Playin Barbies by candlelight

[Calamity Jane]

I came home from my riding lesson early tonight... there were reports of a tornado touching down at the airport, which is less than 15 miles from my house.

I grew up in Kansas, and have never actually seen a tornado, but just hearing about them makes me queasy. So, I rushed home... didn't even cool out my horse... and took the kids, 6 candles, a handful of books, and the barbies to the basement. Took me forever to convince the 5 year old that the iguana did NOT need to come to the basement with us, and no, he wouldn't freeze to death while the power was out...

We sat in the damp, smelly, dark basement for over an hour. Try spending an hour in a small enclosed space with a two year old, a five year old, and objects that are on fire. It's a blast, lemme tell you.

When we emerged, there was no evidence of a storm, it was barely raining, and the sky was nearly blue again.

There was a beautiful rainbow across the road from the house... so I dodged lightning and took a pic of it.

 

[Calamity Jane]

And because I'm an idiot who can't remember to post pics in the original thread... here's the rainbow.

 

[Calamity Jane]

a pic of my house, because it was on the camera, and I'm really bored.

 

[KillerMuffin]

Perhaps you could give some thought to making your fallout shelter more comfortable for future occurances? Like kerosene lamps that you can sit in front of mirrored shelves with lips out of reach of children? Don't forget an actual fire extinguisher in case they hit the ground if a tornado actually hits.

 

[Calamity Jane]

I did, in fact give that some thought. I'm building shelves tomorrrow. I'm going to stow our camping gear there, instead of in the attic.

Then we'll have proper lighting, air mats, food and all that good stuff. I think I'll also move the dogs' kennels down there so I don't have to worry about them while it's storming... now if only I could figure out how to get the horses down the stairs so i didn't feel the need to run out and check on them every ten minutes.

 

[Dillinger]

Great pics!

But I would have let the iguana play with the Barbies.

 

[Calamity Jane]

I'm gonna tell you the same thing I told Maddie.

That lizard is NOT coming into the basement with us. I don't care if it starts snowing upstairs, he's staying in his cage. He is NOT going to sit on your lap, he is NOT going to play with the dogs, he is staying IN HIS CAGE! Now, get yourself down those stairs RIGHT NOW!

 

[Dillinger]

*heading down the stairs*

 

[Calamity Jane]

Good Dilly Bar.

 

[KillerMuffin]

As long as they're not stabled your horses will not have a problem during a tornado. They're more weather-wise than we are.

 

[CarolineOh]

Yep, I figured you were a white picket fence kind of gal at heart.

 

[Weird Harold]

Like kerosene lamps that you can sit in front of mirrored shelves with lips out of reach of children?

An alternative light source for emergencies that doesn't suffer from dead batteries or evaporation of kerosene/lamp oil:

(These can be found in K-mart or Walmart's sporting goods department -- with the camping/hunting supplies.)

 

[Calamity Jane]

KM... I know that the horses are safe outside, but I still feel the need to check on them... I mother hen everything.

CO... I try really hard to keep that part of me hidden, but sometimes, it sneaks through.

WH... I have some of those, with the camping gear, in the attic. Tomorrow, it all moves downstairs.

 

[Starfish]

I think Coleman makes some very nice battery opt lamp style lanterns, and from what I remember of mine (haven't used it in a while) it worked awesome for lighting an area.

I am glad you guys have a safe place to seek shelter.

 

[Weird Harold]

I think Coleman makes some very nice battery opt lamp style lanterns,

Coleman does make a variety of battery powered flourescent lamps which are very good for lighting tents and campground.

Coleman Gas mantle lamps are another good choice for emergency lighting because the tank is sealed and the fuel doesn't evaporate (although the mantles are pretty fragile.)

I suggested the light sticks, partly because they're fun for the kids to play with, so they make hiding in the cellar a game instead of worrisome.

 

[Calamity Jane]

I think Coleman makes some very nice battery opt lamp style lanterns, and from what I remember of mine (haven't used it in a while) it worked awesome for lighting an area.

I am glad you guys have a safe place to seek shelter.

I used to have one of those. Until someone decided to spray it with Deep Woods OFF to 'repel the bugs' that were attracted to the light. The next day, it was not only tacky, because the OFF melted the plastic just a bit, but it was covered with dead moths and mosquitoes that got stuck in the melted plastic.

At least with the white gas lantern, no one is stupid enough to spray an aerosol substance at it.

Maybe I'll pick one up for the basement though.

 

[Starfish]

PCG, that was quite comical. I envisioned it all happening and the gooey mess left..

for you to have to deal with.


Harold, Have you ever seen those kids on drugs with binkies and glow sticks in their mouths? Don't you just want to lodge the fuckers in their nostril and light their fucking heads up and say...

"I've got a bright idea! GO GET A JOB YOU CAT TRANQ HUFFER!"

 

[Calamity Jane]

Re: PCG, that was quite comical. I envisioned it all happening and the gooey mess left..

"I've got a bright idea! GO GET A JOB YOU CAT TRANQ HUFFER!"

Once again, there's scotch all over the monitor.

 

[Weird Harold]

Harold, Have you ever seen those kids on drugs with binkies and glow sticks in their mouths? Don't you just want to lodge the fuckers in their nostril and light their fucking heads up and say...

"I've got a bright idea! GO GET A JOB YOU CAT TRANQ HUFFER!"

Nope, I'm a recluse, and don't let hopped up ravers into my cozy little Apt.

I don't think lighting their heads would do much good anyway -- they'd just write it off as a bad trip or think they had been channeling Richard Pryor or Michael JAckson.