What the heck – May is almost over?  ALREADY?  How can that be?  The month just started.  We JUST celebrated my birthday.  🙂  I just don’t understand.  Is there some button we can push to help time slow down a little bit? 

We turned the heat on earlier last week.  It was in the 40s at night.  NOW it is in the 90s.  We went straight from cool weather to HOT weather.  Not only is it hot but it is also HUMID.  Go figure.  Feast or famine.  That is how it always is in this region.  Too hot.  Too cold.  Too wet.  Too dry.  If there was such a thing as normal weather I would imagine we would never experience in this region.

Classes started this week – some meteorology classes.  This will be followed in June by Art Appreciation.  SOOOOO excited.  The Art Appreciation class does not even have a DVD.  I think I will be bored.  However, I will give it a chance.  😉

The meteorology class is easy – so far.  It is sort of a basic class.  But, something to do 🙂

We are getting ready for our trip to Alaska.  Mother is trying to figure out what to pack.  From what I understand it might be cold.  Temperatures were in the 30s this week at night up that way.  Hope we have at least 60s in the day.  I don’t want to freeze.  Looks like we will have to pack both warm and cool clothes.  It is what it is!  As long as we see some whales. 

Mihai is coming to visit us in June.  I am not sure what dates.  But, he is coming.  He received his U.S. Visa earlier this week.  He is trying to get one for Canada, as well.  Hopefully he will be able to get both.  We will have to show him around the area.  Maybe show him St Louis, as well.

After Mihai leaves then we will be getting ready to head to Europe for a month.  Sweden and Germany.  Joey is trying to learn some of the language.  Then he is teaching me.  I know how to say a few words.  Prob not enough, though.  Guess we will have to study a bit more.  🙂

By the time we get back from Europe then we will be almost through summer.  Fall will be upon us.  Then winter!  Already thinking about some lake effect snow photography this winter.  🙂  That is the plan.  Also a visit to Toronto to see our friends up there – later in August and September.

It will be a busy few months.

Good news on the lawn front – the grass is finally growing.  I suppose adding some water has helped – both from mother nature and some from our sprinklers.  Still quite a bit to still grow – but it is turning greener.  That is a start.

Still no snakes – not that I can find at least.  I keep looking but they keep hiding.  I figure I will stumble upon one when I don’t want to.  🙂

I posted a cool video of a thunderstorm – you can see into the storm

http://www.stormreports.org/weatherimages/graves_county.htm

OK – that is all I know for right now.  More later 🙂

Well, we had a little bit of rain today.  Enough to wet the grass – that is trying to grow in my yard.  We picked up about .60".  Not a lot – but more than we have had in awhile.

It is going to get hot this weekend – would not be surprised to see a 90 degree reading.  Go figure – from 40s to 90 in a week.  Sounds about right for around here!

We have been working on our plans for Europe – trying to get everything figured out.  Someone has to learn how to speak Swedish.  I did learn how to say hello and goodbye – thank you – and yes/no.  🙂  It is a start.

Mariah will graduate next weekend.  We are excited for her!!!!  🙂

  Well, we have been waiting ALL week for the rain.  It has been forecast to fall every single day.  But – it has yet to fall here!  The joy of trying to forecast for a small area.  It has rained alllllll around us – alllllll week long.  Even severe thunderstorms with tennis ball size hail.  But – just not here!  PERHAPS tonight it will finally rain?  We shall see.  I have just about given up on the subject.

  Joey, mother, and I went to Tyler’s baseball game on Friday night.  He won!  So, that is good.  We uploaded some video to Facebook.  So – you can catch that there.

  Joey’s mom graduated yesterday – she had gone back to school.  We went out to eat afterwards.  So – CONGRATULATIONS to Joey’s mom!

  Dione is going back to school this summer.  I am glad to hear this news!  She is leaning towards social worker classes.

  My school starts tomorrow I do believe – some more weather classes.  My Art Appreciation class doesn’t start until June.  Thought it was earlier.

  We are going to Alaska the first part of June – my mother and Jason/Jess/Joey (Judy as well).  Hmmm all J’s!

