Whoa. Are these the storms we can expect?

Storm.

Last night we huddled in our little cars, parked, headlights on, windshield wipers stroking, frightened and startled by the violence of the storm.

The lightning pounded the ground like air strikes, close, bright lines crisscrossing each other. Thunder rattled the windows.

I sat thinking, Is this what we can expect for the future? Is this the price of my gallon of gas? The more powerful storms are the result of global warming, I know, I sat in on the US research presented from the studies of Hurricane Katrina and (mostly) the one in Texas after. The increase in global temps puts more moisture in the air, hence more powerful winds, larger cloud systems and bigger, badder storms.

Have we really damaged the environment that much, that our kids will inherit a more frightening world? That even the storms will be much worse?

I used to stand out in the wind and watch it roar. But storms weren't this bad.

...annnnd where is the stained glass?

Yesterday I visited the temple for the first time since I first noticed the stained glass was missing.

Stepped inside to check it out. After all, a few of you wanted photos of the 18th century glass. I noticed the new foyer design ... prayer book dead center, good idea ... new benches for people to take their shoes off, very attractive ... offering candles just outside the Dharma room ... good balanced layout...

... but no stained glass windows.

In fact, the clear glass is now permanently framed in place. Looks less cheap than it did without the frame, but it's way too bright and pulls the eye upward, up the stairs, away from the more attractive (and important) parts of the temple.

What?

What?

I've since learned that a) John took the stained glass inside, so they're safe, and b) no one has any clue why the clear glass windows are framed in and there's no sign of the stained glass. Ani Dorje suggests perhaps we could hang the under-no-circumstances-would-you-ever-want-to-drop-them windows from the ceiling.

*facepalm* Arrrrrrgh.


ETA: Aha! The stained glass in need of extensive repair. We need someone who knows how to do stained glass. Any ideas, guys?