Weather Facts

1.  Just because the paper says we are in a 60 year low for tornado activity doesn't mean they don't happen.  Cue Granbury and Cleburne TX Wednesday night...Weatherguessers are calling for more sporty weather in the midwest again this weekend.

2.  Having grown up in the midwest, in the land of basements, aka Tornado Alley, I know how important it is to pay attention to the weather.  How important it is, to have a plan.  How important it is, to have a place to GO in the event of severe weather.  The summer after the Westminster TX tornado.  Video.  We installed an inground storm shelter on our property after Westminster.  It was not cheap, but has more than paid for itself in peace of mind (and auxillary storage space.)

3.  Lest we forget that other spring/summer/early fall storm season, the 2013 hurricane season officially began a couple days ago, and already TS Alvin is spinning away out there!  Should you have interests in the Gulf Coast areas, it would be wise to pay attention to the Gulf weather...

4.  Amateur Radio, aka Ham Radio, is an invaluable resource for the weather spotters, the forecasters at NWS, and the general population.  The Skywarn networks operate in the ham bands and listening in, or participating, helps a lot to give you greater lead time on severe weather in your area.  Plus, in the event of a serious storm outbreak, sometimes it is the only surviving mode of communications that will still work.  Cell phones are nice, until your tower is down, or your Central Office is wiped to the foundation (Stockton MO May 2003).

5.  Getting your ham license is fun and easy.  The old Morse Code requirement is gone, though you can still learn it, and some bands/portions are restricted to Morse use or digital modes.

All's OK at Casa Monkeywrangler

Just a quick note to any who saw the news reports on the storms around here last night.  All is ok at our place.  We only had the sound and light show, with some much welcome rain.  However, I am sure the folks in Granbury and Cleburne TX would appreciate any prayers y'all sent their way.  They got hit pretty hard by some large tornadoes.

Traditions, some good, some not!

My husband started a family tradition for Mothers Day, as a follow on to one his family did with his mom. Fishing!  They'd take his mom fishing every Mothers day.

So in honor of the day I got the whole crew out fishing too.  It was a gorgeous day, sunny and cooler than normal with a light cool breeze from the south too.  There were a lot of folks at the local pond, many fishing, some just hanging with their parents.  I got the folding chair to sit in, and we began baiting hooks.

Monkey1 and her fish.

This is one of mine.

Bluegill!

#4

#3

More bluegill!

The bluegill did not disappoint either.  For once, all of us were catching fish.  We even began to fix lines and rig poles for the other kids running around, and they started catching fish.  Fun was had by all, and I got a total of 8 bluegill, though the sun started to wear on us, as that other less desired holiday tradition began to rear its ugly head...puking.

Pretty fishy!

Yes, my Monkeys have a virtual lock on that holiday tradition, though it is usually expressed at Christmas, in projectile fashion.  They have painted the holidays various shades of purple (blueberry yogurt) and other colors too barf-like to mention.  This Mother's Day was no exception. 

Early last week, Monkey3 smuggled home a stomach virus.  Mild fever, one incident of puking, and a couple days of stomach upset were all.  I had thought we dodged the bullet, so to speak, when no one else got sick...until I began to feel like death warmed over last night during dinner.  I took some anti-nausea meds, and went to bed early, wishing I had puked first to rid my body of the stomach contents, but the meds worked too well.

By noon today, I felt well enough for a piece of bread and a banana, and fed everyone else, loaded up the van, and went fishing.  MonkeyBoy was acting funny, like he was sick, but he was wanting to fish so badly, he went anyway.  After a couple hours in the sun, we were all feeling a bit "done". 

At home now, DH got sick, followed immediately by MonkeyBoy, yarking all over the old dog bed and pillow.  My new Camelbak waist pack was even in the splash zone.  Yuck!  Tending to two sick family members at the same time is difficult, and no easier when you feel crappy yourself, but such is the life of a Mom...After seeing to all the sicker folks in the house than myself, my oldest presents herself to me saying her stomach hurts a little, and could I take her temperature too?  Yep, another one...

Sick on a holiday--that's one tradition I could do without!