Category: Family

Balancing

On By DGThomaIn Exercise, Family, Humor/Light Hearted, Writing1 Comment

20151007_200554I balance, I juggle and I try to stay afloat.  People often tell me “You have to keep your life in balance.” Of course I immediately picture myself juggling colorful balls with my hands and feet.  Keeping your life in balance…..  What exactly does that mean anyway?  I suppose the answer would depend upon who you ask.

I know I would like to keep my priorities straight and devote more time to things that are important to me. But if I were truly to do that, I’d be with my family 24/7 and I’m not sure they could handle me 24/7.

My work is not at the top of my priorities but I am in a committed relationship with my job.  That means if I want to earn money I have to be productive.  Occasionally that means working through the weekend or too many late nights in a row.  People always tell me “You work too much!”  I agree at times that’s true.  As long as I choose to stay in this job, I am obligated to do it to the best of my ability.  That doesn’t mean I’m not counting the days until I retire!

Writing is one of my favorite activities and pulls me in quickly.  When I am in writing mode, I wake up thinking through story lines, dreaming about them.  I sit at the computer creating every free minute.  I am the same way when I am reading. Thoughts of any other activity are banished.  But if I get derailed and lose focus, I’m done for the short term.

Exercise, I know it’s important and I enjoy working out.  I’m not always thrilled with the process but I love the end results.    I like feeling energized after a workout and I enjoy keeping fit but when I don’t stay vigilant, or have to miss a week, I find myself refocused on the next big thing.

And there’s nutrition.  Everyone likes to weigh in on that one.  Gluten free, high protein, low carb, no carb, vegetarian or carnivore.  My food plan is pretty basic.  Keep things as natural as possible.  I avoid red meat, white meat, well pretty much all meat, but I do eat seafood and eggs.

I know I’m not good at balancing my competing agendas.  If I notice I’ve been slipping and eating too much processed food or having too many treats, I back off and switch to salads, eliminate carbs and sweets and begin to worry about my weight.

When I start an exercise program, I’m all in.  I know I can easily overdo. I immediately increase my intensity and frequency of exercise.

And work is just, well work!  I like my job most days, but am not always good at delegating or walking away as often as I should.

So yes I can easily become obsessive and am often out of balance by many people’s standards.  But, I love my life!  I am happy and contented most days.  So while I may not balance my activities, I am aware of it and will compensate next week, or next month or maybe when I retire.

I am not going to worry about it yet……  Maybe all this balance stuff is just too highly overrated!

Boot camp is back!

On By DGThomaIn Exercise, Family, Friends3 Comments

Hooray!  I think…..

Previously, we had a boot camp class at my office after work.  We worked out downstairs in the courtyard.  I loved the convenience; especially on days I had to go back to work after the workout.

It enabled me to take a break and still get work done.  A little over a year ago, we lost our trainer.    When he left, we had trouble finding someone who would come to our location.  We couldn’t to keep enough people interested to make it worth their while.  Interest fizzled.

But a few weeks ago, we got word that a new coach had been found for boot camp.  After a flash of excitement, I immediately remembered how long it had been since I did a real workout, with a coach pushing me to my limits.

Class began on Thursday night with six people, which was promising for a first class.  I soon realized how unprepared I was for the workout.  We began with jumping jacks for 1 minute.  I thought, “this isn’t too bad”, but as we transitioned to kicking our feet front to back and hands moving side to side I faltered.  Coordination has never been my strong point.  I tried not to fall on my face, as I did some semblance of throwing feed to chickens while stomping out a tap dance with my feet!  We immediately moved on to squats which weren’t too bad, but as we transitioned to mountain climbers, I had forgotten how much fun they could be.  I mean a plank is a ton of fun by itself, but throwing in some quick movements, pulling alternating knees forward, sort of like laying down while running, well that’s just peachy.

My abs were on fire, which I guess means I was doing something right!  Knowing I had really accomplished something close to a miracle, I sucked down a gallon of water in anticipation of more fun.

At least every time we finished a set, I knew we were hacking minutes off the hour.

