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~ Diabetes, Cancer Fighter, Father of Twins, Kayak Fishing, Lover of Life

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Tag Archives: Rain

Cold Enough to Make a Southerner Pray

22 Thursday Jan 2026

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Life, Nature

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Attitude, books, Bread Isle, Cold, Conflict, Confusion, Family, fiction, Freezing, Ice, Jacket, Life, Mother Nature, Rain, short-story, snow, Snowflake, Spring, Thermostat, Winter, writing

I don’t know who offended Mother Nature, but at this point, I’m convinced somebody cut her off in traffic, stole her parking spot, and ate the last donut. Whatever it was, we are all paying for it.

She is currently having a full-blown emotional breakdown in the atmosphere.

Seven days ago, we were told a freeze watch might be issued. Then some warm Gulf air came rolling in and bullied the Arctic air back north like, “Ma’am, this is the South. You’re lost.” For a hot minute, it looked like we’d escaped.

But no. Of course not.

Now, the forecast says temperatures were supposed to start dropping Saturday night and continue their descent into single digits by Tuesday morning. Single digits. That’s not “a little chilly.” That’s “why do I live where the air hurts my face?”

But don’t put away your shorts yet, because Mother Nature is also predicting mid-40s next week. Awesome. A whole three days of false hope.

And now… now they’re saying snow is possible next weekend.

So let me get this straight. We’re doing spring, winter, fake spring, and winter: the sequel all in the same ten-day period?

Mother Nature is not controlling the climate — she’s playing roulette with it.

She really needs to get her act together and make up her mind. People in the South are not equipped for this kind of psychological warfare. We own exactly one coat. It’s decorative. It comes out for Christmas photos and emergency runs to Walmart when the bread aisle looks like it’s been looted.

Down here, extended cold doesn’t just affect the weather — it affects our entire economy. Milk and bread disappear. Churches cancel. Schools close if a snowflake thinks about falling. We start with dripping faucets, opening cabinets, wrapping pipes, and saying things like, “I’m just gonna let it run all night,” as if we’re on some kind of plumbing life support system.

So to whoever angered Mother Nature: own it. Apologize. Send her a fruit basket. Light a candle. Do something. Because the rest of us are out here wearing three layers, questioning our life choices, and checking the forecast like it owes us money.

Mother Nature, if you’re listening — pick a personality and stick with it.

Unwelcomed Alarm

10 Saturday Jan 2026

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Weather

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Alarm, Challenges, Coffee, health, Life, mental-health, National Weather Service, Production, Rain, Sleep, Storms, Thunder, Weather, writing

I wrote in my last post about how crazy our weather has been. Apparently, the weather department took that as a challenge.

Last night, it decided to toss in another curveball — a cold front pushing through, dragging thunderstorms along with it. We spent most of the day and evening under a tornado watch. By bedtime, we had already picked up nearly three inches of rain, and the storms were still rolling in. The thunder wasn’t rumbling anymore; it was auditioning for a demolition crew.

Before going to sleep, I set my phone alarm for 5:30 a.m. so I could get up and get ready for men’s Bible study at 8. Responsible. Mature. Clearly overconfident.

Sometime later, I heard an alarm and woke up. I didn’t question it. I just accepted my fate. I took a long, hot shower, shaved, got dressed, and headed to the kitchen. I started the coffee and even remember thinking, “Tracy should be getting up soon. It’s got to be around six.”

The first pod finished, and I glanced at the stove clock.

4:10 a.m.

I stared at it, waiting for it to blink and say “Just kidding.”

It didn’t.

I checked my watch. Same time. That’s when it hit me — I hadn’t been woken up by my phone alarm. I’d been summoned by the weather radio.

I sat down in my recliner with my coffee and pulled up the radar. Sure enough, the National Weather Service had issued a flash flood warning at 3:45 a.m. That alert was the “alarm” that launched me into full morning-person cosplay.

So there I was — clean, dressed, caffeinated, and absolutely betrayed — living in a time slot meant only for bakers, farmers, and people who lost a bet.

There was no going back to bed. And even if I tried, I’d probably sleep right through the real 5:30 alarm just to complete the joke.

Moral of the story: I don’t need an alarm clock. I need a personal meteorologist who knows when to mind his business.

Life Has its Ups and Downs.

