Welcome to False Spring

 Last week was the solar equinox. 

Spring has "officially" begun in the Northern Hemisphere.

I celebrated the changing of the seasons by spending time outside and planting my balcony garden. I'm hoping to have some tiny tomatoes, lots of herbs, green beans, lettuce, and strawberries. I also included flowers to attract pollinators like butterflies and bees. 

And this weekend I had to bring everything in because Mother Nature decided it needed to go below freezing most of this weekend.

Thanks climate change.

Yes, changing climate is part of this annoyingly inconsistent weather patterns we've been experiencing. It's more of a thorn in my side than a tried and true problem. 

To save my garden from a late frost, all I had to do was move all of the pots inside my apartment. Sure they get less light, but they'll stay warm and eventually go back outside without any problems. It's an inconvenience to move everything, but it's not that difficult of a thing for me to do.

I have a solution for this last hold out of winter. 

But what if I couldn't move my garden? What if I had already planted it right into the ground instead of pots?

Well, a quick Google search would help me find tips to protect my garden from the late frost. There are loads of tips and tricks to protect plants from a sudden frost as it's become an issue to have a short warm spell followed by a cold snap. At worst, I have to replant my garden.

But what if it wasn't a garden? What if I had planted a whole field of crops that I depended on to harvest at the end of the season and I couldn't replant the crops? What if it wasn't just cold snaps I needed to worry about, but extreme heat or droughts? What if there was a biblical event that wiped out everything my livelihood depends on?

Why am I even thinking about these things if all I have going for me is a tiny balcony garden?

My garden is a hobby. I don't depend on it for financial needs or food. It's something nice to have that occupies my time and occasionally lets me add some extra flares to my meals. 

However, the food that I don't personally grow, I get at the store or farmer's market. If I buy my food from the store, that food might come from anywhere in the world. The food's journey from it's origin point to my dinner plate is long and has a lot of points of interest that can add to the costs I spend at checkout. These added points might be customs fees, fuel for transportation, storage costs, and enough money to pay every person who's labor went into growing, packaging, and transporting the food. Each point adds an extra layer to the price you pay at checkout...and then tax is added.

Of course, I might be able to cut out some of the costs and points of interest by getting my food directly from the farmers. Especially since each step in the process to get the food from the grocery store from other countries contributes to higher inflation. There's also less risk of food spoiling on a long journey than to buy it locally.

Except, I'm not hear to argue the virtues of where to buy your apples. 

And boy don't these apples look good!

I'm more pointing out how a cold snap might affect my ability to buy apples from my local farmer. Depending on the circumstances, the price of apples may go up, there might be shortages, or both scenarios might occur. The worst case is that there are no apples and the farm has to close down because they can't pay their bills. That adds to the overall decrease supply of apples that can be bought overall which further drives up price if demand doesn't change.

But importing food should help with supply right? Surely if we can't grow our food locally, we can still find sources to help with supply?

Yes, but there are risks. 

We've seen during the pandemic the problems associated with supply chain issues. Ports were overflowing with cargo that wasn't being unloaded because people weren't able to work. This lead to shortages at the grocery store and eventual higher prices. We're also dealing with higher fuel costs which is also going to drive up prices.

Oh, and now there's a war going on in one of the highest grain producing countries in the world.

All of these things are going to cause food shortages. Add in our good friend climate change and suddenly crops that were once easy to grow in a specific location, can't anymore. In my home state of Virginia, we've been having issues growing tomatoes since the early 2010s because of the changing climate. Will states famous for their tomatoes like New Jersey start having these same issues in the 2020s? 2030s?

The simple solution might be to have farmers change to crops that better suit the new climate.

Except that's not really that simple. We're seeing weather events that are unprecedented, heat waves and droughts that can take out the hardiest of plants - even the ones we're genetically modifying to account for these climate changes (humans have been messing with plant and animal genetics since we started farming - why do you think corn has a husk). 

If crops fail, people starve because demand for food doesn't go away. People need to eat to survive. 

This leads into many other topics (such as human migration, new diseases, and other catastrophes) that I don't have the time (or mental capacity) to get into. 

Needless to say, climate change is here. We have to adapt. I might be annoyed that I had to move all my plants inside because of a sudden cold snap (that are coming later and later into what should be considered Spring), but this annoyance is also tied to a deep fear that one day we might not be able to keep up the food supply with demand.

What will we eat then?

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope y'all like hearing from me.

Until next week. 

Welcome to When the Sky Cries

Yep, that’s the title I’m going with to describe rain.

I created this image many years ago in Paint

I don’t know about you, my readers, but I love a summer rain storm. I especially love putting on a pair of rain boots, grabbing an umbrella, and getting caught in a lazy shower that cools the air and sounds like wind chimes.