Back to my mat, I arrived in time for Coach Travis to call out, “It’s time for groiners and then we’ll add groiners with a twist.”  Oh my!  I didn’t want to know what this was going to be.

Surviving groiners, straight leg marches and follow the leader, I was huffing and puffing.  Travis was our leader and we ran through obstacles, around the building and up three flights of stairs where we finally got to stop and stretch.  That was great until Travis said, “Move to the rail and put your foot on the top rail.”  Right!  My foot found its way close to top, hovering   dangerously on the third rail while I tried to keep from falling over.

After some wonderful (yes that’s sarcasm you hear) stretching, Travis instructed us to hurry back down to grab some water.  “The faster you get down the more time you have to drink your water,” floated after us as we trooped “quickly” away.

I sipped water and trudged back toward my mat to collapse, relieved that hour would soon be over, as Travis shouted “Warmup is over!  Let’s get started on the workout.”

What???

Friday, I woke, proud that I wasn’t too sore.  At least I wasn’t sore until I sat up in bed and my abs complained.  Then walking up the stairs, my calves reminded me they were a little bit sore as well.  As the day wore on, I found lots more spots that reminded me I had worked out.

Tuesday evening, found me back at boot camp with nine other hopefuls. Ready to accomplish miracles with my poor tired muscles I prepared to start.  Encouraged that I talked myself into coming back, I gamely tackled new exercises, got eliminated in the second round of the fitness challenge, but  still felt successful.  Ron and I totally represented in the medicine ball toss and finished more reps than anyone else.  Baby steps, small victories.  There’s always Thursday night!

Take Me Home Country Roads, to a place…….

On By DGThomaIn Animal Stories, Family, Food, Musings, Travel, Writing2 Comments

I belong….

Last Friday evening, my husband and I traveled to Houston, Texas.  We stayed in a lovely hotel near the George R. Brown Convention Center.  The hotel joined the convention center via a skywalk, which made getting to our conference a breeze.  Houston is a large metroplex, nearing 2.1 million in population.  There is plenty to do and see.

Houston 2

We had a wonderful time on Saturday and it was great being able to access the conference without venturing out into the Texas heat. As we drove away from the conference on Saturday afternoon, the traffic was heavy and the roads were speckled with construction cones.

While we searched for a nice place to eat, all I could think was “How soon can I get back home?”  We found a nice hibachi style restaurant and happily celebrated my husband’s birthday.  And then we headed home…..

Sunday morning, we slept in until 7:30 AM before rising to head outside for a run down the country road near our house.  It was a cool 64 degrees and I couldn’t help but contrast the bustling streets and bright lights of Houston to the quiet country lane.

Purple hued morning glories bobbed in the light breeze, waving a good morning as we passed.  Knowing the short lived blooms would already be fading by the time we passed back on our way home, I savored glimpses of them as I ran by. Morning Glory

 

 

We passed these beautiful horses peering over the fence curiously as we neared their pond.  I’m sure they were wondering where we were headed and if they might come along.

White Horses                                             More white horses

The vultures watched carefully from the tree tops but I assured them we were still alive and well!  I encouraged them to move along as we weren’t done in just yet!  They were certainly not intimidated by this makeshift scarecrow!

Vultures                                       Scarecrow of sorts

I enjoyed the trip to Houston, the conference and I met many wonderful people; but there is no place like home.

Running down a country road is where I belong…..  with the roadrunners!

11-4-11-DJ-roadrunner31

Taste of Ethiopia – take #2

On By DGThomaIn Family, Food, News and Reviews, Writing1 Comment

When we have family gatherings, it almost always centers around food.  Whether it’s cooking, potluck or trying a new restaurant, we love food.

Months ago, when my daughter, Kat was visiting we tried a new restaurant in Pflugerville, TX, the Taste of Ethiopia.  It was wonderful!  The food was delicious and the atmosphere inviting, providing a full dining experience.  It’s not a large venue, managing to feel intimate but not crowded.

