Weird Science!

Calcium Chloride is used for all kinds of things. Literally hundreds of uses from controlling dust to an ingredient in Cadbury Chocolates! But who knew it looked so pretty in the afternoon sun?

Bristol Dry Lake is near Amboy, CA in the Mojave Desert. As Thor and I drove past the enormous beds I was impressed with the extremely bright sparkle of the pre-processed mineral. It shown like glittery new fallen snow. The photos truly do not show the view we had.




The basic process is this: Find or create a flat level surface on the land. Flood said parcel with a good dose of plain ol' water and wait. After a bit of time the calcium chloride will rise to the top, crystallize and then it's scraped off and taken to the plant for processing and diversification. There are specific plains that have been squared off and made more efficient for the processing equipment. The day we drove through they were recognizable, but dwarfed in beauty by what Nature did all by herself.



Seriously, this landscape was absolutely gorgeous! It went on for miles and miles! It was especially grand because we caught the whole lake bed directly after the latest storm and the whole of it was soaked! Crystals covered the bed for as far as the eye could see, and shimmered in the sun with a bright white against the ice blue of the water and the deep blue sky.

The fragile crust flaked and chipped, and also had veins here and there. Along the edges of the lake,near the mountains and roadsides, where the land rises just enough, the gravel and grit keep the water and crystals from working their magic.

However, Nature finds a way to keep beautifying herself and even in the pebbles of an arid desert road grow sweet delicate flowers!

rain at disneyland

rain at disneyland
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

Proof that it rained like crazy the day we went to "dinneylan". Proof that I actually have a grandson. Proof that he's a "Fun Gi".

Indian Jones and the Rainstorm of Doom

Indian Jones and the Rainstorm of Doom
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

Not a very clear picture (new camera, still trying to figure out how this one works), but trust me when I say it RAINED yesterday at Disneyland... the wettest place on earth. O.k. a bit exaggerated, but it was raining like crazy.

One thunder clap and anyone not inside was immediately drenched in huge rain drops that went on for hours! We happened to be in the line for Dumbo when it first started. After five minutes we were completely soaked through to the skin, making sweatshirts into 10 lb. water containing devices. Riding on Dumbo was intense. Not because of the height for little ones, or the slippery seats, but because we were pelted as were flew through the air! It was crazy!

Most people would have had the sense to come in from the rain, but when you pay that entry fee - you stay and hope for the best. The down pour was applauded by thunder and then the lightning began to come. My daughter in law and I were the last ones on the Thunder Mountain Railroad before they shut it down. We didn't know this until we got back from the ride. The signs on the entrance: "Big Thunder Mountain Railway is closed due to dangerous weather conditions."

Tom Sawyer's Island, Tea cups, Monorail, Bobsleds, most of Toon Town, Jungle Cruise, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan (of course you do fly into the clouds on that one), Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, The Casey Jr. Train, and that horrid Whale were all shut down due to rain and "dangerous weather". I was disappointed that the Haunted Mansion was down due to decorating... I was too early, dang.

The grand baby fell asleep so mommy and daddy went on Indian Jones. I headed inside to try and dry off. The one rain slicker we had was draped over the stroller in an attempt to keep the boy from drowning. I thought, "To heck with all this!" and I whipped out the credit card and bought slickers for everyone and a couple of umbrellas. Mommy and daddy came off their ride and we headed for new territory. Baby woke up about 2:30 and we went for lunch. The rain stopped about 3:30, and so all the weather gear was no longer needed. Figures. Real money could have been made in dryers!

We took pictures with many characters, they stayed as most of humanity left. Baby's favorite was "Winnie the Poop". The Buzz Lightyear ride was rode/played? several times - a walk through; and Mommy and Daddy got to ride the new Space Mountain. SPOILER: It doesn't have any drops anymore, just (cue echo effects) one big huge freaking spiral in space!

We had a pretty good time anyway. I got home about 11:00, still wet in places and damp in most. My feet are still cold this morning! I can't wait to go back in a few weeks to see what Jack Skelington has done!

Most people go this time of year for the cherry blossoms.

