Okay its not THE Pond - as some call the ocean. And it is not just A Pond - as in smaller than a lake. It is a lake! I enjoy living on it and spending time on my back porch listening to music, gazing at the lake and pondering.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

June Staycation

I thought I would be clever this year and schedule a couple of weeks vacation in June. This was in anticipation of cool mornings with a cup of coffee in hand and iPOD in ears on the back porch. Then, as the day warmed, lemonade in hand and iPOD in ears and laptop on lap as I still sat on the back porch. What a perfect staycation - the new catchword for those staying home because of fuel costs. Only three things put a stop to that idea of mine - wind, rain, and mosquitoes

In Oklahoma the wind comes sweeping down the plain - everyone knows that. Out here on the pond the wind comes screaming across the waters. Turkey vultures are normally sailing over the lake as they ride the breezes - almost hovering at times. This year they are wearing helmets along with knee pads as they come hurling by the windows out back. We had a roofing company come out earlier this spring to replace some shingles that were blown off and are somewhere in northwest Arkansas now. The company will have to come and replace a few more when he has time - we have no leaks for which we are thankful. The roofer is busy from all the storm damages in the area this spring. He thinks he can work me in mid summer of 2009.

The phrase "rain coming down in buckets" aptly describes our rains this year. The Tulsa area has had over 35 inches of it. The pond is 9 feet above normal. All the boat ramps on the pond are closed. The only thing open are the two marinas so boat traffic is minimal and everything looks eerily quiet. The greenery around the pond is quite healthy however. You can hear the bushes, weeds and trees scream out in growing pains from all the rain and now sunshine. It is humid out there on the porch. After my shower last evening I went out on the back porch, walked over to look down on Debbie's tomato plants and came back in. I worked up a sweat so bad I had to shower again.

Last night, about dark, Maverick Debbie and I looked out on the back porch to see flocks of mosquitoes merrily flying all around the porch. At one point we thought they were going to try and fly off with our patio furniture but we scared them off. I went looking for my old BB gun but Debbie reminded me of the damage my dad had done to a kitchen window in his home while shooting at starlings. So I just yelled at the mosquitoes calling them blood sucking varmints. It did not scare them. As a matter of fact they were begging me to come outside. Their bibs were already tied on.

I go back to work Monday. I can't wait to tell my coworkers about my staycation in the rain forest.

3 comments:

Dennis said...

The last time I was down that way ... the misquitoes were as BIG as buzzards!

Trisha said...

With weather and mosquitoes like that - maybe I should be relieved that I shortened my vacation by a day.

preacherman said...

Wonderful post Robb.
June hear in deep south Texas has been so hot. I am wondering what August is going to be like. It is so crazy. I have been enjoy the boys being out of school and trying to make great summer memories with my sons and family. Cooking out, swimming, riding bikes, playing basketball, eating pizza and watching movies at night. So much fun. I may even take 2 of my boys to a Texas Ranger game this summer sometime.
I enjoy reading your blog.
Keep up the great work and I hope you have a wonderful week!