When Kat returned to Austin for a visit this weekend, she mentioned how delicious the meal had been and we decided it was time for a return visit.  This time my son, Rich accompanied us.

As before, once we reached our seats, our server informed us with a huge smile that we were to eat with our hands.  If you aren’t up to the full experience, utensils are available.  The meals are served on a special bread called injera which is used to scoop up the food.  20150814_133030

Meals are served family style in a woven basket called a mesob.  A large metal tray covered with the injera is placed into the basket and topped with the food.

We over ordered but wanted to try everything.  We started with Sambusa, Minchet Abish and Tomato salad for appetizers.  The Sambusa is a light pastry dough filled with your choice of beef, lentils or spinach.  On our first visit we had the spinach filling but today we chose the lentil.  Both were delicious.  Rich said the minchet abish reminded him of sloppy joe texturally but a much nicer flavor.

We ordered the Ultimate Combo of vegetarian dishes.  We had gomen (seasoned collard greens), fesolia (mixed vegetable stew with ginger and turmeric), yemisisr wot (lentils with traditional spices), tikil gomen (spiced cabbage, carrots, onions and tomatoes, ater kik (split peas in herbs and turmeric) and eggplant wot (eggplant with traditional spices).  If you’re thinking that’s a lot of food and Yum,  you are correct on both counts.  Even with three of us eating we left with several cartons of food.

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The mesob(basket) arrived at our table first, followed soon after with a basket of injera.  My mouth was watering from the smell of the buffet simmering in the back of the room.  When our food arrived, our server sat a large pan of injera inside the mesob.   He then spooned each of the entrees around the circle putting half on each side.

I think my favorites were eggplant, sambusa, and yemisisr, but truthfully, we loved everything we ate.

Kat and I ended our meal with a cup of traditional Ethiopian coffee.  The coffee was prepared in the back and then delivered to our table in a special clay pot called a jebena.  I’m not sure how they make it, but it was the perfect treat to end our meal.

It was a lovely experience which I hope to repeat soon!

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Aunt Marge

On By DGThomaIn Family, TravelLeave a comment

My aunts have always been very important to me.  My mother was the oldest of seven children, six girls and one boy.  My aunts Ruth, Carol and Myrna died too young as did my Uncle Gary.  But, my mother, Aunt Helen and Aunt Marge were constants in my young adult life.

Aunt Marge only lived an hour away when we I was a child so we visited her more regularly.

In fact, when my daughter was born, it was Marge, and my cousins Lois and Stan that delivered me to the hospital.  My labor pains kept getting closer and closer and my cousin Stan drove faster and faster.  I was afraid of going to the hospital too soon and being sent home as “a false alarm” so I almost waited too long to go.  For eleven miles, I bemoaned increasingly closer and harder pains while everyone assured me it would probably be all night before she was born.

Not so!  Less than one and a half hours after arriving at the hospital, my daughter and first child graced us with her arrival.   By the time I was checked in and assigned a room, I was sure it was time.  The nurses fussed at me, telling me to be calm, but Marge asked them to check me anyway.

When the nurses realized my daughter was actually attempting to exit on her own, they slapped a gas mask on me and we rushed to delivery.  She was born just as we passed through the doors even though the doctor and nurses weren’t quite ready.  By the way my daughter is still going full force and showing no signs of slowing.  The interesting thing is she was born on August 2nd at around 8:30 pm, just 3 ½ hours before my Aunt Marge’s birthday, August 3rd.  In spite of my Aunt’s insistence that I should wait until after midnight, my daughter had other ideas.

But back to my Aunt Marge.  Whenever we visited, she would always cook our favorite foods.  When I was younger, I loved her hotcakes and hot cocoa.  The pancakes were the size of a dinner plate and the hot cocoa was chocolatey, buttery yumminess!  When my children were born they each developed their own favorites.  My daughter loved her chili beans and my son loved her fried potatoes.  She would always make chili beans and fried potatoes when we visited. No matter how I made those dishes, they just never seemed to be as good as my Aunt’s.