  Waiting to hear if Mihai might be coming to visit in June.  He is looking at getting a Visa.  Might hear some more on that subject in a week or two.  Going to visit Toronto at the end of August and first part of September.  I asked Doug to order up some snow.  We will see if he can deliver.  Hopefully so!  That would be WAY early for snow.  lol

  Not much else new to report – staying busy.  Waiting for the rain to arrive. 

Well, WOW – a surprise birthday party on Saturday.  🙂  I will say they got me this time!  My dad and Tony kept me busy over in Paducah – as a distraction to what was going on up at my house.  While I was in Paducah my friends and family were decorating and getting ready to surprise me with a birthday party!  There were a ton of friends at the party – Sue and Jack came all the way up from Tennessee!!!  They braved all the flooding – I think I even heard Sue say she had to take a boat half of the way here! 

My family had a painting made of the house in the snow – of course what else!!!!!  It looked just like this past winter up here.  🙂  Bill Ford is getting it framed up for us. 

Then they made a birthday cake that looked like a weather map!  Very nice.  🙂  The Artisan Kitchen in Paducah put the food and cake together.  They did a GREAT job!!!!

I took a few photos – but I think some of my friends have more photos – they are starting to trickle in one by one!  So, I might add some more photos over time.

I can say that I really felt loved yesterday.  So many nice people – smiles – family – friends.  Just made me feel good!  It was sort of surreal being up here on the old farm place – with the house finally finished – the blue sky – birds chirping – cool breeze – surrounded by family and friends.  Celebrating a birthday!!!  First birthday back on the farm. 

You just never know what life will bring your way next – good and bad.  It is all a journey.  I just sort of let the flow take control at times and see where it takes me. 

I think the hardest part of the last few years has been trying to figure out how to enjoy life without overthinking everything.  I don’t know why this is a problem – perhaps it has just taken forever and a day to really feel like I can actually live life.  Sometimes I think they need to have a class in school on how to live life and enjoy life – at the same time!  Somewhere in between everything it becomes complicated.  However, I am learning.  Still! 

I think everyone had a great time yesterday – even saw  a few faces that I have not seen in awhile.  🙂 

Today we went out to eat with mother – went to Mayfield.  Then mother came up here with me to read through Kay Comer’s blog and photographs.  Had a great time – looked at a lot of old photographs – well some not so old!

School – meteorology classes – start hmm this coming week or early next week.  I believe the 15th.  Jason is also taking some classes – so we will take them together.  I found out that my art class does not start until June.  They originally said May – but that isn’t correct.  🙂  Guess I will just wait a bit longer.

Our trip to Alaska is in June, as well.  Then home for a few weeks and then off to explore Europe.

Mariah graduates at the end of the month!  That makes me feel a bit older.  I don’t know where time goes – but it goes.  As I keep saying.  It isn’t slowing down.

Some photos from yesterday – see if I can get these in some sort of order 🙂

Some of these photos were taken by Sue Henry, Jennifer Rukavina, Geri and Caesar –

AGAIN – THANKS EVERYONE FOR A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY!  MADE FOR A VERRRRRRRY SPECIAL DAY!  TO SAY THE LEAST!

Arriving at the house – I almost tripped over the wheelchair ramp 🙂 – Denise no doubt trying to sabotage the
entry point 🙂

My mom

My dad!

Jack and Sue came up from Nashville 🙂

The surprise 🙂

Family and friends

My dad with Sue and Jack

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

My friend Gil

Tyler

Umm Dione – always trying to hijack the camera

 
Denise made me a book – covered my whole life from start to finish 🙂  THANKS DENISE! 

My weather map birthday cake!!!  Nice weather map – even some storms in Missouri.  Jennifer even gave the
weather report.  I am sure she was happy that we did not have any severe weather to deal with.  Last year
we had the derecho – did not make for a good birthday!

Birthday cake weather map

Happy Faces!!!

Birthday 2010

Joey – lighting the cake 🙂

Some of the gang checking out the view from the rooftop

Geri – Bill Ford – Caesar 🙂 all made it to the party!

