Horrible Storms & A Sweet Happy Birthday

I'm sure by now everyone has heard of the horrible storms that ripped through the south yesterday afternoon through late last night.

Tornados and high winds didn't damage unknown to many small communities scattered throughout western/middle tennessee.

It wasn't until morning, upon the rising of the sun, that the damage to a small community called Green Grove in Macon County, Tennessee.

My son-in-law's grandparents and uncles live in this small town, along with several of his mom's high school friends.

The grandparents are doing ok for now, but it appears it will be 3 - 5 days before they get electricity back. This creates issues because she's on oxygen.

The tornado swept less than 50 yards from their house, taking their tabacco barn.

The house survived vitrually unscathed.

The uncle didn't fair as well. He lost everything to the ferocious storm.

His house. His barn. His tractor.

He is one of the stubborn ass people who never leave when a siren or alarm goes off.

He is the one that, come hell or high water, will stay put.

It nearly cost him his life.

His house collapsed around him.

He spent all night, in the dark still aftermath, trapped.

They found him shortly after day-break with few minor injuries.

The friends weren't as lucky.

They didn't hear the alarms or alerts on TV.

They didn't have time to run or hide or find shelter.

She was found in her home. He was found approximately 200 yards away from the house.

Please take a minute to consider a few things:

1. Do you know what to do if a disaster strikes your area?? Where to go?
2. Do you have emergency supplies stocked up somewhere safe??
3. Do you have bottled water, batteries & a flashlight??
4. Do you have a certain spot where you & your family will meet up should you get separated?

I'm sitting here thinking about my daughter's inlaws and it's times like these
when disaster really hits close to home.

I wonder if technology will ever be able to pinpoint trouble coming early enough to warn people. Warn them early enough to find safe shelter.

Very scary.

Please keep all of our blog friends that I know of in the south in your thoughts and prayers... Chuck, Flat Coke & Flies, Real Live Lesbian, and Mushy.


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Today is Miss A's birthday!!


Seventeen years ago today she made her first appearance into this cruel, hateful world.

The brat didn't want to come out.

So, I got sick of it and schedule the doctor to go in and get r' dun.

Three hours, an epidural, a psychotic episode on my gramma, and a severe alergic reaction to demerol later... there she was.

Finally.

So, here's to you kid!

May your blush be rosy, my your shoes be many and may your boyfriend be generous!
Cheers.

Just think. Only 4 more years and we'll have you a kegger!

Mommy loves you!

Teenagers, Recycling & 80s Music

Recycling: High School

Mr. McPherson was one of my teachers when I was either a junior or senior in high school. He was a totally cool cat who taught American History. I enjoyed his class, well as much as a 17 year old who doesn't want to be in school anyway can enjoy a class. He made it tolerable and he was pretty laid back.

I couldn't believe it, but when we were at the school for some social function, we ran into Mr. Mac. I couldn't believe it when he actually remembered who I was and spoke to me:

"Ahh, recycling are we?" He was referring to the fact that I was now a parent with a kid, Miss A, in high school.

"Can you believe?" Admitting that I am shocked that I have a kid in high school. AM I that old? Is Miss A that old... Jeeez. Time is going by FAST.


Recycling: MY music

We have about a 15 minute drive from our house to Miss A's school every morning. Alot of mornings, since neither of us digga morning, we ride mostly zoning out and listening to the blah, blah, blah of the morning d.j. on whatever radio station happens to be on.

Anyhoo. On this particular morning we were talking some and out of nowhere she comes off with a question:

"I've been listening to Jack FM and they play all kinds of OLD music. Dr you have a clue who sang "Come On Eileen?"

*blink*

"Miss A, you think that's old???" I was offended as hell that she would insinuate that I and my era of tunes was ancient.

"Do you know who sings it?"

"Dexy's Midnight Runner, and it's not all that old."


"It's older than me, thank you very much." She smirked. Satisfied that she had put me in the "older than shit" catagory.

"Whatever. Oldies are named as such, Miss A. You know? Like the Golden Oldies, like Chubby Checker? That's oldies."

"Cubby Checker? Is that a real name? Who sings Love My Way?" She asked.


"Psychadelic Furs, smartass. Make a list and I'll bet I can name every song you can come up with from the 80s as I am a child of the 80s and proud of it. Old or not."

Finally... we are there, she opens the door to get out "Mom, I don't think you're old. You're the coolest mom I know."

With that she slams the door and slinks off to share her knew found knowledge of the OLD music.

Brat.

It seems like the music from the 80s is being recycled in its original form as well as being jacked by some of the new artists.

Bearded Lizards & Lightnin' Bugs

My household is short one member this morning. My daughter is super sad.

I woke up around 1-ish this morning and the livingroom lights were on. I rounded the corner to find my child, her boyfriend and my new son sitting around looking extremely sad.

My first instinct was to be pissy because the boyfriend was still here. Then I figured by the solemn expression on each face that something indeed was troubling them.

The next thing I noticed was the lizard’s habitat was not in the girl’s bedroom, but in the livingroom with the depressed looking children. I was told the lizard was passing into the next life. Immediately, I was transported into late night depression too.

FLASHBACK: “Mom, we’re goin out to catch lightnin bugs,” my daughter said.
They came in and went to the bedroom, where the lizard habitat is housed, lightning bug contraption in tow. Out of the bedroom I hear them giggle as the lizard must have been performing tricks to get the treat.

Lizards eat bugs, that’s nature. So, they figured since it would jump across its home to get a cricket, it would jump in the air to get a flying critter. They finish feeding it 3 of the luminescent delicacies. And put in a movie. That’s when I went off to bed.

BACK TO THE NOW: So, whilst Diva slept, the lizard was becoming very ill. By the time I woke up, it was too late. They had looked it up on the internets. Fireflies are TOXIC and not to be ingested by any other living creature.

We will be burying Joey today. Out back. Next to the rat that didn’t make it through baby rat birth. I suppose in order to ease her sadness, I’ll wait a day or two and go get her another reptilian playmate. We’ll try a snake this time I think.