We had an awesome storm today. Not at all wintry. More like a vanguard of March–thunder, wind, big fat raindrops that turned the bird bath into a liquid popcorn popper. The wind went wiggidy there for a bit, blowing over my neighbor’s glider swing, even setting off our city’s famous-for-being-after-the-fact siren system. I love that thing. It’s like an obnoxious announcer screeching, “Hello, Marshallites! In case you didn’t notice that your roof just blew off and soft-ball sized hail is shredding your sofa, we’re here to clue you in.”
I weathered (and thoroughly enjoyed) the storm alone, because George and Jacob are in Dallas today attending a Friends of Hope camp for brain-injury survivors. Though I’d be willing to bet that no one who just read the previous sentence felt pangs of jealousy for not being invited, I promise you, if you went, you’d be amazed for many beautiful reasons. (I shared some thoughts on previous camps here and here, if you’re interested.) So, I’m eagerly awaiting their return this evening when I get to hear all about their adventures.
To make the party even partier, Craig Nash is also arriving this evening. He’s on vacation this week and wanted a place to “rest and get some writing done.” Of course we gladly opened the Damoff Retreat Center (aka our house) to accommodate his resting and writing needs. However, I did warn him that no one is allowed to begin a writing day without first doing the Happy Good Morning Dance. I hope he’s been practicing. (Hey, people, I get my amusement where I can find it.)
Even if Craig’s high kicks fail to impress, he’s hilarious and will be tons o’ fun to have around. And maybe, if he’s really serious about getting some work done, I might be inspired to accomplish something, too! Good times with a side dish of productivity. Perfect.
Feel free to come be good and productive with us. And don’t worry if you hear a scary sounding siren when you drive into town. That just means the storm is already over.
storm sirens
We have those sirens too. They go off when there’s a severe thunderstorm, a tornado watch, and a tornado warning. You’re supposed to count the number of blasts to figure out which one is coming at you, or already upon you.
Years ago, after living in Atlanta for about a week (I moved from Colorado) I went to a party. Everyone was hanging out and having a good time. I started hearing those sirens for the first time in my life. The host said, “Oh it’s just the tornado sirens.” I started freaking out (Inwardly. I didn’t want to look like a crazy Yankee) I thought, “Should I hide? What should I do? Why is everyone ignoring the sirens?” I finally asked my host and she explained the system to me. So I got used to ignoring the sirens.
Then a tornado passed through my apt complex (about 10 years ago.) It just missed my little apartment. It freaked me out. I passed the time in the bathtub with my dog, listening to the tornado, which sounded like a plane landing on the roof of my apt. Now I have a weather radio with a battery, and I’m a little leery when a severe T-storm hits. Um, I still don’t pay too much attention to the sirens, though. The Weather Channel beats them every time. Yeah, I notice things like that.
I usually catch a faint echo of maybe one siren blast, unless I’m outside. After the echo, I try to figure out if I should duck and cover or go back to preparing dinner. That’s usually when I turn on The Weather Channel, and/or the weather radio.
So Jeanne, now I know that I have another place of refuge to visit when I get writers block, eh? 😉
Suzan Robertson
Re: storm sirens
The severe weather missed us, but it rained all day. But here’s the hilarious part and how I knew spring has almost arrived in Kansas:
We were under a tornado watch Saturday until 6 p.m. After that, we were under a blizzard warning! (but the snow ended up missing us, though it was really really windy)
Fun times in tornado alley!
Linda Gilmore
Re: storm sirens
P.S. — I’m glad you’re OK — I saw on the news that some places in Texas really did get blown away.
Linda G
re: storm sirens
Unless it’s pre-dawn, the Duran household is not very conducive to writing. I guess that’s the downside for having a big family. Oh well, it’s an excuse to wake at 3:30 AM. Had I known about the “Damoff Retreat Center,” I’d have scheduled a visit for this year. Can you guarantee inspiration?
Mike Duran
P.S. Can you send a storm my way?
60 mph winds
I smiled your direction this weekend -I was in Tyler for a Beth Moore conference. Drove home in the crazy winds to a fence blown down in three places (picture on my blog: http://spaghettipie.blogspot.com). Seems so funny to me to think of Marshall being a place of writing inspiration, but then again maybe it’s the hospitality, dancing and general frivolity of the DRC (not to be confused with a country in Africa). Can’t wait to see you in a few weeks.
Tina
Re: storm sirens
Thanks, Linda. I’m glad you’re okay, too. Maybe you’ll get a snow-nado before it’s all over.
Suzan, you’re certainly welcome to battle your writer’s block here any time. We could ignore the sirens together. Fun times! 🙂
Re: storm sirens
Hmmm. I don’t know if I can “guarantee” inspiration, but I can predict it. And I can guarantee stimulating conversation and even more stimulating coffee. Is that good enough?
As for sending you a storm, unfortunately I don’t have authority over such matters. (What’s up with that anyway?)
3:30 AM. Wow. If you come to the Damoff Retreat Center, you’ll have to cut that action out. We sleep at night. But you can write all day, after you do the Happy Good Morning Dance, that is. Let us know when you want to come!
Re: 60 mph winds
Thanks for clearing that up, Tina. I’m bad about confusing my house with a country in Africa.
Sorry about your fence! Wowsers.
Re: 60 mph winds
Thanks for clearing that up, Tina. I’m bad about confusing my house with a country in Africa.
Sorry about your fence! Wowsers.