  Well, before getting to work today, thought I would put down a little message. My apologies for being away - something bloomed here over the weekend, leaving me staring at the ceiling whispering "kill me....kill me...." for about two days straight. Yeah, fun stuff. That, and I went to see The Passion of the Christ on Friday night - that takes a little while to fully sink in.
But, now to now now. Today is a rainy, stormy day in Aggieland. Apparently we're in a tornado watch. I'll be honest - those things scared me to death for years. But thus far, just rain. Lots and lots of rain. It's weird here, since the water table is kind-of high ("yeah, and Russia is 'kind-of' cold in winter" says the mole sitting on the second-storey window sill), so every time there is heavier than normal rain, parking lots and streets become veritable rivers.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing. After all, it has its uses. So, for instance - say that you are nervous about the ocean, worried about sharks, and have a deep-seated fear of starfish ("Look at those cunning little bumps on their backs! They're planning something, I know it! "), the riverway parking lots can be used to train for surfing in a safe, controlled environment. Or, if the color yellow makes your lips curl in moral horror, you can use these parking lots as replacement slip-and-slides.
It's fun! ....well, until the speed bumps. Those hurt. A lot. And the gravel....ooooooh, the gravel....IT BURNS, IT BURNS!!!!!!! (ahem), but I digress. Then, of course, there is the traffic. No offense to Texans in general (as I do enjoy them), but these folks, as a general rule, have no driving skill whatsoever (and when a Hoosier says that, yes, they are bad). So, while surfing/sliding about, you have to watch for SWiTLTs (Small Woman in Truck Like Tank) and DCwNDPs (Drunken Cowboy with No Depth Perception). But, again, this adds to the fun - what could be more thrilling than surfing your wooden plank down the lot while also dodging mutli-ton wheeled chunks of metal hurdling in your direction? Not much, true believers, not much. 
