There's No Place Like Home

Just another day in Kansas.

Well, maybe not just ANY other day.

Forecasters had been warning us about yesterday for at least 48 hours.  We were issued as a "High Risk Warning" area, which apparently has only happened one other time in the last decade.

Turns out they were right. 

Storms started firing up in the afternoon, and increased in intensity by evening.  Several tornadoes were flying around the state, and by 7:00 there was a storm heading our way.  One minute the storm was rotating, the next minute the meteorologists were saying it was weakening, and the next minute my husband was being paged out to storm-spot.

Go figure.  It's Kansas. 

Within minutes, tornado warnings were being issued and sirens were going off.  The reason is obvious in the video above. 

Five hours later, after chasing the tornado (a.k.a. "storm-spotting") and checking on farmsteads that had been hit to make sure people were okay, my husband returned home.  The following (one-sided) conversation ensued. 

(Sidenote: All comments by me were not spoken verbally.)

Husband: (Walking in...first words out of his mouth...)  "That was AWESOME."

Me: Throwing yourself in the path of a tornado is awesome?

Husband: "We went south of town a few miles and stopped.  I looked up and realized that we were in the pathway of the wall cloud."

Me: GULP.

Husband: "I knew we had to move or it could come down on top of us, so we went a little farther south and then turned the fire truck around to get ready to follow it."

Me: That does not make me feel better.

Husband: "Immediately we saw it lower, rotate, and the tornado dropped right near where we were."

Me: You are never going storm-spotting again.

Husband: "We followed it until it was out of our district and then followed the path of damage to see if people were okay and needed help."

Me: Well, if you are going to help people...I may reconsider.

Needless to say, we are fine, just a little tired.  I'm sure I will let him chase many more tornadoes for the sake of keeping the local community safe. 

There are some amazing pictures of storms, tornadoes, and damage from yesterday.  Considering how many times we heard "large wedge-shaped tornado on the ground for many miles", "potentially catastrophic storm", and "tornado emergency", I am actually in awe that there was not more damage, more injuries, and more fatalities reported.  Not that I am taking what happened lightly, but in MANY cases, it could have been much, much worse. 

So, until next time....and we know there will be a 'next time' here in Tornado Alley...we are feeling pretty fortunate. 

Oh, by the way, my husband wants me to clarify...the tornado was awesome, not the damage that was done to anyone's property.

If You Put Metal in the Microwave...

To the "tune" of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie...with significant literary license.

If you put metal in the microwave (even the silver paper-like metal that doesn't really look like metal)...
It still makes a really big fire-ball spark.

If you make a really big fire-ball spark,
You will scare yourself half-to-death.

If you scare yourself half-to-death,
Your hands will be shaking uncontrollably for a very long time.

If your hands are shaking uncontrollably for a very long time,
You will accidentally turn the burner up way too high.

If you accidentally turn the burner up way too high,
You will scorch the coconut oil and honey.

If you scorch the coconut oil and honey,
Your homemade granola bars will not be so delicious.

If your homemade granola bars are not so delicious,
You will wonder why you spend time cooking at home.

If you wonder why you spend time cooking at home,
You will drive to the local grocery store for granola bars.

If you drive to the local grocery store for granola bars,
You will save yourself medical bills, therapy bills, and a call to the local fire department.

The End.

Rambling...Again

I have not had a fabulous weekend.

It has not been horrible....just somewhere between blah and yuck.  I am hoping this post will be a bit like therapy.

I'm not feeling that great.  It is very possible that is due to a very unhealthy diet and next to no exercise -- two things I am in complete control of and yet I haven't fixed. 

Or it could be due to stress.  Textbooks to read, papers to write, researching a new diagnosis, reports to complete for work, trying to keep up at home, etc., etc., etc.  Same story, chapter 252.

It's also possible it is because I stayed up just a tad too late last night reading a book.  Just for fun. 

Regardless, I am having a hard time being civil today.  My 9 year old got a new retainer yesterday.  At first I was happy that it wasn't cemented into his mouth.  Now I just wish someone would super glue that sucker in.  This kid is freaked out about everything related to teeth.  He hates wiggling teeth, pulling teeth, cleaning teeth - you name it, it's an issue.  He is not handling it well.  I am not handling him well.

My 6 year old went back to the doctor on Thursday for a PANDAS check-up.  Overall, the theory is that he is doing 'better'.  He is clearing his throat much less than he was 2 weeks ago.  However, this week he started a new tic.  At least we think that is what it is.  He scrunches his nose up over and over and over, like his nose itches. 

This one is easier to deal with.  It is quieter, not distracting to others, and is almost even cute at times....except for the fact that it is NEW.  That simple fact leads my brain down a one way street to panic.  What's next? How bad will it get?  He's on antibiotics, isn't he supposed to be getting better?

In 20 short minutes, I just realized my issue.  I am totally ignoring all of the things that I have some semblance of control over, and completely obsessing about everything that I can do nothing about. 

Not smart.

Or helpful. 

Or beneficial for anything or anyone.

I wonder what I'll do about it.