Nicky and Stephen, Met June 8, 1998, Married June 8, 2000

The Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off from launchpad 39B at 10:39 am this morning. It is on it's way to rendezvous with the International Space Station. The shuttle will travel at speeds in excess of 17,600 mph while in orbit at 141 statute miles above the Earth. When it docks with the space station it will be at 220 statute miles above.

Congratulations to NASA and glad to see we're off to a great start after 2 1/2 years.

 

The birth of a dust storm. This image shows dust being stirred up by a large windstorm in the Sahara Desert.


The dust cloud moves westward over the Atlantic being carried by a large tropical wave. The western African coast is on the right with the Cape Verde islands on the left.


This is the latest image of the dust cloud moving over Puerto Rico (center) and the Dominican Republic (left).

This should make for some interesting sunrises or sunsets.

 

More at 11.

» http://www.pxite.com

 

Through all the muck about hurricanes it seems our Lensday - Fantasy post was featured on Airbag Industries' Longboard.

We give thanks for the 500 or so visitors we received from your site over the time it was on your front page.

 

Electrifying sounds.

» http://www.lensday.com

 

 

Thunderbirds are go!

» http://moodymonday.org

 

Ants like these yellow flowers.

» http://www.macroday.com

 

We dodged another one. Hurricane Dennis slammed into Cuba then decreased in strength faster than anticipated and went more west. We got a few good winds and a bit of rain. Our power flickered a bit at around 5:00 a.m. this morning but it stayed on since.

We haven't ventured out to see if there was any damage in our area. Looking out our windows we don't see anything. The TV was showing lots of video of downed trees and power lines.

The National Hurricane Center is saying it will be a category 4 hurricane again before it makes landfall right where Hurricane Ivan hit last year. It's time to duck and cover, kids.

 

Hurricane Dennis made landfall in Cuba at 2:00 p.m. today with reported wind gusts of 149 mph. Right now we are seeing winds around 20 to 30 mph at our house with the first squall line just going over us. The TV is saying there are trees down in Hollywood, just south of our location.

Records are being made this season as Dennis became the first category 4 hurricane ever in July. This is also the first time that four named storms have occured in the month of July.

Dennis is expected to move off of Cuba and into the Gulf of Mexico before midnight. It will restrengthen and head northwest. At least that's the official forecast. We will see if Mother Nature reads those reports.

 

We are keeping a watchful eye on Hurricane Dennis, the first major hurricane of the season. Each step he makes towards the northwest, the closer he gets to us. The National Hurricane Center was counting on a high pressure ridge east of us to keep it in line but that seems to be weakening, opening the door for Dennis to roll in and do his thing. The lower keys have evacuation orders already.

We'll likely be under a Tropical Storm Warning or Hurricane Watch by morning.

 

TransAmerica Building in San Francisco, CA.

» http://www.spunwithtears.com/thursday.html

 

The only downside is one only lives around two weeks.

» http://www.lensday.com

 

The butt stops here.

» http://www.godamonginsects.com/tuesday/index.php

 

The alien's view.

» http://moodymonday.org

 

 

Parallel circuits.

Apparently there are people participating in Macro Day who don't know the definition of Macro Photography. Here is a good definition.

» http://www.macroday.com

 

Hershey checking out the rainbow. Two days in a row we have seen the rainbow. It must be stalking us.


Afternoon storms often bring colorful sunsets. It's been raining almost every day. At the first hint of stormyness, poor Peanut has to run and hide. She doesn't like thunderstorms.

All this rain means the ground gets really saturated. Any large storm (i.e. hurricanes) will likely lead to flooding. Fantabulous.

 

An old structure still standing on Alcatraz Island.

» http://www.photofriday.com