Weather's Personalities

The National Weather Service's first issued forecast occurred on 1 November 1870, forecasting windy weather for Chicago, Illinois.  In 1871, the first public weather forecast was issued.  Historians consider John Jeffries one of America's first meteorologists.  Born 5 February 1744, Jeffries was a Boston physician who kept detailed records of weather conditions.  Thus began America's interest with weather.

I read Erik Larson's Issac's Storm a few years ago which details Issac Cline, Texas' chief weatherman in 1900, and the 1900 Galveston Hurricane.  I originally chose the book because of the Bolivar Lighthouse's and keeper Harry C. Claiborne's roles in the 1900 Galveston Hurricane.  I learned many new historical events, but what seemed to keep my attention most, was the way the people reacted to the initial storm.  People enjoyed the warm weather and went in to the water to swim and surf.  Cline measured and timed the swells, and initially offered no warnings to the people.  When the danger warnings went out, with wanton hubris, many ignored them.  Over 8,000 people died in the storm.

Last year, I read the book Halsey's Typhoon by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin.  In heartrending detail the book outlines the damage, destruction, and heroic survival of the US Navy's 3rd Fleet in December 1944 in the Philippine Sea.  The detail that sticks with me most is the high probability that two fishermen witnessed the birth of Typhoon Cobra.  They observed the very mild winds that kicked up from the sea that would form the typhoon.  That fact is jaw-dropping and leaves me in total awe.

We all have watched weather forecasts and observed those blue lines with triangles indicating cold fronts and their directional movement and red lines with bubbles indicating warm fronts and their directional movements.  Technology vastly improved forecasting so that forecasters can accurately estimate a front's or storm's arrival.  So, what is it like to be present at the beginning of a weather event?  I never thought about it beyond the Issac's Storm and Halsey's Typhoon events, until today.

I have a beautiful Red-flowering Dogwood Tree.  I thought it would be slow growing and stay relatively small.  I was wrong.  Originally, I planted it in a small bed near the porch and side-door entrance.  The tree grew really fast and branched out so much so, that when people walked in and out of the house, the Dogwood attacked them.  The Texas heat is not kind or forgiving to plants, shrubbery, and trees.  Last year, I observed daily the location on the east side of the house that received the least amount of summer sun so the tree could be replanted in predominant summer shade.  

Enjoying the 70 degree temperatures, calm winds, and warmth, Saturday, Cody and I dug the hole for the tree.  Today, Cody and I relocated the tree.  We knew that an Arctic Polar blast is headed our way bringing the coldest temperatures of the year and precipitation on Tuesday and Wednesday.  We figured this was the best time to re-plant, hopefully ensuring the tree's survival.  As we began to fill the hole, we both stopped work.  Not smell, not sight, not feel, but instead, we heard the cold front's arrival.  It was very strange that we heard it, before we felt it.  Winds about 30 feet above the ground changed, and that is what we heard.  The winds blew from the south until the change; then, there was a hard push from the east, as next indicated by the flags blowing and the feel of the winds on our bodies.  The air was still very warm.  About two minutes later, the winds blew from the north, northwest and were noticeably cooler.  We were still filling in the hole, but temperatures cooled, then stabilized for about 20 minutes, and then continued to drop.  Unfortunately, the sun's warmth and blue sky are gone, and calm, but very cool winds doth blow.  I wonder what I will remember of the storm's beginning as the harsh weather conditions descend upon us this week?

Tough Enough to Wear Pink

I love rodeos; I'm not sure why, but I really love rodeos, so it was off to Fort Worth for the Susan G. Komen night where the Rodeo goes Pink!  Panhandle Slim sponsors the clothing, and so all workers and most of the participants wear pink.  Several years previously, I tried in vain to buy the official shirt, but much to my chagrin, the shirt is not available to the public, even breast cancer survivors.  Last year's shirt was a brighter/darker pink, and this year, a pretty, pale pink.

This was the fifth annual event and our fourth trip, well, third trip.  We had tickets in 2009, but the snowstorm kept us home that evening.  In 2008 Cody had just returned from the ranch, and I asked Cody out to this rodeo--our first big date.  Our friends Julie and Steve decided to join us this year, and yes, we all wore pink.  We ate cotton candy, popcorn, hotdogs, and corny dogs.  Steve, a true, all-American cowboy himself, recognized many participants, as well as other spectators.  Julie has even been to the rodeo in Vegas.  I know, because I picked her up at the airport, the only thing was, their plane was delayed, so I spent part of the night in the airport.  Poor girl, Jules' plane arrived sometime around 4:45 a.m.  We're wiser now, so we just stay out a little late for the arena festival.

