anyone who uses Firefox... have you upgraded to the 8.xx yet? Is there any problems with compatibility with it & Multiply? Or any other annoyances? Just wanted to know before I tried it. Thanks :)

A picture is worth a thousand words... so they say....

UFC 281 - Wait 5 minutes

The following is a LONG OVERDUE story I was to have written. See, I "issued" the challenge back in April, but never posted my story. That's because I had started it, then was distracted and proceeded to forget about it. I had tried several times to go back and finish it, because I knew I could not give anymore challenges until this one was complete. However, for some odd reason the words would not arrive... until this morning.

The challenge (<--link to the other stories.) I set was a simple one:

Write a piece (in any form you wish & any length) that includes at least TWO of the following weather terms... Snow, blizzard, tornado, sleet, hail, rain, hurricane, wind, thunder, thunderstorm, lightening, and sunshine.

Below is what I had envisioned when I started this all those months ago....

Before I get to the story, let me say this: Though this might read as being from actual life, because I'm writing in the “first person” (also, including a few recognizable “names” & circumstances)... Rest assured, this IS a piece of fiction. With that said, I hope & pray that life never imitates art! ;)

Wait 5 minutes

© 2011 Becky aka Lady Harley ©

If you don't like the weather, stick around 5 minutes and it will change… at least that is the saying here in Ohio. Today was no exception to that rule. 

Last I heard there might be a small chance of a pop up shower, but it was only 10%.  No one had a clue as to what was about to unfold.

When I woke up, I opened all the windows in the house, turn on the radio, and went about my daily chores.  I was happy for I knew there was not much to do and I would be able to sit outside, in the beautiful sunshine, to continue to on my novel, which I have been neglecting and avoiding.

I had no idea what this day actually had in store for me.

Melodies rang through the speakers as I hummed along.  I was actually enjoying the tedious task of washing dishes, because I was able to look out the window and watch my two dogs romp around in the backyard.  It was nice having a yard big enough for them to run around and chase each other or lay down under a tree, without worry of getting hit by traffic.

Taking a deep breath in an I could smell lilacs and wondered which neighbor had ones that were blooming so late in the year. I closed my eyes and sighed at the remembrance of the lilac trees on the farm where I grew up.

Sunny yelped, bringing me back to present day.  With a quick glance up I realized she and Coleman were just playing.  I giggled how Coleman could always gets Sunny to chase him.  Thinking they should not have all the fun I put down the dish, picked up a towel to dry my hands, and started toward the door to join them.  However, I was stopped in my tracks by the emergency tone blaring from the radio.

My ears perked up as I heard the words Tornado Watch, followed by my county name.  Saying to myself, "That is odd.  I did not think we were to have any storms and it's late October, has to be a mistake.  Guess I better turn on The Weather Channel."

As I picked up the remote I heard rumbles of thunder.  "Wow, that is really rolling in fast."

Next thing I knew both dogs were at the back door barking to get in. I dropped the remote before I could even turn the TV on. Went to let Coleman & Sunny in and was amazed at how blue the sky was.

I opened the door and both dogs shot past me & went straight for the bedroom. Mumbling to myself, "Hmmm, this is not a good sign. I best get my shoes on."

Before I put on my shoes, I decided to investigate where the dogs went to. Once again I had to giggle at them, because they were both hiding under the computer desk and were shaking. That's odd, usually Coleman is barking at the storms & only Sunny is the one to hide.

Taking note and recalling the emergency tone I just heard, I scrambled to find & put on my sneakers.

Walking passed the kitchen window I noticed the sun was still shining and thought either the tone was a false alarm, or something big was about to happen. Not knowing how true that thought would become.

Remembering how nervous Coleman & Sunny were acting, I gathered up a few supplies, just in case we had to high tail it to the basement. Since I still had some supplies from Spring still down there, I knew I did not have to grab but just the jug of water in the fridge, a jacket and the dog leashes. If it really does get bad, there would be no other way to get them to the basement without a little help.

Moving from room to room, I kept glancing out the window to see if I could view what might have spooked the dogs, who were still cowering under the desk. It was not until I reached the bathroom that I saw an ominous dark cloud. I was frozen captivation at the beauty of it's different shades of colors, until I saw a flash. "What was that?" I said aloud. A moment of clarity crossed my mind, it was a transformer blowing. The storm was upon us.

