Well, this is our first snow of the season.  Some flurries are falling outside my house here in Lone Oak!  YAY 🙂

The Tower Cam is showing the snow falling out in front of the house

  Well, it was cold outside this morning.  Not only was it cold but it was windy!  Winds up on the hill were gusting in the 30 mph range.  It also snowed a little bit across Southeast Illinois and Southern Indiana overnight.  1-2" were reported near Evansville.  I noticed a little bit of snow on one of the frozen ponds up in Massac County.  Nothing on the ground, so it must have flurried this morning.

  We might get another clipper tonight – light snow or flurries.  Could be a dusting in some areas. 

  They hauled equipment up to the farm today.  The wind was blowing so hard that they were not able to do measurements with the tape measures.  So, they did not dig today.  They are hoping to dig tomorrow.  Hopefully it will be a little warmer, although it doesn’t look much warmer.  Later this week we should warm into the 40s.  That will help.

  Looking ahead – might be some sort of ice or frozen weather event next week.  Still too early to determine precip type.  Something to keep an eye on.

  I worked at the old house today.  We are trying to get it cleaned up.  It has been empty for a year.  So, needless to say – it needs some work.  I cleaned out the bathtub!  The workers are going to be staying in the house while they build mine.  Then we will tear the old house down.  The basement has flooded several times and it isn’t in very good shape.

  I also flagged the area where my 10 meter tower is going.  This tower will hold my weather instruments.  Kelly is going to place it in the ground and concrete it.  My big tower – 50’+ will go more towards the west – hugging the big oak tree.  It will sort of be out of the way there and won’t be visible (since it will be right against the tree – near it at least).  That way it won’t be in the way of the western view.  That tower will hold my emergency management antennas, tower cam, and a few instruments.  Not sure when it will be placed in the ground.  It is a bigger project.

  Tomorrow they should start digging.  I am going to be up there on and off.  Then going to storage in Mayfield to get rid of some stuff we are not using.  We also are trying to rebox some items – clean up "junk" and get things ready for the big move later this summer.  The storage project will take several months.  Trying to do a little bit at a time.  Sort of hard when you have OCD!  🙂  I just want to do it all in one day!  lol 

  I had lunch with my friend John Logeman.  He was telling me about his wood cutting activities this morning!  Got to stay warm.  I promised John I would do a snow dance tonight.  We will see if that works in our favor.

  Deena and Tony are packing.  They sold their house.  It was off the market but someone came back that had looked out it a few months ago.  They will be moving out in the next few weeks.  They are going to build in Mayfield.  I have a feeling Tony is going to be extremely busy in the coming months.

  Deena sent me this photograph/sketch of what their house is supposed to look like.

The house Tony and Deena are planning on building down in Mayfield

A cold morning in Illinois – no snow on the ground, though.

Cleaning up the old farm house.

Unloading the car – cleaning "stuff" 🙂

The old bathtub was in horrible shape.  I think that well water is leaving a lot of iron and
sand behind.  Anyway – time to clean it up!

Better!!!  After a good cleaning.  At least we can take showers now (although at this time
it is just hot water running out of the tap).  Bobby is going to fix that problem.

Hauling in the equipment to pour the foundation.

My 10 meter tower.  This will hold my weather instruments.  It will be placed behind the
house towards the south/southeast.

The "beginnings"  of the foundation 🙂

And finally – Miss Daisy trying to sleep this evening

Daisy

Some newspaper headlines from this morning

  Well, I guess it is day 1.  If we start the count all over again?  How about we start the count today!  So, day one!

  We met everyone up at the farm this morning at 10 AM.  My dad fixed the water pipe that froze a month ago.  The water is running now for baths, showers, toilets, and sinks.  So, we are good to go!  Now I need to get a refrigerator up there.  I think Bobby (one of our builders/friends) is going to bring one to use temporarily.  That way we can have food and drinks for the workers.

  We then met with Kelly.  This is the guy doing our foundation.  We marked off one corner of the house – southwest side.  That is all he needs.  He can go from there and figure out the rest.  The house will face north.  Same as the old house that is already up there.  The house will then be west to east in length  Media room on the top floor – facing west of course.  I have to be able to see the storms as they roll in!  Master bedroom on the east side – top floor.

  Then we met with David from the Massac County Water Department.  He asked us where we wanted to run the water lines (county).  So, we showed him where we thought the best place would be for them to run the lines and put the hydrant.  Looks like they will be five or six weeks out.  So, maybe the county water will be working in late February or early March.  As long as the weather holds.

  We met with Roddy and his brother.  More builders.  This will be the team building the house – Roddy, his brother, and Bobby.  Then they will have others working with them.

  We are going to bring my radio tower up on Wednesday.  If we can get in touch with junior (who has the tower at his farm).  The tower is 55′ tall.  It cranks down to 21′.  So, pretty long.  We are going to pick it up Wednesday afternoon and use Bobby’s truck to haul it.  He has a 16′ trailer.  Dylan and some of his friends along with Joey, Tony, and myself are going to move it.  Should be enough guys to lift.  The tower weighs 800 pounds.  Not very light!  We should be able to handle it, though.

  It sounds like they will start digging the foundation tomorrow.  Concrete will be flowing this week.  My foundation should be finished by the end of next week.  That is the current plan. 

