This afternoon the clouds were bursting with rain, but it never made it into town. As I type this, it is finally raining and it smells so good.

I’m grading papers and eating blueberries.

“One of the more pleasant rain smells, the one we often notice in the woods, is actually caused by bacteria! Actinomycetes, a type of filamentous bacteria, grow in soil when conditions are damp and warm. When the soil dries out, the bacteria produces spores in the soil. The wetness and force of rainfall kick these tiny spores up into the air where the moisture after a rain acts as an aerosol (just like an aerosol air freshener). The moist air easily carries the spores to us so we breathe them in. These spores have a distinctive, earthy smell we often associate with rainfall. The bacteria is extremely common and can be found in areas all over the world, which accounts for the universality of this sweet “after-the-rain” smell. Since the bacteria thrives in moist soil but releases the spores once the soil dries out, the smell is most acute after a rain that follows a dry spell, although you’ll notice it to some degree after most rainstorms.”

Bacteria or not, I’m going to sleep well tonight.

Today was great. I worked some stuff out and I have a big, exciting project that will consume me for at least the next 6 months on the horizon. And I’m not telling yet.

And I have two, maybe three solid job prospects for August, which is very good news.