OK – well it is that time of the year again. Thanksgiving.  Holy cow – where did the time go?

We had a GREAT time on Sunday evening here at the farm.  Family got together – missing Mariah (pssst Mariah we do miss you when you are not here) and we had turkey.  The turkey was provided by Denise and her husband.  Once again they made a great turkey!!!!  The rest of Denise’s family also came up.  Jason and Jess were here – Julie was here.  Lots of people – lots of fun.  We played some board games.  I think Jamie beat all of us – him and his sister.

Oh well – we will get them next time!!!!

Otherwise – the weather has been a roller-coaster.  Which is about what was forecasted.  So – I am okay with the ups and downs of the weather.  Bring on weather – that is my current motto.  I am sure that will change to "bring on spring" – soon enough.

Finals are this week.  Ready to move on past this class.  The leaves me two classes for my Bachelors Degree.  I am dreading the foreign language classes.  I have no idea how I am going to do those.  I see it being difficult – at best.  But, we will see what happens next.  Unsure when I am going to take those classes.

We are going to New York City on Friday – Joey has never been.  He wants to see the Christmas lights and the big city.  I am excited.  Love love love New York at Christmas time.  I am sure the airports will not be fun.  But, whatever.  What can you do?  Frustrating – at best.

Once that is over – then we have Christmas and New Years fast approaching. ZOOOOOM ZOOOOM is the word.

Some photos from Sunday night

 

Tyler playing video games

 

Cooking and talking

 

 

 

 

Dione and Deena

 

Tony and my niece Danielle

 

Someone feels left out

 

Jason lighting Tyler’s birthday cake – Tyler will be 12 on December 1st

 

 

Happy birthday to Tyler and Denise – 🙂

 

 

My dad and me

 

Daisy has a new friend

 

 

 

 

 

Wow – a busy busy busy month and weeks.

Attended the KY Weather Conference in Bowling Green – had a GREAT time!  The Paducah, NWS also had a conference at Kentucky Lake.  We gave away some Midland Weather Radios at both events.  We had such a great time – so many quality speakers.  🙂  Fun for all of the emergency management and weather geeks.

Then we had open house on Sunday – over 200 people attended.  We estimate the number to be between 250 and 300 in total.  Lot of people had more than one person with them – plus kids.

Teachers from Jefferson and Massac High School were there – along with a lot of friends from the past and current friends.  Everyone had such a great time.  I did not get to take any photos because I was never able to leave the spot I was in!  Hopefully some others took a few.  I know that Geri and Caesar sent me a few!  I will have to upload those.

My mom and family had a blast – so many faces that we have not seen in years.

FUN FUN 🙂

Then we had a few weather events – including a tornado watch the other night until 4 am.  I went to bed at 3 – after the threat ended.  Joey saw a Bobcat the same day – I can hear the coyotes tonight howling.  Lot of creatures around here! 

Then add in school – and things are BUSY BUSY BUSY!

Loving life – all good.

Some photos

 

 

 

Open House at the farm 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flashback a couple of weeks 🙂 – we went to see Blue Man Concert – WOW is all I can say!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas 2010

 

 

 

Jennifer Rukavina talking about the May 2010 tornado outbreak – that cell was just southwest of my moms house

 

 

 

 
Kentucky Weather Conference 2010

 

Trent Okerson – WPSD covering that tornado outbreak

 

Jennifer Rukavina presenting on the 2010 tornado outbreak (May)

 

 

 

Kentucky Weather Conference

 

Katherine and Mike Thomasson – McCracken County Rescue and OEM

 

Bruce Thomas did a presentation on weather radios

 

Bruce Thomas – great guy!

