This Perfectly Imperfect Life

Wicked weather is on the way.

While awaiting of the first tropical storm of the 2013 season to make landfall here today isn't exactly the most relaxing way to spend the day, the letter carrier delivered something of a bright spot amid the clouds and rain. A few months ago I wrote about how I was under review (my health more specifically) and about the utter strain it put on me (click here ). Today I received a letter in the mail, enabling me to quit holding my breath and breathe a sigh of relief. My benefits will continue. (And I will be reviewed again in three years but I'm not thinking about that again right now). Thank God! We could not make ends meet without it and I've been in a near panic over the what-if's. I am so relieved. To the point of tears. Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

With Tropical Storm Andrea on the way, clouds grew progressively thick throughout the day today. I'm always fascinated by the amazing imagery in the sky as a storm approaches. These are my favorites from today. Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

23 degrees Friday night. 86 degrees Tuesday. Chilly on-shore wind kept temps down in the 60s yesterday and then the clouds started rolling in after dinner. Everything got dark. The wind clattered the wind chimes together and tangled their strings. Layers of dark grey/black clouds marched towards us, then overhead and out to sea. Swirling, spinning, gathering, pulling apart and coming back. The sky was mesmerizing. The lightning was frighteningly incredible. Blinding white, pink and purple. At times it looked liked fireworks raining down. (I'd never seen that before). Half of the town lost power. (We didn't thankfully). It *poured* again and again. It would get suddenly quiet and I thought we were all done and it would start right back up again. All night and into the hours just before dawn. Exciting and terrifying (for a storm wuss like myself). With red flag (fire) warnings every other day, we needed the rain. Visit today's post on Diggin' Around by clicking here .

It has been a day of wild weather here in the Northeast/East Coast & Mid-Atlantic! Full of t-storm & tornado warnings, rain, gusty winds and tornado's!!! (At least 2 confirmed in NY and 1 unconfirmed in NJ). My sincere apologies for being fairly MIA here recently. I've had an upper respiratory infection (right ear, eye, sinuses & throat) & "a touch of bronchitis" (as the doctor put it) and it's pretty well been kicking my arse! There's lots to catch up on and I can't wait to share oodles of photos with you! I hope you're all well (and safe if you're in any of the areas affected by today's storms or recently affected by Issac). Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Something wicked this way comes. Rain & hail. All hell breaking lose. Back yard flooding, filling the patio but didn't get into the kitchen thankfully. Here we go again folks! So today was not only Wordless Wednesday but Garden Blogger's Bloom Day and Julia Child's 100th Birthday! I had a lovely slideshow of garden photos planned, all taken early this morning, for a "When Wordless Wednesday & Garden Bloggers Bloom Day Collide!" post and I was going to do a little something in honor of Julia today as well. Suddenly, the arthritis flared in my hands & arms and it was all I could do not to let my hands cramp up into fists & cry. That's when I noticed the clouds gathering, the sky turning darker. By late morning I could hear thunder off in the distance & see that odd dark gray out towards the direction of NY (Long Island). And so the computer stayed off. I did get to watch The Chew's tribute to Julia on ABC7 withou...

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Scroll down to previous post for a slideshow of photo's from the beginning of the blizzard.

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For the second time this week, dangerous storms blew through NJ & NY. We had ring side seats for some of the action while we were eating dinner yesterday. Scary stuff. The winds and rain were incredible. We desperately need the rain. The other stuff? Not so much. Summer is going out like a lion this year. **Update: 3 confirmed tornado's touched down and did a lot of damage (along with several micro-bursts) from this system. 1 in the county immediately south of here, 1 in Brooklyn NY and 1 in Queens NY.