How would you like to stay connected while traveling across the country, yet not have to rely on finding hotspots? Sound like a good deal? I think so, but am seriously beginning to wonder if it will actually happen. I hope it will. I cross my fingers that it will. And yes, I’ve even said a prayer that it will.

What am I talking about? Autonet Mobile. Go ahead, check out their site, it sounds fantastic, and it’s been the buzz for awhile now, but I’m still waiting.

Autonet Mobile

I’ve been hearing about this great thing for over a year, and back at the beginning of February I sent off a query to the company asking when it would be available to the public. I was amazed (and excited even!) that I received an answer the very next day.

Hello,

Thank you for contacting Autonet Mobile. We will be announcing pricing and
availability in a few weeks.

Stay tuned….

Autonet Mobile

I received that message on February 4th. It’s now May 3rd. Exactly how long is a few weeks?

:-(

I think so!

We’ve had some nice t-storms over the past week here in Florida, and I have to admit, I’ve been loving it. Unfortunately my storm pictures turned out cruddy looking, but all was not lost!

I had been taking an online course with Rob Sheppard (PC Photo, Outdoor Photographer, as well as numerous books) and decided to undertake a garden remodel to go with my course. As many know gardening in Florida can be a daunting task because of the heat. So I was thrilled when the storms started rumbling!

I am still working on the front garden, have about half of it is done, but decided to share a peek at just one of the many plants going in.

Gaura lindheimei

Whew, just got home not 20 minutes ago, walked into the garage, when suddenly…

BOOOOM!!

BOOOOM!!

Holy crap, did someone just ram my house?!

And then I remembered, ran inside and got to watch the landing on NASA TV.  I get goosebumps every time they go up and every time they come home.

Welcome Home Endeavour! :D

Just a couple more critters

Syntomeida epilais Walker

Oleander Caterpillar

Danaus plexippus

Monarch Caterpillar

Just have to give a shout out for a book that I received Thursday evening when UPS dropped it off. Opened the package this afternoon and put it down tonight. Finished. It is, Storm Chaser, A Photographer’s Journey, by Jim Reed.

Have no fear I’ll definitely be picking it up again, and again to go over it, but going beyond the images, which are mesmerizing, fascinating and sometimes downright scary, it was the author’s writing that had my attention. Especially when he spoke about hurricanes. Having lived through Hurricane Andrew, then within 2 months time, Hurricanes Charley, Francis and Jeanne, his telling of his thoughts while going through hurricanes brought back many memories. And I just kept nodding my head as I read his ‘journal’ of Hurricane Katrina, as if he could actually see me agreeing with him and encouraging him to continue on ’speaking’! While Katrina was certainly no laughing matter, I did have to chuckle, because as I read the journal, I kept thinking, that could have been me writing that as I remembered my journal I kept for the 2004 Hurricane season. No, the words aren’t the same and the circumstances are different, but for me, my journal was a stress-reliever. I would write by the light of a hurricane lamp in the middle of the night, as I sat on a couch next to the open windows praying for a breeze after the hurricanes. Sure couldn’t sleep afterwards, it was too hot, too muggy, too humid… you get the picture. So, to be able to read what someone was thinking while in certain situations is almost calming to me. It may not make sense but that is just how my logic or illogic if you may, mind, works.

So, if I haven’t scared you off, order this book or go to bookstore and get it. You will see hurricanes, supercells, dust clouds, tornadoes and so much more. But you will also get an inside look into the thinking of a professional storm chaser.

One day I hope to meet Jim and his chase partner, Katherine Bay, who knows, maybe even get to learn from them by tagging along on a chase. That would be the ultimate for me.