It’s gusting 40-50 mph winds out there, making a lot of noise. I’m fantasizing about being a weather reporter and using the term “variable” for any circumstance. “Thanks, Don, the current storm has now been officially named Hurricane Ike. Expect rain and variable winds for the next two days. Oh, and put all the outdoor furniture in the pool.”
“Here we are in tornado alley awaiting the next storm. The winds will be variable so please get into your fallout shelter immediately.” “The Santa Ana winds have come into southern CA once again and wildfires have breached I-805 and are headed to the shore. Get out, NOW! The winds are variable.”
Thank you for listening to this variable message. The fire in 2003 did breach I-805 and we had the car packed and ready to go. The sky was red and ash was falling all over and we thought we’d lose everything but each other. We had to wear gas masks outdoors and it was 100 degrees indoors because windows had to be shut and there was no A/C. So when winds here are listed on a local site at “light to variable” I expect 10 mph, not fifty. Dee
Cooking with Dee 
Winds of 70 mph and up to a foot of snow are forecast tonight, must turn off the pilot light on the fireplace else it’ll burn out via the chimney. Don’t want to die of gas poisoning. Dee