Gulf Oil Spill

On April 29, the MODIS image on the Terra satellite captured a wide-view natural-color image of the oil slick (outlined in white) just off the Louisiana coast. The oil slick appears as dull gray interlocking comma shapes, one opaque and the other nearly transparent. Sunglint -- the mirror-like reflection of the sun off the water -- enhances the oil slick’s visibility. The northwestern tip of the oil slick almost touches the Mississippi Delta.

System 90W Losing Its Punch

System 90W on April 29 at 05:11 UTC (1:11 a.m. EDT) and noticed that the storm's center of circulation is now undefined. Forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center estimate that storm's "center" is located near 10.9 North and 116.3 East, about 355 nautical miles southwest of Manila, Philippines.

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder known as the AIRS instrument on the Aqua satellite showed deepening convection (rapidly rising air that forms clouds and thunderstorms) as the system moved closer to a mid-latitude trough (elongated area of low pressure). But that deepening or strengthening of convection is expected to be short lived because of the increasing winds battering the system.

The potential for System 90W to develop into a tropical cyclone has now dropped from "Fair" to "Poor" in the next 24 hours.

System 90W (Northwestern Pacific Ocean)

System 90W is already bringing rains to the cities of Narra (a municipality) and Brooke's Point (a first class municipality) in the province of Palawan, Philippines. Even Puerto Princesa City, a first class city and the capital of Palawan, is reporting rainfall from System 90W today.

System 90W's circulation center was near 8.9 North latitude and 120.2 West longitude over the Sulu Sea in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. Maximum sustained surface winds are estimated at 15 to 20 knots (17-23 mph).

Cyclone 24S Now All Grown Up and Renamed "Tropical Storm Sean"

On Friday, April 23 at 1500 UTC (11 a.m. EDT) Tropical Storm Sean had maximum sustained winds near 45 knots (52 mph). It was about 475 nautical miles north of Learmonth, Australia, near 14.4 South and 113.3 East. It was moving southeast at 4 knots (5 mph).

91S Becomes Tropical Cyclone 24S

Tropical Storm 24S on April 22 at 0708 UTC (3:08 a.m. EDT) showed areas of light to moderate rainfall. The yellow and green areas indicate moderate rainfall between .78 to 1.57 inches per hour.

System 91 Looking Good for Tropical Cyclone Development

System 91S has shown increasing organization of its low-level circulation center over the last 12 hours, and favorable conditions for development. The vertical wind shear (winds that can tear a storm apart if strong enough) has decreased, so the potential for 91S to develop into a tropical cyclone is good in the next 24 hours.

At 08:30 UTC (4:30 a.m. EDT) the circulation center of 91S appeared to be near 10.1 degrees South latitude and 116.4 East longitude, and had maximum sustained winds near 30 knots (33 mph). 91S was moving west-southwest near 3 knots (4 mph) and it is currently about 630 nautical miles north-northwest of Port Hedland, Australia.

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The ash plume (brown) drifting south and east from Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland

the ash plume from Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano this morning, April 20, as it flew overhead from its vantage point in space.

The ash plume (consisting of fine particles of pulverized rock) at 11:55 UTC (7:55 a.m. EDT). The plume appeared to be lighter in color than the previous few days, and it was drifting south and east over the Northern Atlantic Ocean.

NASA Continues to Track Persistent Iceland Volcano

The continuing eruption of Iceland'sEyjafjallajökull volcano was observed Mon., April 19, 2010, by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument onboard NASA's Terra spacecraft. The new image shows a white eruption column being carried toward the south by prevailing winds.

The image is dominated by the gray, ash-laden eruption cloud dispersed south and east by the winds, blowing from the southern Iceland coast toward Europe. The bright red areas mark the hot lava at the current vent (upper left), and the still-hot lava flows from the earlier phases of the eruption (upper center). The high-temperature material is revealed by ASTER's thermal infrared bands.

This and That

Thought I had better 'sign in' so Birdie would know I have been eating my vegies...lol.

Weekend has been and gone; was relatively quiet, didn't do much or go anywhere - although I did manage to get some painting done.

