As I sit here, we are in the middle of a CRASHING thunderstorm. They have been predicting it, and hopefully, it will clear out the oppressive heat and humidity we have had the past couple days.
When I picked DS up at work tonight at 10:00PM, I could see the lightening far off...quite a light show. Then, as I got closer to the grocery store where he works, the wind picked up. Any other time, he'd be right outside waiting for me. Tonight, he didn't come out until 10:11 because he wanted to buy a bag of chips. As we were driving home, the rain started. I don't care now, as we are in the house for the night. I LOVE to lie in bed and listen to a thunderstorm.

I'm not afraid of them, but I have a healthy respect for the awesome power of them. When I was a teenager, my Mom and I came home one night in a thunderstorm. It was pouring, so we waited for a break in the rain to make a run for it. Just as I grabbed the handle of the aluminum storm door on the porch, it got hit with lightning. I was knocked flat on my back, to the ground. (My family says that THAT explains it! LOL!)
Too bad we can't harness that energy. Maybe we'd need less oil.

By Marcia on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 12:51 am:

We had that crazy storm last night, and were without power for most of the night. Some areas will be without for a few days, because of the poles that went down. Today we had a nice break from the heat and humidity.
OUCH about the door and the lightning. I guess that's an experience you'll never forget.

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 06:19 am:

We had them too. The storm started up very, very suddenly with rushing wind. We were without power also, but for only a few minutes. I don't understand why - I think it has to do with where various transformers are located - but power can go out for miles around us in a winter ice storm or heavy summer storm, and my block and a couple of blocks surrounding my block have never lost power in the 15 years I've been in this house. It's eerie, to drive along streets where the power is out and suddenly, when I turn into my small area, the lights are on.

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 10:03 am:

We had it a couple days ago... I love thunderstorms!! Friday night one was brewing, and we could see the ONE cloud formation with lightning INSIDE of it, it was surreal!

By Dandjmom on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 01:03 pm:

There was a storm yesterday in maryland that was a real doozie. High winds, a few trees fell in front of my building, and of course who can forget the nickel size hail. My baby thought they where ice cubes he was picking them up saying ooohhhh ice Ma.

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 01:49 pm:

One of the partners in the firm, who lives in Chester County, lost his power and won't have it back until Saturday!!! - or that's the estimate right now.

By Hol on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 11:34 pm:

The most beautiful lightning I ever saw was one summer in Wyoming. We were staying on the second floor of a motel. DH and I stood on the balcony watching it split the sky accross the Black Hills. Awesome!

By Cocoabutter on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 11:47 pm:

We had that storm Monday night. They said that over 300,000 power customers were without service the next day. We lost our power, but quickly got it back the next morning, after I had been to the store for ice for the food in the fridge.

We lost our power around 10:15 Monday night, so we sat on our enclosed front porch and watched the storm. What an awesome lightening show!

Our post office caught fire on their transformer outside the building. I suspect that it was struck by lightening as we saw lots of strikes out in that direction. Lots of wind damage to the north of us, too, and some flooding as well, since we got record rainfall that night.

By Hol on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 01:43 am:

Lisa - I'm with you. I WILT in the heat. I don't understand people who love hot weather, either. It actually makes me sick to my stomach.
It's quite a bit cooler here now. I turned off the AC's to give them (and my electric bill) a rest. The sunset was a beautiful pink last night. It is supposed to be cool and dry here on Thursday.