  The weather looks like it will hold until Friday/Saturday.  We could see some ice or snow (rain?) on Friday into Saturday.  A storm system is coming in from the southwest.  It may stay south of us, though.  Too early to know that.  I will have to check out the maps through the week.  We could see another ice storm or snow/rain event next week.  It looks like we might get an active storm pattern soon.  It has been fairly quiet the last few weeks.  Earlier it looked like Friday would be warm enough for rain.  Not so sure of that today.  Will keep an eye on it.  😉

  Other than that – busy picking up stuff from Wal Mart for the house up on the farm – some tools – miscellaneous stuff.  Tomorrow I am going to clean up the bathroom in the house up there on the farm.  Also going to see about having DirectTV hooked up.  The guys can have some television then – news/weather/whatever.  They will be staying there while they build the house.  Keep everything safe and secure that way.

View north this morning – looks like winter has killed just about everything.  Not much green out there.

Meeting with the builders.  Neighbors dog – comes up to visit just about everytime I am
up there.

Meeting with the builders and the foundation workers.

The neigbors dog came over for a visit.  One the dog is only has three legs.  Not sure what happened to it.

Tony (my brother in law) talking to David (the guy in charge of the water in Massac County)

County water!

My weather instruments are going to go back here – southwest side of the property.

  Well, just another day until they start on the farm.  YAY – I am excited.  I didn’t think this day would ever get here.  But, here we are.  Staking it out tomorrow and digging on Monday.  Then concrete should be flowing by the middle of the week.  That is what I am being told.  So, let the countdown begin!!!!

  It was cold this morning.  Not bitter cold, though.  Temperatures were in the teens.  Windy, though.  We had to run up to the farm and winds were gusting over 30 mph.  It is always windy up there!  That is why I love being on top of a hill.

  Joey is having a friend in for the weekend.  Ressey.  We went to the farm this morning to bring my dad some heat lamps.  One of our pipes froze a month or so ago.  My dad was getting it fixed so that the workers have running water.  Everything is fixed now!  So, we are good to go.

  After we went to the farm we went to eat at this new restaurant by the mall.  We thought it was open.  It wasn’t.  I remember now that Tommy told me it would be another month.  Looks like it might be a good place to eat.  We ended up going downtown.  Drove by the river and noticed there were a lot of birds in the water.  Looks to me like it would be cold out there!  Guess birds are protected by their feathers.

  I see John Logeman has FaceBook now.  Now we have to get him to load some photographs!!!!

Joey and Ressey

Cold birds on the Ohio River

It was my lucky day doing laundry.  I found $2.  I guess I should do laundry
more often.

The new restaurant that isn’t open

Ohio River

Bird on the river this afternoon

  We met with Mr. Bell today.  Sounds like he is going to start on Sunday.  Staking everything off at least.  Then they will start digging on Monday!  So, this is moving along nicely.  I am impressed.  😉   Glad we finally have a starting point.

  Sounds like it will take him 1-2 weeks to finish the foundation for my house.  Hopefully in that time I can get the tower up there for the antennas and cam.  Then I need to get with another guy on putting that tower up.

  My dad is going to get the water going tomorrow.  The pipe froze up at the farm.  So, that needs to be fixed.  The foundation guys are going to need a little water.

  We are also meeting Massac County Water on Sunday.  They are going to run county water to the farm.  Will be nice to get off that well.

  Moving along nicely!

  I was checking some weather observations and it was -30 something in Illinois this morning!!!!!!  That is INCREDIBLE cold!

Joey texting today after our meeting – Mayfield

  We went to the new Tokyo Restaurant tonight in Paducah.  It is almost exactly like the other Japanese Steakhouse.  Very strange.  If I wouldn’t know better I would say it is exactly the same!  Tommy said one of the managers left the other restaurant and opened this one!  Anyway – food was good – about the same as the other one.  🙂

  Wow, it is cold.  It didn’t get as cold as forecast, though.  We had a low temperature of 5 degrees this morning.  Yes, just 5 degrees above zero.  With no snow on the ground!  That is amazing.  Normally this area doesn’t get that cold – not without some snow on the ground.  Course this year we can’t buy snow.  But, everyone knows that already – so we won’t go there.  No point – can’t make it snow – all out of magic tricks – snow dance not working. 

That would be me this morning

  So, I turned the water on this morning for a shower.  Nothing came out of the pipes.  🙂  So, I knew that wasn’t a good sign.  The hot water here is in the garage and by the north wall.  You can do the math.  5 degrees – water heater in garage – north wall = frozen pipes.  So, I had to bring out the space heaters.  Took about an hour, but the water is flowing again.  Thank goodness.  The thought of a cold shower…forget it!

Got the heater running

Keith up in Canada snowboarding

  So, I got a Facebook message from my friend Keith in Quebec City, Canada.  This is what the message said "Hey you. When you get a chance check out my new photo album. Me and Adam adopted, we are proud dad’s now".  So, of course I assumed they adopted a kid.  I went to his Facebook page to find the photos and couldn’t find them.  Then after chatting on MSN I discovered the adoption was actually this little creature

Vegas is his name (her name?)

  Anyway – not quite a child but close enough.  Daisy is about as much of a handful as a child sometimes – so easy mistake to make.  Probably best to start out with a pet, anyway.  If you can’t handle a pet then you probably shouldn’t attempt a kid.  lol

  We are meeting TODAY with the foundation guys.  YAY – finally!  Does this mean we are starting on the house soon?  Yes.  Yes it does.  They are starting MONDAY MORNING.  That is what I am told – promised – and believe!

