Tornadoes and Storms

Oh my goodness!

First it was hot (as in shorts and sandals.)

Then it stormed and stormed and stormed some more.

Then it flooded in some areas.

Then there were snow flurries in the area this morning.

And all that in one weekend.  here.  at home.  yep North Texas

I know of several friends and co-workers that were impacted by the tornadoes. I suspect that once more people return to work after the first of the year, we'll hear of more co-workers with tornado impact. As it was, several people at work were very close to the tornadoes. 

These came at night on the day after Christmas when everyone was out and about having fun and just being with family. Unless someone was actually in front of a tv or weather watching, the timing was such that it was a surprise. And it was dark so it was hard to see in the dark until something exploded and the tornado appeared. 

I like to make fun of the weather guessers so usually don't pay a lot of close attention other than around my house. However, on Saturday, I was stuffed, tired and following the kitties advice of napping all day. 

So that means napping with the tv on. So I saw when the first one was suspected of being on the ground south of us. that meant a long 30-40 minute wait for it to arrive. It's weird that this one and the prior one (the one at Thanksgiving) actually came in waves. So that made it seem never-ending.

Glad my family is safe.

Prayers for those who lost family and their homes. 

Good 'ol Texas Weather

wow, tornadoes, floods, snow, hail and 80 degrees in north Texas!

Hearing of friends families impacted in the storms. Will hear of more later and some tomorrow as I go back to work.  

How frightning it must have been for those people caught unaware in the dark.

The storms seem to come in waves and another one is hitting my house now.  Sure glad I have battery candles so I din't have to worry about light if the electricity goes out. 

Prayers for everyone on the way.

Hope you had a safe and merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

May your day be joyful and happy with good thoughts of those not here.

Have some fun today and enjoy life.

Holiday Season Woes

I love the holidays. Any holiday will do.  

However, at this time of year, a few things really grate on my nerves. 

Many years ago, I started doing all Christmas shopping by the end of October. Why? Because I got tired of rude, sick people out and about and driving as though they had never driven before. At the mall, there were more tired, whiney, screaming, crying kids (hey, I do not blame the kids) with their poor little arms being ripped out (ok, slight exaggeration) and being yelled out or swatted.  I just couldn't enjoy it any more. 

On Monday, I shared this on Facebook:   

If any of you Allen TX locals know the blonde driving this car: 

1) she's part of the reason I don't like getting out this time of year

2) the safety of children in your vehicle should be your primary concern

3) turned directly in front of me after I am midway in a turn because you are speeding is dangerous - you put my life in danger as well as the children in your car

4) speeding didn't get you the next light any faster because I was able to catch up with you at the light and sit behind you for at least a minute. Watched you trying to turn around, wave your hands and throw your fist at the child in the front seat.  You weren't on the way to a hospital or dr's office since you parked on my street.

5) If you are going to have personalized plates, you should probably remember that we won't forget them

I know that it gets frustrating. However, the people (adults or children) in your vehicle are pretty important. So are the other drivers. I'm tired of the families of those killed by other drivers having to suffer because you were in a hurry. 

SLOW DOWN

BE CALM WHEN DRIVING OR PULL OFF THE ROAD

REMEMBER, YOU ARE SETTING AN EXAMPLE

I miss the sun

Yep, it is true. I miss the sun - and the warmth from the sun - and not having webs grow between my toes...

It rained so much that my rain gauge wasn't tall enough.

My new sod is looking good though.

I didn't get caught on any flooded roads.

My windshield wipers got a really good workout.

Sure glad I use a lot of RainX.

Brrr.... wet cold is just really really cold.

When is Spring?  is it here yet?  when will it be here?

Yikes!

Wow! I caught the stomach virus going around.  I thought I wasn't going to survive for a while. Managed to get dehydrated - almost enough to end up in the hospital.  Dr was laughing because he's seen more this week and at the tail end of last week than he's seen in a few years.  Also a few cases of the after effects of the food that is being recalled (not food poisoning but the other stuff) and some of the problems after coming back from vacation from swimming in warm water with bacteria.  Said he felt like it was an onslaught.  

for me, it was an onslaught - I've never been in the bathroom so much in my life.

