Oh What Fun

So, I'm sitting at the computer this afternoon when my weather radio goes off. I figured that it was just some sort of test or maybe something with a thunderstorm. I did not expect to hear...

"The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Warning, effective until 5:30"

Then, the phone rang. The Weather Channel telling me to get into the basement. WTF? I took a peek outside and heard the sirens going off and told the kids to head to the basement. I grabbed the weather radio and a flashlight and followed. We turned the TV on and started to watch the weather when Hannah starts freaking out that Guillermo's outside. So, yes, stupid me went outside to find Guillermo. He wasn't hard to find since he was panicking at the door. I don't know if he thought something was up but I was going to trust his instincts and head back into the basement. We stayed there until the radar said everything had passed.

So, we've survived our first tornado warning here in Kansas. Yay us!

New Enhanced Fujita Scale

I don't know if everyone knows but they've redone the Fujita scale that's used to rate tornadoes. You can click here to check out the new Enhanced Fujita ratings that went into effect on February 1st. On the left side of the chart, is the old scale and on the right is the new. Tornadoes will now be rated on an "EF" scale instead of simply "F". You can read more at the NWS Storm Prediction Center Website. There's also some good tornado safety information here.

A county to the south of us had the first EF4 tornado in the country (previous tornadoes under this scale were EF3 or less) on February 28th. The same storm that gave us the golfball sized hail. To put the new scale into perspective, this EF4 tornado would probably have been the same as an F3 on the old Fujita Scale...still a very impressive and destructive tornado to say the least. They're saying it's going to be a pretty wicked season.

Ash Wednesday

Today, Lent begins. I guess I should have put more thought into it, because I haven't given anything up and I haven't really even thought about what to give up this year. I also wasted two meatless meals (okay, so not really wasted, but you know what I mean) on Monday and Tuesday. I don't have a lot in my repertoire...so we may be having tuna casserole instead of the bacon and sausage with the breakfast dinner I was planning. Mike has a lot more dedication than I do...when Judaism says fast...they really mean it...no food, no drink, no shower. I can eat (and drink) a little and still be considered fasting. I need to get my act together.

On a completely unrelated note...is it possible to get shingles from kids who've just had a chicken pox booster? Yesterday morning, I thought it was a contact rash, but as it's spreading, I'm realizing it's shingles. (It looks just like the picture shown here except mine is under my arm, not on my neck) Now, most of you know that I struggled with shingles in college. I'd get them twice a year...always around finals. You've got to love stress-induced illnesses. But I haven't had them in almost 9 years. (can you believe I've been out of college for 9 years this May!?!) What's really interesting is that everything says it's unusual to get shingles more than once. According to everthing I've read, only 4% get it multiple times. Nice.The first thing Mike asked is what kind of extra stress do I have going on. Nothing more than normal. I would have thought that if I were going to get them, I would have last fall, but here I am with a case, and it's spreading. :( The only thing I can think of is the kids had their chicken pox booster (I know...I know. Please no vaccine lectures! LOL!) and now I'm a mess. Ugh!!!

Okay, everyone...it's getting to be that season again. In fact, they were talking about this on the news last night and saying it could be possible for Saturday (for us). Is everyone ready for tornado season? Weather radios, flashlights and all that good stuff all ready to go? We need to get a new weather radio (something happened to mine in the move from Iowa to Virginia). I remember, as a kid, I would get all kinds of canned goods in a bag and put it in the basement whenever there was even just a tornado watch. I never thought about a can opener (that's the funniest part). LOL!!!