Dylan

Mariah

My sisters – trying out the cake a bit early it would appear

Joey, my mom and sisters put together a bunch of photographs from over the years – there were
defin some umm nerdy photos mixed in.  lol

Quinton checking out the snow painting of the house

 

Birthday 2010

Birthday 2010

Unveiling the painting of the house in the snow 🙂

Painting

The house on the hill – where we live!

Birthday 2010

Julie Kohn 🙂 – now she is a neighbor as well as a friend!

My sisters 🙂  Deena and Dione

Caesar and Geri came to the party 🙂

Jennifer and Brian 🙂

Gerren 🙂

Jason – Jess – Gerren – Jennifer – Brian – Kyle

Well, it is almost my birthday and that means thunderstorms!  Usually.  No different this year.  Severe thunderstorms are likely today across our region – not a huge outbreak, but a line of storms.  Expect gusty winds and some high winds.

Dry tomorrow and most of Sunday.  Heavy rain possible Sunday night into next week.  On and off chances – won’t rain all the time.  We don’t need any rain.

The region is still cleaning up from a huge flood over the last few weeks.  Parts of Kentucky and Tennessee will likely have damage in the BILLIONS of dollars.  Terrible flood. 

We will be leaving for Alaska in a few weeks.  Taking my mother – we are going with Jason and Jess.  Should be a nice trip.  Hope the weather is okay.  Prob be some cool nights and warm days.

We are going to Stockholm, Sweden in July – then Berlin at the end of July and first part of August.  Going to explore and see what we can discover over there!  No real plans – just go and explore.  Hopefully the volcano won’t blow up.  🙂  Airlines don’t mix well with volcanic ash.  (I had to bring science in there somewhere)

We are going to try something different – in Sweden at least – renting an apartment instead of staying at a hotel.  Julie got us hooked on www.homeaway.com 🙂  Will give it a try and see what happens.  An adventure I am sure!!!!

Need to figure out when we can make it up to Canada to visit Doug and others.  Maybe later in the summer or fall.

Art Appreciation class will start in a few weeks – meteorology classes start next week.  Signed up for another class in the fall.  That will leave me just two classes away from the Bachelors Degree in Geo-Science.  🙂

So – some busy weeks ahead of us.  Hopefully we don’t get too much severe weather in the coming weeks.  Would be nice just to slide into summer without a huge severe weather event.  Will just have to see how it goes.

Nice lightning show tonight – took these photos from our deck – looking south into McCracken County, Kentucky

Large images (look better go to this link)

http://www.stormreports.org/may32010_paducahlightning.htm

Well, it took me a bit of time to go through all of those photos.  Weather has kept me busy the last week.  We had a severe weather outbreak on Friday and Saturday.  There were over 100 tornadoes reported across the central and southern United States.  Thankfully our region did not have anything too serious.  Some big storms, though.  We had 3 inches of rain.  Not good.  It washed a lot of the seed around that we planted for grass.  But, oh well!  What can you do.

Dylan came home last weekend from his military service.  He was out in Oklahoma and Missouri.  I am sure he was glad to come home.  It appears he has a motorbike now.  Hopefully he will BE CAREFUL on that thing.  HELLO Dylan – reading this.  🙂

We had a party for him and the weather was perfect last Sunday.  We stayed outside on the patio for the most part and everyone really enjoyed the time together.  It has been a little bit since we were all able to get together.  Was nice to see all the kids here.

Daisy had a nice time – Denise brought some puppies with her and that kept Daisy entertained.  Sparky even came up for a visit – but for some reason Sparky avoided the photos.

 
Denise brought a friend for Daisy to play with

All that yard – so little time!

Payton and her friend

Tyler playing with the puppy

Deena and Denise – with Denise’s puppies!  They are cute!

Another diva no doubt

Denise’s puppies stole the show!

BUT HEY DON’T FORGET ABOUT ME!!!!!  Miss Daisy!

 
Mariah chilling in the back yard – waiting on Joey to finish those burgers!