Knowing time was of the essence, I rushed to put the leashes on the dogs and had to nearly drag them both down to the basement. Wrapping each of their lines around different poles, but keeping the brakes loose so they could still walk around. Ran back upstairs to grab my laptop, cell phone & a flashlight.

I had forgot the radio was still on until the static blaring through the speakers. Reaching for the remote, I turned off the static and flipped the TV on. Being an avid viewer of The Weather Channel, it was already tuned to the right station. Then I saw on the red box on the TV scrolling the words: TORNADO WARNING for the following counties... & then the TV signal was lost.

At which point I dropped the remote, without turning off the tv or anything else and bolted down the basement.

Looking around for the safest place I noticed out of the corner of my eye, my 3/4 motorcycle helmet, we had put in the basement for winter storage a few days before. (It was the type that covers your head, ears & has a shield.) Oddly, a story I saw a year or so ago on The Weather Channel, about a little boy surviving a tornado by wearing his bicycle helmet, crossed my thoughts.

I grabbed the helmet, placed it on my head, without strapping it on, or pulling the shade down. I proceeded to sit on the floor with the wall to my back. Huddle around the dogs petting them to reassure them it we would be safe. Sunny curled up in my lap & Coleman began trying to lick my face, until a loud crack of thunder scared him. Instead of barking like he usually does, he tried to get between me & the wall.

As I was pulling him down & trying to hug him, the sound of a jet flew over head. First I thought, “Strange, why would a jet be flying in this weather?” Then I heard loud thumps as if someone was trying to kick in the door, followed by breaking glass. I knew then it was not a jet I was hearing, but a tornado.

My ears popped & even though the noise of the fierce wind was deafening, I could hear both dogs whining. Trying to comfort them was tough because I was flinching with the sounds of what probably was large hail hitting my house.

With each thud Sunny seemed to try to scurry further down in my lap until she was buried under my legs, making it very hard to hold keep Coleman from crawling over top my back.

After what seemed like an hour, but only a mere couple minutes, all the noise dissipated and was replaced with the chirping of birds.

Somehow Coleman had climbed over my back and had me hunched over. It took a few moments to pull him by the leash off of me so I could stand and let Sunny free from my legs. Once I stood and stretched, I had to laugh at the two of them wagging their tales at me.

Holding my hand up to signal them to wait, I proceeded to look around to see if there was any damage to the floor above me. Letting out a quiet sigh of relief, I climbed the steps slowly because I was scared of what might be on the other side of the door or rather what may not be there!

To my relief the door opened easily and at first glance it appeared we had escaped without any harm to our house. I continued out our back door to see if all was okay enough for me to bring the dogs up. A millisecond later something hurled out of the sky, hit my head, and knocked me to the ground.

Thankfully, I had not removed my helmet. Not taking time to see what just hit me, I stood quickly and rushed back into the house and to the safety of the basement, as a few more things pinged the roof.

I sat down against the same wall and began to curse myself for not remembering to wait long enough for the debris from the tornado to fall to it's final resting spot.

Even though I heard sirens whaling past my house signaling the end of the storm, I could not move away from the wall. As I rocked back and forth nervously, the dogs did not leave my side for what seemed like hours.

Only the ringing of my cell phone snapped me out of the seemingly trance I was in. It was my mom to check to make sure I was okay. Trying to hide my frazzled nerves, I assured her all was fine. When asked if we had any damage, I replied I didn't think so, but hadn't had a chance to really get to see yet.

I ended the call once I heard my husband calling out for me & the dogs. Yelling, “We're down here.” He opened the door and came down to check on us. I ran into his arms still shivering with fear.

“Are you ok?”

“Just a little shaken... but not stirred.” I joked.

He grimaced at my bad pun. “Why do you have your helmet on?”

“To protect my head, and glad I did too. Something hit me when I was outside.”

“You were out in this mess.”

“No, after the storm passed I went to go survey the damage, but only made it out the door a few steps when something hit me. Realizing stuff must still be falling from the sky, I rushed back down here. It was that, not the storm that really scared me.”

“Then that explains the dent in the hunk of metal up on the deck.

I reached up to remove the helmet only to find a huge divot on the crown of the helmet and realized how lucky I was.

By now the dogs were jumping up and down waiting for their turn of attention. My husband reached down and released them from their leashes. The three of them started climbed the steps while I stood in place. Looking back at me my husband realized I must have been in shock, because he grabbed my hand and guided me up the stairs.

Moving about the house, he said, “We actually lucked out, the tornado didn't knock any of our trees down, or damage our roof. We have a couple broken windows, probably from debris or hail. Can't say that about any of our neighbors.”

“How bad is it?”

“Bad. I'd say it was at least an EF3 or EF4 tornado.”

We proceeded to step outside and I was amazed at how our house was barely marred, yet each neighbor on either side of had nothing left. Had it been a city neighborhood, we would not have fared as well, because debris was everywhere.

Shaking my head, I muttered, "This was, without a doubt an EF5. I pray no one was seriously injured or worse!"

As I was walking around looking at the destruction, my husband held something up that looked like something from a car and said, “This must have been what hit you. Are you sure you're okay?”

Still holding the helmet in my hands, I nodded and said, “We can thank The Weather Channel for that!”

He looked at me and before he could ask, I reminded him of the story about the kid who was in a tornado and saved by a bicycle helmet.

The dogs started wandered off in the yard sniffing all the new smells as we sauntered over to check on our neighbors. All were either not home or down in their basements and were unharmed.

We all gathered back on our deck and started to recounted our each of our experiences. Knowing this will not be a day any of us would forget.

Listening to the radio, confirmed my suspicion it was an EF5. They called it historic, because no lives were lost.

Moments later I felt a cold chill. Followed by what I thought was rain drops, turned out to be snow flakes falling.

Prompting me to say: “Figures. Don't like the weather............”

© 2011 Becky aka Lady Harley ©

woo hoo! Just saw the counter on my home page & Autumn is in only 24 days!!! (At least for us in the US.) ;)

Hurricane Irene too much?? (forgive me, I'm venting!)

Below is the comment / rant / vent I posted as a reply to an article on Yahoo News... this had been on my mind all day... upon seeing the headline: "Did media go overboard hyping Hurricane Irene?" made me angry!

Please keep in mind the following is only my opinion.

(For a moment, I thought I'd turn off the "allow replies"... but then I realized, it would be kind of hypocritical of me, not allowing any of you to voice your opinion, as well.)

I will say this... YES, sometimes they (the media) can go overboard... However.... (well, read what I said.) ;)

***************************************

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! I think they DID THEIR JOB!!!!

Even though there was loss of life (very unfortunate!) Just think at how much MORE it could have been, had there NOT been the hype!!

It's like the saying goes: "PREPARE FOR THE WORST & HOPE FOR THE BEST!!"

That's what the media (like The Weather Channel! (TWC)) is there for (during storms like this!)... to prepare us for THE WORST!!!

Now most might night think Hurricane Irene was bad... but ask that of those who lost their homes to flood damage... or those who have lost a loved one!!!

YES, it did need to be covered while it was even still in the Bahamas!! How else are we to get prepared!!

The person who said... "I don't think we needed 24/7 reporting of the storm, especially when it was in N.C. & Virginia."... Needs to realize they were doing THEIR JOBS!!! If you don't live in the area being effected OR about to... then change the channel!!

Sorry, but I'm tired of hearing everyone saying this was not worth it... If you don't think so... then ask the people who evacuated & now do not have a home to go to! Think of them!! They could have lost their life if they did not evacuate!!

ALSO, remember what TODAY is... it's the 6th anniversary of Katrina!!

While I'm typing this, I have TWC on & am seeing an image of one of those famous 100's year old covered bridges in VT be swept away by the flood waters! 1st, think of that HISTORY that is gone! Now think of what would have happened IF the media had NOT warned of the impending flooding problems in those areas... imagine the how many would have possibly been driving around that area to see a bit of history.

Now, think of HOW MANY people live in NYC and HOW MANY tourists use the Staten Island Ferry... had their not been all this "hype"... then the mayor might not have closed the Ferry & think of the loss of life then! NOT TO MENTION how many would have been swept away in the waves that were hitting Battery Park.

Do you all get it now??? Do I need to give more examples???

In this instance... I AM WITH THE MEDIA!!! Like I said... if you don't like what you're watching... then either change the channel!!! In this day & age, there are hundreds to chose from! OR just plain turn it off!!!

Worried about missing a show... well, then... look on the internet to see when it will be replayed... for I'm sure the majority of the networks would do it.

Besides, 1. it's Summer, all the network shows are in re-runs. 2. I know ABC said that if your local station went to Hurricane coverage, instead of the Nascar race, that they'll air it on another channel & they'd let you know. I don't know if that happened, because my station didn't have to break away.

What I do know, is... I'm thankful for the reporters risking THEIR life to save OUR life!!!

Sorry if this upsets you... but all the above is strictly MY opinion and it has been festering for awhile.... so, don't take it personally... I'm just venting! Thank you & have a good day / night!

********************
Again, the above was just me venting, because I saw a BUNCH of replies all up in arms because of all the coverage.

Let me put it one more way... if you were in the path of Irene... do you think the coverage was too much hype??

When I say the path... I mean those who were hit hard, not just with the hurricane force winds... but also all the rain, which led to so much flooding!!

P.S. The photo is of Hurricane Irene! From Twitter.

in a *giggly* type of mood... but only in my mind ;)

**BIG OL' GROUP HUG** for my contacts!! ;)

Deleted over 40 friends... sorry... (see below for more info)

went from being in over 33 groups down to 9.... & nearly half of that 9 are my own groups... at least 1 or 2 of them maybe canceled as well. (Like: "The Last Word") ... Just a heads up... thinking about it ;)

dealing with some issues (CONTACTS ONLY!)

Just wanted to mention this here... & not on my Facebook page, because... well, honestly I don't know why.

Anyway, the past several weeks ... maybe longer, I've been dealing with a bad run of depression. So much that I hadn't even turned on my computer for about 3 or 4 days.

I'm still struggling, even today. All I want to do is watch a little tv & sleep.

It's gotten so bad that my voice is strained... I thought it was from a cold (started last week)... but the more I think about it, I wonder if it's just psychosomatic?? I can talk normally, but after a couple minutes my throat gets sore, & then I end up whispering to keep it from getting worse.

Since I had been sneezing a bit here & there (nothing too bad) I thought it might be allergies. The 1st day when this started, I was to go to PT (for a "frozen shoulder") but was coughing each time I spoke & so, I canceled it, thinking I was getting a cold.

Now that this has been going on for a week, I don't know. Has anyone else had this happen before?

Oh, the only reason I even turned on my computer today was to see if there were storms headed my way & to see if I needed to hurry & get the dogs out. Thankfully not yet.

As anyone knows, when you're dealing with depression, everything suffers... and I'm afraid this time my health is the target now. *sighs*

I'm not posting this to look for sympathy... just seeking advice, I guess. I really don't know.

By the way, don't worry, I'm not in so deep where I'd want to do anything drastic, as to end my life... ABSOLUTELY NOT! I have too many things to live for... besides, my biggest fear, is death. Don't know why since I love the Lord & I believe fully in Jesus!!!

However, that does not stop me from asking God to take me in my sleep to end my suffering & end those in my life's suffering because of my lack of... whatever. Again, I'm NOT going to do it myself... & I know at some point I'll bounce back again... as always.

I'm just very concerned that each time I slip low like this, it's getting worse. *sighs again*

Ok, I'll stop now, because now I have tears in my eyes.

Again, this is not for sympathy! Love you all & thanks for listening! *BIG HUGS!*

For those who use Firefox for their browser, have you upgraded to the new 4.0 yet? What do you think of it?

UFC 282 - The Alphabet Paragraph

Here's another installment of the United Friends Challenge (UFC) ... but before I get to that, I have to mention that I'll be posting, later, a story that I was supposed to do over a week ago, but forgot to finish it. (Supposed to, because it was MY challenge.)

So, when you see UFC 281 & think I numbered it wrong... it is not.

Anyway, onto this week's challenge:

How well do you know your abc's?
Write a paragraph or poem using only 26 words.
The first word in your piece must begin with "a" the second with "b", and so forth.

To see other entries, click HERE.
With mine, I capitalized the 1st of each word on purpose. ;)

Albeit, Bygone Customs Don't Escape From Grandeur, However Informal, Justifies Keeping Like Most Notable Of Predecessors. Quaintly Remember Steep Traditions Using Various Wonderment, Xeroxing Yesteryear's Zaniness!!!!

WOOT! I was able to post the Royal Wedding Countdown widget! (see below for more!)

Howdy!! (contacts only!)

Hi ya all... I know I haven't been around. As I've said before in several blogs... I do a lot of stuff on Facebook now.

I haven't left here... just haven't been in the mood to really blog... mainly because I'm saying all I want to on my Facebook.

So, if anyone wishes to keep up to date with me, please feel free leave a message below & then I'll send you a PM with details how to connect with me there.

I know quite a few of you are already there with me... & I truly appreciate it. However, there are several of you I miss talking with... but I don't want to push by sending you the info... unless you want it.

IF you don't wish to join me on Facebook... you can always follow me on Twitter... my handle there is: LadyHarley99 (that's linked to my Twitter page) ... If you follow me & your handle is different than what it is here please send me a PM (or reply below, if you don't mind others seeing your handle) & let me know what your name is on Twitter... That way, when I get the email notification of you following me & I go to the page, I won't block you. (Make sense?)

Thank & hope to see you either on Facebook, Twitter OR both! ;)

P.S. I will still blog here once in a while... along with still posting short stories for the UFC. (Which by the way, I will be doing one next week, because it's my challenge.) ;)

How do you block someone? Has that changed??

Royal Wedding Countdown clock

wonder if this will work here....



maybe?? ;)

UFC #274 - Honoring 28

It has been a LONG time, I know! Not just for blogging in general... but creative writing in general. So, I decided best way to try to get back on that horse is to start off small & with a challenge, where I would HAVE to write!

For those who don't recall (or are new to this) UFC stands for United Friends Challenge. It's a group consisting of writers of all types. Poets & story tellers a like. Once a week someone puts up a challenge for all the other members to try their best at. We don't have to accept all of them, just the ones that inspire / motivates us to write. However, when you set one, you are then required to produce a piece of writing based on what you requested of the other authors.

With that said... this week, for the 1st time in over a year... I proposed the following challenge:

When you think of the number 28, what comes to mind? What does it look like? Something happen on that day? Tell us.
HOWEVER, do it in ONLY 28 lines / sentences.

It can be in any style you want.
So rhyme it if you're a poet.
Make it a narrative if you want.

Just make sure it's only 28 lines for a poem or 28 sentences for a narrative.

For other entries, check out UFC here! :)

Here is my submission...

(Preface, I am only putting this in "bullet" form for one to see it is ONLY 28 lines.) ;)

Honoring 28

1. Twenty Eight, oh what a beautiful number you are!
2. Sometimes, when written or produced with certain fonts you are a number full of curves.
3. You could even be mistaken for the letters QB.
4. The number 8 could even be turned into a heart on top.
5. An ice skater gliding your number out makes you into a work of art.
6. Speaking the words twenty eight is just as captivating.
7. In the month of February you are given room to breathe for 3 years, because your successor does not even want to show up. ;)
8. You have adorned the cars of many great Nascar drivers, including the late Davey Allison and one of my all time favorites, now broadcaster of the sport, Dale Jarrett.
9. Your fame continues with, Sandra Bullock in the movie 28 Days.
10. Laying down the 8, you are a part of "Buzz Lightyear's" favorite saying: "To Infinity...."
11. Thankfully infinity is not how long this is epitaph is going to last ;)
12. When it comes to weather, you could be considered cold in the United States.
13. However, in most countries, you are followed by the letter C, and are quite warm! ;)
14. Twenty eight inches is more than 2 feet.
15. That much snow, could possibly bring a city to a halt.
16. Where as 28 inches of rain could be devastating if all at once.
17. However, spread over time, you can make flowers grow and create a beautiful world.
18. While researching you history, I found the interesting fact that 28 is the lowest uniform number in Major League baseball that has not yet been retired!
19. In the game of dominoes, you are considered a standard set.
20. The country India even has a card game simply called Twenty Eight.
21. You numbers are far apart on a computer keyboard.
22. On the other hand, opposites attract & that is what you are on a clock!
23. You are considered two minutes before the end of a half hour.
24. When your two numbers are added together you make the small number 10.
25. Furthermore, in mathematics, you are a PERFECT number!
26. Physics recognizes your as magic!!
27. To me you are grace & beauty!!!!
28. As much as I would like to continue, that my friends is the end of the 28 line challenge.