  We are also meeting with Massac County Water on Sunday.  They are coming to figure out where they are running the county water (currently a well on the farm, but soon we will have county water).  Kelly (the foundation guy) is also meeting us up there to stake off the house.  So, it is all coming together now.

  What could go wrong!  We will say nothing.  lol  I should probably not say that.

  Trying to get my radio tower up there.  Waiting on junior to get in touch with me.  We have to put it on a truck to haul it.  The tower is 55′ and weighs over 800 pounds.  Not a small task.  Once I get the tower up there I have someone that Jason recommended to actually put it in the ground (concrete).  Just waiting on estimates.  I have no idea what it costs to put a tower up.  Hoping it isn’t too much.  I need the tower for my radio antennas for emergency management. 

  It is possible we could get the tower up there this weekend as well.  That would be nice.  Get things moving along.

  Had dinner with Dione and Tommy last night.  It has been awhile since we saw them.  Christmas actually!  So, it was nice to catch up on the latest news from their end of Paducah.  Dione has been helping over at the animal shelter in Metropolis.  She is supposed to take Joey and I over there so we can see the place.  It is a no-kill shelter.  I would imagine they have their hands full.

  I saw Tabatha’s new baby yesterday.  I am going to have to figure out how to spell his name!  I took my camera with me but I left the battery at home.  Oops.  So, I will have to get some photos next time.  He weighed 6 pounds and 14 ounces.  I held him for awhile.  🙂

  On the news ticker this morning – Circuit City – 100% bankrupt.  They are closing all stores.  Go figure.

  OK, I think I have hot water now.  I guess I will take a shower!!!!

 
WISH THAT WOULD FALL HERE IN PADUCAH!!!!

  Bank stocks continue to collapse today.  Incredibly low prices on some of these stocks.  Sort of scary.  Looks like Citi might end up being bought out or not making it?  Who knows anymore.  Bank of America stock has collapsed.  Huge quarterly losses for a lot of banks and companies.  Looks like the DOW is going back down into the 7000’s.  Going to test new lows?  Looks that way.

  Oil is down $3 this morning.  It is now in the lower 30s.  Incredible, since it was above $150 a few months ago.  A total collapse of the system.  Everyone better hope that Obama and the governments of the world can figure out a solution.  Otherwise, there are going to be millions more lose their jobs or worse.

  I was against the TARP from the beginning.  I thought it was a total ripoff of the American tax-payer.  Now, we all see that the money has simply disappeared.  There is no trail.  Nobody is accountable for it.  The government has created an even bigger mess.  It is a total disgrace.  Now they want to spend TRILLIONS more?  Give me a break.  They are going to run this country into the ground and then some.

  I predict this mess will cost us between 10-15 trillion dollars.  I know the government won’t ask for more than a trillion here and a trillion there.  Mark my words – you are looking at 10+ trillion from the tax payers.  We will never pay this off.  Ever.

  Very cold in Paducah this morning.  Temperatures were actually colder than forecast.  We dipped into the 7-8-9 degree range here in Lone Oak.  Bitter cold!  I would love this cold weather if it had a dash of snow with it.  😉  No secret there.

Paducah temperatures this morning – you can see under AIR what the temp was.  The
airport reported 7 degrees as a low.  It will be even colder tonight!

  We are meeting with the foundation guys tomorrow – early afternoon.  Going over everything one last time.  We are then planning on staking off the property on Sunday.  Work begins Monday.  That is what I am told.  I guess the ground will be good and frozen by then?  Looks that way.  So, maybe the mud won’t be too big of a deal?  I guess that depends on when the concrete trucks get there.  IF we don’t warm up next week then perhaps it will be okay.  I sure hope so!  I am more than ready to get started.

  Sort of a scary time to be building.  Scary time to be doing anything with the financial markets like they are – and everything else.  This is a project in motion, though.  What can you do.  You have to keep moving forward.

  Hopefully things get better for everyone involved.  Lot of people without work.

  Well, I got a phone call this afternoon that they are going to start on the foundation on Monday morning.  Bright and early.  So, I guess that will be the case.  🙂  This is good news.  A starting point.

  We are supposed to stake out the house on Sunday.  I have a feeling it will be pretty cold up there!  Sounds like a plan, though.

  Had lunch with Sue.  Always nice to catch up on all the latest news.  She is still planning on moving to Nashville.  Just taking a little bit longer than expected.  I have a feeling, though, she will be on her way sooner than later.  I guess I will have to make more trips southward, once she moves.  I enjoy visiting Nashville, so that is fine with me.  Sue also brought me a calendar that she made out of some of her photographs.  I keep telling Sue that she was obviously a photographer in a former life.  The more I see of her photos the more I believe that to be true!!!!

  Looks like a low temperature of 11 degrees tonight and 4 degrees on Friday morning.  That is the forecast.  BRRRRRR!

  Well, if you like cold weather then hey step outside.  It is cold.  Temperatures fell into the teens overnight.  Brrrr.  You think that was cold?  LOL  WELLLLL the coldest air of the season is moving into our counties over the next few days.  SINGLE digits will occur on Friday morning.  Lower teens tomorrow morning.  So, that means it will be a three dog night (if you don’t know what that means then google it).  Lots of blankets – that is what it means.

  It is sunny outside this morning.  I am going to have lunch with my friend Sue Henry.  I have not seen Sue in – hmmmm – forever and a day.  So it seems.  We actually went out in December – if I remember correctly.  The days and weeks just fly by.

  My friend Gail told me this morning that her sister in Iowa has 18 inches of snow on the ground.  She hates it.  I am thinking "send it down here"!  I guess not everybody appreciates the white gold.  Still, though, with all the leaves off the trees, all the brown grass, everything hibernating – what else would you want?  Some snow!  It just livens everything up a little bit. 

  Speaking of snow – none in the forecast.  Could be some flurries over the coming 5 day period.  Not snowstorms, however.  Maybe next week?  Maybe.  There are indications that we might see some precipitation events starting later next week.  Most likely right when they are starting on my foundation.  lol  I guess I should stop wishing for snow, because we can’t have snow on the ground and start on my house.  One or the other.

  Daisy must be cold because she is sitting in the middle of the living room floor under some sunbeams streaming in from the front window.  She is worse than a cat when it comes to the sunbeam spots on the floor.  I think pugs get cold easy.  Daisy sure does.

  Tony is in Lexington for training.  I believe that would be real estate training.  This is his last training trip for awhile.  He will be home later today – at least I think he will be home later today.  Deena called and said that someone broke into his truck and stole all of his stuff.  Power tools and so on.  So, that is no good.  At least they didn’t steal his truck.  I would imagine Tony isn’t very happy.  The hotel didn’t even have security cameras.  He parked in the front.

  No new news from Canada.  Have not heard from David in awhile.  Doug is staying busy with work.  Erick is doing a little better.  He is trying to get back into some sort of rhythm.  Norman is doing good.  Spoke with him online for a few minutes yesterday.  He said it was cold and snowy in Toronto.

  OK, that is the update from Paducah. 

  Dione said I don’t have enough photos on the blog – so here are some Disney photographs 🙂

Tony and Deena at Disney

Joey reading the menu

Joey in front of Epoc

All of us as soon through a mirror

That would be me

Some gangster next to me – had to call the cops to haul him away

Dylan and Joey watching a show

Tyler strolling along

Daisy has a new pet…if I could just fit him into my luggage

Someone else is taking their photo – that or they just don’t understand
look at the camera and smile.

  Okay – hopefully Dione will be happy with these photographs.  Have to keep the audience interested.

  Oh my goodness!  The month is half over.  WHATTTTTT???  🙂  How can that be?  The month just started.  We were just standing in the middle of MGM watching fireworks go off.  I swear the days are getting shorter.  Is it just me?  Perhaps someone has tinkered with the clocks? 

  Dione said I haven’t updated since January 4th.  I sent her an email and told her that she should hit refresh more often.  I guess she was going off the main page.  I don’t update the daily links on a regular basis.  Just every so often.  So, I had to show her how to get to the "secret" postings.  The ones on this page – not so secret!  Anyway – DIONE I HAVE UPDATED MY PAGES.  Here you go.

  The meeting with the foundation guys is now scheduled for Friday.  I know – I know – that is a day later than we thought yesterday.  And so it begins.  🙂  Okay, well maybe not.  Let’s hope not.  They are supposed to – they are scheduled to – they are planning on (what else can I say) starting next week.  They said 7-10 days and that was last week when they said that.  Sooooo – doing the math (not my best subject) that would mean they start next week.

  Vegas has opened betting odds on them starting next week.  Right now the odds are set at 60 to 1.  The 60 is betting against them starting next week.  So, get your bets in folks.  Don’t want to miss the opportunity to put your money down!

  Okay that was all in jest.  But seriously – they are supposed to start next week.  😉  I know I have said that for about five months now.  But, I mean it this time.  They are going to start next week.

  I am worried about the amount of mud up there.  Very concerned – actually.  They may tell me that it is just too muddy to start.  Let’s cross our fingers and toes that that is not the case.  We do not want another delay.  If they don’t start now then it could be spring.  Then what if there are spring floods?  Then it would be summer?  ARGHHHHHH!   lol  Let’s be positive, however.  They will start next week – they will start next week – they will start next week – they will start next week.  I just keep repeating that and eventually it will happen!

  If they don’t start next week then I am going somewhere warm.  Well, maybe.  It has crossed me mind.  It isn’t snowing.  It isn’t going to snow (at least nothing major) – so who cares if it is cold?  I am not a fan of cold weather.  Cold weather without snow is a waste of cold.  You can quote me on that.  That is just how I see it.  Why in the world would anyone in their right mind want it to be cold and NOT snow????  I know – right.  Can not imagine why anyone would feel that way.

  Winter is nearly over.  Well half over at least.  Meteorological SPRING begins on March 1st.  Meteorologists measure seasons by months – March through May is considered SPRING.  So, we have 47 days left until March.  Meteorological SPRING.  BRING IT ON.  That is what I say.  Can’t get here soon enough.  If my friend Jason and I have to talk about ONE more freakin snow storm to our north – well I am just going to scream.

  Not being dramatic – just the way it is.  This region can’t buy snow.  Most years it seems that way at least.  It could snow every single day as far as I am concerned.  That still wouldn’t be enough snow!!!!!  I know I am not alone.  There are a lot of closet snow fanatics among us.  They just keep quiet.

  I am feeling better.  Still a slight cough.  Daisy is getting better as well.  She has fallen apart over the last few weeks.  Have no idea what the deal is.  She had some eye problems, hives, and a virus.  She seems better now, however.

  Having lunch with my mother today.  Having dinner with my friend John Logeman tonight – then seeing Sue on Wednesday.  My calendar is full – at least for the next day or so!

  Not much else to report.  Bitterly cold air is moving our way.  It will arrive on Wednesday into Saturday.  There could be a few single digit readings around the region.  That is impressive – especially with no snow on the ground.

  Meanwhile there are winter storm warnings to our north.  Chicago has had their fifth snowiest winter.  Go figure.  Obviously Kentucky needs to move north.  That is about the only way to fix this problem.  That or we need another ice age.  I doubt many people will vote for the ice age.  So, let’s make it easy – I will just move north in the winter.  Maybe next year?  I say that every year.  🙁  lol  I swear, though.  I am moving north from November through February.  That is about the only way I can get snow. 

  What else – what else.  That is about it on the update front.  School is fun this semester.  Severe weather and weather prediction.  Fun classes.  Easy classes – hopefully.  We are only one week in.  But, I think this semester will be a lot easier than last semester (all that math).

  Did I mention that I am going through Snow Withdrawal?  The absence of snow is making me slowly melt.

  I took this photograph last year – Waterloo, Ontario.  JUST IN CASE YOU FORGOT WHAT SNOW LOOKS LIKE.  🙁 

January 2008 – Snow in Waterloo, Ontario.  Sigh

  It looks like the coldest air of the season will spill into our counties over the coming week.  Single digits are possible late in the week.  I will give that a big BRRRRR!

  What about snow?  Well – a chance of rain/snow tonight and tomorrow morning.  Not looking for any big accumulations.  Mostly light rain or flurries.  I won’t rule out a dusting to an inch of snow across at least a portion of the Paducah forecast area this week.  I shall cross my fingers and toes and keep hoping for snow!

  We are scheduled to meet with the house foundation guys on Thursday.  Then they are scheduled to start work next week.  It is really muddy up at the farm.  I was there briefly on Friday.  Mud and lots of it!  Concerned that the weight of the concrete trucks might be too much.  Might need to put some more gravel down.  Hopefully it won’t be a big deal.

  Got three new KIVA partners last night.  I got busy the last few months and have not been on their web site lately.  They had 10 pages of people looking for small business loans.  Several from the Middle East and a lot from Asia.  The news ones that I picked were…

Wassim is a 25-year-old man living in Chhim in Mount Lebanon. He has owned a shop since
2006 where he sells new and used clothes. Wassim wants to buy more clothes in order to increase
his sales and cover most of his clientele’s needs.

Abdallah is a 49-year-old married man with 5 children, living in Maarakeh in southern Lebanon.
He has owned a mini-van taxi since 2001, and he is offering transportation services to neighboring
villages in the Tyr area

Teresa Jesús Palma Vargas is 53 years old, and she belongs to the Banco Comunal Las Emprendadoras.
She lives at Calle Libertad 657 in the Puerto Marítimo de Salaverry in the Trujillo province, departemento de
La Libertad, Perú. She studied nutrition at the Instituto Superior Tecnológico. She married at age 21. She
has four children, he is now separated from her husband. Two of her sons are students and depend on her.
She works in the Municipalidad del Puerto (the municipal governing board for the port), but because she is
a strong woman, she also runs her own business, selling cosmetics from her home.

  Well, it has been a long week.  Battling a cold and cough.  I think I am getting better though.  Just need a few more days.  🙂  Seems like I am having headaches everyday in the afternoon and evening.  Has been that way for three or four weeks now.  They are almost like clockwork.  Starts in the early afternoon and intensifies through the evening.  Then they go away later at night or I just go to bed.  Little eye twitch as well…left eye.  Guess I should probably go see the doctor and make sure I am not falling apart.  lol  Sort of weird though because the headaches and the little eye twitch started at about the same time.

  Everything else is going great.  We are meeting with the foundation guy on Thursday and they are supposed to start on the house the week after.  So, maybe another 7-10 days and they will start.  That is the plan at least.  Let’s hope it all falls into place.  There is a lot of mud up on the farm right now.  VERY muddy actually.  I need to get the internet going up there.  That way when we are up there messing around we can get online to check mail or whatever else.  Put a web cam up as well…that would be a good idea.

  School has started.  Fun classes.  Severe weather and weather prediction.  Should be an interesting semester!  These are the type of classes that I enjoy.

  Speaking of severe weather.  I will be going to a severe weather conference in March.  Jason and I are going.  Not sure who else is going.  We went a couple of years ago.  There was a big tornado outbreak the second day we were there.  Hopefully that won’t happen again.  Most of our area was spared – one tornado in Missouri that day.  The conference is in Oklahoma.  Good place for storms.

  Also speaking of severe weather – it is just 50 more days until Meteorological Spring begins!  COUNTDOWN TO SPRING HAS STARTED!!!!  Everyone will be happy to hear the word spring after the cold air heading our way later this week.

  It is colder this afternoon.  We had thunderstorms this morning.  Thunderstorms in January.  Temperatures are supposed to be bitterly cold later this week.  Single digits?  Perhaps.  It was -78 in Alaska over the last few days.  Can you imagine it being that cold? 

  No real snow chances.  Some light snow or flurries may brush our area in the coming days/week.  Nothing huge is forecast, though.  Maybe next week?  All the snow lovers just need to keep hope alive.  I keep telling myself that – at least. 

