronicles. Maybe one day you could put them into a book, and show how the skywatch and your chronicles are related.

    — Franky Edder    Feb 2, 03:17 AM    #
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