09 Sunday Feb 2020

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in diet, Disability, Family, Retirement, Weight Loss

≈ 1 Comment

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diet, Rain, Stress, Weather, Weighloss

 

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A shelf I built for the kitchen but ended up in the garage

Life has been so stressful lately and I guess I eat more when I’m stressed.  I thought when I retired my life would be less stressful but lately, it hasn’t been the case. I’ve tried to stay on my diet but that hasn’t worked out so well.  The good news is that I’m back on it and I’ve already lost six pounds.  I’ve set mini goals and I’m about four pounds before I reach my first ten-pound mini-goal.  My twin daughters will be graduating from college in May.  They want to go on a cruise in June so this has given me an incentive to lose about twenty pounds before the trip.  I really hope I can do it.

As I’ve stated last time I wrote, I had applied for Social Security disability.  I had my hearing and I got a favorable decision.  I’m still waiting on my backpay as well as my first check.  This whole process has me concerned somewhat.  I’m not surer If I can explain it or not but it makes me feel inferior or worthless.  I’ve worked all my life and over thirty-two years at my last job, not they’re telling me that I can’t work.  I feel like I can do something but I’ve got to be honest with myself, I do have trouble breathing when I do anything.  No one will hire me at my age with all the issues that I have.  So I guess I’ll just have to get over it.

The last two days have been dry and I’m glad it has because the few days before that it rained at least four inches in less than two days.  The next four days we’re supposed to get at between six and seven more inches.  There will be a lot of flooding and trees down.  Let’s hope that the severe weather that is projected for Wednesday is not too bad.

Tomorrow will be a hard day for me.  One of my friends worked for Kimberly Police department and was shot and killed the other day while on duty.  He will be buried tomorrow.  If you’re a praying person please pray for Nick O’Rear’s family.

A Little Slow

05 Friday May 2017

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Cancer, Cycling, Leukemia, Weight Loss

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Cold, Cycling, health, Medical, Rain, Riding, Sports, Weather

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The weather here in the deep south has been less than perfect for bike riding for me.  The last two days it’s been a rainy, dreary day.  Today the temperature hardly rose above the mid 50’s mark.  Tomorrow is forcasted to be warmer but not until mid afternoon.  My plan is to either get a twenty mile in on Saturday or wait until Sunday when I should have more time.

My last ride broke the 100 mile mark.  That’s pretty good considering that only six months ago I was considering selling my bike because of my health.  I’m looking forward to much healther days along with miles and miles of riding.

Happy Trails

Another Round

16 Sunday Oct 2016

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Cancer, Photography

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Breathing, Cancer, Drought, Fluid Retintion, Lung, Rain

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Flying High Over Recovered Strip Mining Land

For those that have been following, my breathing had gotten pretty bad as of late.  I’ve been passed around different doctors for several weeks now and finally I was able to get a little relief.  I had to take a full day off last Thursday but I was able to meet with my pulmonologist and he pulled just a little over a liter of fluid off my right lung.  I feel that he could have pulled more out but every little bit helps.  I’m not breathing as well as I was when I got out of the hospital a couple of months ago but they were able to pull 2 liters out last time.  Their not exactly sure why I’m retaining the fluid but they have an idea that it’s the CML meds causing it. They weren’t able to test the fluid last time because the doctor didn’t tell anyone to test it.  This time he took several samples to send to the lab so hopefully they’ll be able to narrow it down as to the cause.

It’s been 28 days since we’ve gotten any rain here.  The picture above shows an area that is normally very green.  As you can see it’s all covered with brown grass.  Can’t wait until we see some rain.

365 Day Photo Challenge 361/365 “The Aftermath”

26 Saturday Dec 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Fatalities, Flooding, Rain, Tornadoes, Weather

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Thankfully we were spared most of the damage.  We had 200 road closures throughout the state either by flooding or by the roads being washed out.  We had two tornados hit within miles of where we live and although there is still an ongoing search for some missing people, there hasn’t been any confirmed fatalities and I’m praying that they are found alive.