Summer showers break the tension of heat and humidity. I know I feel a bit more agitated when the air is thick like cheese and broccoli soup and my skin is sticky from sweat. It’s like standing on the precipice of a major event - all anxiety and wishing something would give. Then, the sky breaks open and cries.

Have any of you had a good messy cry recently. I haven’t, but I can bring up the memory of them. It’s messy and gross which leaves me exhausted…and relieved. Much like the lead up to a summer shower or storm, I feel tense. I usually get a horrible headache behind my eyes that won’t go away until a river of tears cuts down my face.

I’m not a pretty crier. There’s always a lot of snot involved.

But I feel so much better after crying so hard. Usually, I take a shower or bath afterwards. The mess needs to be cleaned away to finally feel refreshed.

A good summer rain is the same. The air feels clean after the storm, less muggy and humid. The sweet smell of flowers is lightly carried on a breeze instead of heavily mixed in the atmosphere like too much coffee sitting heavy in your tummy (sorry, I couldn’t resist the rhyme).

Today I walked in the rain and felt at peace. Stress and tension drifted away like lilies down a stream. A few studies have come out saying that rain showers can help people with depression and anxiety feel better. The sound is soothing and the negative ions in the rain may help dissipate the build up of positive ions the come from our crazy everyday lives. The rain washed away my troubles and left me feeling like I can take on the crazy I know this week will be.

Without rain, we don’t have flowers or food. Without rain, we can’t appreciate the sun. Without rain, there’d be nothing to break the stressful tension of humid August afternoons.

After my walk (and shower), I sat outside with a cup of tea and listened. Rain creates a sound similar to white noise, which we humans can find relaxing.

Truthfully, I didn’t feel like doing much today. It was nice to take a break and curl up with my cat on the couch. I like to think the rain helped.

We need the rain the same way we need a good cry. It may be messy and not always pretty, but will make us feel better.

How do you guys feel about rain? What about thunderstorms? Leave a comment with your thoughts on rain. Do you guys ever think that rain is a little like crying?

Until next week.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope y’all like hearing from me.

Welcome to a Season in Transition

Fall is my favorite season.

The air is crisp and clean compared to the moisture and humidity of summer. Trees transition from vibrant greens to brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges. The farmers market is full of fresh produce and food has an extra layer of spice.

The weather is constantly changing. One minute it’s cool with a light breeze, perfect for sweaters and blankets. Then it’s back up to the 90s and I’m back in shorts and a tank top. Thunderstorms aren’t quite as dramatic in the fall like they are in summer, unless it’s a major storm. The world seems a little brighter, though that could be the decrease in moisture in the air and the sun’s rays reflecting off the changing leaves.

Time to gather around the bond fire

Much like spring, fall feels too short. It’s supposed to last about three months as all the other seasons are supposed to. It never does.

This fall has started out a lot different than usual.

I remember when I started this blog, I lamented about how weird it was that I wasn’t going back to school like I had every other year since I was 4 or 5. This year, I got laid off and my sister got married. I managed to sell my first short story.

Another fall pass time at school we’re challenging the anti-education protestors.

I’m not sure where I’m going.

I’m not entirely sure where I want to be.

Change is my only certainty.

I named this blog “Starting Out in Wonderland” after one of my favorite books because the adult world felt like entering Alice’s Wonderland. Nonsensical and illogical, but with arbitrary rules I had to follow even if they still don’t make much sense to me.

I start every blog post with “Welcome to...” after the anime “Welcome to the NHK”. I had to watch it in college for one of my classes. It’s not one of my favorite anime series, but it resonated with me. I think it’s because the anime focuses on three people trying to navigate the adult world while struggling with their mental health and personal demons. I should really rewatch it. The light novel and manga the series is based on are a little different, so I can’t comment on them.

There are days where I wish I was still in high school or college and the most stressful things I had to worry about was passing my next test. There are days where I wish it was the future and I was delighted with everything I had accomplished. Content with where life has taken me.

Rarely do I take the time to appreciate the present.

I’m currently sitting in my apartment, rewatching “The Haunting of Hill House” for the third time. Occasionally the wind shifts and light bounces around the walls, highlights of pale yellow and green against a bright blue sky and warm orange sunlight. I try to spot the hidden ghosts in the show between typing out these words.

I dislike uncertainty. Planning for things comes naturally to me. Being idle is not ideal. I need to do something.

So I write and do research until I figure out what to do next.

If you enjoyed this post, or it really pissed you off, please like share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope you guys like hearing from me.

Until next week.

Welcome to the Eye of the Storm

I am utterly fascinated by hurricanes. I both fear and love them.

