Monsoon Season Still Alive and Kickin'

After 4 years of desert dwelling, I'm finally getting the hang of predicting Monsoons. It's fairly easy: a really hot, sunny day with lots of humidity and bunches of white fluffly clouds that not so gradually turn dark black. It's so similar to a tornado watch like when we lived in Indiana. I know all you weather buffs are cringing with my simplicity and saying..."oh no, they are nothing alike." I tell you though it can be down right creepy right before a monsoon hits. I drove this afternoon to pick up the kids from school and it was still sunny, but behind me was the "wall" of black clouds. No sooner are the kids in the car - the wind has picked up and we are hit full force with the rain, wind, downed trees, street signs, signals out - the works! Natalie kept saying...do people die in these things? I'm like no honey as I hydro plane through a small lake in the road. Anyways, the force of the winds knocked down my arbor in the garden, hit the gate and ripped the latch right off (plank and all) and I had neat arrangements of pool toys, furniture scattered around. The picture above is what it looked like picking up Amanda after dance.