Southern Fried Potatoes

I love the memories of playing Wahoo with my cousins while listening to our Mom’s laugh and giggle as only sisters can.   I cherish those memories of sitting in the floor, listening to the sound of the dice skitter across the wooden board surrounded by the warmth of family. Wahoo

A Change of Plans…

On By DGThomaIn Family, Food, Friends, Humor/Light Hearted, Musings, Travel, Writing5 Comments

July 4, 2015… Well it actually started July 2nd.

When my Dad called to say he wanted to come for a visit, we decided to rent a cabin for a couple of nights at the lake.  Knowing the cabins would fill quickly over the 4th of July, we made reservations months ago.  My dad loves to fish, which is obvious from his nickname “Fishhook”.  We made sure to get a waterfront cabin so he could fish as much as he wanted.  I’m not a fan of water and I don’t have the heart to go fishing, but Dad loves it!

In anticipation of our time together, we postponed our Father’s Day celebration.  We decided to celebrate Father’s day and my birthday together.  (my birthday falls on the 6th of July).

My daughter, Kat planned to swing by and pick up the boys, (my grandson’s) and my Dad.  They all live about six hours away and although Dad is perfectly capable of driving here himself, at 82 I hate for him to be on the road.

We reserved the cabin for Thursday night and Friday night.  We planned to drive to Corpus to see my older sister Saturday morning.  She and I share a birthday even though we are three years apart.  My Dad wanted to visit both of us on our birthday.  Rarely do she and I have an opportunity to spend time together and it’s been years since Dad was able to join us on our birthday.

As often happens, our plans went awry.  The boys had rehearsals for their community theater production and couldn’t get away.  Dad lost his critter sitter and didn’t want to leave his dogs.  He was also feeling a bit under the weather.

We thought about cancelling the trip and just gathering at home, but decided against it.  The cabin was only 20 minutes or so from our house, but tucked away among the trees and nestled on the bank of the lake made it feel worlds apart.20150703_165613

We left for the cabin on Thursday, picking up my goddaughter, Dez and my son, Rich on the way.  Dez, loves to fish and had eagerly anticipated fishing with my Dad.  Rich on the other hand has never really enjoyed fishing as much as his sister does.  My daughter was bringing her fishing gear and planned to arrive Thursday evening.  She and Dez would be our fisherwomen for the weekend.20150703_120614

The cabin was very basic.  It had five beds, an air conditioner and a trail leading to a shared shower and restroom facility.  It also had a beautiful view of the lake, fresh air, an outdoor grill and a picnic table.

During the weekend we played games, rented a canoe, ate too much food and created unbelievable memories.  My son discovered an enjoyment of fishing (much to his surprise), my daughter discovered a slug in her tennis shoe and a June bug in her swimsuit cover-up and my granddaughter, Jilly discovered a beetle in her nightshirt.

I discovered the delight of sitting in the middle of a canoe, lightly rowing and watching my Kat and Dez cast their lines.  We laughed so hard trying to launch the canoe we almost didn’t get in the water.  Even when the wind picked up and the rain fell, we laughed and fished and rowed.20150703_165844

 

 

Father’s Day was celebrated on Thursday night.  We celebrated my birthday on Friday night, with Kat and Jilly surprised me with a cake and everyone sang happy birthday.

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Saturday morning we were supposed to leave by noon but no one was ready to leave.  Anticipating failure, but deciding to try anyway, my husband went to see if we could stay another night.  Our cabin was already booked but the one next door was available.  Rather than make us move, they switched the other guests next door.  After a wonderful breakfast and lunch, my husband and I went to pick up a fresh bundle of firewood from the front office.  When we arrived, they let us know the family that was originally booked in our cabin was insisting that we move and give them our cabin.

Since our reservation had been impromptu and it seemed to be important to the other family, we willing agreed to move.  I rushed into the cabin to interrupt the current game in process and let everyone know we were moving.  We had 5 beds stripped, suitcases moved, dishes and food transitioned and all our outdoor gear moved in about 15 minutes.  By the time the new guests arrived we were already seated in our chairs next door planning our dinner meal.