Next week hubby goes to D.C. on a business trip. I usually save up plane fare and go along. This time I am staying home so that I can attend a scholarship contest with my #5. (more on that Tuesday)

I enjoy D.C. It's so different from where I live and there is a definite sense of anxiety there. All kinds! For instance the idea of the traffic. Everyone has a car, but there isn't one parking space in the tri-state area, and they drive like maniacs. They race from signal to signal and honk horns like no where I have ever been. I always feel like I am in a movie there. The pedestrians are lords of this jungle, dressed to the nines in heels and brief cases, and when they get the chance they just cut into traffic and dare bones to break. (hence a major part of the honking) People are everywhere, tons of them and they all have someplace extremely important to go. I am fascinated by the numbers of junior high kids who spew out of buildings and museums on an hourly rotation like the children of Zeus. Most of them wearing F.B.I. shirts. This causes me to wonder how one distinguishes the real F.B.I. from the junior high kids during a riot.

The last time I was there I was in a women's restroom at the subway station. A group of F.B. I. agents came through the door, one with an incredibly swollen tongue, another with great wisdom. "Haa Mahhhm" "No girl you got to get that thing working in yo mouth better than that or you gonna get yoself killed." "HAA MAHM" "I said talk better not louder. You gonna get killed." "Do. You. Thin. Ma. Mahm. Wi. Ril-eh. No-tith?" (replies with just a hard look) "Well at least it looks cool. I wish I got mine done. Man! I am SO stupid!" "Ah Wi dusth kep pwactithee uh ti I thoun goouh" "Yeah girl, she never gonna fine out! By the time we get off the plane, you be all done swellin'." I was in the stall and even I knew what had happened. Unless mom is completely deaf, that girl gonna get huhsef killed.

I love how everyone there looks important. You just know that chick on the subway with the briefcase is a spy, or at least hoping to be one. Then the total republican clean cut Mr. Armani suit with Italian leather shoes - what the heck? #1 he's on the subway going the wrong direction for that suit. #2 he's probably from some communist country and is a spy! There's the crazy person who is mumbling to herself and checking the chain count in her cable knit sweater. Definitely a spy! The whole time I am there I have Peter Gunn going in my head.

I walked home from the subway to the hotel. What was I thinking? It was like 5 city blocks and I thought to myself "why not? It's silly to pay for a cab for just 5 blocks!" Well, it was about 10:30 at night and raining. Raining hard. I had on my new suede leather coat. I replayed the Sienfeld when Jerry turns his coat inside out and then decides not to and ruins his coat to walk home in the rain with Elaine's dad. I kept rationalizing the cost of the cab to the rain and the walk. "Cows don't shrink in the rain. Cows still look the same after it rains. I am not paying for a cab!" So I head out and my coat got completely soaked. I felt like a drown rat by the time I got home, but it was the experience of it. After about a block I noticed that the street lamps no longer were there and that the streets became dark, narrow and full of dark alleys. "Brilliant S'mee! Girl, you gonna get yosef killed!" Too late to turn back now I walked faster until I could catch up with a couple of women I saw about 1/2 block ahead of me. I approached them and asked if I could join them in their walk.

The thing about D.C. is that it is a very international city. These women couldn't speak English and they thought I was some crazed person. They look scared and took off like you can't believe. "This is reassuring! Perhaps if the bad guys come I can just mumble to myself and begin counting the ribs in my now soaking cuffs. They'll think I am nuts and move on!" So I walk faster and faster and eventually get to a place where I can see the hotel. By the time I get inside and up to our room I am completely drenched, dripping like I stepped out of a pool and my once camel coloured suede leather bomber is a nice chocolate brown. "Don't they make chamois out of suede?" Maybe not. ugh. "Man! I am SO stupid!" Hubby walks in almost right behind me, in plenty of time to see me peeling dead cow off my now cold (but alive!) body. I explain everything to him and I get a pretty good reprimand on the dangers of D.C. at night in our neighborhood and after I dry off and take a warm shower he is there waiting to give my legs a good rub down. That's a good guy!

Moral of the story: Next time you get an opportunity to visit D.C. enjoy the anxiety, the people, the crazy drivers. Catch a few spies on the subway, covertly listen to the F.B.I. agents who run from place to place and pierce their parentally unattended tongues, and enjoy a walk in the rain with your favorite cow. After all of that, go home and retell the adventure to your more than generous spouse. Know that however long the plane ride home, by the time you get off - you be all done swellin. And you will be glad that you lead a dull life in the SoCAL desert.