Harvey Art

IBD EDITORIAL: IF YOU'RE FOCUSED ON GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO HARVEY, YOU'RE LOOKING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION

COMPLIMENTS OF MY FAVORITE NEW WEBSITE:  Space City Weather. I like hype-free, drama-free, catastrophe-free news and weather---and everything for that matter.  Today it's all exaggerated to get hits and people riled up and anxious. It's laborious, predictable, manipulative.

Anyway, from the Space City Weather site today:

Wednesday, 7:50am CT—It is an absolutely amazing morning in Houston—humidity is low for August, temperatures are in the low 70s, and the sun can be seen as it rises above the eastern horizon. The only trace of our recently departed Hurricane Harvey is some northwesterly winds gusting into the mid-20s. But even those should die down today.

Speaking of Harvey, the storm has made its final landfall this morning, and is now located near Lake Charles, La. The storm continues to lash the Beaumont and Port Arthur area with rains (because clearly Harvey has a seething hatred for all things Texas), and they are seeing similar conditions as Houston earlier this week. Those areas should begin clearing later today too as Harvey moves steadily northeast. Let’s discuss the forecast, and also address the concerns some of you have about tropical weather next week.....


Today: Skies will be partly sunny, and we expect high temperatures to rise into the upper 80s. Rain chances should be near zero. Brisk northwesterly winds will help drain bayous, too.

The National Weather Service this morning urged people not to “sightsee” in damaged areas as the weather improves, and I would echo these sentiments. There are still dangers in some areas—and let’s be honest, if your home was destroyed would you want gawkers coming by to survey the damage? Heck no. Respect your fellow citizens, and the first responders taking the first steps to getting our city on the road to recovery.

I like it when people say Heck no and Heck yes. It's so down home and unpretentious.

Space City Weather Is Glad Houston Is Finally Showing Harvey the Door!

FROM SPACE CITY WEATHER---HYPE-FREE FORECASTS FOR GREATER HOUSTON

TUESDAY PM: HARVEY BEGINS TO WORK TOWARDS THE EXITS

Tuesday, 2:05pm CT— Good afternoon. Another dreary day across much of the region as Harvey (finally!) begins to slowly pick up some speed and pull away. Thankfully the Houston area has seen minimal additional rains today, with most places across the hardest hit spots earlier in the week at or below one inch of new rain. Today’s hardest hit location is clearly Galveston.

Now and Tonight

Harvey is a shell of what it once was, but it’s trying to take up a new lease on life as it leaves our area.

Harvey trying to reorganize a bit as it begins to exit the region. (GR Level 3)

Harvey has been hammering Galveston all morning with heavy rain over 7″ total today, along with strong winds. Gusts over 50 mph have occurred at times on the island. This will continue as Harvey pulls away, but with a slight downward trend eventually.
Rains have really cut back around Houston, which is great news for us. Our neighbors to the east are unfortunately now in a serious predicament with extremely heavy rain pointed at the Beaumont and Port Arthur area. These areas have been similarly battered by rainfall since the weekend. Heavy rains will lash that area through this evening, worsening a bad situation. Some additional rains may redevelop tonight over Houston, but around the city, rain totals today will be the lowest they’ve been since at least Saturday.

Tomorrow and Beyond

Harvey is on its way, and it will make landfall late tonight or tomorrow morning likely in Cameron Parish, LA or near Port Arthur. We should see rain risk trend downward tomorrow with just a few showers, mostly in the morning and amounts should be mainly inconsequential as it relates to flooding. Skies may not clear out completely, but many of you will see sunshine tomorrow I project. We will stay dry into the weekend before at least some rain chances (hopefully mostly scattered stuff and nothing too organized) returns to the picture after Labor Day. We’ll have more on that once we dust ourselves off after Harvey’s exit.
Posted at 2:05 PM Tuesday by Matt

Sunday--The Anointing of Victory

Another Eclipse, Wake Me When It's Total

THANKS TO GOOD FRIEND JUDYC for sending me this clever image.

How I Finally Healed Dry, Cracking Heels and Feet After Years and Years of Trying

THIS IS NOT AN AD. BUT IF YOU, LIKE ME,  HAVE SUFFERED FROM DRY CRACKED HEELS and feet for decades after trying literally everything under the sun, then you might be interested in how I found a 'cure' quite by accident.

I promise to be mercifully brief.