Danielle and Daisy together again 🙂

Dylan decided that he needed a bike.  I guess a car just isn’t good enough.  I am glad
he is wearing a helmet.

Dylan’s coming home party!

Dylan – ready to roll!!!

Tyler and Dylan – ZOOM ZOOM

Tony and Dylan

Denise brought a new puppy to play with Daisy 🙂

Quinton and Tommy

My dad and Tony – waiting on those hamburgers and hot dogs to finish up on the grill

 
Dione with Denise’s puppy – I guess Daisy is just
shoved to the side now.  A new puppy is in town.

AWWWWW they are so cute when they are asleep.  Guess they had a long day.

Dione and diva puppy

Daisy is thinking "who and what is this"

Joey and Daisy – that is me there behind the camera

Dylan and Tyler on Dylan’s bike

Lynne and the little puppy on her shoulder

Tyler

Tommy waiting on the hamburgers

My dad and Tony

Denise’s little puppy

Dylan

Dylan

Joey and Dione pretending to ride Dylan’s bike – they were too scared to actually
get on it

Dione riding the bike

Scary without a helmet and all!

Stormy days ahead.  Looks like some severe weather is possible on Friday and Saturday across the region.  Could be some tornadoes in or near our local area.  Have to work out the finer details, as always.

Had a fun weekend with Dylan back home from the military.  We all got together up here at my place on Sunday afternoon.  I need to post some photos – haven’t had time to go through them all.  Maybe tonight 🙂

Well, Dione emailed me the following – sounds like she needs to hit the gym!

It is now a day after the Dodge Ball Tournament.  I feel worse today than I did yesterday after the games.  My body is hurting in places that I didn’t even know I had muscle anymore.  I figured by age 38 that all of that stuff had turned to mush. It is at this point hard to walk and very painful to raise my arms.  So I sit in this chair with my legs up and my arms at my side typing an email because I really can’t do much else around the house at this point.  Tommy occasionally looks at me and gives me a look of disgust and Sparky is not allowed on either of our bodies because his weight will send us into acute painful spasms.  I honestly didn’t know we had to play that many games.  I first I just thought it was one game and then we lose that’s it.  Then I find out it is 3 games…ok still not bad…I had no idea that we had to play 3 games a piece per team which there were 3 other teams other than us.  The good news for us positive people is they were actually expected 16 teams…which I didn’t know that either.  Someone up there likes me because if we had to play 16 teams I don’t think I would be sitting here emailing you all and breathing today due to some family members violent tempers.  I am suppose to go to work tomorrow but I don’t know how I will be able to walk somewhere without looking like I have been on a horse all day.  I suppose my family will just have to chalk this up as another, well we tried to do something as a family and as usually with all the dysfunctions of us that it didn’t turn out exactly good.  Well, who knew…why does anyone anymore think anything that we try to do as a family will turn out good.  I for one think that the family needs to be a little more pessimistic and maybe just maybe everyone will not be so disappointed in the future.

Dione

  The Shadow Angel Foundation sponsored a team in the Dodge Ball for Easter Seal’s today.  The family pulled together enough team players – along with Denise, her husband, and John Logeman to put together an All-Star team!  The team came in second place – they put me in charge of photos – Dione said something about being picked last in grade school for dodge ball.  I don’t know.

  Anyway – we came in second place!  We also won best outfit design!

We did win best design for our outfits 🙂

Team Shadow Angel

Jamie – our team captain – giving everyone a pep talk (they needed a lot of pep)

John Logeman

Warm up time for my sisters and Tommy

Warm up before the game

After just 10 minutes the team was completely worn out

Joey and John

Pep talk

Tommy throwing a ball – leading us to victory

Time to take out some players

Jamie was our team captain

Jamie and Denise

Joey

 
The team receiving their award for coming in second place

The weather is incredible – unless you are a storm chaser.  If you are a storm chaser the weather sucks.  🙂  But – for normal people – this weather is amazing.  Sunny sky – warm temps – loving it.  🙂

Had dinner with Julie and her friend the other night – got to catch up on all of the latest updates from Julie.  Sounds like she has put her house up for sale.  Her and Danny are thinking about moving to Chicago.  I guess I will have to visit Chicago if that happens!

