Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Do Not Inhale!

Sorry we have not posted in a few days but things have been quite dreary around here.  We have been stuck in the deep freeze . . . day after day of below freezing temperatures PLUS a terrible inversion making the air unhealthy.*  We have had so many red air days I cannot even count them!  Today is it a bit better but still in the red alert zone.  Mom and dad had to go to the other side of the mountain to go running on Monday.  A storm tonight is supposed to blow it all out though.  YAY!

You can see the smog over the valley.  Usually you can see all the houses and streets down below. (Photo from our back deck.)
If we drove down our street we'd hit the smog like a brick wall. (Photo from front yard.)
This is across the street from our house.  (This is the view from my barking chair.)  As you can see the air is much better but there is still some haze.  A few days ago the smog was so bad we could not even see the mountain!

So we haven't gone on any walks at all!  Me and Stanley have been playing in the back yard though.  And today it got above freezing and we saw blue sky!

I think this snow is starting to melt.
Me and Stanley are looking forward to some fresh snow tomorrow or Friday.  Mom says if it takes fresh snow to get fresh air that she'll hope for it too.  This is a surprise cuz mom does NOT like the snow!  So in the meantime, we're just trying not to breathe too much.


Murphy

* We are surrounded by mountains, so when we get a high pressure over our area and it is combined with the cold temperatures from snow, then the upper air does not move and it just gets worse and worse.  When the high pressure moves off and a storm comes through, the upper atmosphere winds blow through the area and clean out the air.  It is kind of like living in a bowl.  We can have problems during other times of the year but this time of the year is by far the worst.

14 comments:

Frankie Furter and Ernie said...

OMD YESSSSSSSSSSSss we can REALLY see that smog stuffs. Not good to go out in THAT stuffs fur SURE. WE are gonna get a BUNCH of RAIN and it will be 60 on Saturday.
Darn that sunshine looks super to US. Glad that you boys got to enjoy it.

GOOSE said...

I am not sure how long I can hold my breath. But relief is in sight. MOM has been walking me, but dang if it does not have a bad effect on her. But ya gotta love her for trying.
Blessings,
Goose

NanaNor's said...

Hey, You have answered a question that I've had here-how can we have an inversion layer or haze when we are a small town...but now I know. I'm sorry it has been so cold; it was in the high 40's yesterday and today plus all our snow is melted. Hunter actually got to go on three walks today-one was only .4 of a mile so that really doesn't count. It kept me from going to the gym though. We are supposed to get your storm on Friday and Saturday-which is a bummer because obedience training starts up again and I will freeze. Hope the sun comes out in your area soon so your pawrents can take you for a walk.
Wags, Noreen & Hunter

Millie and Walter said...

Hope the air clears out soon for you so you can go on your walks. Playing in the yard is fun, but walks are cool too.

Millie

Anonymous said...

Guys, if it wasn't for the snow, we would says your living in LA. Bites been there and says its bad, a lot like what you had. Hope that getsblown out like they say, not very good on running, playing and trying to breath!

Your Pals
Susie & Bites

Unknown said...

Guys,
That is just like Calgary (where we used to lives) Inversions would holds all the smog close to the ground and it was yucky. We does get some inversion here, but there is only 400 (or so) houses in our little village, so wes does not gets smog. But yous can see where the smoke gets stopped bu the air above sometimes.
Take care
Kisses
Nellie
PS - Does me see your Daddy on pooper scooper duty in the background?

Meredith said...

There is a LOT I miss about living in Utah, but the inversions are not on that list. Hope it clears out soon. It used to make me feel like I was going crazy(er).

Scooter said...

My parents used to live in Denver and she remember temp inversions there too and not being able to see the mountains and having all the smog and even seeing the smog out in the burbs of denver. Hope it clears up for you guys ASAP!!

wags
Jazzi and Addi

A Day In The Life Of A Goose said...

Ew, bad air is never good! You, at least, have a good reason for the bad air...when we get it, it's because we have too many icky cars with bad smog! I hope that you get a storm and snow really quickly so that you can go out and have great walks and plays outside!! :-D Don't worry Murphy, I think that it's way too early for the snow to melt!!

Unknown said...

We have never heard of that before and we are glad it looks like it will clear up. Nevermind playing in the garden can be fun too. The temperature here has suddenly dropped and it is supposed to snow at the weekend but it won't last or will it???? Have a terrific Thursday.
Best wishes Molly

Frank The Tank said...

Hi There!
Firstly I love the view from my barking chair, such beautiful mountains, you live in such a beautiful area and the snow is so nice, I want some snow, please, please send it on my way! I love the snow!!
Unfortunatley just like Molly the Wally (above) may be because we live in the UK I have never heard of the inversion layer before but I do hope that you have a good storm to clear the air so you can both stop holding your breath whern you go out for peeps, poops and backyeard play time!!
Keep us updated!
Love, Licks and Hugs from your furiend Frank xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mollie said...

We hope you get the storm you need :) Playing in the snow looks such fun. We are suppose to get some this weekend in the UK :) Hope so, I love snow.
xxoxx

Mollie and Alfie

Two French Bulldogs said...

Gosh those pictures are gorgeous. Hope every buddy is on the mend
Benny & Lily

My Mind's Eye said...

oh my dogs MURPHY
That sound most annoying especially when you can take walks and your peeps have to drive long distances to run.
We hope and purr it moves out soon. We had never heard of this until Goose told us.
hugs madi your bfff and mom