Shawn Brackett

Steve knows the man who trains Whiplash, the Rodeo Monkey.  Julie loves Whiplash, but unfortunately, Whiplash was not at this year's or last year's rodeo.  In addition to the typical rodeo events, we were entertained with the 4-H/FFA Calf Scramble, Weatherford's Anthony Lucia-Mr. Versatility trick roping, Shawn Brackett-The Sensational Shawn driving his horses while standing on their backs, and the Canadian Chuck Wagon Races--vicious, aggressive drivers.

I don't know what rodeo event I like best.  I do cheer for the calves in the tie-down roping, and I think the bull-riders are crazy.  I really like watching the girls maneuver their horses around the barrels and the team roping.  The only clowns I like are the rodeo clowns for the bull riders, and they always put on a good show and take swell care of the riders.  Rodeos are just two hours of good, clean fun, whether they are the professional rodeos like Fort Worth, Houston, or San Antonio, or the small shows along America's by-ways, like the Drummond, MT rodeo. 

One late-spring night in the early 1990s, I didn't have anything pressing to do, so I drove to Red Oak, TX, and on Pratt Road is a small arena.  Being out in the country, especially then, the lights can be seen for many miles.  Nearing midnight, the events had not even begun to wind down.  About this time, this very fancy truck with fancy matching horse trailer pulls up.  A nice-looking cowboy gets out and talks with a few folks looking for a team roping partner.  The cowboy found a partner, and while that cowboy couldn't rope worth a flip, the crowd loved him, because that cowboy was the George Strait.  As I understand it, George is a much better roper today than then.

I guess one of the best things about the Ft. Worth rodeo is that the event graciously honors breast-cancer survivors, and sharing that time with a good friend is always fun.  Julie and I had been fast friends in the late 1980s and early 90s, but unfortunately, geography defined our friendship the last decade.  Choosing not to let where we live dictate when and where we spend time is a great decision, and our friendship has picked up where we left off, as if 10 years had not elapsed.  Had I not won my breast cancer battle, I would have never known two of the three people sitting with me last night.  I don't know if other survivors have that recurring thought, but my post-cancer experiences, joys, adventures, and friends happily remind me that I would have not known this without a good fight, and being honored for that fight feels good.  Here's to many more Susan G. Komen nights at the rodeo with Cody, the man of my dreams, and great friends!

Moonlight and Magnolias Antebellum Ball



Bradley, Stephanie, Cody, & Julia



Cody and I attended the 6th annual Moonlight and Magnolias Antebellum Ball hosted by the 12th Texas Artillery reenacting unit.  Our friends, Stephanie and Bradley Ford, who are very active members and partial owners of two of the unit's cannons (named Elijah and Gideon), invited us to attend.  Stephanie and Bradley outfitted us with antebellum attire, and so we prepared.  A consummate reenactor, Stephanie's artistic talent spills over in to her sewing; thus, not only did Stephanie lend me the beaugtiful ball gown, but also the hoop skirt, the bustle, and the corset. This period's fashion demands dressing assistance!

You know, I have looked at pictures of my relatives from that time period, and often wondered at the looks on their faces and the absence of a smile. I still don't know the answer, but after readying myself for the ball, I have some insight as to plausible answers.

My hair is not short but not long, either, so I had to explore the Internet for fashionable hairstyles of the 1860s.  I found several valuable sites with instructions and pictures, so I began.  In the 1860s, the "In-look" was a round face, broad shoulders, and broad hips.  Really!  Hair designs poofed the hair at the sides at the nape of the neck to create the round face.  Thus, I began to reshape my face.  I shampooed my hair at noon; let it dry naturally for 30 minutes, and then blew it dry.  I created the absolutely terrible down-the-middle part (gross), and ran errands with Cody for three hours.  My hair is partly wavy to curly, and the frizz was on.  Not period, but I put a little product in to smooth down the frizz and began using the flatening iron.

After the down-the-middle part, a Y-part is created at the crown sectioning the hair into thirds--a straight section behind the ears, and section of hair on each side.  Working the back section, first, I put it in a ponytail, created a hole in the ponytail, and kept looping the ponytail through the hole until I couldn't loop it any more.  Using bobbypins, what a joke, I decently pinned this roll bun, but seeing as I can not pin my hair myself, I needed serious help--the kind only a Mom can do, so Cody phoned Mom, who came over to pin, and insert the hair comb.