We’ve had two tornadoes that were in close proximities of where we live.  One in 1998 and the other in 2011.  The one in ’98 hit a town not far from us and traveled to within a mile to the left of us.  There were over 30 fatalities and hundreds of homes destroyed.  The other was in 2011 with 13 dead and again, hundreds of homes destroyed.  This one hit within a half mile to the right of us and practically destroyed the city in which I live in.  I might add that in both cases I was not at home at the time the tornadoes hit.  The first, I was in a night class not far from home.  The other, I was with my son on a band trip headed toward Orlando Florida. Both times I left my wife alone with either one kid or alone with two girls.  Either time was difficult for me to get over.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 360/365 “Wet Christmas”

25 Friday Dec 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Flooding, Rain, Rescue, Thunder, Tornados, Weather

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I woke up to the sound of thunder this morning. As I lay in bed trying to go back to sleep I could hear the rain as it hit the damaged gutter we have out back.  It was a steady rain, not too hard but at least the weather wasn’t supposed to get bad today.  Or so I thought.

For the first time in many years I got up before the kids did.  I woke up with a headache so I went to the kitchen and grabbed some pain killer. As I walked passed the front door I noticed that the streets were wet and was still raining a good bit.

Once the kids got up we had our Christmas, had our breakfast, everyone had their showers, got dressed and out the door to the in laws.  Once we got to the in laws the rain had stopped but it was only for a short time.  As we were leaving the in laws the clouds had darkened and thunder could be heard in the distance.  We hadn’t made it home but just a few minutes when we heard the tornado sirens going off in the distance.  Seriously?  The weather radio was soon going off and downstairs we went into our safe place.

Since then it’s been nothing but wide spread flooding, roads being washed away and people being rescued.  It’s been the wettest Christmas I can ever remember.  Rain is in the forecast for the next several days.  We probably won’t dry out until sometime next year.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 312/365 “Day 7”

08 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama Weather, Jazz Band, Rain, treadmill

https://tchphotography.smugmug.com/Birmingham/i-bjSDRmS/A

It’s been a gloomy and wet day here in the deep south.  It’s been raining ever since yesterday afternoon.  We need the rain but I’m getting a little tired of getting wet every time I have to go outside.

This is the second day that I haven’t got any treadmill time in.  My feet have been hurting a lot.  I may have overdone it, I’m not sure.  My goal is to get on there sometime tomorrow.

I was able to go to an event up the street where the high school jazz band was performing.  Being that one of my daughters plays the saxophone in the jazz band I went and recorded it.  They played for over an hour and my daughter did very well on all her solo’s.  After which my wife and girls went shopping and I went home and took a much needed nap. The weather reports claim more rain is in store for tomorrow.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 311/365 “Day 6”

07 Saturday Nov 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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365 Day Photo Challenge, High School Band, High School Football, Lightning, Rain, Storms, Temper, Thunderstorm, Wind

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As I’m writing this there is a steady rain with a sound of thunder off in the distance.  I have always enjoyed the sound of rain especially when it’s hitting a tin roof.  I even enjoy an occasional thunderstorm when it’s not too strong.  I don’t care for the strong winds, lightning and the damage that is associated with sever storms.

Today was a continuation of yesterday.  I had already conceded the fact that no matter what happened today I would not let it bother me.  That lasted about an hour after I arrived.  Since I lost my temper yesterday most of my coworkers were keeping their distance and rightfully so.  My helper was afraid to work with me for fear of my biting his head off.  The truth of the matter is once I “explode”, I’m good.  I don’t let it eat at me like most people.  The explosion is simply a release of stress and frustration that’s been building up over the past few months.

I did not walk tonight.  The girls school has made the playoffs and tonight was the first round.  Because they won their game tonight they will go on to play in the second round. The rain started late in the fourth quarter and we all got soaked.  The team made it all the way to the final round last year and lost.  I’m not sure if they’ll go as far as that this  year but they’ll give it their best.

365 Day Photo Challenge 300/365 “Doctor Appointment”

26 Monday Oct 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Face, Lip, Poison Ivy, Rain, Swollen

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It was raining here when we got out of bed this morning.  When it’s raining hard in the mornings I try and take my daughters to school.  They normally walk to school since it’s so close.  I got up, took my shower looked in the mirror and saw that my face and lip had gotten worse over night.  I was already going to be late to work taking the girls to school that I went ahead and went to one of those doc in the box not far from here.  Somehow and by some weird chance I got poison ivy on my bottom lip and on my right arm.  No where else.  The doctor gave me a script for some ointment and some pills for the swelling.  My face is already looking normal and my lip is somewhat better.  It’s still feels like it’s on fire but I’m sure it will fell better soon.  Thanks for everyone’s concern.

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