Sometimes you just need to know whether or not you should carry an umbrella or sunglasses.

So, in theory, you turn on the weather report, usually on a local network station, and find out.

Hahahahahaha.

Don't get me wrong, weatherpeople are valued people in my book. Most of them are just downright cute even.

But put them in front of a weather map, and watch them transform. Into a fountain of knowledge. Knowledge that I expect them to know, and hope they're good at it, so I don't need to be.

When I want to know if it's likely to rain, I may or may not find out. I'm waiting, watching, to find out if the word "rain" hits our airwaves. To get to that word, however, I must first wade through high pressure systems, avoid giant arm swooshes that indicate all kinds of fronts on the horizon. And they don't necessarily have to be on our horizon, just any horizon, Oregon's even. That "front" may lead to the possibility of the likelihood that it might mean showers for us in 2 weeks. But that's only IF it keeps on its present course. If it changes course anytime within that 2 weeks, well then, it could mean anything. Even a plague of locusts.

I figure once we cover the weather across the nation, we'll get down to our local weather. Will it or won't it rain today? Don't know. Again the arms make a swooshing motion over the weathermap re: more pressure systems, fronts, and types of clouds.

If those clouds perform this motion without morphing into a different kind of cloud, the pressure systems probably won't collide. Which would mean that the front won't make it here.

Excitement usually mounts, and the weatherperson's voice may go up an octave or two at this point. He is leaping from side to side of the weather map.

My mind wanders and I think, "well at least it doesn't matter as much as during World War II when many of the shoes had cardboard soles, and during rain, they often parted ways with the rest of the shoe. Happened to my mom on the day my parents got married. She still declares she lost her soul on her wedding day. But I digress.

Uh oh, for the time my mind wandered, the weatherman announced whether it would rain today. I missed it!! Now my options become taking the umbrella, sunglasses, raincoat , suncreen and cover every scenario, or wait for the next weather report. I'd also need to learn to speak weather again before that happened.

I gather my 20 pound bag with all weather-related items, including my rubbers. (stop snickering that's what generations before us called the rubber things that went over our shoes to protect them. Mine were red and my "MO" was to hid them in the milkbox)

I head out the door and wonder if any of those pressure systems, fronts, cloud formations, swooshes and dips mean it will rain today. Or in two weeks. Here or in Oregon.

I look up when I get outside to see a gorgeous rainbow. Ha! God really threw us a curve on that one!! And covered all fronts. Somewhere, it's raining.

There he goes again. Todd Platts just continued his policy of doing good things for York County people without news reports or fanfare.

I just heard another report of one of these deeds. A young Marine, who just finished his third tour in war zones was out in California going through debriefing. At this point, that was finished, but they still hadn't been released to go home.

This Marine had a special reason to want to get home. His wife was about to give birth to their second child. It did not look like he was going to get home in time. That is, until someone spoke to Todd Platts on his behalf.

Things happened.

He flew in over the weekend, and was greeted by his 2 1/2 year old daughter who told everyone that "her daddy was in "Raq." And she told her grammy that when he got home, she was going to give him a big, big hug. And so she did. Hugged his legs, and wouldn't let go of her daddy.

Daddy was by his wife's side when their new little daughter came into the world on Monday. Hero and family are doing well. Very well. Even one of their two dogs has barely left his "papa" out of his sight, and the dog's non-stop wagging tail must have exhausted the canine!

We know for a fact that Mr. Platts did not do this for a "constituent" or a "voter." He did it for a family who has served their country over and over.

More than one hero here!!

I took my mom to the dentist today, and just as we were getting ready to leave, in walks a petite woman. She had a cane, but didn't really seem that interested in using it.

A very attractivewoman, dressed nicely, and she had golden hair. She went right up to the counter where she was greeted by her daughter-in-law who introduced her mother-in-law to my mom, and the two struck up a conversation.

The talk turned to Estelle's last birthday, which was her 95th. Unbelievable it seemed, because she didn't even look to be in her 80's much less having passed the 90 mark 5 years ago.

That wasn't the remarkable part. For her 95th birthday, her son gave her a ride on the back of his Harley. Riding a motorcycle at 95! I asked her if she wore a helmet. She did, and she also had to have the leather vest. After all, she said, you can't ride a Harley without the leather vest.

I could picture her on the back of Peter Fonda's bike. Born, and living to be wild! A true pleasure to meet her.