Bustle

While waiting on Mom, I began to dress. I wore nylon pantyhose, not silk stockings, but after that, everything was relatively period. The bustle came next. Yes, ladies, the 1860s fashion wanted a "roomy rear-end", so I added "lift" to my buttocks. A typical bustle was stuffed with rags, and at this time period, the bustle was small. Continuing the oh-so-opposite-of-today's fashion trends came the corset. The corset snaps in front, laces in back, pushes up the ta-tas, and flares the hips; yes, that is right, it makes the hips wider! Cody had to lace the back, and concentrating on equally pulling the strings from the top and bottom and trying to cinch the sides together, Cody forgot that my torso was inside the corset. Ever-so-politely, I asked the man to ease up on the cinching. Loosening the strings, Cody tied me off, all the while, The Gone with the Wind scene where Mamie is trying to cinch Miss Scarlet's corset to her pre-birth size of a 16 inch waist plays painfully in my mind.  The hoop skirt went on next, and it ties in the front, not the back. The wooden rings are pretty pliable, and yes, there is a right and a wrong way to sit with the hoop skirt.  The hip flare on the corset and the bustle actually hold up the hoop skirt to keep it off the ground.  After donning these accoutrments, Cody helped slip the gown's skirt over my head, aligning the back bow and ruffles correctly!  Mom was on her way, so I returned to my hair.

Corset

I learned a few facts regarding the corset.  I knew that the corset's structural support originally came from whale bones.  Laced properly, the corset is actually comfortable, especially the ones designed for wear during pregnancy.  Due to the corset, mid to late 19th century ladies had very weak back and stomach muscles.  (The stomach muscle is what dictates erect posture.)  The corset offers great support, but when the body does not have to use its own energy or memory, the muscles becomes weak due to their underuse.  World War I caused the corset to go out of fashion.  Corset structural supports moved away from whale bone and to steel by the turn of the 20th century.  The US government asked ladies to donate their corsets to the war effort.  The government built two battleships by salvaging the steel used in corsets.  What a turn of events.

Back to the lovely hair:  I sectioned each side into twos, braiding the one closer to the back and French braiding the front section.  As I plait the first braid, I becme really light-headed, similar to when standing up really fast from a squatting position.  I waited a bit, and began braiding, again.  Well, along with the period clothing came the period vapors.  Yes, Cody had to come loosen the corset again, forget Scarlet's 16" waist.  Cody helped get the gown's top over my head, and yes, it also laced down the back, as well.  However, it didn't lace nearly as tightly as the corset.  I plaited all four braids; Mom arrived and pinned my hair in a gazillon places, telling me how Mamaw used to fuss at Mom for using her teeth to open up the pins.  Oh, I really appreciated all Mom's experience with the bobby pin, because I could not get that contraption to work.  Not taking in the washing and drying time, Mom and I spent an hour-and-a-half, just doing my hair, and while it was relatively close to period (I cheated using ponytail holders and plastic pins), it was ugly!  Thank you, Lord, for Brighton banana clips!

Cody's wedding photography experience came in handy.  I could not figure out how to get in to the car, but having dealt with many brides and bridal gowns, Cody instructed away.  I didn't quite get it right, though, and the skirt was nearly hitting me in the face.  Oh, what adventures.

We arrived at the ball, had our picture taken, found our table with Bradley, Stephanie, and Stephanie's parents, and so the socializing began.  The dinner was delicious--Chicken Cordon Bleu, roast beef, baked potato, green beans, fruit salad, and for dessert--chocolate cake, Italian creme cake, carrot cake, banana pudding, and a creme pie.  Delicious and after an hour, the dancing began.  We started with the Grande March, waltzed, and raucously clapped and whooped for the Virginia Reel.  The silent auction interceded the dancing for a time, but the band struck up the chords again.  Many were intricate couples' dances which separated the couples through many partners, but making the correct turns, reunited them again.  We chose to watch and visit until the last dance--another waltz.  I researched the Dance Card on-line, but I did not print one out.  By their standards, my card would have been rather dull, but in my opinion, I would have had the best Dance Card--Grande March, Mr. Cody Mood Bell III; Waltzes--Mr. Cody Mood Bell III, and etc., etc., etc., ultimately making me the Bell of Cody's Ball.