The Random Hand in the Street

The other day, while driving, I stopped at the intersection of Elysian Fields Ave and Claiborne Ave in NOLA. It was the sunny part of the day and a bit windy, but not too much. Suddenly, a blue hand came rolling across the intersection and was soon heading toward my car. It was bouncing along like it had a purpose and it struck me as SO HILARIOUS! It looked like it had something in it so as not to let it become picked up by the wind and carried far away or float like a balloon, but it wasn't completely filled with liquid. I could tell by the way it was bouncing. LOL! Such a random and strange occurrence and in a short blip of time, the light turned green and I was on my way, the blue hand only in my memory to ponder the nature of its journey and existence.

Ponderings at Two Stoplights on a Grey New Orleans Day

When I left this morning to head on over to UNO, it was extremely DARK and ominous, quite windy, and about to rain hard. I LOVE days like this and I completely love storms, especially thunderstorms. The first stoplight I came to was long enough for me to start wishing I'd seen the weather radar earlier and could have run out to Lake Ponchartrain to view the storm as it was coming in and take pictures. I was just mulling that over and didn't see any lightening yet, but it's something I really want to do at some point this summer. I'm SO EXCITED to be getting a lightning trigger - a piece of camera equipment I've wanted for at least five years. Not exactly sure which brand I want, but quality enough to capture some terrific shots! I drove a few blocks and stopped at another light. 

I was able to take this iPhone photo that really shows you how dark it was. Wow, the storm was moving super rapidly! As I put the phone back down and turned to look down Elysian Fields, there came a GIGANTIC wall sheet of water, something you'd see sweeping across the plains, barreling down the street! It must have had a bit of a downburst in it too because I saw that it broke off a pretty sizable branch of an oak tree which remained in the middle of the road. I thought how lucky it was that no one was in its way and noted the strength of the whipping rain. The light then turned green.