Was able to catch lunch with Sue, Caesar, and Geri – last week.  It has been a little while since we were able to get together.  Sounds like Sue is staying busy down in Nashville. 

Deena and Tony got back from Washington D.C. – sounds like the kids had a good time.  Tony sent me a photo of Tyler and Deena with a satellite.  🙂

Well, we were in a slight risk of severe weather today.  The storms produced some wind and hail.  Perhaps one tornado near Carbondale.  Waiting to see what the NWS finds out about that one.  We had a lot of rain and lightning here at the house.  Tornado watch earlier this afternoon and evening.  No warnings for Metropolis or Paducah.

It was a low end event situation.  Instability was lacking – but there was some decent wind shear.  So – we did have a lot of storms scattered around.

It has been a very quiet severe weather season.  This was the first event we have had in months.  Really – about six months.  Long time!

Joey and I went to Tribecca and had lunch with Sue, Caesar, and Geri.  Had a great time catching up.  I was afraid we might not make it because of the storms – but I called mother nature and told her to hold off for a few hours.  🙂  So – she did!

Signed up for school – starts in May.  Art Appreciation.  I don’t know how I ended up needing that class.  I only need four classes to finish my Bachelors Degree.  That was one of them.  A creative writing class is another one that I need.  Then two more language classes.  I have no idea what I will take – guess we will figure that out.  I am not going to let four classes stand in the way of a Bachelor’s Degree in GeoScience.  🙂

Everything else is moving along – hoping Bobby and them will finish up my house.  That or we are going to not paint the floor and just move our cars into the garage.  One or the other.

🙂

A quiet Easter weekend.  My mom and I went to a birthday party in Vienna.  It was a friend that she graduated high school with.  Kay Comer put on the party – along with some others.  It was real nice.  Total surprise for the person who was celebrating their party.  We had a great time. 

Then today I went out to eat with my mom and dad.  Actually was not a huge crowd – at least not at 11 am.  🙂

Joey was away in Murray. 

So – it was a fairly uneventful day.  Daisy didn’t even get an Easter egg this year. 

Waiting on showers and storms to develop tonight – but I need to get some sleep.

Deena and Tony – the kids – are in Washington D.C.  Vacation time for them!

Actually feels like spring outside.  Finally.  I hope it will last.  Tired of the cold weather.

Well it is Saturday.  Sunday is Easter.  Amazing, I know.  I don’t understand how it can possibly be April. Let alone Easter.  I guess it is, though.

Today was beautiful outside.  However, I did not see any snakes.  I did catch four mice on the outside under the stairs.  As long as they stay outside – I am happy.  Joey says I have taken the warn on mice too far.  That if they stay outside I should leave them alone.  My philosophy is that if they come onto my property they are fair game.

We have a big severe weather class on Monday night.  Hopefully we have a good turnout.  This will be the elite spotter class – something new everyone has been working on.

It has been a good week – some ups and downs.  But good overall. 

Joey went to his parents for the weekend – or down to Murray.  Both I guess.

Daisy is aslssp on the couch.

Deena and Tony – kids – went to Washington D.C. – sounds fun.  I am sure they will go to all of the museums.  Dylan returns home in a few weeks.  I know he is very excited.  I hope he gets into school and starts moving towards a degree.

🙂

Thunderstorms are moving into our area tonight – should be gone by morning.  Hopefully.

  How can it be April.  ALREADY.  What the heck is going on.  Did someone hijack time?  Are we speeding ahead with nothing to stop it from becoming summer and then winter again?  Sigh – I really think time is moving too fast.

  But – what can you do!  I guess we just go along with it.

  I have still not spotted a snake up here.  I have been looking.  Someone else saw a snake today.  I didn’t see it.  Then Joey saw a hawk with a snake.  Carrying the snake off.  So – whatever.  I guess I will just keep looking.