I decided that if we ever have to go on the run or leave in a hurry, we definitely have the skills!  Slightly sunburned, a few pounds heavier and a heart full of sunshine, we went our separate ways.  It was a wonderfully fulfilling weekend with many stories left to tell…. Like the raccoon and the hotdogs and the snake in the reeds….  All stories for another day.

 

Under the Peach Tree

On By DGThomaIn Family, Food, Gardening, Humor/Light Hearted, Writing1 Comment

It might be an aroma or a quick glimpse of something that triggers a memory snippet.  For me, it is often a smell.  Fresh bread baking immediately finds me standing in the school cafeteria with a tray in my hand waiting for a delicious hot yeast roll to land beside my mashed potatoes.

Last night, I was in the kitchen putting away groceries, when my husband placed a bag on the counter.  It was a bag of fresh Fredericksburg peaches.  They had been picked three days earlier.  Without moving closer to the bag I began to smell the peaches.  Not the ones on the counter, but the fresh ripe peaches hanging from the limbs of the two peach trees which grew in my childhood backyard.   20150629_183049

The smell of those peaches brought a kaleidoscope of memories.  In the heat of the day, my mother would send me out to pick a few peaches.  She sliced the warm peach in half, removed the pit and poured cold evaporated milk over the peach before sprinkling it liberally with granulated sugar.  I think she invented sweetened condensed milk long before Eagle Brand marketed it!

I can’t even remember how it tasted, but I remember the anticipation and the contrast of the warm peach against the cold milk.  Yum!   I haven’t thought of eating those cream soaked peaches in years.  My husband has brought in peaches countless times and laid them on the counter.  I’m not sure why yesterday triggered the memory, but I’m glad it did.

It made me think of my Mom and smile.  A momentary sadness tugged at my heart as I miss those days with my mother but it was soon replaced by happy memories.

My thoughts followed the path to other memories of time spent around and under the peach tree.  My friends from next door would stop by and we would sit under those two trees.  We invented fairy tale worlds and planned our future.  You know important stuff, like who would we sit by next year in school and how would we fill our days next week.

I also thought about my mother telling me to behave or she would switch my legs with a peach tree limb.  Now those trees had thin pliable limbs that could sting like fire.  Not that I would know!  The threat of having to go cut a peach tree limb and bring it back to my mom was enough to keep me on the straight and narrow.  I’m pretty sure I was never spanked with one, but I remember the dread well.

 

Peach Tree

After dinner last night, I pulled a peach from the bag on the counter.  I rinsed the peach and bit into the crisp fruit.  As juice dribbled down my chin, I closed my eyes.  For the moment I was ten years old, sitting beneath the peach tree, playing make believe with my siblings.

 

For The Love of Books

On By DGThomaIn Family, Humor/Light Hearted, Musings, WritingLeave a comment

I have always loved reading.  When I was very young, I remember going to the public library over the summer.  I’d get lost in the books and spend hours selecting which I wanted to read. The Edwards Public Library in Henrietta, Texas was approximately 10-12 blocks from my house.  A few times my mother allowed me to walk to the library if my older sister was willing to accompany me.  Most of the time, my mother drove us to the library because she loved books and reading as much as we did.  I signed up for the book worm reading club each summer.  Reading one hundred books over the summer would earn us a small orange striped pin in the shape of a worm. I pinned that worm proudly to my t-shirt when the librarian handed it to me. I doubt if I ever wore it again but I was so proud of earning it.  Reading one hundred books was not a chore for me and I would have easily read them over the summer without any incentive.
Bully

One book I remember checking out from the library was The Bully of Barkham Street by Mary Stolz.  I don’t remember much about the context of the book although I remember I enjoyed it when I read it.  I vividly remember the book because it was one of those hundred books I read that summer when I was eight years old and because of the letter that came in the mail afterward.

