Morning in Paradise...

Morning in Paradise...  Very early this morning – at about 12:30 AM – we were awakened by the loud crashing of thunder all around us.  For the next 45 minutes or so we were treated to a sudden fierce rain squall.  In the morning, when there was enough light to read the rain gauge, I saw that we got 0.6" of rain in that short amount of time.  Pouring, it was...

The forecast shows a decent chance of rain later today, too.  It's a wet July in Paradise!

We took our morning walk just a bit later than usual.  The sun rose over the Wasatch Mountains just as we got to the highest point of our walk.  In the first photo below you can see my loooong shadow reaching to the west as I look downhill toward our house.  The second photo is looking north, the third south, from the track that runs north/south through a farmer's field.  You can see the remnants of that storm cell receding to the north, over the city of Logan.  The third photo is looking south on that same road.  It's clear in that direction, except that if you enlarge the photo, you'll see some clouds hugging one of the smaller peaks.  Such ground-hugging clouds are a common occurrence around here, for some reason I don't know but would like to understand.  The last photo is looking west, and I've drawn a red arrow in there pointing to our just-visible shed.  Our house is hidden behind the trees just to the left of the shed.

As we walked back toward home, we saw an ATV putt-putting up the hill toward us.  It was my neighbor Tim D., together with his two dogs (Lewie and Lexie), coming up to visit with us.  The two of us stood chatting with the valley laid out in morning splendor all around us. 

I love living here!

Greeks apologize with huge horse...

Greeks apologize with huge horse...  I laughed out loud when I read this, sent along by friend, reader, and former colleague Doug W.  Then I wondered how many Americans would actually get the joke.  Especially Americans under, say, 35 years old...

If, perchance, you don't get the joke ... then read this...

Opportunity: the movie...

Opportunity: the movie...  We mean the Opportunity rover on Mars, of course...

How does the TSA decide if someone might be a terrorist?

How does the TSA decide if someone might be a terrorist?  These are taken directly from the TSA's internal guidelines...

Pluto or bust!

Pluto or bust!  At right is the latest photo from the New Horizons robotic space probe.  It's by far the best image of Pluto ever obtained.  Via APOD, of course.  More details here and here.

Next Tuesday (7/14) is the big day – the day that New Horizons passes close by (less than 8,000 miles) Pluto.  Go, go, go!

Back from the endodontist...

Back from the endodontist ... and I got to keep my tooth.  At right is an X-ray (click to embiggen) of my tooth after the root canal was finished.  The three long, whitish “tentacles” heading up and to the left are the root canals that were drilled, filed, disinfected, filled, sealed, and capped.  This is an upper molar on the right side of my mouth.  The dentist (Dr. Justin Thornton) used a modern digital X-ray system to take this and two others.  The output is a standard jpg file, so it was easy for them to share it with me.

Just like my other medical and dental experiences here, this one was all positive.  As usual, my appointment started right on time.  The staff, from Marlane (the receptionist), the assistant, and Dr. Thornton himself, were all friendly, warm, and caring.  I particularly noted that awkward or uncomfortable positions (like head keeled very far backward) were asked of me only when actually needed.  It may seem obvious, but ... this is the first time that's ever happened to me during a dental procedure. 

Dr. Thornton was impressively efficient – whenever he had to wait for something (such as for the numbing injections to take effect), he went to another room to work on another patient.  The last third or so of the job he did on me was actually kind of fun for me to watch, as he and his assistant conducted what looked like a choreographed high-speed ballet-of-the-hands.  Things were happening so fast and furiously that I totally lost track of what was going on.  Tools and materials were flying back and forth over my face at breakneck speed.

My bottom line: if you need an endodontist, I recommend Dr. Thornton.  He and his staff were great!

There is the possibility now...

There is the possibility now ... that the 2016 presidential race will be Trump v. Sanders.  In which case the four or five non-U.S. governments that aren't already laughing at the U.S. will convulse with hysterical, uncontrollable laughter along with all the other non-U.S. governments.

Me, I'd write-in Mickey Mouse on my ballot.  Not as a joke, mind you, but rather as a serious vote for a better alternative.

I'm hoping that I'll wake up soon from the nightmare that allowed me to believe Trump v. Sanders was an actual possibility...

Unpredictable blogging alert...

Unpredictable blogging alert...  Unpredictable?  What means he?  I mean that I'm going in to have a tooth worked on this morning, and I'm not sure what sort of condition I'll be in afterwards.  Hopefully I'll have a functioning brain and no pain, but those things are not, unfortunately, guaranteed (I asked)...