I read about tornadoes in the south suburbs, and I get flashbacks to August 1990, when that F5 roared through Plainfield. I knew some people who were injured, but luckily enough avoided serious injuries or dying, but my aunt and uncle knew the three who were killed when their church got hit. That link mentions the high school, and the mom of a friend of my sister's was working there and barely dived into the hallway before the tornado hit the school, and that hallway was the only thing left standing. She ended up with just a few scrapes on her back.

Leadership spill is over. Australia has a new PM: Julia Gillard, first woman in the role, elected unopposed. The incumbent, Kevin Rudd, didn't contest the ballot.

Glad all that politics shenaniganning is over, bt. Now you'll be able to pay proper attention to the tennis tomorrow.

It pretty much has to be anticlimactic at this point. I mean, there's no way they can get back into that groove. But staring at the scoreboard today was pretty fun. For watching numbers tick over.

Also, texting furiously with my sister. And falling in love with the Guardian guy. Such a busy day.

Kathy, is that the one that interrupted prom?

billytea, excitement all around!

I'm eating my vaguely irish dish and 'tis the nom. I'm also watching Avatar - Nicktoons played a bunch of eps last night. And Xusa didn't need any extractions during her teeth cleaning today, so yay on that.

Kathy, is that the one that interrupted prom?

No, the Plainfield one hit the day before school was supposed to start in August, 1990. The principal and teacher who were killed in the Catholic church school were there getting ready for the start of term.

billytea, excitement all around!

It really is! What with the World Cup and Wimbledon and the local politics, my expectations for the daily news have been well exceeded.

and electricity is canceled also. WHEW! Productive day.

I got mac's first appt with the Texas counselor scheduled also. I am so ready for the weekend I cannot even tell you.

This is what a tornado did to my high school in 1957. [link]

Ouch. I hope no one was in there when the twister hit.

My K-2 school (which had just opened a few months earlier) had its roof torn off by a tornado. I remember that storm, because my parents were out seeing Cabaret, and we had our cousin babysitting us when the sirens went off. We all hauled ass for the basement when the lights went out. About ten minutes later, her dad came over and stayed with us until the all-clear.