Hot and stormy
The above pretty much sums up the past week. Today is the solstice, and from what I understand it is the earliest the summer solstice has been in 228 years. Interesting!
We've been consistently in the 90s all week, although it hasn't been as broiling as predicted (earlier this week it was supposed to be 97; I think it was 91). Saturday could be a scorcher.
Weirder though were some of the scattered storms. I mean, really scattered. Monday especially was pretty wild. Here, where I live, it was ominous-looking, and I heard a couple rumbles of thunder- but that was it. I don't think it even rained. But 15-20 minutes east and southeast of me got NAILED. Thousands of people lost power due to the high winds. One city really got nailed in terms of high winds. I heard someone working at a Dollar General say they saw a cart get lifted into the air and soar away out of site. Freakier were photos I saw of a trampoline that went sailing out of someone's yard. It landed on some power lines. This wasn't one of those little one-person trampolines, either, but a BIG one. I'd guesstimate at least 8-10 feet across, the type you'd need a pickup to load it onto. Yikes!
Had a lovely evening Tuesday with my OST ladies. We had ice cream with a variety of toppings, then our business meeting, where plenty of jokes along with business were shared. Always enjoy getting together with them when I can.
I worked on Juneteenth- and am wondering if I'm a jinx. BUSY day. Just glad I could spend it inside. I got a small floor fan. Between that and my ceiling fan I've kept nice and cool despite the scorching summer hear (in fact I had to turn off the ceiling fan a couple times this week because I got *too* cold).
Also, finished up another round of O. Henry short stories. Can't believe I'm near the bottom of the list on the site I found these stories!
104. The Sleuths. This one is hilarious! We see Shamrock Jolnes again, this time as he assists a man who is looking for his sister. Or, at least he tries to help, but another sleuth is called in to assist. Definitely ribbing Conan Doyle with this one.
105. The Skylight Room. I remember reading this in either middle or high school. I recall really liking this story at that time, and I do still enjoy the ending. But overall, reading this with more adult eyes, I realize this story really has not aged well in a couple respects. I now only consider it meh.
106. The Shocks of Doom. One of O. Henry's more mediocre stories. One, too much of the plot twist is given away too early. Also, the ending just didn't work for me. The rapport between the two main characters - one recently made homeless and someone who had been on the streets for a while -- was good, even sweet. But the reader already has an idea on how it's going to very early on. Meh.
107. The Rubber Plant's Story. I really enjoyed this story, told from the point of view of a rubber plant. We follow it's travels as a young plant in a pony circus to a young woman's flat. Very funny tale!
108. The Rubaiyat of a Scotch Highball. An enjoyable story, even if some terms may not have aged too well. The story follows a young man who decides to cut out alcohol after overhearing a snide remark from a colleague. His wife is not entirely on board but the way they reconnect is sweet (even if it is misunderstood by their landlady). Do wonder how much of O. Henry was in the fictional man; the author struggled with alcoholism and drinking in excess contributed to his early death.
109. The Romance of a Busy Broker. Interesting tale- it's told through the eyes of an onlooker, a worker at a brokerage firm observing the behavior of his boss and his secretary. The whirlwind of activity is high, with an added dose of office intrigue. Also- the ending surprised me, didn't see it coming. Made me laugh out loud.
110. The Robe of Peace. Really, really funny. Hard to give out much of the plot without giving away spoilers. Two men find their mutual friend by accident and the most unlikely place. His reasons for being there are even more incredible. The ending had me cracking up.
111. The Roads We Take. Ick. Didn't care for this one at all. It hasn't aged well and the ending just didn't work for me. Here, a group of desperados plan a heist, but nothing goes right.
112. The Remnants of the Code. A chapter from Of Cabbages and Kings. The town drunk has hit rock bottom and decides to use a hidden ace to blackmail a respected wealthy man. Will his code of honor, however, work for or against him?
113. The Reformation of Calliope. An OK story with a sweet ending but I've seen a similar plot in at least one other O. Henry tale, and done better. Here, Calliope has gone on yet another rampage, but this time the marshal has rounded up some men to put a permanent end to his wild behavior. The final standoff at the railway station holds an unexpected surprise. I do wonder how much of Calliope is O. Henry writing about his own struggles and hopes for forgiveness. I did have to read the ending twice to figure out just what happened.
114. The Red Roses of Tonia. Easter is fast approaching, but Tonia doesn't have her coveted Easter bonnet because the train delivering it to her has broken down. Two gentlemen dash off to find a suitable substitute hat at a store across town, each hoping to best the other in finding a hat - and a place at Tonia's side. The ending is rather different. Amusing story, especially liked the exchanges between the two suiters.
115. The Rathskeller and the Rose. In this tale, a young man covets the part of the lead in a new play, where he will be alongside a pretty and popular actress. But in order to win her opinion, he has to show her that he can play someone from the country-- which is something the actress would know about from first-hand experience. The ending was predictable but amusing.