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I am graduating with a B.S. in Chemistry in May and here is a funny email trying to lure me into an interesting sales position...

Hello Tom,

Your resume was found on the Internet by our innovative candidate search engine and we thought you may be interested in an exciting Sales opportunity with Service Corporation International (SCI). SCI is the largest provider of funeral, cremation and cemetery services in North America. Through our branded Dignity Memorial network of funeral services locations, cemeteries, and crematoria, we represent a best-in-class workforce that carries out our values of integrity, respect, service excellence and enduring relationships. As the industry leader, SCI continues to blaze new trails through corporate innovations and revolutionary services in quality, value and care.

I have found my calling!

Rain Fraud

I think I am under investigation for rain gauge fraud. You see, I received an email today from a climatologist in Missouri. He was "concerned" about my 6.91 inch rain gauge observation I reported to the National Weather Service in Springfield on April 24th.

I seems my data was an anomaly. Some other gauges in town only got about 5 inches, so I am "rain gauging" outside the box. Crap! At least I am not saying there will be a 40 percent chance of 5 percent of the area getting 80 percent of the rain...then they get none! I am giving a precise measurement with a gauge approved by them. Jeez.

How am I a suspect if the world record rainfall occurred at Holt, Missouri on June 22, 1947 when it rained 12 inches in just 42 minutes? I AM IN MISSOURI...home of the world record.

So maybe tomorrow without a cloud in the sky, I will report 12.5 inches in 41 minutes just to break the world record! I will be famous!

I will probably receive a summons to appear in court charged with rain gauge fraud. Have you ever been to weather prison? I hear it's bad or at least there is a 20% it will be.

My Tornado Alley

After three thunderstorms with the tornado warnings in town, we are definitely in tornado alley. To some we are on the edge of tornado alley, but we are definitely in it. I enjoy the severe and strong storms that come through the Midwest. Being from Northern California, I didn't see these interesting "in-your-face" type storms. So, one of my hobbies is to storm watch. I have bad luck chasing storms. I once missed a tornado by a minute because I drove too far. But, I go out nonetheless and pursue that great picture or view of an interesting storm.




Last night we got 6.91 inches of rain in only 6 hours. More storms around tonight such as the lightning picture taken above.





If you call me and I don't answer, I might be under the house in my storm bunker riding another tornado out.

"Stumpy" the Rocket

Stumpy Dies on Vimeo

Spring-a-Ding Ding

Well, the warm season is here. The long cold winter has slid away and now things are growing with a fervor. I have had thoughts of spraying weed killer, yet, it all just started. I planted a couple of new roses in my rose bed, two tomato plants, four Bleeding Hearts (Japanese ferns), and in the round cast-iron planter in my front yard, I threw in a packet of Zinnia seeds I received in the mail as a "guilt bribe" to donate to the College of the Ozarks.

The Zinnias have sprouted up nicely and the squirrels in the Ash tree are feeding their new little ones just born into the world of deadly car tires and dogs. I lend them a hand by filling the squirrel feeder. I have a cat that lives in my greenhouse and I feed the birds that feed the cat. I ruined the Spring for a pair of Starlings because I removed their nest to repair a section of the overhanging roof that sagged a bit.

The main sign of Spring is when the neighbors all start mowing their lawns and finally, I have to give in and do it also. Here in the Midwest, we LOVE to mow grass. in California it was a chore, but here every man woman and child grows up mowing grass. If fact, I never saw many women mowing grass until I moved out here to Missouri. I see Grandmas with straw hats riding John Deer tractors and bikini clad women weed-eating around fences.

The fish are biting so I better go...

Graduation Day approaches

May 19th is Graduation day! Wow, what the heck is this feeling I have? Euphoria or fear...I certainly feel some mental stress on myself as it nears.

I have been busy lately. I have been having some fun, but doing a lot of homework. I did get to go to a KLOUDBUSTER rocket launch with Sarah and her schools rocket club. It was fun and I got some sun.



I made some Bombay Curry tonight. I picked up an Asian recipe book with recipes from all over Asia. This was very good over rice.

Going to play racquetball tonight then study till the late hours.