I finished my reading list and received my coveted book pin. About a week later my mother received a letter in the mail.   BookWormThe librarian said I had never returned The Bully of Barkham Street.  I was devastated!  I treasured books then as I do now.  I couldn’t imagine being so careless.  I assured my mother they had made a mistake, but she still had to pay for the book. I had never owned a book before and I hated to pay for one I didn’t get to keep.  With five children and a one income family it wasn’t in the budget for my parents to pay for the book.  However, my mother paid for the book and never made me feel bad about it.

A few months later I went out to my favorite reading hide out.  My grandfather had built a handmade camper shell to fit in the back of his 1950ish pickup.  When it was off the truck, I monopolized it for reading.  It was private, comfy and quiet.  I stretched out on the cushions that served as one of the beds and felt a lump under the cushion.  Yep! The Bully of Barkham Street was wedged under the cushions.  It was a bit warped.  It had been sat on and moisture in the air had made it’s way into the camper shell damaging the pages.

I debated throwing it away without telling my mother, but I just couldn’t do it.  I carried it in and showed my mom.  She just shook her head and sighed as she handed it back to me saying, “Well, it’s your’s now.”  Dejected, I carried it to my room.  I’m not sure what happened to that book, but I’m pretty sure I never returned a library book late again.

The first new book I ever owned was a Bobbsey Twins hardcover.  TwinsI have no idea which one, because I eventually read them all.  I was in the hospital for about a week and my Aunt Carol came to visit.  She brought me a pair of pajamas with orange fish on them and two Bobbsey Twin books.  My dad bought me a pair of pajamas with Cowboys and Indians on them trimmed in red rick rack.  Yes, those are very vivid memories for me even years later.

Being the middle child of five, I felt spoiled and very special!  My brother and sisters stood outside my window and we both cried.  We had never been separated before.
I think the two incidents above cemented my love of reading and book ownership.  I have a hard time giving up a book once I purchase it.  At last count my book collection was well over 1500 and growing.  I routinely decide to downsize my collection and cull a few books, but before I know it, they are replaced and more are added.
When I retire, I’ll stick to my plan to downsize but for now…. I think I’ll go read a good book.

Heirlooms and Legacies…..

On By DGThomaIn Family, Food, Humor/Light Hearted, Musings, Writing2 Comments

Cooking dinner with my children is a favorite pastime.  I enjoy preparing meals more than sitting and eating together. Kitchens are less formal and more relaxing than most dining areas.

Both my children are wonderful cooks.  I taught them to cook and let them experiment when they were younger, but their culinary skills have far surpassed mine.  Now I normally watch them cook instead of cooking myself.

Recently my son was chopping lettuce as I leaned against the kitchen counter.  He remarked, “As soon as I wash this knife, I use it again!”  His knife is not special nor expensive, but he has an emotional attachment.   As I listened to him, I smiled.

I was reminded of a knife I purchased for my mother years ago.   I was a newlywed and found myself browsing through a department store happily perusing the kitchen section.     I pawed through everything from small appliances to cloth napkins.20150614_150044

I spied a wooden handled knife with a sharp point and narrow blade.  The knife appeared sturdy and capable of handling my cutting needs.  The name on the packaging read ‘Granny’s Boning Knife’.  The price was reasonable, so I bought one for myself and on impulse grabbed a second for my mother.

Excited, I dropped by my mother’s house to give her the knife.  My mother refused to take the knife unless I accepted payment.   She didn’t mind me buying her a gift, but she was a strong believer in superstitions.

She explained, “If you give someone a knife it will sever your relationship.”  I smiled as I took a dime and happily gave her the knife.  We loved those knives and often discussed the many ways we used them.

After several years, the wonder wore off, but I still loved the knife.  I moved to another state and didn’t get to visit with my mother often.  During a long awaited visit, my mother reached into the kitchen drawer for the knife only to come up empty handed.  She frowned and commented, “My knife isn’t here!”

Mom’s sister who lived down the street had borrowed the knife and apparently not returned it.  I suggested Mom call her and ask if she still had it.  When Mom called her sister, she asked, “Do you still have my Granny’s Boning Knife.”  2015-06-14 15.13.56

I saw Mom’s face break into a grin and heard a giggle.  She laughed into the phone and I wondered what might have set her off.  As she began to talk again I understood.

