Back To Reality With A Starry Show-Stopper

boat on the beach

My self-imposed exile from my blog sped by so quickly, I can hardly believe two weeks have slipped away! I'm excited to start posting again -- at least that's my plan.

I've had a little set-back that makes it slightly more difficult for me to sit at the computer. I pulled a muscle in my neck/shoulder that lead to a pinched nerve. When I tilt my head or move it suddenly in a certain direction -- which is actually in any direction!! -- I get a stabbing pain!! Talk about being a pain in the neck! LOL -- ouch! Not funny!!

So I'm kind of doped up with pain killers and muscle relaxers and the doctor said it would be at least a week before everything healed and I would feel "normal" again. [It was all I could do to not laugh myself off the table at that remark! Normal?? What is that? LOL] The first night with the medication really made a difference -- but subsequent nights have not changed the situation. I seem to be stuck on feeling a little better, but still have the sharp pains if I make any sudden moves or lean back to rest, which I need to do, because I'm sleepy from the meds. This is not good for speedy healing. I'm going to do what I can here but just wanted to let you know if things seem a little off-kilter that's the main reason.

My two weeks were filled with a lot of relaxing but fun activities, which I will share with you as the rest of the month unfolds. However, we were also hit with a killer heatwave that first week, which put a damper on going places we'd planned to visit. We had a string of several days in the 90s followed by four or five days that reached 100+, with the top temperature of 106 on my birthday!! Unheard of for this placid and cool corner of the Pacific Northwest. But I did have a great birthday week, despite the brutal heat. We had the master suite air conditioned and basically camped out in those four rooms, escaping the coolness only to water the plants, enjoy the cooler night air, and fix quick meals in the kitchen. I hope never to experience such a week again!

Now it's back to serious work at the online store and fun work here at the blog. And the end-of-summer cleanup around the Ranch, and all the rest of the usual August activities. One thing I love to do is watch the Perseid meteor shower, which happens this time every year. Last night was the middle and most active night of the week-long event, but it wouldn't have been possible for me to watch it, even if I could lean back and lift my head without pain. After weeks without our trademark rain, we're finally being blessed with some solid and intense showers. Coupled with the heavy cloud cover, we weren't able to see any activity in the night sky this year. But here is a very cool video to show you where to look tonight and for the next few nights before the shower passes.



I hope the night sky is clear where you are and that you can take advantage of this celestial extravaganza. If you do "catch a falling star" during this annual event, please share your experiences here. I'd be right out there, too, if I could be -- let's say the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Thanks so much for stopping by -- I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

Have fun tonight under the stars!