elrhiarhodan

A sun dog or sundog, scientific name parhelion (plural parhelia) from Greek παρήλιον (parēlion), meaning "beside the sun" (also called a mock sun or a phantom sun), is an atmospheric phenomenon that creates bright spots of light in the sky, often on a luminous ring or halo on either side of the sun.

Sundogs may appear as a colored patch of light to the left or right of the sun, 22° distant and at the same distance above the horizon as the sun, and in ice halos. They can be seen anywhere in the world during any season, but they are not always obvious or bright. Sundogs are best seen and are most conspicuous when the sun is low.

Wikipedia

Driving to work this morning, I was entranced by a sun dog. It wasn't particularly strong and for that matter, I couldn't see it without either looking at it through the polarized portion of my windshield or my sunglasses. But it was mesmerizing - this patch of rainbow sky - a parenthesis to the sun. It lacked it's partner, though - at least as I could see.

I've taken to driving the scenic route to the office - not because it's scenic (that's just a bonus) but because it takes less time. The expressway is the direct route, a straight line for 13 miles or so, and it rarely gets backed up (my office is south and east, the opposite direction of most commuter traffic). But when I have to get off the highway, the traffic has become insane. Just before I get to my office, I have to deal with a huge and busy huge intersection where the north-south and east-west turning lanes can't go simultaneously. If I miss the light, it's almost three minutes before I can try again. Once school is in session, it takes an average of nine minutes to make that turn.

By taking the scenic route, it's 3 miles longer, but about 8 minutes shorter most mornings. And today, as an extra special bonus, I got the sun dog. The sky was particularly beautiful, filled with a patchwork of high cirrus clouds, gilded by the rising sun. I'm not a particularly good morning person (aesthetically, I prefer sunset to sunrise), but this was a good one. Hopefully a harbinger of the day to come.

My brain is dry.

Yeah...in that sort of parched feeling you get after a night of mouth breathing. Ideas are brittle and are disinclined to elaboration. But I am not complaining. August 2011 may be my most prolific month in fandom. So I look at this as more overload than writer's block.

A couple of things of note.

Labor(free) Day Weekend is Big Fandom Weekend for me and my peepls. rabidchild67, jrosemary and doctor_fangeek are getting on the road and coming for a visit. I anticipate much squeeing and writing and admiring of Tatt DeBomer. The Kraken and the Gun Show.


queenaeron sent me this fascinating article about RPS: Real Person Slash — Does It Cross The Line?. Anyone who reads or writes RPS will find this very interesting (and very positive).

I have a meme going and I'm gonna throw a damn tantrum if you don't go play on it: Fic Recognition Meme - Stump the Author. I am stumpable, and if you play this meme on your own journal too, I'll write a ficlet for you.

I am still without cable and internet, my mechanic/dealership is still without power. And I still have a rental car. Grrr.

It's KellerFest on White Collar Fixation. The whole week is devoted to all things Matthew Keller. I'm working on the Thinky Thoughts meta for Bottlenecked. It's interesting to rewatch such a seminal Season One episode after his subsequent appearances. Anyone have Fic Recs for Keller?

New chapter of We Shall Come Home goes up tonight. Yeah, I'm spamming your damn flists. Sorry (not).

The sky is perfectly blue. Not a cloud in sight.

Happy Tuesday.

( This one hasn't been seen in a while )

Winter is upon us...can Spring be far behind?

( Ummmm...yeah! )

Dear Flist

Happy First Day of the Second Half of 2010, and hope your day is going well (it's early yet, so don't give up hope).

I had a friend (emphasis on had - despite the fact that we had known each other for 15 years, she treated me like shit one too many times and I dumped her) who always marvelled at the blue skies we get here during summer time.  She lived in NJ, and said that between June and August, the skies were always whitish gray and hazy, even at the Shore.  Until she came to visit over the 4th of July weekend, she always thought I was exaggerating or lying (one of the principle reasons we're no longer friends.  If she didn't believe it, or my experience was different from hers, I was a liar).

Anyway, I digress.  Summertime skies here on Long Island are something to marvel at.  Even in the worst humidity, we don't get that dirty heat haze.  Perhaps it's having two shorelines only 20 miles apart.  Whatever the reason, it makes my days much more pleasant.  This is the view out of my office window: