It's chilly but, I'M LOVING IT

I really should be working on my hubby's dirt bike club site and my own (non blogging type) personal site (no link yet)... but since I hadn't blogged in a few days... I thought I'd drop one off before I get busy working.

Now I was distracted long enough that I forgot what I was going to blog about! LOL!!

So, let me talk about this photo I've included here...

This is of the Crimson Maple tree right outside my kitchen window. (Can also be seen from the big picture window in the living room.) It's just so lovely every year that I think this year I'll take photos of each stage as the leaves begin to open for the season & post them here so you can share in it's beauty.

I have The Weather Channel (TWC) on in the background, as I often do, & they're talking with Severe Weather specialist Dr. Forbes on how the "tornado safety guidelines" from the Red Cross has changed what to do when in a car when a tornado hits... I have to say I'm shocked they're now saying staying in your vehicle is safer than getting out & going to a ditch... If you can't drive AWAY (not run from it) but away as in an opposite direction!

Here's the bullet points they put up...

1. Stay in vehicle, crouch down below windows.
2. Get in to ditch ONLY if shelter or vehicle is unavailable.
3. Abandon mobile homes.

Now, I have to say... staying in your car is risky, because of flying debris could come through (not just the windows but if it's powerful enough... through the metal!) However, it does seem a bit wiser in the fact if you stop & get out... you may not have time to find a ditch, let alone get into a position with your head covered, fast enough before the tornado hits.

Anyway... just wanted to share that since I'm a TWC nut! ;o)

Speaking of... They have a special series starting May 10th about tornado chasing, called Vortex 2. Mike Bettes is going to be broadcasting LIVE during the chases. I'm looking forward to it. It ought to be quite interesting. Check out the video preview of it, in the above link.

One more thing before I go to tweak hubby's site... I have found a little item that makes a the PERFECT cup of decaf... In my opinion! One of my flights I asked for decaf & that's what they gave me. I was needing more singles at home & to my delight, Wal-Mart carries them in a six pack for just 98 cents!!

Well, this ride has come to it's end. *Reaches up to pull the emergency brake.*

Toodles & *HUGS*!!

more TWC videos about IKE

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

I sure hope these links will take you right to the videos that I think are the best from the coverage during Hurricane IKE.

On this one, I believe are setting up to do a live shot, when Jim Cantore is hollering "Heads up."


At least Mike Bettis can laugh at himself! ... & Thankfully he was standing right next to bushes!! LOL.

This guy... well, I feel for him... I was watching this one Live when they interviewed him.

If you see the list to the right of the above videos... it's worth going through looking at each of them... or most of them. (You'll have to look at the titles, though, to make sure they're from Ike... unless you want to watch other related videos!) :o)

TWC's Stephanie Abrahms & Cantore, have a couple video blogs in the list.

Happy viewing! :)

Ike is now a TS & heading right for OHIO

The coverage via TWC last night was very interesting to watch. I was glued to the TV until I zonk out. (Shortly after landfall around 3:30a.m.) Good news is Galveston is now in the clear (for the most part)... The bad news, for me... is, now a tropical storm... IKE is heading right for Ohio... It's expected to be here tomorrow at this time. We will not feel NO WHERE near as the winds in which our Texas counterparts felt over the night. Still there is the threat of tornadoes. EEKS!!

Be sure to check out my Nature Photo Album. I have all kinds of screen shots of the satellites & radars. I'll add maybe a few more later on as the storm approaches Ohio. I will also try to find some photos of the waves & etc.

I still have yet to hear from my dear dear friend Amy... I am worried... however, I'm thinking they may not have cell phone service right now. I'm sure she will call or sign on to let us know soon as she can!

Anyway, I am heading off to a "ball" on SL (Second Life)... Yeah, I am still playing on SL... I have a family now... Well, you all know them!... MamaDi, is our mom; Caghs is my sister; Katha is my aunt... & Kartor is DaddyK.

I will try to post some video of the previous Queen's Ball we went to later on... & I'll post more on it then!

*Choo Choo* (that's my wave bye bye now!)

Hurricane Ike updates

From space, Hurricane Ike is a beautiful site. (Photo from Yahoo Photos.) However, it's an ugly & deadly storm on land.

I am involved in this hurricane more than usual, because my very dear friend, Amy (aka Autumn) is right in Ike's path. Don't worry, she & her family has evacuated. She has been calling me every so often & last I talked to her (around 7:30p) they were not getting any rain yet, however, it was very windy. And they have not lost power.... YET!

My heart, thoughts & prayers are with all those that may be in harms way.

P.S. I have added even more photos to my "Nature Album".

TWC videos about IKE

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

This is a Tropical Update from The Weather Channel about (TWC) Hurricane Ike.

Here is Jim Cantore being a little funny, yet serious! :o)

Video blog by TWC's Jim Cantore.

2 more not far behind... at least!

Looking at the Atlantic you can see we are heading into PEAK hurricane season.

Gustav is almost upon Louisiana. My heart, thoughts & prayers go out to all in harms way! I sure hope no more lives will be lost! (I heard last night Cuba was reporting over 80 fatalities.)

Anyway, I promised you an update.... so... here it is.... THANKFULLY Gustav is not the record breaking storm I thought... The pressure is up to 954mb... which means it's weakened... Hopefully that will be the trend!

What is scary though, they're predicting a high, as in 15', surge. I pray the levies will hold!

HURRICANE WARNING: Gustav (& Hanna)

Gustav may be a record breaker... I have been watching the pressure in this thing drop & drop... & with each new report it seems to be more grave.

As of 5:00p.m. EDT Gustav is at 941mb. (If you'll recall in the record breaking year 2005, Wilma had the lowest pressure ever recorded @ 882mb.) The millibar pressure is interesting to watch because it shows you how fast a storm is intensifying. Gustav is now over Cuba right now.

If you have the ability to watch The Weather Channel, I highly suggest it. They are very informative... not to mention they have a few good looking meteorologists! (Had to lighten the mood a little! LOL)

New Orleans is already under a mandatory evacuation. They are not going to make the same mistake as they did with Katrina! HOWEVER... Gustav can end up anywhere from Gulf coast of Texas to panhandle of Florida. So, please be on guard!!

The picture above is from the NOAA website. The link will take you to a whole laundry list of link of satellites... the best one to click on is the Gustav Visible LOOP (I believe it needs Java... if you can't run Java, then just click "image")... however, if you're viewing it later... the visible does go black at night. Then you can click on the Infrared link... but it's not as impressive to me as it is to see the clouds view... to me!

More updates later!
P.S. Don't take your eyes off Hanna, either!!!

Tracking Dolly - Now a Cat 2

My readers from 360 may remember that I for some reason I have a fascination with the coverage about hurricanes.

Well, last year was a bit dull... Today has already made up for that! For several reasons... 1 is that The Weather Channel (TWC) is now in HD & the video & radars & etc is amazing!! (Add Jim Cantore & Mike Bettis (who is from my area!!) into it... & to me it's... AWARD WINNING! LOL)

Then I go to TWC site & their interactive radar has improved over the past year! (I've been using it for a while now... & it's great when you want to zero in on your street!!) That link will take you to the radar for South Padre Island where Dolly is coming ashore... Only thing is... if you click on this tomorrow or later... it won't be as impressive as it is now. (Just fair warning for those who read this later!!)

So, anyway... I just wanted to share the site with you... & be sure to "play around" with the Transparency bar at the bottom of the radar window. Quite interesting to say the least!!

(FYI - The picture above is NOT Hurricane Dolly... it's just from Google Images.)