Beautiful, soft feet were never my strong suit.  Plus I have always been hard on my feet and shoes.  I walk, hike, fly fish and regularly meander around river rocks and silt in sandels and tevas.  The dry, dusty climate in Jackson, Wyoming only added to my problem in summers.

When I was guiding and standing in river water for five or six days at a time,  I would bemoan the condition of my feet and heels----dry, cracking with river silt that wouldn't scrub out for months.  I tried everything to remedy this.  I was too embarrassed to  go for a pedicure which was terribly painful anyway.

If I was invited to a party in Jackson after days of guiding in rocky streams and moving about on dusty trails,  I had a routine I would go through to make my feet somewhat acceptable to enter polite society:  after showering,  I got a large bucket, a big scrub brush and a bottle of full-strength Clorox     and then would soak and scrub my feet and heels in a solution of water and bleach as best I could.   Then I would dry them well, put lots of lanolin and lotion on and sometime paint my toenails (which would only last a day with my lifestyle.)  I was ready for a party!

It was a temporary fix but it's the only thing I could think to do.  I also bought and tried all sorts of gear to work on my tough skin.  Nothing really worked for long and often made it worse.

When I would get back to Tennessee after months in Wyoming,  I would do endless google and other searches for answers......I tried everything.

Then last year by complete accident,  it happened:  I found a 'cure.'    For reasons not related to the problem I had with my feet,  I decided to stop eating eggs----I was eating between 5-10 eggs per week.  Within two weeks, I noticed that my feet and heels looked better, younger.  I thought it was just my imagination but continued on my egg fast.  Within two  months, my feet were totally rejuvenated.

I will never know why eggs caused my cracked, dry heel problems.  Sulfer?  Who knows and everyone's biochemistry is different? What I do know is that my tootsies now look and feel normal and healthy.

Yesterday,  I treated myself to  a pedicure and foot massage (without any polish on my toes) with Ann at Bellevue Nails and she made my feet---fresh back from the wilds of Wyoming but in good condition for once----feel like royalty.   I am grateful and thrilled about this.  And yes,  I still eat an occasional egg or omelette with emphasis on occasional.  In between once a month pedicures,  I use an inexpensive pumice stick, a rich lotion and Vaseline at night (sometimes with socks)  on my precious, now dainty as a baby's bottom feet and heels and feel like a million. The Lord works in mysterious ways. 

Please Pray for Mercy for Those In Harvey's Path

PLEASE JOIN ME TODAY AND THIS WEEKEND IN PRAYING FOR ALL PEOPLE IN HARVEY'S PATH AND HARMS WAY.  This will be catastrophic in so many ways---- prolonged rain,

water and massive flooding, high tides, wind, then mildew, mold and horrific heat in the aftermath.  Many are about to lose everything they have and will need an outpouring of our country's amazing generosity.  But first, let's pray and pray for this situation and the people and first responders who will be there to help in so many ways.

WOW! Lindsey Graham Hearts President Trump

TUESDAY SIMON:  TRUMP MAKES THE RIGHT DECISION ON AFGHANISTAN...AND PAKISTAN
UPDATE:  AFTER TOUGH WEEK,  PRESIDENT FINALLY SOUNDING PRESIDENTIAL

CAN I   REALLY BELIEVE MY EYES AND EARS?  Tonight was the first,  FIRST, time ever I've heard Sen. Lindsey Graham gush praise on President Trump.  It was in response to Trump's extremely well-done Afghanistan speech tonight at Fort Myers, VA.

I totally support Trump's decision to undo some of the foreign policy mess created by Obama in Afghanistan (and Iraq) that allowed terrorist to thrive and fester. I totally agree with Sen. Graham's praise of the president.  While we're at it,  Graham was right to take Sen. Rand Paul to task for his opposing this new direction.  Paul, a diehard libertarian pacifist, is wrong on this and he's been wrong for years.

It's late, but before I end this post,  I want to say that Trump's hair looked THE BEST I've ever seen it.  He looked 10 years younger and very presidential. Ten years younger and very consequential.

Rolling Totality Near the Cumberland River

DARKNESS WAS NOT TOTAL DARKNESS AT 1:28 pm, BUT CLOSE ENOUGH AS THE FAR HORIZONS AND DISTANT CLOUDS RADIATED LIGHT BACK TO US FROM ALL AROUND. Temperatures dropped briefly as twilight descended for almost an hour before blistering heat in the mid-nineties returned for the rest of the day. Traffic and crowds were way over-rated and the people we saw were friendly, completely sober and totally involved in this amazing phenomenon. I put together a picnic lunch for us of fried chicken, cole slaw, pimento cheese and lots of ice water. It hit the spot! It was wonderful seeing this total eclipse---and watching it via webcam in Jackson Hole (and communicating with friends there). Yet, I wouldn't go out of my way to travel a long distance to see another one anytime soon. Once is perfect!