  Putting new windows in one of our new apartment buildings.  I believe Tony said there would be a total of 42 windows.  So that will not be a cheap project.  They need new windows, though.  We have two apartments with babies and the windows are drafty.  We have three buildings to do in total.  Starting with one though.  Maybe do another one in the spring and then perhaps the last one in the summer.  That is a lot of freakin windows.

  OK – so the countdown has restarted for the house.  Meeting this Thursday and then starting next week.  😉  We shall see!!!

  Well, this was another wasted winter storm potential :).  This would have made a great snowstorm.  I know some people are glad it isn’t snow.  Then again there are others who are wishing for some of the white gold!  Course I am one of the ones wishing.  🙂  We shall keep hope alive for some action next week.  Looks like a cold wave is coming – at the very least.

  We had some ice last night.  Mainly on the cars and plants. Nothing major.  There was a winter weather advisory – was never anything too exciting, though.

  There is ONE day left for the footer guy to get his estimate in.  We have one quote, so far.  We were hoping to get another one.  Seems like the guy tells Tony he will get back to us and then never gets back with us.  Guess the guy has enough work!

  Once we make a decision on who is doing the foundation then we can start building. 

  Still sick with the flu.  Hoping it goes away in the next day or two.  Don’t really want to go to the doctor.  So, lots of orange juice and chicken noodle soup.

  School starts tomorrow!!!! 

  Deena got word today that she was hired by the University of Kentucky.  So, that is exciting news on the job front.  I know she is happy!

  Well, we made it back home.  We arrived last night just before 10 pm.  It has been a long few days.  Battling the flu.  About half of us started getting sick on January 1st.  The last two days have been nothing more than a blur.  Never fun being sick. 

  Thankfully we were able to see most of Disney before being stuck in bed. 

  School starts this Friday.  The classes this semester will be on severe weather.  So, I am looking forward to the class.  Severe weather is one of my main interest in the weather field.  Just a few more classes to go and I will be finished.  I will be glad when graduation day comes.

  We are nearing a deadline for making a decision on who is going to do our foundation.  It is like pulling teeth to get someone to get you a estimate.  We have been waiting on one company for about a month now.  Our deadline is Wednesday at 6 PM.  At that point we will make a decision.  Hopefully whoever does the work can start within the next couple of weeks.  Time to get moving on this project – we are about 4 months behind.

  Otherwise, just trying to get over this cold and flu!

    Unfortunately we have received some very sad news out of Canada.  Joey and I are both heartbroken and saddened to hear that Erick has lost someone very close to him.   Donald Cote passed away on Friday night. 

  Our thoughts and prayers go out to Erick and Donald’s family during this very difficult time.  There are never any words that make things better when someone passes away.  Donald was only  30 years old.  I don’t think they are for sure exactly what happened other than he had a rare disease.  He has been in the hospital for months.  Erick has been by his side in the hospital during that time.  He was with Donald when he passed away.

  We love you Erick and we hope that you can somehow find peace in the coming weeks and months.

  WOW – another year?  Man, it seems like we just celebrated 2000.  Now it is 2009.  Almost a decade has gone by.  CRAZZZZZZZY!

  Everyone is having a great time down here in Florida.  Tony, Joey, and myself have colds.  So, we are trying to get rid of those.  Uphill battle I am afraid!  Running all day and into the evening – sort of wears you down!  Today is a slow day though.  We are saying in for the most part.

  The celebrations at MGM last night were awesome.  Fireworks everywhere.  Tens of thousands of people.   🙂  It was packed.

  Kristy came to visit us in the afternoon and stayed into the evening hours.  She made it home by midnight, though.  Short visit but a good one.  Always nice to catch up with friends.

  I think the kids had a blast yesterday.  The 11:30 Tyler had fallen asleep on my lap as we waited for the fireworks to go off.  He was wide awake once they did start shooting up into the air.  🙂  I am pretty sure everyone slept good last night.  I don’t think I woke up even once.

  We are here for a few more days.  Leaving on Saturday.  Looks like some rain or snow next week for my region back home.  Models are absolutely all over the place with the track of the low.  Some show a mega storm in the Ohio Valley and others show the storm moving over the Southeast Coast.  If we can get the storm to track through Tennessee then we might end up with a mix of snow and ice.  Stay tuned.  🙂

  Some photos from New Year’s Eve at MGM

The day started at 6:30 in the morning.  Yes, I did say 6:30 in the morning.  lol  It was
worth it, though.  We were able to ride all of the good rides without crowds and lines.  If you
don’t get there early then you can have 2-3 hour waits. 

Kristy and Joey (Kristy lives in Jacksonville, FL)

Me and Kristy

Tyler with his fish buddy

Danielle with her fish friend, as well 🙂

Danielle and Beau

Danielle and Deena riding one of the rides at MGM

Tyler and Danielle – MGM Studios

One of the many shows we watched

Deena – Danielle – Dylan – Tyler (Tony wasn’t feeling well)

Tyler and Dylan walking around MGM Studios

Tyler dressing up at one of the gift shops after a roller coaster ride

This was the best restaurant – everything is made to look like "moms kitchen"  It is supposed to be a 1050s
type setting.  We had a blast.

The kids with our waitress

Tyler

Kristy – Tyler – Beau

The kids dancing in the street during the interactive street parade

Street parade

Dylan during the street parade

Deena and Danielle watching the Christmas light show

Tyler ready for New Year’s Eve 2008

Tyler and Dylan

Kristy and me

LOTS AND LOTS OF FIREWORKS AT MIDNIGHT!!!

  If you get red x’s on the page that means you need to hit the refresh button at the top of the page.  That should load everything.  For some reasons some computers put red x’s after too many photos or if you their internet speed is slower.  High speed shouldn’t do that, though.  🙂

  We spent the day at MGM Studios today.  We slept a little later than yesterday.  We made it to the park around 11 AM.  It was nice to sleep in a bit later. 

  Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve!  Kristy and Drew are coming down to visit.  We are going to be at MGM Studio’s again.

  Few photos from today 🙂

Tyler and Danielle at MGM Studios

SNOWING AT MGM STUDIOS!!!!!

The next American Idol!!!

No more photos

The family outside of MGM Studios

Danielle – Tyler – Dylan – Me

Deena and me

Danielle and Tyler trying out for American Idol 🙂

To inifinity and beyond

The Osborne Christmas Lights – MGM Studios

Snowing again 🙂

Snowing 🙂

  We spent the whole day at Magical Kingdom.  I think this has to be my favorite park.  Maybe because I can remember going their as a child.  The kids had a blast.  Everyone had a blast.  🙂  WOOOOORRRRRN out.  lol  The kids just keep on going, of course.

  It is about 80 degrees down here.  Nice and warm – not too warm, though.  I noticed it was in the 30s and 40s back home.  Not too bad either.

Tyler and Dylan at lunch

Tony being magical

Joey at the Space Mountain Roller Coaster

A friend we made along the way

I love signs that make you wonder "why did they need that sign"

Tyler and Danielle with their friend Chip (or is it Dale)

Goofy

Joey – Dylan – and Goofy 🙂

The Magic Kingdom – lot of fog during the morning hours

Deena and Danielle on one of the roller coaster rides

We got into a little bit of trouble. 

Danielle and Dylan

Christmas Parade – Daisy and Donald Duck

Santa 🙂

Joey in front of the Castle

Deena – Dylan and Tony

Tony and Danielle

That would be me in front of the Castle

Tony on one of the roller coasters

I like the sign showing the people dancing no the roller coaster ride

The night parade – Tyler with one of Snow White’s friends

Tyler exploring his musical interests

Dylan making glasses out of his bread at dinner

DISNEY

  Wow – long day 🙂  I think I am already worn out!  So much to see.  We spent the whole day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  Lot of fun.  Saw a lot of animals.  Rode the rides. 

Tyler and Danielle on one of the roller coasters

Danielle – Tony – Deena at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Dylan and Tony

Joey at Dino Land

Joey kissing one of the many dinosaurs

Safari at Disney – we saw a lot of animals – I think the giraffe’s are my favorite

Giraffes – Disney Safari

Safari Disney

Tree of life – Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Tyler and Danielle playing the bongos

Beau and Joey – Tree of Life

Tony eating some leaves

Danielle eating her ice cream – actually a chocolate coverered bananna

  Everyone had a great day at Epcot.  It was a long day.  I think everyday at Disney is probably a long day.  By the end of all of it we were ready to go to bed.  Well, at least the adults were ready to go to bed!  Didn’t get to see everything at Epcot, but we are going back there another day to see the rest.

  A few fast rided!  I think I had some motion sickness a few times!  I guess fast rides will do that to you.

  Looks like they had some high winds back home.  A line of thunderstorms roared through our counties last night.  Nothing unexpected, though.  Winds at the airport gusted between 50-60 mph.  Lot of rain.  Temperature was 76 yesterday.  That is just insane for December.  Crazy weather.

  A few photos from yesterday 🙂

Chip and Dale

Tony – year of a million dreams 🙂

Nick the greeter – Tony thought we should get our picture with him.  He makes a great greeter.

Tyler playing us some music

The family – well missing the photographer 😉

Beau and Joey in front of Epoc

Tyler found a car!!!

Dylan texting his girlfriend for the 200th time today.  🙂

  We are heading to animal kingdom today.

  Deena found a great restaurant to take us to eat at last night.  Whispering Springs Mountain Lodge.  It is probably one of the more interesting restaurants I have ever been at.  It is anything but "whispering" as the waiters shout every chance they can get.  When you ask for Ketchup everyone in the restaurant sends their kids over to your table with a bottle.  Tyler made the mistake of asking for Ketchup.  I think he ended up with twenty bottles!!!

Tyler with all of his Ketchup bottles.

  Here is a photo I found on-line of the lodge.

Whispering Mountain Lodge

The lodge was huge.  They had a Christmas tree that must have been at least 40 feet high.  Covered in
decorations.

And you could sit by the fireplace in rocking chairs.  🙂

  I think everyone had a fun time.  We are heading to EPOC this morning (Saturday).

   We woke up this morning at 3 AM and headed to the airport a little after 4 AM.   🙂  So, it was an early day!  I don’t think anyone got much sleep last night. 

  We made it to Disney before 11 AM.  🙂  The weather is beautiful.  Not a cloud in the sky.  Temperatures were above 80 degrees.  Everyone is having a great time.

 
Tyler at Disney

Beau and Joey

Tony and Deena

Dylan and Joey at the airport earlier this morning

Danielle – Tyler – Dylan

Me and Tony

Joey and Pinocchio

Sunset – view outside our cottage

Rewind back to Christmas Day – Deena’s house.  Ashton and Tommy.

