Thunderstorms are better than television or campfires

In the two and a half months spent on Texarrakis soil, one of our larger past times was watching lightning storms. This was my personal favorite past time, although I do admit, it was not voluntary. When your whole life is spent outdoors (unless sleeping in a disintegrating tent at night counts as indoors), you will watch whatever storm is coming. At least I will. Texarrakis is situated right at the highest point of the middle of Lobo Valley, with mountains sandwiching it in east and west. Generally speaking, lightning storms would kind of get trapped behind the mountains. It would linger far away, and you would be safe from lightning. But, every now and then one would push it's way past the mountains, and all of a sudden you would find yourself one of the top ten tallest things within a quarter mile in the middle of a violent lightning storm. It was during these points you would get into a car.

Generally though, they would sit behind mountains, and as the sun would set, we would move our camping chairs to get a good view. As it got darker, they would light up like classic Star Trek nebulae, and we would sit and watch until they either dissipated or moved on.

large storm trapped behind the chispa mountains

Pulsating and flashing on and off, streaks of lightning travelling from top to bottom or side to side of the storm. It was glorious. What an incredible replacement for television, and just as hypnotizing as a campfire.

Now I'm in Chicago, and I'm pleased with my thunderstorm viewing. It could certainly be better. I am on the third floor of an old brick apartment building, with a view of the Sears (oh uh, excuse me, the Willis) Tower. Every so often, the tornado siren goes off. This isn't West Texas, but I believe it will do for the time being.