Meteorologists Schmeteorologists

Did you ever read the book by Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time? In it, a small group of children use something called a tesseract (I think; I read the novel 30 plus years ago) to travel to different times and places. Well, I think fiction has come to life here at Rancho Laurena. Strange things are happening in the Sonoran Desert.

Just last week, I was applying multiple layers and wool socks as accessories to my slippers and jammies to venture outdoors for morning farm chores. All of a sudden, however, I can scoop alpaca poo in shorts and t-shirts. (Not that I wear shorts. My mother didn’t allow me to wear them to school when my gams were attractive, even though at the time I thought they were not, and now I refuse to wear them because my legs are flabby and covered with something resembling grayish-pinkish-whitish purple-splotched tissue paper.) I have switched to light cotton jammie pants and tank tops or t-shirts. My pigskin gloves are making my hands sweat but I wear them because I am (get ready for another ridiculous aspect of Lauren) allergic to hay and get little itchy red bumps and sometimes hives all over my hands and arms when I come in contact with it. I’m also allergic to cats and dogs but that didn’t stop me from getting them. See how I suffer in the name of love?

As an aside, I do fine with being around the animals. It’s similar to getting allergy shots. The constant exposure tones down the histamines. Yet, if I go anywhere for more than two days where I am not exposed to pets, I come back a raging, red-eyed, my-throat-is-closing-up-on-me ridiculously repetitive sneezer. As I rarely leave the compound though, this is not typically an issue.

Digression finished, whether because of global warming or someone’s cruel joke or karma for something I did years ago that I have forgotten or, and I can’t imagine this, something having nothing whatsoever to do with me, it is supposed to hit 91 on Sunday. The high today is forecasted to be 86. Does no one realize it is still March, more specifically the first half of March? I already had to turn on the ceiling fan in our bedroom and, of course, I didn’t think to clean it first so for a few fleeting moments it snowed five months of accumulated dust all over the bedspread and furniture and, oh yeah, my diet Pepsi and me. If I squinted just the right way and used my son Robert’s imagination, which is boundless, it was almost like the real thing and attractive to boot. Until I had to clean up the accumulated flurries.

They (read fancy pants meteorologists group raining on my previously-enjoying-spring-parade) say 2007 will be the hottest on record. Can anyone say brink of sanity? I knew you could.

Boy, I miss Mr. Rogers.

Comments

[Beth in WI]

Desert: hot. Must remember that.

I loved A Wrinkle in Time (I'm secretly Meg). Did you see the somewhat recent version on DVD? Pretty good (but too scary for the Pint).

[Michelle]

I LOVE Madeleine L'Engle! I've read all her books I've been able to get my hands on. And a phrase in one of them (not the children's books) is one of my favorites for explaining frustrations caused by non-living things: "The animosity of inanimate objects."

And I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one in the "no shorts" club. And swimsuits? You've GOT to be kidding!! (But you have a pool; YOU must do swimsuits....)

[Kathy]

You are not alone! Last week we were stoking the fires and putting on three layers of clothing to go out to feed. Today I had sheep who were way too hot! I can't shear yet as I know we'll get back to cold again...well, maybe...hopefully...later.