Last weekend I took myself off to Kurnell (Botany Bay where Captain Cook Landed) to take some photos of the cliff face for some painting ideas. Although it was fairly windy when I left home on the coast it was relatively mild so I didn't get the crashing waves I was hoping for. I will take another trip out there when I know the wind is strong and there is a good surf running. I want to get waves crashing madly on the rocks and the swell breaking out before it reaches the shore.

I might take a trip down to Kiama - where the famous blow hole is - but I will make sure the weather forecast is for rough seas for there as well.

I have been working on an oil seascape and a watercolour seascape - it is interesting the difference in the two works. Even though they have similar subject matter the use of oils make the painting harsher - I use a pallet knife.

While I was waiting for the paint to dry on the watercolour I did a '15 minute' oil sketch with only a knife and was pleased with the result. It was a portrait and the final picture was raw and full of colour. Will post a pic soon on my arty blog....lol.

Thursday was my day for minding Abi - love being just the two of us - she is at an age now where she interacts with you (6 months) and we had great fun. She is trying hard to crawl - gets up on her hands and knees but moves arm and leg on the same side and topples over but she just laughs and gets herself back up again.

Sorry the pic isn't too clear but I took it with my phone....rotfl.... and I was laying on my tummy! Not sure if Abi was laughing at that or the fact she has toppled over again.

As I mentioned on my 'ranting' blog - my elder son new little boy is having his naming ceremony this weekend coming and they (son and his partner) have asked if he could wear the christening gown I made. I am very happy that it is going to be used and hope that in generations to come it is still being worn by my great great etc etc grandchildren...lol.

Picked up my new reading glasses - had my eyes checked and they hadn't changed so I had the option of staying with my old glasses or buying new ones. Told the girl if she had ones with a wow factor I would get them ... lol.

She told me she has just the ones for me - red!! Now I hate red! I don't own anything red (except er um sexy underwear) and thought red glasses with red hair - no way!!

But I tried them on and fell in love ... they are similar to this except mine have black arms with the crystals and the crystals go the opposite way.

They certainly have a 'wow' factor.....rotfl... but hey, I'm a crazy artist and we love crazy things!

PS - Ali I am so glad the glass case came in useful!!

PSS or is it PPS - Jules - no beads for me but scarves mmmm yes that works.....rotfl.

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Disruptive Iceland Volcanic Cloud

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite flew over the volcano at 1:30 p.m. local time (13:29:24 UTC, or 6:29:24 a.m. PDT) on April 15, capturing this false-color infrared image, as well as a visible image of the ash plume.

The images show the ash cloud (in blue) enveloping Iceland and moving eastward over the Shetland Islands and onward to Europe. The ash clouds appear to be at an altitude of 3,658 meters (12,000 feet).

Eyjafjallajokull Volcano over the North Atlantic

The Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland erupted Wednesday, April 14, for the second time this month. The volcano is still spewing ash into the air and the ash clouds are impacting air travel in Northern Europe.

NASA's Terra satellite flew over the volcano the following day at 11:35 UTC (7:35 a.m. EDT) on April 15, 2010, and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, or MODIS instrument onboard Terra captured a visible image of the ash plume from Eyjafjallajokull Volcano.

Easter Bunny

Who wants chockies when this little cutie is your Easter Bunny??

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U.S. forecaster sees increased 2010 hurricane threat

The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season will produce an above-average eight hurricanes, four of them major, posing a heightened threat to the U.S. coastline, the Colorado State University hurricane forecasting team predicted on Wednesday.

Tropical Storm Robyn (Southern Indian Ocean)

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued their final advisory on Robyn today, April 6 at 09:00 UTC (5 a.m. EDT). At that time, Robyn’s maximum sustained winds were down to 39 mph (35 knots) and weakening. It was located about 365 nautical miles southwest of Cocos Island, near 15.5 South and 91.7 East. It is moving north-northwest near 4 mph (3 knots). Robyn has encountered stronger vertical wind shear and will continue to weaken.

Strong earthquake rocks Mexico

The earthquake that jolted Mexico's Baja California peninsula has killed one man whose home collapsed, a civil protection official says.

