Unimportant News is all I got for today...

When it rains, it pours. They say we may get a snowstorm tomorrow or the next day. I don't know if I believe it. Speaking of belief, do you understand the dynamics of how a moon or other object orbits a larger body such as a planet? It's actually pretty cool. Technically, the thing in orbit is falling towards the larger object that has a greater gravitational effect on the orbiting mass than the other way around. But here's the cool part, the thing in orbit is actually falling to the planet, sun, etc but it never quite stops falling. I can explain this much beter in person. Just ask. 

I just got my electricity bill but I don't want to open it. There wasn't very much sum in February, so I don't think I'm going to like the amount due. This month, the solar array has had a LOT more sun so the next bill will definitely be OK. Maybe I won't open the bill at all and just let them bill me next month with a balance due. That is probably the best way to go.

New exercise mix in the works. Will have music from Cher's newest release as well as Madonna's. 

Also, work on my new CD continues. It seems that before I can record a song, I'm already working on the next one. I really have to start actually recording! I have 18 songs ready to go. I think the material falls into two camps. One is soft, dreamy stuff and the other is raucous bouncy fun upbeat crazy songs. I may have to make two different CD's.

The Life of a Story in Progress XIV: Preference for Precipitation

I don’t like rainy days that clear up and turn into sunny days near the end of the day. It’s really a rip-off. I think rainy days should commit to being rainy for the whole day. Otherwise, it’s not really a rainy day, is it? It’s just a partial rainy day. One doesn’t often hear someone say: “I like partial rainy days.”

I am a person who likes rainy days. I also like a few consecutive days of rain. A week…? Not so much. Maybe you are wondering why anyone would like rainy days.

There are many reasons to like rainy days. Firstly, there’s the smell. Rainy days have a unique smell. It reminds me of renewal and promise. The smell of rain is so significant that there’s even a word for it. It’s called petrichor. 

And then there’s the sound of rain. Rain sounds different depending on what it lands on. The best sound rain makes is when it hits puddles and rooftops. It’s nature’s surround-sound experience. Listening to rain is wonderful. Of course, the look of the sky and the sight of the falling rain are at the top of the list of the things I like about rain.

I like walking in the rain with an umbrella. It’s an event and an opportunity to be part of a special atmospheric wonder. Unlike rain’s harsh cousin the storm (more on storms later), walking in the rain is calm and soothing. There are songs written about walking in the rain. That’s how an important phenomenon it is.

Rain in the winter is special. It’s a reminder that the winter doesn’t last forever and that good things come to those who wait. Rain in the winter also means the temperatures are above freezing and temperatures above freezing are good. Sometimes, rain in the winter ends up becoming ice or creates icy conditions. Those things aren’t part of the reasons why I like rain.

My grandmother had an expression for the sight and sound of rain falling into a puddle or onto a sufficiently wet surface. She called this bah-nums. Bah-nums are the reciprocal upright splashes rain makes when it hits water that is already on the ground or in a puddle. When I first heard her refer to bah-nums, I was fascinated that she had noted the existence of these minute fleeting rain dances and that she had an actual name for the event itself.

There are times when rain can be a meditation. Or a hypnotizing experience. Sitting alone, quietly listening to rain can be soothing. I think it is an invitation to pause and reflect, or simply be present in the moment. I made a mix of rain, light thunder and wind sounds that play repeatedly throughout the night as I sleep. For me, it’s very calming and conducive to both falling asleep and having a good night’s rest.

I’ve now presented some of my reasons for liking rain and the events accompanying it. If you’re not a fan of rain, perhaps I’ve given you a new outlook in regard to it. Rain is a personal experience. It doesn’t matter if you like rain or not. Rain happens. There’s a saying: “Into every life a little rain must fall.” Why not make the best of it?

Update: the sun came out around 3:00-3:30 p.m. I'm not amused by this. As of 4:10 p.m., it is back to cloudy but the spell has been broken.