 

They made Bruce a Kentucky Colonel

 

 

 

Lee Campbell presenting on the Kentucky and Tennessee Floods of 2010

 

Dr Greg Forbes being given the Kentucky Colonel award

 

 

Chris Novy speaking on Spotter Safety

 

Chris Novy being given the Kentucky Colonel Award

 

Jennifer Rukavina and Dr Greg Forbes

 

Dr Greg Forbes and myself

 

 

 

 

‘Turn Around – Don’t Drown’ campaign

coming to Western Kentucky

Pilot project features warning signs in selected, flood-prone locations in McCracken County

 

GRAND RIVERS, Ky. (Nov. 17, 2010) – "Turn Around – Don’t Drown," a national campaign for awareness of the dangers of driving into high water, is coming to western Kentucky with placement of special warning signs on selected state highways in McCracken County.

The signs are a cooperative effort of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, National Weather Service in Paducah, McCracken County Emergency Management Agency and the Shadow Angel Foundation, which funds weather-related safety projects.  The signs will be placed along highways in six flood-prone areas identified by McCracken County Emergency Management.

According to Rick Shanklin of the National Weather Service, floods on average kill 127 Americans each year – far more than lightning, tornadoes or hurricanes. Four of every five flood victims die after walking or driving into moving water.

“These signs are designed to remind motorists to avoid driving through floodwaters.  ‘Turn Around – Don’t Drown’ is to help improve safety.  While these signs are only going up at six locations now, we’re optimistic we can obtain funding for more locations in the future,” Shanklin said.

The signs were introduced today at the National Weather Service Winter Weather Workshop in Grand Rivers.  Chuck Geveden, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, said the signs originated in Texas and are spreading to other parts of the country on an experimental basis.

“This is the first application of ‘Turn Around – Don’t Drown’ warning signs in Kentucky,” Geveden said.  “Beyond providing a safety reminder at these specific locations, we believe these signs will provide a timely message for motorists to carry with them whenever they encounter water over the road.”

The Shadow Angel Foundation is funding the signs. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will install them.

“Our goal is to raise the awareness of dangers posed by flooded roads,” said Beau Dodson, of the Shadow Angel Foundation.  “Our hope is that people who see these signs on a regular basis will file away that safety message and remember it any time they encounter a flooded roadway.”

Dodson noted that, much like other safety efforts, the “Turn Around – Don’t Drown” Campaign requires a long-term commitment to an important safety message.   His goal is to add the signs at additional locations around the region in coming years.  WPSD-TV Local 6 will assist the Shadow Angel Foundation by helping promote the TADD campaign in the Paducah area.

Motorists who encounter water covered roads are advised to follow these basic safety rules:

• Monitor NOAA weather radio or reliable news source for weather information.
• If flooding occurs, get to higher ground. Get out of areas subject to flooding. This includes dips, low spots, canyons and washes.
• Avoid areas already flooded, especially if water is flowing. Do not attempt to cross an overflowing stream.
• Road beds may be washed out under flood waters. NEVER drive through flooded roadways.   If your vehicle is suddenly caught in rising water, leave it immediately and seek higher ground.
• Do not camp or park along streams and washes, especially in threatening conditions.
• Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.

More information can be obtained at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tadd/ or by going to www.shadowangelfoundation.org. 

Here is the new site

http://www.americanwx.com/bb/

 

 

A BIG thank you this morning to all of the veterans that have served this great nation!!!! 

Thank you for giving us the freedom to be who we are!

Mother and I drove to Nashville yesterday after to go see Sarah McLachlen – this honestly was simply a dream fulfilled.  We have been wanting to see her for years.  I can’t tell you the number of lonely nights that I spent in Toronto listening to Sarah McLachlen.  I told my mom right after I left to buy her CD’s and listen to them and that they would help her.  Sarah McLachlen is just an angel – as an artist she seemed soooooo down to earth.  The last song she sang was Angel – mother and I both were so happy that she sang that song.  We have always loved it and the song has so much meaning to the both of us.

An amazing night in Nashville!  I got back home around 2:30 am.

🙂

Couple of pics from Nashville

 

My mom met Elvis!  She asked him out on a date!!!!

 

But he said no 🙁   Sooooo she ended up going out with this guy!

 

Sarah McLachlen in Nashville, TN

Gosh – it seems like it is so hard to keep up with everyone’s birthdays!  As soon as one birthday passes then there is another one!

🙂

A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DEENA AND MOTHER!