Two of our six grandchildren are in York Suburban school district. Our granddaughter catches the bus in Elmwood, not a long walk from where they live. Each day my daughter and grandson walk with her to watch her get in the big yellow box along with several other children.

On the corner where the bus arrives lives a super nice couple. They don't make an issue of kids being in their yard, etc. Quite the opposite. Not long into this school year, a bench appeared at the very corner of their property solely for the purpose of making the wait a bit more comfortable for the group that waits for the bus.

A small gesture, but the kids think it's "one of the greatest things ever," and love having it there, as do the parents. Lucky for these kids that's who lives there--so often it's another story. People who treasure their grass more than people. Thank you so much folks!!

I turned on the light, checked the time, and went to cook some breakfast. My plans were to then go up to the computer, make some business phone calls and accomplish some internet work. I turned on the radio for my wake-me-up-music.

When I roused myself from half-sleep, I looked around the darkened, silent room, realized I had no idea what time it was, and were the eggs still cold?

Yep.

Now I was three-quarters awake, and tried to turn on the tv to see what was up. Black screen. Not good.

I was almost 100% awake, and realized, "okay, the electricity is out." I checked out the 'hood to see if there were any lights on in any of the other houses. Didn't look like it.

I picked up the phone, no dial tone, no nothing.

Do you realize how much we depend on electricity, taking it so for granted until it's not there? I did all the above things automatically with no thought. And it didn't register even after I tried maybe 3 or different light switches, each time having a momentary lapse that they weren't going to work. I forgot, even in the short distance from one room to the next.

Each time this happens, I alert to the realization that electricity is such a cool thing. And it's not until we don't have it for whatever reason that I have the light bulb go off in my head how much I appreciate electricity. We have faith that when we turn a switch, we're going to get the result we want. The light's going to go on, we can look at the clock and tell the actual time. The heat or air conditioning will run, we can watch TV or use the computer all because of it.

It was a few hours before we had electricity again, I saw Met Ed working on a pole down from our house, so they truly were "on it" really quickly. I looked at the white truck, and thought, "I am really grateful they're there," (plus that they know what they're doing.)

Something I take so for granted, a simple light switch. I guess I appreciate it most when it's not there. So glad that someone told Benjamin F to "go fly a kite!"

I have had an epiphany. It happens. Sometimes.

Anyway, I think for the upcoming year, let's set an actual date for the state budget to be passed. Aapparently the problem is that they just didn't KNOW that a deadline was coming up. So if we tell them ahead of time, I'm sure they'll hit the deadline. Easy enough, right?

And also, implement the old high school tactics. If they don't do their assignment, detention until it's finished. And they have to be there, without days off, etc until the assignment is done. No vacations, and oh yeah, pay would go into a holding account and only accessible when their assignment is finished.

All we have to do is TELL them when it needs to be done. I'm sure that'll do the trick for next year. I'm sure they just weren't aware. I realize that gaining notoriety for being the only state without a budget must seem like a cool thing, apparently, but listen, this is a good time to follow the crowd......

Today's news is the ultimate. The economy has completely rebounded, everyone who wants a job has one, a house in every pot, and the clunkers have been replaced by high IQ cars..

The health care question is now all solved, and insurance rates have plummeted. A hospital stay is actually affordable. Swine flu has gone the way of "when pigs fly."

All wars, any wars have been halted, they're going to solve the issues with video games. Winner takes all. Our troops will be taken out of harms way.

The global eco-system is now under control, and green is now the favorite color of more than just Kermit the frog. The honeybees are back in perfect balance, and butterflies are free.

How do I know all these great things?

It HAS to be so!! One of this week's lead TV morning news stories was the issue of Michelle Obama wearing shorts on vacation. Pundits everywhere have taken every different stance on this hot-button issue. Water coolers only offer hot water now, as discussions around them are so heated.

Are they technically Bermuda shorts, in which case, does this solidify our relationship with England, Bermuda being English and all? Or is the hemlength shorter or longer, having a completely different significance. How much of the First Leg was visible? What does temperature have to do with anything? This is the President's wife, for goodness sake, flying and deplaning from Air Force One!

Were any First varicose veins uncovered? Secret Service suddenly needed a code name for cellulite. shsh.

Talk about your LIFE SAVORS! When this is a top story, we have truly run out of things to be concerned bout.

If only.