The Daylight Savings Time Transition

I am very happy that we are getting more and more minutes of sunlight each day. Still, I struggle with what seems like such a late sunrise in March. Plus, since it is still a bit cold, we still have snow mounds, and where there aren't snow mounds, the ground is wet and muddy, and then freezes again overnight. This makes outdoor time less fun than it should. Was it earlier this year than other years? I seem to remember it being towards the end of March, not the first half. Either way, I struggle both in the fall and spring, but more so each spring, with the changing of the clocks. It seems to take about two full weeks for my body to match to the new operating hours.It's not just me. Recently an article popped up in my news feed about how daylight saving time affects your health and wellness.

Yesterday afternoon, I was attempting to take Pup for a much needed long walk. I saw my neighbor with Pup's buddy and they were pretty excited to see each other. Both dogs like to go down this long sidewalk, and if we are really ambitious, cross the highway to where there is a good forested walking path. Right now though, several parts of the sidewalk in both directions are flooded messes, meaning we would have to take the street. This was about 5:45 when loads of folks are getting home from work. It was not quite safe for taking the road, so we both just continued around our big block, withthe  dogs moaning and pulling for us to go down the paths, also flooded, to the park. Neighbor uttered the horrid words too-another big snow is expected. Not the first day of spring I would like. 

I've been up since 5:30, and still no sunrise at 6:26. In about 30 minutes I'll be driving to work, still in mostly darkens. I am a four season kind of gal. I just wish the length of the season would be summer five months, fall three months, spring thee months, and maybe leave winter the month of December. I hear there are places like this in the world.

Remember this? Sun and green!

Today's Weather Outlook

Today's Weather Outlook

July 24, 2015

"Sizzling heat, flooding downpours, and even a couple severe thunderstorms will be familiar mid-summer headlines across much of the U.S. for the final day of the week."

I'm waking up to the sound of thunder. This little gem above is the doppler for my neck of the woods. So I am debating working from home a few hours and heading in mid morning, or quickly hopping in the shower and try to be ahead of it. I have a meeting early afternoon so a complete telecommuting day won't work. The weather though is a good reflection on how I woke up this morning.  I'm not outright storming inside, but there are rumbles of fears, discontent, worry and anxiety thundering around my mind, and right through to my stomach. 

Is there a real connection to mood and mindset and the weather? I am usually not bothered much by rain and thunder. I get the best night of sleep when I fall asleep to, or gently wake, and then drift off again to the sound of rain. Normally I love the drama of thunder and lightning when  I'm safely  out of it, and can cuddle at home, or happily plant myself in my little work office and hear the show. I hate driving in it though, and this mornings timing on top of a more chaotic commute than ever due to construction, has me frazzled before I am out of my pj's. 

I've the weather malaise in my head right now, and trying hard to shake off the rolling negative and worried thoughts from a restless night. Is DD#2 going to break out of her utter shyness and successfully transition into high school? She saw a classmate after her violin lesson last night and practically crawled into her case at the thought of being noticed. Will DS, who is between regular projects at the moment and living hand to mouth through day jobs, land something stable before the end of the month? He's been out west for  eight months, and not yet close to being stable. Will DD#1 be able to stay on at the end of the summer, and finally have the opportunity she has worked so  hard for and given up so much? She wants to stop wandering from job to job and put down roots, and will need to be proactive. Like her mom, she also faces anxiousness in times of stress. Are we saving enough for the retirement we want?  Though, at the same time, are we  making the most of our current life and not only planning for the future?  Is DH's health good? He is overdue for a physical, and has looked very tired lately. Are we experiencing enough moments of joy now? Why can't  I stop letting the idiosyncrasies of extended family bother me, and not let them interfere with our family life? Will my head stop the tape of worry, and just let things be?

There. I feel better getting it off my brain and on a keyboard. Today will unfold like the others. The sun is about to rise, but masked by the storm clouds. I now hear the pitter patter of rain on the deck washing off the dust and bird mess I noticed last night was everywhere. DH got the lawn mowed yesterday morning, and this rain will be thirstily drank up. We'll have a lushness to the yard that we haven't had in a few years this late in July. 

We just had a crack of lightning followed by a boisterous rolling thunder.  I'm tucked into my favorite corner of the living room, afghan on my lap and think I should get a batch of muffins in the oven and a cup of coffee brewed. Today's weather outlook...will be just fine.