  Mariah baked a cake today at school!  I wouldn’t mind having a piece of the cake.  Looked pretty good!  Dione sent me this photograph

Mariah’s cake!

  Ashton is in Washington D.C.  Tommy sent me this photograph earlier today.  She is at the placing of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

  Well – I didn’t get to see the first snake.  However, two of the guys who are working on the yard did see a 4′ snake.  Out by my weather instruments.  I looked for it later – but came up empty handed!

  Maybe I will find it another day.  Last year we had a ton of snakes.  We will see what happens this year.

  More rain tomorrow night – lovely.  Just what we need.  Looks like the severe threat is low.  Just not enough high dewpoints.  That is going to change soon.   I am expecting several severe weather outbreaks in the coming weeks over or near our region.

  Daisy was being a drama queen today – she wouldn’t go up the stairs.  Now normally she doesn’t like the stairs – but she will still go up them.  Tonight she put her feet firmly planted on the floor and would not budge.  I had to make her climb the stairs – mainly by lifting her back feet while she climbed with her front feet.  Total drama she is.

  Working on a powerpoint for a spotter class – spent most of yesterday and today working on it.  It is quite lengthy.  Will have to see how long it is – once I have it finished.

  The weather need week looks awesome!  Most of the week at least.  Storms by next weekend – again.  We are on a roll for rain and weekends.

 Well – thunderstorms are on the way.  Not expecting anything major.  Some severe weather is not out of the question for our southern counties.  More towards Tennessee – but will be a close call.

We have had almost no severe weather since last fall – maybe even summer.  Quite amazing!  To say the least.  I love it.  🙂

Went to the gym today – not exciting.  But – saw John Logeman there.  Have not seen him in a week or two.  🙂  He was happy to get my weather forecast today – he thought I had quit emailing everyone.  I told him that there has been nothing to talk about lately.

Ordering some teddy bears – we need a bunch for the rape crisis center.  Several hundred.  That is a budget buster.  But – they are almost out.  So – we are ordering them from RUSS Bears this time around.  Last time we used GUND.  But – trying to some RUSS this time around.  Might take a week or so to get them.

Mowed the yard today – Daisy’s yard.  Used the old time push mower – no motor on that.  🙂  lol  – does the job just fine.  I imagined Jason might be watching me from the Daisy cam and laughing at me.  I could hardly keep the thing together – handle kept coming off.

Still no snakes.  Day 10 of the snake watch up here.  I keep looking.

We did see a coyote today – running through a field near here.  I keep looking for the black panther – which someone did get on video tape last week.  🙂

Dylan posted some photos – couple of them!  Here they are –

Dylan and his army buddies – he is in Missouri – keeping the peace 🙂

  So, it has been busy!  Trying to get ready for severe weather season, working on computer "stuff", attending conferences, new training, ironing out some problems – and so on.  Life is busy!  However, apparently I have neglected my blog posting duties.  So – I will try to do better!

  We had a great time today here at the house – whole family came over and hung out.  Danielle brought her new boyfriend.  Dione was in charge of them.  We had lots of food and lots of rain.  Sure – I tried to shoot for cold and partly cloudy today – but, mother nature decided that would not happen.  It was apparent that the rain was going to fall and fall it did!  We have picked up over an inch of the wet gold.

  Rivers are not going to like all the water.  But – we did need some moisture in the ground.  It has been dry lately.

  The trip to the Caribbean was fun.  Really enjoyed the warmer weather.  I think I have several hundred photos to go through.  I have neglected that duty, as well.  Photos!

  I have not seen any snakes yet.  This year.  Last year we had a bunch – see all the blog photos from last year.   I am expecting to see a bunch this year.  As long as they eat the field mice then I am happy with that!  They can eat all of those that they want.

  Looks like chilly weather tonight and tomorrow.  Then warmer the middle of the week.  No severe weather – yet.  I am thinking the first week or two of April will bring a couple of bigger events to the middle of the nation.  We will see how it goes.