Webcams of Solar Eclipse In Grand Teton National Park

THIS WEBCAM MAY WORK FOR VIEWING ECLIPSE IN JACKSON HOLE. ON THE OTHER HAND, IT MAY NOT. Important to note that the eclipse cannot be viewed with the Tetons in the background. Rather it can only be seen with our backs to those mountains and facing east. Here's a link to other webcams in the Valley that could be fun to watch. I will be viewing it with friends at the TWRA Dove Fields outside Ashland City, TN and on the Cumberland River. There will be about 2 minutes of totality with chiggars, heat and humidity where I am. Still a spectacular celestial event and zero chance of rain and clouds!

Solar Eclipse 101

PLEASE, LET US ALL HEED THE REAL DANGER OF EYE DAMAGE OR BLINDNESS FROM VIEWING THE SUN WITHOUT PROPER ECLIPSE GLASSES

Sunday: An OT Story of Overcoming Slavery, Forgiveness and Reconciliation

GENESIS 45

1 THEN JOSEPH COULD NOT CONTROL himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. ² And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. ³ And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.

⁴ So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. ⁵ And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. ⁶ For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. ⁷ And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. ⁸ So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. ⁹ Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. ¹⁰ You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have.

¹¹ There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ ¹² And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. ¹³ You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” ¹⁴ Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. ¹⁵ And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.

¹⁶ When the report was heard in Pharaoh's house, “Joseph's brothers have come,” it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. ¹⁷ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan, ¹⁸ and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.’ ¹⁹ And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. ²⁰ Have no concern for^[a] your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

²¹ The sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. ²² To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels^[b] of silver and five changes of clothes. ²³ To his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. ²⁴ Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.”

²⁵ So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. ²⁶ And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. ²⁷ But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. ²⁸ And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Eclipse Fever Everywhere!

FROM TIME, VIA MAGGIES FARM: PLUG IN A ZIP CODE AND SEE HOW IT WILL LOOK  ANYWHERE IN US

I LEFT JACKSON HOLE MONDAY PARTIALLY TO GET AWAY FROM ECLIPSE MANIA AND MAJOR TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK IN GTNP.  Back here in Tennessee, it promises be just as chaotic and crowded as there.  Some news outlets are reporting up to a million eclipse tourists will be crowding into Music City this weekend into Monday.  Whether that materializes or not,  I plan to stay out in the country.

Will write more and certainly try to blog the eclipse live.  That, of course, depends on the connectivity and whether Verizon is in overload or not. Nonetheless, it should be quite a once-in-a-lifetime event.  Stay tuned....I've found a terrific spot away from most of the maddening crowds, or at least that's what I think.....we'll see.

A Few Words About President Trump's Demise With A Very Opposing Opinion

CLICK, ENTER A ZIP CODE AND WATCH HOW THE ECLIPSE WILL LOOK FROM ANY LOCATION.

PEGGY NOONAN SAYS IT WELL

SOMETIME LAST YEAR, LONG BEFORE TRUMP WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT, I wrote a post saying I did not think he had the disposition of a politician or diplomat, someone in the political class. I said he was an entrepreneur who had a free-wheeling disposition for whomever was like him and could tolerate and work with him in the private sector. Today, nothing has changed that opinion. I fact, his behavior to date proves that to me even more. Right, wrong or otherwise, I do not think President Donald Trump, as president, is in his element. I think he's more in his milieu in the private sector. I see him as a man who cannot take constructive feedback for his and his country's greater good, even and especially from those who are successful and want him to succeed. I see him as a man who, when he makes a free-wheeling/ shooting-from-the-hip mistake, proceeds to dig, dig, dig himself deeper and deeper into the grave. How much further and deeper can this man dig before he either sees the light and turns around, or sees nothing but dirt and darkness and is forced to resign due to his own hubris and pride? So sad.

THEN AS IF TO TOTALLY REBUT MY ABOVE POST, Jake Novak @ CNBC tells me I'm wrong, and asks why haven't I learned of Trump's political resilience by now? OK already. Hope I'm wrong on this. Glad Novak thinks this way.

