Because yesterday they all struck back.
I was taking a wee bit of a nap when SWMBO burst in on my slumber to blurt out that there was a huge storm, the neighbor's roof was gone and so was our tree.
Huh?
Well I looked out to see heavy rain, hail and wind lashing the environs.
When it cleared off, here's what I found.
First, the neighbor.
It looked worse than it was.
The shingles and tarpaper had been ripped loose from his patio roof and were strewn across the roof of his house.
Our tree, however, was finito.
You (and the birds) will be happy to know, though, that the bird bath suffered no damage in spite of being thrown to the ground.
Nor did the Blue Cat on whom it landed.
SWMBO had been worrying for months about that tree.
She had complained about its lack of green growth this Spring and then when wind was causing it to rock she said "that sucker's goin' to go one of these days."
It apparently was an Elm and it apparently was suffering from Dutch Elm Disease.
So the roots were rotting away as was the tree itself.
But wait, Gentle Campers!
That's not the worst of it.
Lightning reportedly hit a power pole in our neighborhood and blasted it to pieces which pulled down several more poles.
That was yesterday at 2:52 p.m., the un-holy time the power ceased here.
Arizona Public Service Company workers have been on the job ever since, on a day where the temperature climbed to around 97 degrees Fahrenheit.
And finally at 6 p.m. tonight, some 27 hours later, we once again have electricity.
The A.C. has been working overtime, trying to catch up with a hot house.
But it feels great, as does the vodka going from my glass to my gullet.
It will all be good now.
But don't ever tweak those Weather Gods!
Wow! Glad all the people were OK. The rest is just things.
ReplyDeleteGood news for the fence, the bird bath, and the blue cat! Sorry you had to swelter for so long. I hate it when that happens. Plus I have no internet then, either.
ReplyDeleteTotally diggin' the vodka med. I use Jamesons here in the PNW. I do miss the lightning show to the east when we lived in the foothills of Chino Valley. I remember how Arizona could put up so much exciting weather.
ReplyDeleteDan Zobrist
97 and no AC! I'd tipple a little vodka myself.
ReplyDeleteWow! Sorry about the loss of the tree, but glad the bird bath and blue cat survived. Bet that AC feels great! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI put SWMBO II on a plane to Vegas this morning for her summer furniture market, we checked the Las Vegas weather before she left, predicted high of 108, when she strolled out of the market tonight at 8, after working the showroom since 10am, it was a balmy 100 degrees. The AC in her hotel room had been off all day and she said an hour later it was down to 86. She ate a club sandwich, drank a glass of wine and went to bed naked under a sheet, I told her I wish I was there.
ReplyDeleteExcellent coverage of an unfortunate caprice of nature. Last one we had flipped the the old chicken coop clean over --fortunately no chickens were in it at the time. Can you tell I'm a hick?
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your weather problems. At least SWMBO's painting survived. I'm trying to work out why the tree was not protected by the fence/wall, seeing as the tree fell towards them. But I guess its days were numbered anyway; Dutch Elm disease is no joke.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been one hell of a gust that hit the roof and tree.
ReplyDeleteSteve
Lack of a/c would have been the real disaster! It was a scorcher yesterday.
ReplyDeleteDoes your CPAP have some kind of backup power? I worry about that with mine. Looks like quite the storm.
ReplyDeleteWow! That was quite a storm there. Glad the power has been restored and the birdbath is fine.
ReplyDeleteThere is a reason for what happened. It is quite simply The Wrath of God. Where there is sin, The Almighty will wreak vengeance. It is a signal for you, your SWMBO and your neighbours to live more holy and righteous lives.
ReplyDeletePoor old tree. Our abutting neighbors have a Russian Olive that is sick, and enormous. When it comes down, it'll do more than upset a bird-bath.
ReplyDeleteWeather gods are notoriously tetchy.
You had quite a day. Glad all is well now except for the poor tree!
ReplyDeleteWhoa! Scary!!
ReplyDeleteYeesh! I'd need vodka too! Bummer about the tree -- will you plant another one, maybe a different kind, do you think?
ReplyDeleteGeo., I think of you as more of a botanist then a hick.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous Steve, Judy was watching when it hit and described it as whirling so it was probably a dust devil (smaller cousin to a tornado).
Should Fish More, no backup power for the CPAP so I just slept without it.
Yorkshire Pudding, I shall repent.
Steve Reed, Judy says she wants to investigate a mimosa to see what the price would be. We planted one at our previous home and it's doing wonderfully.
Yikes!
ReplyDeleteA mimosa would be beautiful! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThe Monsoons have not been Kind this year, still... not as much Tree carnage as last Season!
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