Let's Twist Again!!!!

For my family and friends not completely up on Nebraska/midwest meteorology - here is a diagram of a tornado pathology.

For those of us who live here, this is a way of life.

Sure, we all run for the basement when the sirens go off, but mostly we just sit around with our families and wait - if we are in a town.

Last night, I was at work when the sirens went off. We sat in the catacombs of the building, waiting for the weather service to tell us we were clear. I had been routinely checking in with members of my family, friends, etc.

Then the rain hit hard. Once again, my basement decided it needed to become an indoor swimming pool. I made an executive decision to go home. My boss was not thrilled. Driving was not that bad, but I knew that I needed to be with my family.

We got the water stopped.

DJ and I were soaked to the bone by the time we were done.

It happens that way.

It's sad to think of the 4 scouts and their families who were mortally affected by a tornado last night.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25107608/

Just before Katie was born, a tornado ripped through Salt Lake City, briefly. I can remember the panic. Everyone at my work, an hour away, mind you, was freaking out. I sat there and laughed. I knew we were fine. Mom used to sit out on the deck and watch the things coming.

It's amazing the perspective you receive as you are prepared. When you know what to expect, you deal with it. You grab your kit, you move to the safe place, and you wait it out. Then you help clean up the mess afterwards.

Amazing....

Priceless.....

For the second time in about a week, I have had some expenditures I wasn't planning on...


$5 per towel

NO LESS than 16 towels (fortunately I owned them all previously) have been soaked, washed, dried and soaked again.


Carpet Cleaner $139

We borrowed one of these from my brother and sister in law to help with my little problem.

Wet Dry Vac $250

When that didn't work, we moved to this. That didn't help much either.

The problem, you ask???

We have a corner of our house where water collects, and then comes down, soaking the hard floor part of our basement.

Allow me to emphasize that this does not bother me. I would rather it be the hard floor.

Unfortunately, there is a carpeted yard square spot between the stairs, hard floor and door to the laundry room that always gets completely wet. Of course, it is the first place everyone steps coming into the basement. I'm not talking a little damp, I'm talking pooling water when you step down, and mushy feeling. EWWWWWWWWW!

The easy solution???

Flexible Gutter Extender $10... and priceless.

Guess what I am shopping for today?!?

Kansas City, here I come!!!!

Monday Morning Monologue - Summertime - Will Smith

Best known as the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Will Smith has been a rising pop music sensation, a television star, and a movie superstar.

You gotta admire a man who "would rather be playing in the dirt with [his] kid" (Jersey Girl, with Ben Affleck). Married to Jada Pinkett-Smith, with kids, he has ever remained the family man - few scandals, and his art form something he can always share with his children.

So, why today, why Summertime??? (Don't forget to click the playlist so you can hear the tune!!!)

Summer, summer, summertime

Time to sit back and unwind

Here it is the groove slightly transformed

Just a bit of a break from the norm

Just a little somethin to break the monotony

Of all that hardcore dance that has gotten to be

A little bit out of control its cool to dance

But what about the groove that soothes that moves romance

Give me a soft subtle mix

And if aint broke then dont try to fix it

And think of the summers of the past

Adjust the base and let the alpine blast

Pop in my cd and let me run a rhyme

And put your car on cruise and lay back cause this is summertime

School is out and its a sort of a buzz

A back then I didnt really know what it was

But now I see what have of this

The way that people respond to summer madness

Back in philly we be ou in the park

A place called the plateau is where everybody goes

Its late in the day and I aint been on the court yet

Hustle to the mall to get me a short set

Yeah I got on sneaks but I need a new pair

Cause basketball courts in the summer got girls there

The temperatures about 88

Hop in the water plug just for old times sake

Break to ya crib change your clothes once more

Cause youre invited to a barbeque thats starting at 4

Sitting with your friends cause yall remincise

About the days growing up and the first person you kiss

And as I think back makes me wonder how

The smell from a grill could spark up nostalgia

All the kids playing out front

Little boys messin round with the girls playing double-dutch

While the djs spinning a tune as the old folks dance at your family

Reunion

Then six oclock rolls around

You just finished wiping your car down

Its time to cruise so you head to the summertime hangout

It looks like a car show

Everybody come lookin real fine

Fresh from the barber shop or fly from the beauty salon

Every moment frontin and maxin

Chillin in the car they spent all day waxin

Leanin to the side but you cant spead through

Two miles an hour so everybody sees you

Theres an air of love and of happiness

And this is the fresh princes new defintion of summer madness

(I editted out a verse or so - it didn't fit with my theme!!!) Summer is always busy, but let's remember that we need to relax, unwind, play games, chill, hang out with friends and fam. After the last few months, I could defenitely use the break.

It's Summertime!!!