Sunday: Pastor Mike Atkins On James 1-- How Double-Mindedness Makes A Man Unstable

RIVER CROSSING ONLINE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH
 2 Count it all joy, my brothers,[b] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass[c] he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.[d] 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Fire and Smoke Season in Jackson Hole and the West

I'VE MADE UP MY MIND AND AM GOING TO BE STICKING TO IT: This will be the last August I spend in Jackson Hole. I may visit for a few weeks in June or in July,  maybe.  But never again in August---not even for a few days like this year since my children are arriving today. It's just too smoky. Even though we don't have big fires currently right here in the Valley, there are tons of grass and forest fires to the west of us in Idaho, Montana and Washington.

Jackson Hole is a big geological bowl and downwind of anything on fire.  It collects air pollution like a dry sponge collects water.  Then holds onto it, like a dog with a bone. Only a good blizzard in early September will begin to knock it down and out....until the whole thing blows up and in again next year.

It goes without saying that this kind of air pollution---it's like being in a room with a dozen chain smokers---is not good for anyone's health.  But it's really detrimental to people with respiratory and heart disease.  So don't come then and save your breath and your money. When you book in advance and pay for your stay at a ranch or condo, it's very unlikely they'll give you your  money back, unless they can rebook it which is highly unlikely at the last minute.

There's also terrible traffic gridlock here every August.  I feel like I'm on the NJ Turnpike with about as many cars, SUVs, trucks, campers and bikers as I've seen anywhere.  Amazing how it's changed in the last 30 years.  The roads and infrastructure simply can't handle it all and so we have gridlock at various times of day. I shudder to think what it will be like this time next week---when I'll be almost back to Tennessee--as throngs of humanity arrive to partake of the total solar eclipse.  Most people I know, are leaving to go far away or staying put,  at home.

It may be hard to break my Jackson, Wyoming summer habit with so many friends and history here. I'll have to see them only briefly here and then in other parts of the country at other times.  But JH in  and for longer stays is soon to be in my rear view mirror

Sunday, Putting On the Full Armor of God...For We Do Not Struggle Against Flesh And Blood, But Rather the Powers and Principalities Of Darkness....

UPDATE:  ROD ROSENSTEIN SAYS MUELLER NEEDS PERMISSION TO WIDEN HIS INVESTIGATION BEYOND STRICTLY RUSSIAN IN 2016 CAMPAIGN

EPHESIANS 6: 10-20

10 FINALLY,  BE STRONG IN THE LORD and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. 

To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹ and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Poutchi Catches A Beautiful, Fat Cutthroat In the Snake River Canyon With Guide Mike Janssen

THERE'S SIMPLY NOTHING MORE FUN IN SUMMER HERE THAN CATCHING A BIG, HEALTHY NATIVE CUTTHROAT ON A FLY, especially in the biggest, highest and most dangerous water in JH.

Yesterday good friend Poutchi Janssen,  her son, premier fly fishing guide Mike Janssen,  and I ventured into the mighty, dangerous waters of the Snake River Canyon to scare up a few fish.  We had a blast as we weathered the rapids of The Big Kahuna,  Lunch Counter and Champagne Rapids.

There's nothing more Jackson Hole for me than the excitement of catching a great fish (And for every 100 good fish, there is only ONE truly great fish that I remember through the ages---it always comes after a struggle.).  I have about 10-15 fabulous great fish in my 35 years of fly fishing .) Poutchi deserved this fish and a good round of applause was had by all! It's what you remember and dream of in the dark days of winter. Congratulations Poutchi!

BELOW, the waters are so treacherous in the canyon that there were NO other fishing guides with the boats or the skills who were fishing the canyon  at these levels on Thursday--(three people drowned here in July---incredulously, two without wearing life jackets.) There are only two guides I would  ever go through this heavy water with:  Mike Janssen and Paul B, both with whom I have had many happy and safe floats with over the years.  Safely is always JOB ONE whether you catch a fish or not.  Catching is icing on my cake. And Poutchi and I had some good icing in the Canyon on Thursday.

I am the luckiest girl in the world.

Great Coming In For A Landing At Sunset

COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A BETTER TRIP  BACK WITH FAMILY, GRANDCHILDREN AND FRIENDS, AND NO COMPUTER.  It's also so nice to be back in Jackson for a few more action-packed weeks.

MOST HILARIOUS TRUMP QUOTE OF THE DAY:  WHITE HOUSE  A REAL DUMP Actually, I don't doubt that for a minute.