My fear is perfectly just. I grew up along the Atlantic coast and got to ride out a number of tropical storms over the years. I think the highest might have been a Category 2 hurricane, usually it was a tropical storm by the time it hit my area. But nothing like the storm that just hit The Bahamas.

Dorian was a slow moving Category 5 when it hit the islands and then just stopped moving for a day. That is terrifying. The pictures and videos of the catastrophe are all over the internet. At least 30 people were killed last weekend. (Edit - as of 9/9/2019 the death toll has risen to 44.)

Rebuilding The Bahamas is going to take time (if you're interested in donating to help, see this Washington Post article).

This is just the latest powerful storm to tear up the Atlantic seaboard. Last year we had 15 storms strong enough to be named, two of which hit the feared Category 4 (Florence) and Category 5 (Michael) status. In 2017, we had 17 named storms, with four that hit Categories 4 (Harvey and Jose) and 5 (Irma and Maria). Puerto Rico is still feeling the effects of Maria two years later.

With climate change and the sea temperatures rising, these dangerous storms are only going to become more and more fearsome. We're going to hear more stories similar to what happened in The Bahamas. More people will lose everything to an indiscriminate monster that can't be controlled.

However, the stories about the lengths people go to help others is amazing. One of my favorite stories out of The Bahamas was about a woman who took in nearly 100 dogs into her home. She likely saved all of those doggies lives. There are tons of pictures of brave people in boats patrolling neighborhoods, taking in anyone they can to shelters. 

Humans have managed to pull off a lot of amazing things since we evolved, however, it's only in our science fiction dreams that we can control the weather. The best we can do is look at the patterns in our atmosphere and predict what change of rain we might have over hte next week. We're getting better, but it's still not perfect.

Which is kind of why I also love hurricanes as much as fear them. They're a lot like giant twisters (another weather phenomena that I fear) with a central focal point and strong winds winding round and round. The patterns they create are beautiful in their own terrifying way. 

I admit that I get a little excited seeing these storms. Currently I've been monitoring Tropical Storm Gabrielle. She's stayed mostly in the Atlantic away from any land (including small islands) from what I can tell. I'm happy that no one was hurt by her and there hasn't been any reported damage. I'm also fascinated by how she looks sitting in our atmosphere. She reminds me of a small child swirling whipped cream around the top of their hot chocolate or a seashell getting tossed about in the current.

From up above, she doesn't seem that scary. Underneath her is an entirely different story. She's the kind of storm that would sink ships without knowing they were in her path.

Hurricanes are completely indiscriminate in their rampage. They don't target anyone or anything, not like a predator stalking prey. They have no motivations. 

Hurricanes simply exist.

I fear the day that a Category 5 Hurricane comes up the mid-Atlantic and hits New York, DC, Baltimore, or Philadelphia. It's not outside of the realm of possibilities, but it's very unlikely. Part of me wants to be there if and when it happens. 

I hope everyone stays safe this hurricane season and that the people of The Bahamas are able to rebuild quickly. Hurricanes aren't going away and we aren't likely to create a weather machine in my life time. So the best way that we can deal with these storms is to study them and prepare for worst case scenarios. 

For those of us who aren't scientists, know you're evacuation routes, know safe places you can go in a hurry, and for the love of the universe DO NOT FORGET YOUR PETS! Not everyone is as mobile as everyone else. Not everyone owns a car or has the capability to get to safety on their own. If you can, try to incorporate helping those in need into your plans as well. Hurricanes aren't the only natural disasters this applies to. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, rouge waves, blizzards, tornadoes, and water spouts are just a few types of disasters to plan for. 

Until next week.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope y'all like hearing from me.

Welcome to Spring

It Appears To Have Finnally Arrived

Spring seems to have finally shown up. There is definatly a thick layer of yellow pollen on my car. I'm sneezing more  and I don't need to have my air conditioning nor heater on (saving on bill yay!). 

Spring is definatly a more mild season than winter. Sure we've had more rain than usual and a sink hole opened up in Baltimore and swallowed like 20 cars. That was both terrifying and somewhat hilarious at the same time. I think I need to check on what I think is funny.

Honestly the biggest thing about spring is that it's not too hot and too cold (usually). However, this area seems to go from extreme winter to extreme summer in two days. There is no slow transition. We used at have a saying at my old college. "Welcome to Williamsbuge where the weather's made up and the seasons don't matter."

Spring also means I'm another year older and supossibly wiser (not really, but it's a nice thought). It used to mean the end of the school year and the start of FREEDOM, but I only get three weeks now (it's a French company). 

Spring is here, but I'm not as interested as I was for winter. I just hope my area doesn't flood.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please share or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers. Until next week.