June 18th, 2018

Wasn't it just a month ago? Maybe a little longer.  Regardless, I was whining about how it rained at least a little bit every single day for about three weeks.  Remember that?  Yeah, well since then, not so much.  Hot and dry.  What little rain we've had has been just sun showers, a little sprinkle here and there. And only when I'm trying to cook on the grill.  The grill appears to be key.

It rains all around us.  We get clouds, the wind picks up a bit.  We have even heard thunder and seen lightening.  But no rain here.  The grass is getting parched, the trees and thirsty and while I am faithfully watering my potted garden every day, it would appreciate a nice real rain too.

The weather report teases us.  It taunts, it flirts, it gives us false promises and fickle reports of rain in the forecast.  All of it lies.  Unless I'm trying to cook dinner outside.  And the rain waits until I actually have the grill heated up and the meat ready to go before the little pitter patter of raindrops begins.  At that point I feel committed to the task and say, "What the heck" and go ahead and grill in the rain.  Once I'm done, grill is turned off and dinner is ready to be served, like clockwork, it stops.  

It's not as if we eat at the same time every day.  It's very dependent on Tim's work schedule during the week.  Sometimes we eat as early as 5:30, other days more like 6:30 or 7:00.   On the weekends, anything goes. The timing of dinner revolves around what we are doing, where we are, and how we feel about food in general that day.  

Yesterday, Father's Day, Tim requested burgers on the grill.  A very reasonable request. (and my chocolate cake which is not cooked on the grill and therefore not part of this story).  When it was time, I got the grill started and went back inside to prep corn on the cob, give the cole slaw a final stir,  season the patties, and so forth.  At that moment, the sun was shining brightly, there was a lovely tiny little gentle breeze and not a cloud in the sky. I swear to you!

 I was fussed inside for a bit and then, meat patties on a platter in my left hand, spatula in my right hand, I  stared to walk  out the door and the sky opened up.  The sun, I'd like to mention here, was still shining brightly.  I sighed, narrowed my eyes, put on a hat and walked out into the rain and slapped those burgers on the grill anyway.  We need the rain.  I'm not complaining about that at all. It's the timing I have a few teensy issues with.

No matter.  Dinner was served, I didn't melt in the rain, and everything looked refreshed afterwards.   But it got me thinking.  If it rains every time I try to grill, maybe I should be grilling more often. And making things that require a lot longer cooking hoping to elicit a lot longer of a rainstorm.  And at more convenient times of day? Maybe that would work?  Hmmmm

And then maybe I could help things along by and washing both cars.  No wait, I will wash AND wax both cars. That will help.  And I'll plan picnics.  Picnics in the courtyard for every meal. Hey Better idea, Picnics on the BEACH!  (farther away so more inconvenient if it rains)  What other outside activity could rain ruin?  It has to something that will make Mother Nature chortle with glee when she makes it rain and people run for cover and the event is a mess. Hmmm.  An outside wedding ought to do it.  But I currently don't know anyone who is  hoping to get married in my backyard.  Dang. Too Bad, that could be the thing that finally pushes this theory over the top.  

I will get to work on this.  I may be on to something.  It's not exactly a rain dance, but it may be even stronger Juju.  I"ll keep you apprised of the progress on this experiment.