Tyler and Bubba

Dione 🙂 taking video at Christmas

Deena – mother – and Beau

My dad – me  Sparky – Dione and Ashton

  We had a wonderful Christmas at Deena and Tony’s.  All of the family was there except for Mariah.  She was at her dads. 

  We have arrived in Nashville, TN!  At the hotel.  Leaving at 4 AM in the morning for the airport.  THEN ORLANDO!!! 

  Everything seems to be on track.  Might be some big storms back home in Paducah on Friday night and Saturday.  Crossing fingers that the outbreak won’t be anything too severe.  Hard to say this far out.  These severe weather events are best forecast the day of and not before.

  Hoping to see Kristy in Florida.  Waiting to hear back from her.

  MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!

  MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.  I hope that everyone has a WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS and a BRILLIANT 2009!  I am sure it will be a year filled with adventure.

  Daisy’s new friend seems to be about the same size as her.  I think the new puppy will be growing a lot faster than Daisy!  Should be about four times larger (maybe more) before all is said and done.

  Daisy disappeared for awhile today.  She was found inside of a puppy chow dog food bag!  Eating the food.

Joey sent me this cell phone photograph of Daisy’s new friend

  The Paducah Sun did an article about my snow obsession.  I am fairly certain that we have now reached the peak of my geekness.  🙂  I was thinking they were going to publish some snow photographs – they did give a shout out to my weather photography blog.

  Full size article can be read here – larger than below.

  I am heading to Deena’s later this morning.  We are all leaving for Nashville at 4 PM.  Then to Orlando – Disney tomorrow morning.  Should be a fun trip.  I am afraid I might miss some severe weather across this region on Friday into Saturday night.  Guess I will watch it from a distance.

  Well, it has been a long week!  Oh wait, its only Monday.  🙂

  Lot going on.  First off it is almost Christmas.  So, it is a given that there is a lot to do.  Plus we are packing for Disney.  We leave at 4 PM on Christmas day.  Head to Nashville and fly out the next morning.  I think we have to be at the airport by 4 AM.  How exciting is that.  lol  I am not a morning person. 

  Should be a fun trip.  I would imagine I can give up on any hope for snow down in Florida.  I will enjoy the warm sunshine, though.

  No snow for Christmas – at least not for Paducah.  Maybe next year.  It is hard to get snow in West KY.  So it would seem.  Every so often we get a good snowstorm, but it doesn’t happen every year.

  I am still searching for a winter "location" to live.  Somewhere with a lot of snow.  A lot of cold.  A lot of ice.  🙂  Maybe somewhere in the lake effect snow belts of Michigan or New York?  🙂

  Dione sent me a photo this morning from Dip N Dots.  They had a fund raiser for Martha’s Vinyard.  One fo the local charities.

Dione presenting a check to Martha’s Vinyard

  Meanwhile, Daisy has a new friend.  Joey sent me this photo from his cell phone.  Apparently, Joey’s mom got a new puppy.  Soooo Daisy is going to have to place nice! 

Daisy and her new friend.

  I had lunch with Caesar on Saturday.  One of my friends from the Red Cross and well outside of the Red Cross as well!  We ate at the Parlor.  It has been awhile since I visited with Caesar.  So, it was nice to catch up.  We are going to try and get together with Sue in January.

  Speaking of Sue.  🙂  She has been very busy with her new granddaughter.  I have a feeling she will be busy for awhile.  Sue posted this photo on her blog.  I am sure she is very proud!

Sue took this photograph of her new "miss america"  🙂

  So, I am sure that Sue and Jack will be having a WONDERFUL Christmas this year.  Now if we could just get someone to buy their townhouse in Paducah!  They would be well on their way to Nashville.  With many babysitting hours ahead!

  Everyone is wondering about the house project.  We are in slow motion it would seem.  But, I always believe that everything happens in its own time.  Same with my house.  It will happen when it happens.  We are waiting on quotes from the foundation guys.  We have one more to go.  Waiting on a phone call.

  They have not started on the electric yet.  They are supposed to be running lines up there.  Thought they would be done with that by now.  Nothing yet.  Maybe this week or next they will complete the project.

  I HOPE THAT EVERYONE HAS A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Apparently the Christmas Edition of the Paducah Sun is going to run an article on my fascination with snow chasing and meteorology.  They spent about 1-2 hours here at the house interviewing me a few days ago.  I noticed this add at the bottom of today’s Paducah Sun.  Looks like they will run it on Christmas Day.  The photo on the top right was from my Boulder, Colorado Storm Chase.

Saturdays Paper

Yesterday’s paper 🙂

  We are building a tornado shelter at the new house on the farm.  The vault door arrived about three weeks ago, but they are just now getting it up there.  This thing weighs 1200 pounds.  It will go on the FEMA blueprint tornado shelter.  The concrete walls will be 10" thick.

Morning up on the farm – clouds have cleared out.  SIXTY FIVE degrees.  Amazing – we were in the thirties at midnight.

Wagner moving company arrives with the 1200 pound door.

Unloading

Waiting to be hung.  I have no idea how you hang a 1200 pound door.  Doesn’t sound fun.

This is what the door looks like, once it is hung.

  My brother-in-law, Tony Crouch, is installing new software for my blog.  So, this is a test post.  🙂  He is the smartest guy in the world (and he isn’t paying me to say that).  OK, he gave me a dollar.  But, he told me to say that.