Earthquake weather?

I felt a little uneasy this afternoon -- nothing to do with my situation, as I received a couple of checks today, which will keep the blood-suckers at bay for a few weeks, anyway -- and so decided to go for a walk.

While out, I ran into a neighbor who, like me, is one of those rare beings, a Native Californian. The first thing she said was "it feels like an earthquake's coming." My immediate thought was: "she's right!"

The phenomenon of "earthquake weather" is disputed by the so-called experts, but many people I know believe in it. A day that's unseasonably warm with a "strange" sky and very still air seems to precede big shakers more often than not. In fact, the really strong 'quakes I remember most clearly -- most notably the 1971 Big One in Northridge -- were preceded by conditions similar to today's.

There are many theories: watch how animals are acting; dogs, cats, birds horses and others sense quakes before they happen. The lore of the Great San Francisco Quake is full of stories about animals gone crazy in the hours before the 'quake. I've seen a little evidence of that with my cats over the years. Other theories link phases of the moon, tides and temperatures.

But the warm, still day/night under dull skies is the one that seems most valid to me.

I'm one of those who looks at the USGS earthquake map daily. Over the last week, there have been many shakers in Northern California, but very few here in the South. Don't know what that means; probably nothing.

Tonight or tomorrow morning? I don't know. The cat is asleep, but he's so laid back that anything short of a direct hit right under his feet probably wouldn't bug him. There didn't seem to be as many seagulls and pelicans around as usual when I was outside earlier, but I wasn't really paying much attention.

My guess is that there won't be one tonight. Or tomorrow either.

But it was odd to run into another native who felt the same premonition today.