Happy Birthday, Fred Pete!

Glad to see everyone survived last night's storms. I spent 30-40 minutes in the basement and came up to watch another hour of so of lightning to the south and east of me.

I phoned a friend who lives in the Western 'Burbs about an hour after I went back upstairs and she had just come out from under too.

I'm glad that, so far, this morning the storms seem to be further south.

Umm, for the US challenged: where were the storms? And what kind of storms are we talking about?

Illinois - severe thunderstorms with rotation - lots of both rotational winds (tornados) and very strong straight line winds, much lightning too.

Wow. Hang in there.

During the storm I went to see if people were seeking shelter, but not many people in my building (a six-story apartment) were - I'd say maybe 10%. Then I decided to go back and get my cat, but by then the sirens weren't on anymore, so I stayed in my apartment.

I think most people figure tornadoes hardly ever strike big cities, so they just stayed where they were.

Happy birthday, Fred Pete!

My wee C-cups don't do the dress justice, I need, er, double Ds to properly fill out the bust on the dress. Oh well.

Sorry it's not great for you but this bodes well for me. I just got a message from them saying that the red dress I ordered was out of stock until mid-september and did I want to exchange for black or wait (or cancel order). I chose exchange for black because I'm just not that patient and am already having to wait for the green one I have on order. Here's hoping it really will fit!

But, as a way to blow off some steam, see good friends, make new friends, see crazy rock shows, watch roller girls, and stay out way too late? It's brilliant.

Seriously!!! It helps if you have an appreciation for the cheesy and the over-the-top and the run down. The amount of time we stayed is about my limit...although I could have done with another day in the Golden Nugget pool.

I'm not sure what people at Wrigley Field were supposed to do when the tornado sirens went off....

Cubs lose to Astros in lightning-shortened game

By 8 p.m., the Cubs were on the stadium loudspeakers, advising fans to seek shelter in the concourses or under the grandstands. Six minutes later those ominous tornado sirens sounded, and the deluge followed.

Oh.

How do you guys do your hot chocolate? Swiss Miss or other mixes? Ever since I actually found where they shelved the Droste, hot chocolate is dutched cocoa whisked in a small pot with hot milk and sweetened to taste (which would be none). It's the recipe on their box...

Not a big hot chocolate person, but I think it's one of those things that's so easy, I don't get why you would bother with packaged stuff. And that was well before I gave up processed foods for Lent.

Shir, the best thing about that sort of storm is that it is over quickly - now it's who knows where northeast of us and we're okay.

It was moving 58 mph when it was west of me and after it went through my town - 63 mph. Fast moving storm and that was just the storm - not any tornado that may have formed. I've heard conflicting things: one that no tornado actually touched down and another that a tornado touched down in Elmhurst.