Dark Star - I got it!

[Birdie]

Kathy, glad you got your pickup fixed and it is now as it should be as you roll on down the highway. I am now officially in possession of the dark star.

You remember the tornado that went through Oklahoma on the 21st and just about wiped out that little town, Tushka? Well that is my hometown...my farm is about 2 or 3 miles from there. You might remember me posting about a storm coming thru while I was in the little RV Park when we had my Mom's furneral. Well much of that has all been damaged from just a little to being flattened. The farm place was lucky as I only have to replace the roof, front gutter, siding on the kitchen side of the house above the brick and a large storage building. My sister's pickup is totaled out and her 2007 Versa has $5000 damage to it.

Storm damage history of the farm.

The original roof was replaced due to age in 1996. Finished it Memorial Day weekend. August 8th a storm, with straight line winds in excess of 65 mph and hail destroyed not only the new roof, but the the whole front of the house. Blew glass in on the carpet and furniture and we were picking glass out of the carpet (the pros did the best they could) for another 4 years. Was as financially the same to brick the whole house as to remove the siding and replace, paint, etc. So I got new front windows, bricked the house.

I replaced the carpet in 1998 because a storm came through and lightening struck the TV antenna followd the wire into the house and burned a hole in the carpet, knocked out the thermostat on the heater, damaged the TV, the dishwasher and barely missed the metal bed frame that my mom was in (burned a whole thru the mattress cover).
The roof was replaced less than 4 years ago (2007) because a storm came in and blew a tree top on the house.

You know it always costs you $$$ even if you have good insurance. And I am lucky as a neighbor half a mile east had some structural damage to her house. Guess it was her turn as she hasn't had any of the other crap that I have been blessed with.

Okay enough whining and I don't think wine will go with my beef vegetable soup but that is okay as I had a Bud Light Lime with my lunch burger...2 of them!

Going birding here in a bit as the wind is strong from the South. Means little guys blowing in over the gulf. Woo hoo!

[VickieP]

Birdie, I knew I had heard of that little town before, just didn't connect it to you. Were you there when the tornado came through or still traveling? Sorry you and your sister had so much damage, since you didn't say either of you were hurt, I'm hoping that part is all okay. I'm thinking there are a few of us with dark stars right now, oh well, guess it'll end some time or another.

[Birdie]

I wasn't there last week. But I was there for my Mom's furneral during the early part of March. A storm came through while I was there then, too. I just talked with my sister and she said tornado was traveling from west to east last night and by passed her a few miles. Tonight another set of storms coming from the SW out of north Texas. Projections show it right up there where she is. She is considering a bubble (storm shelter). Bet she does it before next year. Ah well, it comes with the territory and she does have the NOAA alarm radio.

See I freak out thinking about your "hurrycanes" and the california "burps". The tornadees you listen to the local storm chasers, dig under or hide in reinforced areas and always say a prayer.

[Yakn1]

Birdie- so sorry to hear about the storms hitting your place, how scary that must be, especially for those who live there.
I hope everything turnout okay, for everyone's sake.
Where is it that you are birding, I assume down on the gulf coast.
Enjoy the birds, we'll see you next week.

Vicki

[mtngal]

Oh my gosh Birdie, so sorry to hear this! Hope it's not too big a hassle or expense for you to repair. No one is living there? Good luck with the birds! See you soon (and you too yakn).

[Acadianmom]

Sorry to hear about all your damages. It seems like the tornados are getting worse or maybe the reporting is just better. I remember almost everyone having storm celars in North Texas and Oklahoma. If we had thought of it when we built our hill after Rita we would have put in one of the pre made shelters. We can't bury anything or it would be a swimming pool.

Martha

[Liz]

Oh wow, what a shame! I've been thinking of you and gonna call 'cause you haven't checked in here in awhile. But I figured you were just having too much birding fun. Sorry about the recurring damage and repair expense. Hope it doesn't cut into the Alaska fund too much. Will be praying for safety thru these new storms.

[Bethers]

I'm glad the winds down south are going to bring you good birding - you sure deserve the good. My gosh your town and your house have just had way more than their share of damages. I realize that is part of "tornado alley" but it's time they realize that you and your town have had way more than your share. I'm very thankful that your sister wasn't hurt (and none of your family in the others you mentioned).

[mitch5252]

...and I don't think wine will go with my beef vegetable soup...

..

That is way too much bad news...run...




PS: Wine goes with ANYTHING.

..

[sharon]

DH and I used to take our vacation this time of year to miss when school got out. Every year we would be in bad wind, thunderstorms and threats of tornado's. Then we got smart and figured out this was the season for that area, and of course that's where we always went to see family. After that we went in Oct. So sorry for the damage to you and your sisters property, but glad that everyone is ok and didn't land in Oz, I heard there was a shortage on red pumps.

After having lived in Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas and lived to tell about hurrycanes and tornadees, I'll take our "burps" out here any day of the week!

[kdmac]

As my Mother always said, "Enough is Enough!!" From this moment on I shall no long acknowledge the 'dark star". I have symbolically pointed my laser of rebuke and my missiles of destruction and blown it to smithereens! It no longer exists and, as always, there is nothing we women can't handle with strength, intelligence, fortitude, and encouragement from each other.

[sharon]

As my Mother always said, "Enough is Enough!!" From this moment on I shall no long acknowledge the 'dark star". I have symbolically pointed my laser of rebuke and my missiles of destruction and blown it to smithereens! It no longer exists and, as always, there is nothing we women can't handle with strength, intelligence, fortitude, and encouragement from each other.

I'll drink a toast to that!! Coffee, anyone?

[Liz]

As my Mother always said, "Enough is Enough!!" From this moment on I shall no long acknowledge the 'dark star". I have symbolically pointed my laser of rebuke and my missiles of destruction and blown it to smithereens! It no longer exists and, as always, there is nothing we women can't handle with strength, intelligence, fortitude, and encouragement from each other.

and faith!

[kdmac]

As my Mother always said, "Enough is Enough!!" From this moment on I shall no long acknowledge the 'dark star". I have symbolically pointed my laser of rebuke and my missiles of destruction and blown it to smithereens! It no longer exists and, as always, there is nothing we women can't handle with strength, intelligence, fortitude, and encouragement from each other.

and faith!

oops, I left out the most important of all....faith