Roll Out Those Hazy, Crazy, Lazy Days of Summer

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SKYLARK'S ARTICLE OF THE WEEK - ROLL OUT THOSE HAZY, LAZY, CRAZY DAYS OF SUMMER

It's sure been a hazy summer. The wildfires in Canada are the main cause. It seems as though the sun is trapped behind the clouds. And this rain? At least the flowers are getting watered. "The Sun will come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar."

So what is haze anyway?  Haze is a slight obscuration (the action of hiding or concealing something) of the lower atmosphere, typically caused by fine suspended particles. It is traditionally an atmospheric phenomenon in which dust, smoke, and other dry particulates suspended in air obscure visibility and the clarity of the sky. Sources for particles that cause haze include farming, traffic, industry, windy weather, volcanic activity and yes, wildfires. Seen from afar and depending on the direction of view with respect to the Sun, haze may appear brownish or bluish, while mist tends to be bluish grey instead. Whereas haze often is considered a phenomenon occurring in dry air, mist formation is a phenomenon in saturated, humid air. However, haze particles may act as condensation nuclei that leads to the subsequent vapor condensation and formation of mist droplets; such forms of haze are known as "wet haze". 

Haze is no longer just a confined as a domestic problem. It has become one of the causes of international disputes among neighboring countries. Haze can migrate to adjacent countries in the path of wind and thereby pollutes other countries as well, even if haze does not first manifest there. One of the most recent problems occur in Southeast Asia which largely affects the nations of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. In 2013, due to forest fires in Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur and surrounding areas became shrouded in a pall of noxious fumes dispersed from Indonesia, that brings a smell of ash and coal for more than a week, in the country's worst environmental crisis since 1997. The main sources of the haze are Indonesia's Sumatra Island, Indonesian areas of Borneo, and Riau, where farmers, plantation owners and miners have set hundreds of fires in the forests to clear land during dry weather. Winds blew most of the particulates and fumes across the narrow Strait of Malacca to Malaysia, although parts of Indonesia in the path are also affected. The 2015 Southeast Asian haze was another major crisis of air quality, although there were occasions such as the 2006 and 2019 haze which were less impactful than the three major Southeast Asian haze of 1997, 2013 and 2015.

As of this week, there are more than 880 fires still burning throughout Canada and the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre says at least 580 of the current wildfires are “out of control.” Forecasters predicted around 70 million Americans would see decreased visibility and poor air quality this week, including residents of Chicago, Detroit, New York, St. Louis and Cleveland. The smoke from these wildfires has drifted south as well blanketing North Georgia, Atlanta and other parts of the southeast. These smoky conditions will be around at least through mid-week.

Here on Long Island, the haze is thick. It has created a "covering" over our landscape and has caused us to carry an umbrella more than we are used to in the summertime as it has disturbed weather patterns. The only umbrella I want to be under is at the beach. Ombrello un La Spiaggia. That's Italian, of course.

“It’s no understatement to say that the 2023 fire season is and will continue to be record-breaking in a number of ways,” said Michael Norton, a director general with Canada’s Northern Forestry Centre, during a technical briefing earlier this month. “The total area burned now exceeds any year on record since we started measuring and keeping accurate records,” he said.

As we see the impact of the wildfires from our northern friends, let's hope that they can be distinguished some time soon. Thank you to the tireless efforts of all the firefighters and first responders on the scene. It's going to be a long, hazy, crazy, lazy summer. But don't worry, the sun still rises and sets each day as it always has. It's just not showing its beautiful face lately, but it will. Bet your bottom dollar.

Peace and Love,

Skylark

At 60 and beyond, we've learned how to adjust to natural events that can affect our daily life.

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SKYLARK'S PICK OF THE WEEK - THE BEACH - LA SPIAGGIA

No matter how hazy it gets, the beach is always a wonderful place to be in summertime. Even when the sun is not out shining brightly, it's still tucked away behind the clouds doing its thing. Make sure to put on the sunscreen because hazy sun can burn your skin without you realizing it. Long Island has so many beaches to choose from. From Rockaway Beach to Montauk Point, and destinations in between, there's a beach close by. That's the jewel of Long Island. We are surrounded by beautiful beaches. How very lucky we are.

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SKYLARK'S INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Ô, Sunlight! The most precious gold to be found on Earth.”
- Roman Payne

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SKYLARK'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What is your concern about this haze? 

Please write your answer in the comment section below. I'd love to hear from you.

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SKYLARK'S SONG OF THE WEEK - ROLL OUT THOSE CRAZY, LAZY, HAZY DAYS OF SUMMER by NAT KING COLE

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer

Just fill your basket full of sandwiches and weenies
Then lock the house up, now you're set
And on the beach you'll see the girls in their bikinis
As cute as ever but they never get 'em wet

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You'll wish that summer could always be here

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer

Don't have to tell a girl and fella about a drive-in
Are some romantic movie scene
Right from the moment that those lovers start arrivin'
You'll see more kissin' in the car than on the screen

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You'll wish that summer could always be here

You'll wish that summer could always be here
You'll wish that summer could always be here

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My brand, Skylark Live, consists of a weekly newsletter, "Skylark Live Town News", a monthly vlog, "60 and Beyond with Skylark", and monthly in-person chats called "The Skylark Sessions". They are all designed to inspire and motivate women to thrive in older age through knowledge and self-awareness at 60 and beyond. Andiamo! Let's go!

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