I knew I must have been sick last Sunday night because I turned the a/c down to 78 which is something  I don't do often.

Kitties were patient (well, sort of).  Sam stayed by my side the whole time. It was kinda funny to see - he stopped walking me to the bathroom after the first hundred or so times!

Sad thing is that besides missing work all week, I haven't been able to go see my newest family member.  Cooper was born on Thursday.  He is absolutely adorable.  He is going to be one onery little one - besides being late, he didn't want to be induced and he ended up coming out through a c-section.  Everyone is doing well and should go home this weekend!  I will wait to see him next week since this junk I had is so contagious.

Feeling much better.

It's still hot 

and I can't wait to hold and love on Cooper!

Heat is in the mind....

I keep trying to convince myself that heat is all in the mind. It doesn't work.  I went outside to garden around 6:30 this morning and lasted until about 9.  

Sam lasted less than 5 minutes.  Actually, he dashed out the door, ran to the grass, turned around and ran back inside.  I thought that was  a little strange for him.  

A little later, I found the reason!  Diarrhea.  I am so thankful it was on the grass and not on the carpet this time.  Wahooo!  I just watered it down until it was gone.

Some plants are dying but others are going strong like my little roma tomato plant.  There's a bunch of new little tomatoes and even one orange pepper!  That's a good crop for me.  

Stay cool!

Rain, now Hot!!

 We had enough rain to get out of the drought.  

We had enough rain that this is the first time I've had the sprinkler system set to run early this morning on my watering day.  And it didn't want to engage.  It finally started, lasted a minute, then stopped.  I tried it again.  It finally started, last a minute, then stopped again.  Eekkkkkk. It is Sunday so I tried talking nicely to it, it finally started, and kept going.  Wahoo

Since I live on a little hill, I run it three times for short periods of time.  I had to manually start it but it worked on the last 2 rounds.  Yea.  I know I need a new controller.  

Now, the new guessing game begins.  Will it reach 100 today?  The real temperature not the Heat Index.  The Heat Index makes me more hot just like the wind chill number makes me ice cold in winter.

But heat can provide some entertainment. Drivers are so rude these days.  A light was out at an intersection and it was funny because no one knows the rules to stop, wait for your turn then go.  I was able to get in the turn lane and giggle at the 5 cars stuck in the intersection because no one a) knew the rules, b) had any common sense and c) knew how to be a polite driver.  Good thing it was only 90! 

Happy 4th of July!

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays.  

This year, a bazillion mosquitos are out and about and they all seem to love me. I'm using chemicals I've never used before in an attempt to keep them from biting me. Nothing is working and I am scratching myself silly.

Oh well, at least for now, I'm still in the land of the free and home of the brave.  

Thanks to all who make that freedom happen. 

Rough Week

Two deaths in the extended family.  My sister's mother-in-law and my brother's father-in-law within 3 days.  Both were expected and both are now resting in peace.  

That puts getting older in perspective.

My niece-in-law took me to the doctor Monday afternoon.  I was stupid and so excited to get out of the house that I forgot to eat when I took a pain pill (I thought they were going to take out the staples).  I hadn't taken a pain pill in over a week.

Of course I got sick.  They scrounged up a fortune cookie for me.  That helped.  We drove through WhatABurger on the way back.

Of course, I still got sick again.

To make matters worse,

Sam got sick too.

At the time, 

he was sitting above me

on the recliner.

Yep,

he got sick in my hair.

March comes in with ice?

Wow! March already!

The floating bone was not floating but firmly attached with a few bone chips below it. I went for a second opinion and used the dr that replaced my knee.   I had surgery last Wednesday.  It went well.

While waking up, I was having chest pains. They did an EKG and it was ok but recommended stopping at the ER to get checked out.   Everything checked out ok so my sister took me home.

A scooter came yesterday.  Sure beats the office chair I was using.