“No,” she said.  “It’s not our Granny’s knife.  It’s a Granny’s Boning Knife.  That’s the name.”   She explained I bought it for her.   I listened and laughed as well.  My aunt thought since Mom had the knife for years, she should share.  She explained to my mother she didn’t have any mementoes from their granny and it was a great knife.

I have to say that knife is still my favorite and I always think of Mom and Jeanette when I use it.


Sisters

A Crazy May

On By DGThomaIn Family, Travel, Writing2 Comments

What a crazy May we have had.  At least the last part of May has been crazy hectic by my standards.  On Saturday, May 23rd, we left Austin, TX for Tulsa, OK to celebrate my granddaughter’s birthday.  The rain began as we arrived and increased in intensity quickly.

We checked into a hotel.  My daughter was due to fly in to Tulsa around 10:00 PM and our plan was to touch base on Sunday morning.  The heavy rain quickly turned into a dangerous situation, flooding a few areas around town and many of the outlying towns.

Local television stations ceased regular programming and provided constant updates of the flooding situation, including water rescues.  I was also monitoring the flooding situation in Wichita Falls, TX.  I have family in the area and was concerned with their situations.

By 9:00 PM, my daughter had telephoned to say she had been diverted to Wichita, Kansas due to weather conditions in Tulsa.  The main concern was the danger of wind shears.

Around the same time, my phone rang.  My sister was calling to say she was also in Tulsa.  She had come to visit a friend and contacted my daughter to let her know she was in town.  What an oddity to find ourselves miles from our homes, and both in Tulsa in the midst of storms and flooding.20150525_180516

My daughter finally made it in around midnight; my sister and I were safe in our hotels and the rain continued.   On Sunday, a little tired but excited to be together, we had a wonderful birthday celebration for my granddaughter which turned into a slumber party.  My sister and I stayed Sunday night with my daughter and had a wonderful time playing games, laughing and just having fun.  Early Monday morning we left Tulsa for Austin.  The weather cooperated until we neared Waco, TX.  I received a weather alert and text about the same time.  Apparently there was rotation 15 miles ahead and coming our direction.  My friend’s text basically said if you are in Waco take cover unless you’re at Twin Peaks, then keep driving!20150525_160803

With the radio warning we should seek cover immediately, we ducked into a Hastings.  Of course I would find a book store to take refuge!  When the rain lessened and the warning changed from a tornado warning to a severe thunderstorm warning, we decided to try to head home.  When we headed for Interstate 35, we discovered the access roads were underwater and raging.  Trying to avoid the flood waters, we turned away from the interstate and headed through a neighborhood, driving through a downpour and hoping we were moving uphill.  My son pulled out his phone and switched his maps to a topographic map to guide us to higher ground.

We made it safely back on the interstate a few miles down the road.  All the way home we were watching emergency vehicles working accidents, closing roads and rescuing underwater vehicles.

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When we finally made it home, we were relieved to find our roads passable although there was water running across the roads and the ditches were rushing with muddy water.  We pulled into the drive, opened the front door and discovered we had no power.  Since it was just before dusk, it wasn’t quite too dark to see.

A call to the electric company provided an update.  Electricity should be back on by 6:00 AM tomorrow morning.  Absolutely unprepared to return home to no power, we made a quick trip to Wal-Mart for flashlights, batteries, food, etc.

By 6:00 AM the power outage was predicted to last until 6:00 PM.  While we waited for the sunshine to rise and peek through the windows, we slept in.  We had to conserve our phone usage, live without internet or computers and try to keep our food from spoiling.

We had a forced night of relaxation, the water never made it over the porch and our drive didn’t wash out until three days later, but that’s a story for another day.  We were very fortunate.  It seemed we were able to avoid floods, tornados and lightning storms.  My heart and condolences go out to all the flood victims and I am extremely grateful we were spared.