Greetings and welcome!
I really wanted to update last week. I really really did. It was not a good week in Ray-land and I just couldn’t do it. I switched one of my servers over to a new ultra-fast cloud server setup. What they didn’t tell me was that it ran on a totally different operating system than I had never seen. It was very challenging getting all of the security into place web sites up and running again and it took my patience right to the outer limits.
At the same time I was rewiring my RV with a totally new battery bank, inverter and charger-converter setup. Between the four digit cost of that and the endless challenges wiring it in, I was in a fully foul mood by the end of the week. I just couldn’t bring myself to do an update with that much anger and fully exhausted patience. This is supposed to be a happy place. I am sorry for the lack of an update when so much was going on, but I just couldn’t do it.
Last night we had a big thunderstorm. Yesterday we were in the low 90s for temperatures. A cold front came through and today we are at a very comfortable 72. With a change that dramatic we were in for some dramatic weather. The storm hit at about 9:30pm with some wind, fitful downpours, and a really incredible lightning and thunder show. There was no severe weather associated with the frontal passage, so no worries there.
In the weather ahead I have to guess a little because the government weather forecasting servers are down. Apparently they supply my private forecasting sites too. From what I can tell a cut off low pressure area is going to set up camp to our east up in Canada and bring a chance of showers daily right through the weekend. We could sure use the rain. Temperatures though the period should be in the upper 70s to low 80s. There is a chance that the circulation of that cut off low could bring the Canadian wildfire smoke back. That totally depends on exactly where it sets up camp, so that remains in the ‘maybe’ column.
There is a lot of talk about gypsy moths and tent caterpillars lately. In areas that have them they have them bad. Driving up A from Crivitz you can see that the trees have been completely defoliated. It is very area specific. People are asking if the DNR is going to spray. The short answer is no. It is too late in the season for that. You are on your own.
For events this weekend we have the Lakewood Mardi Gras. That has grown into a big deal with, “Live music, carnival rides and games, a softball tournament, and more! Lakewood Mardi Gras parade on Sunday starting at noon!”
I am not aware of other events at the moment. There are always having live music at the local bars. Again it is too early to track all of those down.
I took a ride up to Lake X this week. I was happy to see that the clouds of mosquitoes had thinned out considerably and that there were a lot of dragonflies cleaning up the rest of them. That doesn’t bother me one bit. Hopefully I can finish up the upgrades on the RV and get the fishing boat in order and head up there soon. I am in serious need of some campfire and fishing boat time.
There is a chance of northern lights later this week. According to Space Weather (.com). There is a CME that will pass close to earth about Thursday night. The NASA model shows a glancing blow and the NOAA model is showing it missing the earth. Apparently this has made a lot of news and weather programs because people are asking about it. There is a chance, but I wouldn’t classify it as a good chance. The sky watchers that are into this sort of thing are skeptical. It would be great if it did hit. The northern lights are always cool to see.
With the rain last night it will be time to cut grass soon. The radar estimates ranged from 0.75″ to 1.5″ of rainfall. We have had it easy in the grass cutting department this year with the dry weather. Now that it had a nice rainfall and more on the way there will be some grass to cut soon.
I am off for today’s adventures. Have a good week and thank you for visiting!
RJB
