Straight Line Winds

When you see the incredible amount of damage that wind can do, you gain a new respect for the power of Mother Nature. In Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Illinois we see dozens, if not hundreds, of tornadoes every year. This part of America is known as Tornado Alley.

But there is another kind of wind damage that gets reported on the weather and news channels now. These are straight line winds. The winds is extremely powerful and can do as much damage as a tornado, but the wind does not rotate – it just goes screaming across the land in a straight line, leveling everything in its path.

I believe both kinds of wind do a lot of damage every year, especially in Tornado Alley. We had some winds last night that broke off tree branches, knocked down full grown trees, blew trash cans and patio furniture across the yard and flipped empty 18 wheeler trailers. They say we did not have a tornado come through here last night, but the amount of damage looks like it. It must have been some strong straight line winds then.

Sad News From NYC

There has been a lot of bad news on TV these past couple of days. I don’t know why people can be so cruel to each other. I get very upset when I hear about a mother who commits suicide and kills her small children at the same time.My girlfriend, Robin, told me about this story from New York. The woman drove her car into the river and drowned herself and two of her three children. It was a miracle that one child survive. The little boy was able to roll down the car window and swim to shore. But what kind of life will he have now, with no mother and his baby brother and sister dead?

 

A-choo!

Wow – this girl has been sneezing all day long. What’s in the air that is making me sneeze?

I don’t have “allergies” like so many people seem t have. But with everything blooming and pollen everywhere, there must be something new out there. I have gone through half a box of Kleenex and scared my dogs a at least a dozen times with my big sneezes!

Japan – My Heart is Breaking

The news from Japan is still so very dire. Not only have these poor, poor people had to deal with a magnitude 9 earthquake, but also this huge tidal wave that washed away everything in its path for 4 miles inland, butt now the nuclear reactors are leaking radiation. Oh this breaks my heart. Think of what those families are going through – missing loved loves, death, no food or water, and now the threat of radiation poisoning. I hope our God will help these people deal with the disaster and get some semblance of a normal life again soon.

Party Hearty!

Mardi Gras this weekend! Let the good times, roll! We need a reason to get dressed up, eat and drink merrily, and enjoy ourselves with parades, music and fun parties!

mardi gras mask

Winter Doldrums

Usually I try to have something positive to say. I try really hard to be happy and upbeat and find the fun in life. But let me tell you, this winter has been hard on me. We have so much snow and rainy grey days. I have a hard time being happy when everything around me is cold, wet, dark and gloomy.

Happy Birthday, Raymond

A good friend from many years ago is celebrating a big birthday today. Raymond, I think of you often and wish you lived closer so we could get together for fun times like we did back in the day.

Happy, Birthday, Little Buddy. (hehehe)

New Year Resolutions

Are you making New Year’s resolutions this year? I think I will pass that by. I am always looking for ways to improve myself and don’t need to make a big promise on New Year’s Day to make that happen.

Happy New Year!