vastateofmind

Yep. I report to work at Fort Belvoir once weekly and try to do a lunchtime walk down to Accotink Bay...have seen a handful of osprey in past couple weeks, and a couple of them have already been hooting at me when I walk near their nesting platforms/poles, which the Army is pretty good about placing all around the bay for them. Of course, they're not averse to building their pterodactyl-like nests at the top of the field lights surrounding nearby baseball/softball fields on post, either.

We did a circuit driving trip to the Grand Canyon late last summer and put about the same amount of miles you just quoted on our 2009 Honda Pilot (which, after that trip, currently has ~97K miles on it). I'd have to say that last summer, AZ, NM and OK had some of the worst roads we've encountered ever. BUT...I'm not retiring that trophy yet, as we're doing another extended driving trip in a more SW trajectory in a few weeks to see our sons in El Paso, and will be going through additional states that we did not navigate last summer....GA, AL, LA, MS. I'm thinking that we'll definitely find some additionally challenging roads in this next stretch.

Will do! Interesting that you mention Emerald Isle -- we've had several recommendations from Myrtle Beach locals while visiting there in recent years, to definitely check that out for retirement. In fact, one of our favorite Airbnb "landlords" of several properties we rent in MB, lives in Emerald Isle and has encouraged us several times to look there, too. And ahhh, yes, where the kids land...we gave up that up as consideration factor a couple years ago, as our two, mid-late 20s sons have ranged from GA to TX to AZ to the PacNW over the past decade. We'll settle for US living within an hour of an efficient airport.

Legit question from outside your sub....have noticed when driving to OBX or through the SC low country on way to beaches, that standing water seems to stand a lot longer than some places. Is that true, or just anecdotal observation on my part! We're considering Myrtle Beach as a final retirement landing spot, and I've also noticed during extended stays that they have frequent runoff and standing water issues...which I would expect right on the coast. Here in NoVA, and like you -- when we get more rain in a short amount of time, I'll get a temporary "stream" through my backyard for runoff. I have one this morning that will likely subside by late afternoon, and return again tomorrow afternoon when the rain will fire up once more. The stream is rare...but it IS telling in how much extra rain we've received in the past week.

49 and steady rain from an hour ago now switching over to light rain/drizzle.

For those of you still in the snow hunt, I wish you luck. After several days' taste of what we had yesterday, doesn't take long to throw in the towel at this point.

68, baby. I think that counts as busting high. And I'll gladly take it.

Speaking of liquor...I'm overdue to make a run to the District Costco...which is the ONLY local branch which has the fairly good selection and giant-ass bottles of Kirkland-brand liquors.

Please do post any successful acquisition...shit, I'll travel into the District if I can lay my hands on that nectar. So hard to find at times.

I'm legit sorry for you...and yeah, UberEats has bit us in the ass a few times in recent years on stuff like this. SIGH. Back to the never-ending quest for DFH 120...

That is WELL worth it....

120's are damn near impossible to find in NoVA. Maybe I need to hit up UberEats to see if they'll track it down FOR me....

Which begs the question...how do the "wetlands" that make up a significant portion of your "back 40" look at this point, in this particular seasonal transition? Always been interesting in recent years to see how wet it is on the typically wettest portions of your property...and how that compares to other parts of our region on this side of the bay.

@CAPE turned me on to the Mt. Holly discos several years ago. Talented, insightful mets doing their thing up there. Whenever we have interesting LWX wx forecasted....I always check out Mt. Holly's disco to see their spin on it. Adding this to our daytrip list...

Yea, VERILY...let it be so.

Interesting radar screencap snapped from Windy a few moments ago...can't remember seeing that "radiating wave" pattern emanating from LWX radar site before.

Excerpt from this morning's LWX disco and SPC's Day 1 outlook...incoming radar is pretty lit. The heaviest precipitation looks arrive later this afternoon and into this evening (3-8pm) before things quickly ending from west to east before midnight. Thunderstorm probabilities are low, but are not zero, for this front, given the increasing dewpoints and strong forcing. A marginal risk for severe weather has been issued from north-central MD and northern VA west into the MD/WV mountains. Forecast instability values are generally less than 500 J/kg with 0- 6 km shear values over 50-60 kts. With that said, a narrow line of shallow convection may develop along and ahead of the front later this afternoon and evening. Lightning will be limited with wind as the main concern as this linear convective line pushes through. Gusts of 45-55 mph can be expected with this convective line of showers as it pushes from west to east across the region. Rainfall amounts 0.5 to 1 inch can be expected areawide outside of the Alleghenies where 1 to 2 inches of rain is expected. Flood Watches remain in effect for western Grant, western Mineral, and Garrett counties to encompass this heavier rain threat combined with already saturated soils and elevated from melted snowpack in this area.

Currently 61/44 here, vigorous radar to our west approaching the Apps.

More like sullen resignation...punctuated with monologues, accusations, tantrums and catfights. #JustAnotherWinterOnTheMASub

Trees and daffodils/crocuses have been hammer-down around here for the past two weeks, but the biggest tell was the huge chorus of peepers singing last evening in the wetlands surrounding our neighborhood.

Need to try my hand at an herb garden, always wanted to...have an awkward, corner-ish alcove in the backyard that would be a perfect spot.

Had some breezy showers a couple hours ago. Currently 57. Enjoying a bit of respite on this (apparently) Wind Advisory Eve.

51 right now, light to no winds. Not a bad afternoon to be outside.