18 June 2008

Crazy times in Miami

I'm in Miami for Tuesday through Thursday of this week again to observe operations at one of our contract manufacturers in the area. After being here back in April, I've found my way fairly easily but I just had to comment on two of the crazy aspects of the area.

For one, I just can't figure out the street naming system. I'm used to cities having a system such as even number streets running East/West and odd numbered streets running North/South or something like that. Here there is no such system. I take US1 to SW 152nd street, turn right onto SW 122nd street then again turn right onto SW 144th street. How can they all be Southwest?! As far as I can tell, if someone told me that I needed to get to 144th Street, without any help I would have NO IDEA which way to go (thank goodness the Garmin doesn't get as confused as I do)! Crazy. I figure there must be some explanation but I haven't gotten it yet!


The other crazy thing is the weather. I can't believe the rain that they've gotten. I've been in Florida for the afternoon thunderstorms before but the rain over the last two days was unlike anything I've seen before. Yesterday during lunch I went to Panera and got nervous that a hurricane or tornado was coming after sitting down and noticing the sky turned black instantly. The wall of black got closer and closer then the downpour started. It was an immediate downpour like someone flipped a switch! The rain fell so hard it was hard to see across the parking lot and the drops were so large that they formed huge splashes on the pavement. The thunder was so loud it was setting off car alarms and the lightning was all over the place. Then it would stop just as fast. Today I did the same thing at lunch and encountered the same thing. I wish I had taken a picture of it. It's apparently in pockets as I was just watching the news and the rainfall totals for yesterday and today (so far) range from over 7 inches (!!) in one area to less than one inch in Ft. Lauderdale. The t-storms are currently continuing and the same is expected for tomorrow. I fly out so I hope there is some break or that the MIA airport is in one of those T-storm free pockets! During the plane's arrival on my last trip down here I had the scariest landing of my life when we flew through a t-storm and the pilot had to pull up and gun it out of there because just as we were about to touch down lightning hit in the area. We circled and during the next approach we landed but the lightning was still all over the place and I did not enjoy it!


I'm 19 weeks today! Almost halfway through! I noticed I'm starting to have slight swelling, my rings and watch are getting tight and leaving slight marks on my fingers and wrist. I hope it's just because I'm not on my normal schedule nor am I drinking water as constantly as I normally do but it may a sign of jewelry free times to come! :(

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