Ooooookay. I just spent more than an hour huddled in the basement with the cats. Dan's cousin (in town) called about 6pm to give me the heads' up that the weather was about to take a turn for tcorg mentally prepared, I shoved both cats into the single carrier, grabbed the cordless phone and started toward the basement. I was feeling in the dark for the basement door knob when the phone rang. It was Dan's mom (well north of here), checking in because she knew the weather was getting bad. Trying to juggle the cats, the phone and the door made me realize that I really needed a flashlight too, so I lumbered back into the kitchen and found one. Succeeded in getting to the basement, where the cats and I sat uncomfortably for about half an hour. After a while I got bored or foolhardy enough to venture upstairs to look out the windows and grab a book. Just when I started thinking it might be lessening, and maybe it was safe to take the cats back upstairs, the phone rang. This time it was Dan's sister (an hour north), checking that I was safe and planning to stay in the basement for a while. She informed me that I was smack in the middle of a purple area on the radar, and it looked like it would keep up for another half hour or so. I mentioned not knowing what the all-clear signal sounded like. Sis said she didn't think that they did an all-clear for a tornado siren. Promising to call me back when the radar showed some good news, sis got off the phone.

Another half hour of the cats crammed into one carrier? I don't think so. I bravely ventured into the old part of the basement to find the big, German Shepherd sized carrier. Reassembling it with the light of a flashlight was an adventure. Got it together, and opened the small carrier into it. Harvey happily made the transfer, but Sammie was too freaked to move. Having them separated was not a bad thing, as I'm sure they were starting to get on each other's nerves anyway. Read some more. Then Dan's mom called to check up on me. And a few minutes later, Sis called again, saying it was mostly past us and while the entire southern half of the state would be under watches until 11pm, we should be safe upstairs. This is good, as Harvey was expressing himself loudly about his feeling of claustrophobia.

Hello? It got awfully quiet in here.

I'm here! I'm here! Being homework avoidant!

My dearest daughter -

You had a whole apple. You had a good portion of green chile chicken enchiladas. You had green and wax beans. You spent the majority of the time I was on the phone with Amy (waves to AmyLiz) yelling. "FOOD! FOOD!" You had some more beans. You asked for a waffle and daddy made you one. Please, for the love of all that's holy, STOP CHEWING ON THE REMOTE. It's the third one we've had due to waterlogging from you.

Mommy loves you,

Mommy.

Floating in and out. Killing time 'till my wife finishes her video game so we can go drink wine and watch The Avengers. (Original, not the awful movie.)

::waves back to the Empress::

Em *did* seem a teeny bit hungry. Must be something in those green markers.

while the entire southern half of the state would be under watches until 11pm, we should be safe upstairs. This is good, as Harvey was expressing himself loudly about his feeling of claustrophobia.

Eeesh. That's no way to spend an evening. Glad you'll be okay.

Andi, you're my mother when it comes to storms. She'd shepherd us all down to the basement with blankets and flashlights whenever we heard tornado sirens. I doubt if cats are much more fun than kids in that situation. I'm glad you're ok and are now upstairs.

Aimee, BWAHAHAHAHA. It's only funny because it's not me. I'm re-reading Girlfriend's Guide to Toddlers for reassurance at the moment. Some nights Owen just sweeps his entire plate off the table and screams and cries. Others, he scarfs everything on his plate.

FTR, Van's organic, whole grain, blueberry waffles are THE SHIT. Anymore we eat them just straight out of the toaster with no syrup or anything.

::makes note of waffles on list::

::adds Girlfriend's Guide to Toddlers to Amazon list::

::crosses "Have another baby" off list::

I doubt if cats are much more fun than kids in that situation. I'm glad you're ok and are now upstairs.

I'm thinking, with kids and enough batteries for the flash lights, you can take turns telling freaky stories and/or singing silly songs. I did read aloud from my book for a while, but they weren't nearly as interested in finding out who da moiderer was, as you might expect.

Hello my Bitches! I've been traveling to the boonies and have missed you all. I'm home now and have sweet, sweet internet.

I had to skip a lot, but I did see that Emily got a job. Yay!!! And, {{JZ & Hec}} I'm sorry that bedrest has been extended. I'd be bugfuck nutty by now.

Hugs to you all whether you've asked for them or not. Unless you don't like being hugged. Then, um, just feel the waves of hugginess coming at you without actually being hugged.