And then there was the storm...

[ehowton]

(The contrast of my page really brings out the picture)

I took this picture out my front door at 2135 after the news reported we were under a tornado warning. Those are clouds, descending upon the treetops, enveloping everything around it. That bright spot was the last remnant of a disappearing sky, being masked out as the clouds rolled down and across, like the Angel of Death coming for its prey. A Sodom and Gomorrah, not of fire and brimstone, but of thunder and lighting.

Then the rain hit.

I love a good storm. I lived in England for a little over a year. We had sunshine and clear skies for two months - the remainder of that time was spent under the gray drizzle usually associated with that country. I missed the storms we have in Texas. Short, fierce, and wholly cleansing. The sky opens up completely and hard rain pelts everything underneath with a primal ferocity.

Maria blows the stars around
And sends the clouds a flyin’
Maria makes the mountains sound
Like folks were up there dying...

There's something exciting about so much electricity in the air, the coolness of it on your skin and being able to almost feel the drop in pressure as an atmospheric-sized struggle takes place around you. Clouds help give depth to the heavens, simultaneously making them all at once tangible yet reminding you how small we really are when watching 600 miles of front move in and surround you.

Its absolutely breathtaking.

Comments

[irulan-amy.livejournal.com]

Wow.

I really miss those storms. Sounds amazing!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Well, he huffed and he puffed, and he huffed and he puffed, and he
puffed and he huffed; but he could not get the house down.

[joey-glover.livejournal.com]

pretty poetic. Beautifully stated!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It was really something to see. Sorry you missed it. Then again, your mother may have sent you to the bathtub, where our darling children were fast asleep until they canceled the tornado warning.

[glodowg.livejournal.com]

Probably not because his mother does not watch "live" TV and can totally block out storms. She had no idea that it was even that bad.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

http://www.weather.com/weather/local/75409

[joey-glover.livejournal.com]

she doesn't utilize the bathtub. She just has me groggily tramp downstirs and sit on the couch. There i have the same inner conversation as i do everymorning at formation... "Where did the sleep go?"

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

I can has sleep now?

[thesweetestnote.livejournal.com]

That was beautifully written. Very sensual. I could feel and smell the approaching storm. I love stormy weather!!! England just made my list of places to maybe live. That system blew through here yesterday at around 0730. There was snow flying in sideways. Pretty weird for the climate I'm in.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I was moved by its power, drawn to submit to it.

[thesweetestnote.livejournal.com]

lol... we should make comic blog outta this :)

"HOWTON vs. THE STORM"

next month... HOWTON BATTLES THE RUSSIANS!!!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

The graphics on your are far better than on mine:

http://ehowton.livejournal.com/tag/comic

[thesweetestnote.livejournal.com]

I love those. Very creative. More please!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Ah, but creativity is such an elusive thing, and my muse (http://ehowton.livejournal.com/186839.html) she toys with me in so many ways, and I never know when she will next strike; like lightning I can neither predict, nor anticipate her. I have learned, however, to never underestimate her!

[melancthe.livejournal.com]

We have storms like this in Jo'burg! They're huge and dramatic and gorgeous, but they only last a short while. Gah, I'm going to miss them so much!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

There are many different weather systems in the United States. I suppose you could choose your new location based solely upon those which most closely resemble South African storms. What an interesting conversation piece that would be when people asked why you chose wherever you end up.

[thesweetestnote.livejournal.com]

Texas alone has everything. Hurricanes, twisters, severe thunder storms, hail, lions, tigers and bears... oh my!

[photogoot.livejournal.com]

Mmmm... clouds....

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Ack.

[thisbeliz1983.livejournal.com]

I love these kinds of storms. When I was younger me and my brothers would go visit my aunt and uncle during the summer. They lived about halfway between our home and Vegas, right in the middle of the desert. The sky would cloud up and you could feel the moisture in the air. About 2 minutes later the first flash of lightning would strike and it would go on for hours. We'd sit on the front porch with popcorn and sodas and watch the show. I miss that.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

We used to have a wrap-around porch on our house in Dallas and would do the same thing. Houses these days...not much porch :(