Baja California state Civil Protection Director Alfredo Escobedo said the man's home collapsed just outside of Mexicali, close to the epicentre of the 7.2-magnitude quake. Esobedo says there were reports of more people trapped in homes in Mexicali and rescue teams with dogs and digging equipment are rushing to the city from nearby Tijuana.

The quake, which struck at 2240 GMT (8.40am), was at a depth of 32.3 kilometres and was located 26 kilometres south-south-west of Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California, and 64 kilometres south-west of San Luis, in the US state of Arizona, the USGS added.

A number of San Diego residents said the quake was the worst they had felt in decades.

Jess Ponting, an Australian working at San Diego State University, said he was at home when the quake struck. "The main earthquake shook our apartment block and caused a panic up and down the street,"

"I cowered under my kitchen table on the third floor for about 45 seconds as the apartment shook violently and glassware rattled and ornaments and pictures fell off the walls. "After the tremor finished, everyone spilled out on to the streets and started calling loved ones and figuring out what was going on."

Reflection

A day for reflection - not of mourning but of memories and of today's joys and tomorrow's surprises.

"History, despite it's wretching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again." Maya Angelou

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Tropical Storm 23S Born in Southern Indian Ocean

Tropical Storm 23S was born today, April 2 about 260 nautical miles west of Cocos Island, Australia, near 11.5 South and 92.5 East. It has maximum sustained winds of 39 mph (35 knots) and is moving southward at around 6 mph (5 knots). Although Cocos Island is not in the direct path of the storm, it was being affected with by thunderstorms in the storm's outer bands.

When the TRMM satellite passed over Tropical Storm 23S on April 2 at 0913 UTC (5:13 a.m. EDT) it measured light to moderate rainfall. Since then, infrared satellite imagery indicated that bands of thunderstorms have consolidated around the center of 23S's center of circulation. Rainfall is likely going to intensify in the system as it strengthens over the weekend. At times rain may be falling in some areas of the storm at up to 2 inches per hour.

Cyclone Paul over the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia

Warnings Dropped for Ex-Cyclone Paul as NASA Satellites See it Fizzle


NASA's Aqua satellite flew over the remnants of ex-tropical storm Paul early today, April 1 and noticed its circulation and form had weakened in the last 24 hours. All weather warnings for the mainland in the Northern Territory have been cancelled.


On April 1 at 11:15 p.m. CST Darwin time (8:45 a.m. EDT) Paul's remnants were located close to the Northern Territory/Queensland border in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria coast. The low is expected to track inland overnight and continue to weaken over the southern Top End during the next few days.

Ever Had One of Those Days......?

Woke up Thursday thinking "OK today I am going to start on the oil painting I've sketched."

First I had to clean the filters on my two fish tanks (both big 4'x2') and top up the water. I had decided I couldn't do any pleasure things till that was done.

Organised myself and got to work. Both filters cleaned and started on the top up. I have a water tank and it is perfect to use the water from it - no need to add conditioner. Had a little trouble getting the pump running but things were going smoothly......HA!

Filled the first tank and then went on to the second, suddenly - no power!

Okay I thought, safety switch has tripped, no problem.

Went out to the meter box and reset the trip switch, click - tripped again. Turned off all the switches, reset trip switch then turned them on one at a time. Got to the last one - power points - when bang trip switch AND the circuit breaker. Great need to a) replace fuse b) figure out which thing is overloading then turned back on. Simple.

Ah, but I hadn''t counted on the fact that I had recently had a new meter box installed - I have solar electricity and my electricity provided had upgraded my meter box and installed a remote aerial so they didn't have to set foot on my property to read the meter, instead it went straight to their work computer.

Now instead of being able to pull out the circuit breaker and replace the fuse there was this large board. Call No 2 son (the builder) and asked if there was some special trick to remove said broken circuit - No. Call No 1 son who was in the truck in the area and he came around.

After 15 mins of cursing etc, finally managed to remove cover then broken circuit - entire thing to be replace no fuses to see. Go buy one mum and I will drive back and replace it.

Off I went to find a shop that would sell the circuit breaker (without an electrician licence....rotfl). Finally found one and figured it was smart to buy two. Scrapped the bottom of the barrel to dig up the requisite coinage.