  Here are some photos from the Oasis of the Seas

So, in an attempt to get Beau to blog more…we (his family) have taken over his blog and are now doing it for him.  So today I (Dione) am blogging for him.

Well we all came up to his house today (which was a bit chilly inside, he could have turned the heat up) to eat lunch.  This was the entire family coming up to the house today to enjoy company and food.  So it is cold, wet and miserable out today and as we pull up we notice that we cannot pull up in his driveway because it has just be concreted.  We now have to walk about 1 mile to get into the garage in the cold wet rain.  We all get here and then wait about an hour or more before anyone can eat because well, we don’t really know why… after eating we all go upstairs and in different rooms so we don’t have to be around each other too much as to not upset one another with annoying habits or stories.  I also have to do double duty and babysit Danielle and her boyfriend Hay….whatever his name is.  I have to climb 20 or more steps just to get up into the attic to make sure that they are not snuggling too closely.  After going up 2 to 3 times I am tired and my legs hurt so I am abandoing the babysitting and leaving it up to her baby brother Tyler to watch them.  Now I am sitting in the computer room and blogging while listening to men hollar and cuss about a basketball game that doesn’t matter.  I am really should there be a winner and loser in basketball games.  Aren’t we all winners.  Don’t all of these boys deserve a trophy for trying their best.  Can’t we just all forget about who is better then someone else and have a good time.  There isn’t any real desserts here either…just some pies (which I don’t like pies) and a pan of not done brownies (Thanks Tommy) anyway so here we all are together at the farm doing nothing but feeling a little irritated that everyone is getting a little loud and breathing.  Maybe we can do this again sometime.

  OK – well – I haven’t updated for awhile.  Anyone out there reading?  Unsure!  Life just keeps zooming by.

  Been home for a few days.  After all of that running around – it is nice to finally stay home for a few weeks.  Outside of some severe weather training and emergency management training – I am home!  I say – YAY – to that!

  Been trying to get some things done around here.  We have been trying for three months to finish the driveway.  But, the weather never wants to work with us.  We need three nice days.  Is that too much to ask for?  Apparently so.

  It rained today – driveway cancel.  We MIGHT get it finished on Monday – if we are lucky.  If not Monday then Thursday.  lol  But – rain is in the forecast next Friday or Saturday – so unsure that will work out either.

  What I really need to do is go through my mail – which is sitting here next to me.  Waiting to be opened.  That usually leads to writing checks to someone.  So – for now I will just leave it there.

  I will be thrilled when everything is finished here at the house.  It seems like it is endless.  The final process that is.  But – surely that will soon come to an end?  I keep hoping.

  I bet Sue has gotten settled in down there in Nashville.  But then I think they had a driveway already!

  Starting back to school in April or May or both.  I have to see when the classes start.  I only need four classes to finish my bachelors degree in geo-science.  I will take one of those next semester.  Also signing up for some weather classes through Penn State.  Will be some nice refresher classes and give me something to do.  Not that I need anything to do.

  Made the frontpage of the Paducah Sun today.  Discussing the upcoming severe weather season.  Gave a few quotes.  Article looked okay to me.  🙂

  Hmm what else is new – SPRING has made some attempts to make an appearance.  BUT – we have several weeks to go.  I can’t wait until we start seeing some 80 degree weather.  I say BRING IT ON!!!!

Jason and I made it safely to Oklahoma for the Severe Weather Workshop.  Should be some interesting topics.  Pat Spoden is going to talk about the ice storm – he is from the Paducah, NWS Office.

My nephew Dylan graduated white I was away last week 🙂

Congratulations Dylan!  Very proud of you.

Went to Frankfort, KY yesterday and today – the Transportation Department worked with the state legislature for this presentation – see below.

âSection 1.   The members of the House of Representatives, both individually and collectively, honor and recognize Meteorologist Beau Dodson for his contribution and commitment to public safety in Kentucky.

âSection 2.   When the House of Representatives adjourns this day, it does so in honor and recognition of Meteorologist Beau Dodson.

âSection 3.   The Clerk of the House of Representatives is directed to transmit one copy of this Resolution to Beau Dodson, 295 Charlotte Ann Drive, Paducah, Kentucky 42001.

