The storm below did not hit my town. I am sad for those who lost their homes in Goldsby.

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Did I mention that I am SOOOOO happy the tornado did not hit us?

I get to see my mom and dad and step-mom and childhood friends this weekend. YAY! A three day weekend!

I went to a conference and earned half my CEU credits (including 3 Ethics credits) for the ( Read more... )

Too close. Tuesday morning I woke up to the buzz that Oklahoma would experience a tornado outbreak during the late afternoon hours. The risk of this had been upgraded from moderate to high. If you are wondering how Oklahoma can predict that tornadoes will happen at 4:00 PM, I will explain. First, the National Weather Center is in Oklahoma. In fact ( Read more... )

We’ve had beautiful weather. Three days this week I sat outside on my patio and read.

I have a birthday party to go to tomorrow night. It’s at one of my favorite pizzaria’s in town. And they have the best canoli I’ve had since Boston.

I haven’t had a nervous break down . . . yet.

I had ice cream from Maggie Moos twice this week. One day it was Red ( Read more... )

Oklahoma is on fire.  Literally.

Approximately four hours ago a large fire erupted in a nearby town. The wind gusts of 30-40 mph are feeding the flames and spreading the fire. Fires are breaking out all over the state. A number of my friends have been evacuated. I'm watching the news carefully because the fires are about . . . four miles away from ( Read more... )

The view is different this time (at JP's, not my apartment.) But here is evidence of our latest snow storm. Okay, Old Man Winter...pack your bags and get out!


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My apartment started leaking AGAIN yesterday. (The plumbers can't seem to fix the issue.) The carpet is soaked. One wall is water logged (to the point the electrical outlets don't work). Half of the living room ceiling is RUINED. Last night the incessant ping and ding of water kept me up. SO, I decided to get all items low to the ground higher up, ( Read more... )

At work yesterday, we cancelled all clients and groups for Tuesday. Why? When I left for work, meterologists asserted we were expecting the coldest temperatures in two decades and 6-8 inches of snow. Fast forward two hours. The governor announced that all government offices would be closed Tuesday. The predictions were worse: a blizzard was ( Read more... )

I survived a 5.1 earthquake, using my superhuman abilities.  They prevented me from knowing the earthquake even happened.  Seriously.  I didn’t feel anything.

I think this video by Jackson Pierce, YA author of As You Wish and Sisters Red, pretty much sums up my writing life.  And she adds a bit of humor to the experience.

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I made pumpkin bread.  ( Read more... )

Apparently we had an earthquake today. And apparently it happened in Norman.  Near my apartment.  Mother Nature has taken an interest in Norman (recall tornado outside my door in May).  I was in the Oklahoma City, teaching. I felt nothing. I saw nothing moving. My students? ALL started freaking out. "Ms. Dickens, did you feel that?" "Ms. Dickens ( Read more... )

For anyone watching the national weather yesterday or today you will learn that a series of severe storms pummeled Oklahoma. Last night at five o'clock (the start of rush hour) a series of tornadoes came through the state. Norman, OK where I live had two tornadoes on the same road. The storn traveled down Hwy 9, where the national weather center ( Read more... )