I might add that is off pay week for me and I live to a very strict budget - unfortunately I had bought something through the two weeks that a) I really shouldn't have and b) it cost me almost $170.....lol.

Passed by the warehouse were son was loading truck and gave him the parts; figured while I was out I would buy the two chocolate easter bunnies I needed. Why did I need them? Had bought all the eggs etc, got them home only to discover that the 'delightful' shop assistant had put two of the bunnies UNDER cans of dog food.

So went to the supermarket (again) and bought the bunnies needed (again), digging up the odd coin floating in the bottom of the bag (again).

Got home - tools and spare circuit on front chair - job done!

Ah ah - got inside and discover still no power - Okay No1 son may not have reset the safety. Went out and did it. Yep, you guessed it - clicked off again. Ggrrrr.

Came inside and unplugged the two filters and the water tank pump. Went outside and reset switch.......Yah stayed on.

Came inside and plugged in one filter - still safe. That was it - quit while I was ahead. The pump didn't need to be on and the other tank has no fish in it so filter can stay off for a bit.

Sat down and had a coffee. By now it was mid afternoon. Okay I can get some paint onto the canvas now. Oh damn - I have every oil colour imagineable but no WHITE!!!

Okay - I can work around that until I can go to art supply shop next Wednesday.

Just got started when phone rang - MIL very distressed re her other children who have been rather nasty to her lately, beats me why - keep telling her she should sell and live in a nursing home when she is quite capable of looking after herself, she is 84. Daughter is not not talking to her as is her husband and other son came over that day and had been nasty and made her cry. She rang me to have a good cry then started about P - it will be 2 years since he died on Monday.

Got off the phone to her feeling rather down and noticed some coloured foil on the ground.

Look closer - it was easter egg foil!!!

Raced to my work room to discover the door was open (I had pulled it shut so the dogs couldn't get in).

Fozzie had gone through all the easter bag presents and eaten every single egg, bunny, bilby and chocolate.

AAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!

What's a girl to do but burst into tears!!

Searched through all the bags and sadly nothing left but presents nothing remotely like a piece of chocolate.

I had no choice - I had to go out to the supermarket and replace them. The next day was a public holiday and Saturday I had arranged a big family BBQ including my oldest grandson who I rarely see so things had to be replaced NOW.

Sat down and fiddled with the finances - you know rob peter to pay paul. Just hope no direct debit bills come in before next Weds....rotfl.

Have to go back to the supermarket; but wait where are my shoes? Searched the house and couldn't find my shoes. I have arthritis in both feet and wear flatties all the time. My most comfortable ones had gone missing; all I had left was a pair of blue thongs or silver and black evening sandals, grabbed the sandals. One more search of the house but still couldn't find my shoes. Think Bella may have taken them - she loves to eat shoes!

Was now 7pm, raced to store and hardly anything left. Managed to replace all the chocolates; came home and stashed them on the highest shelf in the pantry. Fozzie would now have to open the door (which he just proved he could); get a ladder and then move aside baking pans to get to the chocolate - I am reasonably safe I think.

So finally I figured all is well.

Ha ha. Got stuck into some chocolate biscuits that I had bought for Saturday; still feeling weepy and in desperate need of some TLC and hugs. Didn't get it - at least not the concern and fuss what I wanted....sometimes I am too much of a 'big girls blouse'......rotfl.

Went to bed around 10. Ah, bliss.

Uh Uh - midnight.

Something woke me up - got out of bed, what is that smell?? Turn on the light.

Oh NO!! Bella had been sick all over the rug in my bedroom. Went out into the kitchen to get something to clean it up - 4 more LARGE deposits scattered through the house.

There I was at 12 o'clock washing floors and cleaning carpets. Finally got everything cleaned up, checked Bella and she seemed better and was asleep.

Back to bed only to be woken at 2.55am - Bella again!!

More floor washing.

That's it - today I have to cook for tomorrow. Am making Lemon Meringue pie, caramel tart, some biscuits and maybe some brownies - if one thing, just one thing goes wrong - I am cancelling the rest of the day and going to bed!!!

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