We had more snow.  Looks like 4-8 inches across most of the area.  I had 3 or 4 inches up here.  🙂  Looks like a cold few weeks ahead.  Probably going to be some more snow.  Winter!

 The drums are beating…

Well, never underestimate Denise and her little helpers. 

Mother, Julie, Joey and myself went eat out this evening at Jasmines.  We also met one of Julies friends there.  After we finished eating we went to see a movie – downtown Paducah.

I was supposed to buy three extra tickets and give them to Denise after the movie.  They were going to a late show.

Once the movie was over we headed to the lobby and Denise was sitting on the bench holding a great big sign that said "HAPPY WEATHERMAN’S DAY" on it.  Along with some other things.  I don’t think I have turned that red in a long long time.  I also don’t think I have laughed that hard in awhile.  lol  It was a FABULOUS sign – I have to say that when Denise says she is going to do something she goes ALL out.

I am sure Deena and Denise’s daughter must have helped. 

Denise – you are CRAZY!  But – I LOVE CRAZY.  So that scores BIG points in my book. 😉

Now – I just have to figure out how to convince Julie that you are not nearly as crazy as she probably thinks.  I will work on that!

This is the sign that Denise made for me 🙂  Everyone coming out of the movie theater was able to see it
because she was holding it up high above her head.  lol 

THANKS DENISE!  And helpers.  🙂

Also did I mention Dione stubbed her toe?  I was supposed to add that information in there.  Tony also has some ailments but he didn’t ask me to include those.  I can come back and do that later upon request.  😉

Had a great lunch with Caesar and Geri yesterday.  They brought lunch up here to the hill and made an awesome coffee cake.  It was amazing.  Saw Sue the day before.  She is doing great down in Nashville.  Getting settled into her place.

Daisy sharing in the excitment of the day – it was snowing outside

Well, we had a very cold morning!  ZERO degrees.  Not the first time this winter we have been in the single digits or near zero.  Probably won’t be the last.

Tony, Tyler, and Danielle came up today to ride four wheelers and build a snowman.  We also made some snow cream!  I had a whole bowl of that.  I think the kids had a lot of fun.

Not the first snowman that has been built on this property!  Defin won’t be the last.  🙂

We might get more snow later this week – depending on storm track.

Some photos from today

Tyler and Beau

Tony and Tyler

Tyler eating some snow

Danielle

Danielle making some snow cream

Cam photo from tonight 🙂 out front here

Well, it is a Tuesday.  A beautiful day outside.  Temperatures were in the upper 50s and lower 60s.  Pretty amazing.  Feels like spring outside.  I don’t think we will get used to that – not just yet.

Watching on my Canada shows tonight.  Makes me miss Canada.  Miss my friends in Canada.  Going to have to try and get up there as soon as I can to see them.  It has been way to long.  Maybe soon.

Doug has been traveling a lot.  That is good.  Sounds like business is going good – and that is good news as well.  Hopefully he has a good year.

Have not heard from my friend David lately – hopefully he is doing well and we can see him soon.  Others, as well up there.  Need to visit.

Life has been a journey – the last ten years have been quite incredible.  It was in 2000 that we left the United States and went to Canada.  That is 10 years.  Amazing.  Scary – how fast time passes.  Life is different now than it was ten years ago.  Quite different.  But yet life never really changes.  More like the circumstances in our life changes.  The people around us change.  We make different choices.  We figure out who we are.  We figure out how to be true to ourselves – or as true as we can be to ourselves.  I am not sure we are ever really true to ourselves.  Are we?

All I know is that right now life is going along pretty good – I miss some of my closest friends and hopefully we can figure that out before long, as well.

In some ways I feel home sick – from Toronto.  But, I am happy down here.  I guess I just miss a big portion of my life.  Doug, David, and some others.

We will get there.

WPSD did a story on the weather observatory and emergency management 🙂

From WPSD

Weather Observatory Streaming Emergency Management Information Online

By Meteorologist Trent Okerson