The First "Chase"

I hesitate to even call it a chase, but I did get out of the house early and took the long way to work.. Does that count? :)

Anyway, a linear mess was headed my way. Nothing severe. If I didn't have to go to work, I probably would have just hung out at home and waited for it to arrive.

The best part was the amazing lightning show that I didn't get to catch AT ALL on video! But it was okay. I really enjoyed filming and being out in the action.

I think about it every day... How am I going to feel WHEN (not if) I see my first tornado? Am I going to be scared and never chase again? All I know is that you just have to try. If I freak out and cry, then at least I made the attempt! I have dreamed of SEEING a tornado since I was a little kid. Even though I was terrified of all storms, I still new that I would love to go on a storm chase.

This year is supposed to be getting me ready for chase-cation next year! I hope that I get a few more opportunities to chase this spring. Right now, nothing is going on.. The near future doesn't look to promising in our area either!

Palm Sunday

So yesterday was my first big screw up as a wannabe chaser. I decided the storms wouldn't be that great in the area, so I thought it would be best to PROCRASTINATE on my school work and NOT chase!!! Guess what?? I was so wrong! Yesterday, was a HUGE severe weather day and it all started in Tunnel Hill, GA of all places!

I have a feeling that March 28th 2010 will stick out in my mind a long time.

Regardless, we are entering into severe weather season. This weekend proves to be another opportunity for chasing, so I am getting all school work finished before this weekend!

Great Things!

So, Stacey and I have booked our trip to the UK! Late May to early June.. Brits LOOK OUT! :) I'm very very excited about that!

Other good news, I did accept the position in regulatory! I'm very excited about it, but also extremely nervous! I have been a lab rat for as long as I remember. I have enjoyed being in the lab. I really don't know how my hyperactivity is going to handle having a desk job, but the actual job excites me. I believe I made the right choice!

First severe weather of the season hit my house... while I wasn't there to see anything!!! Apparently, GOLF BALL sized HAIL was on the menu on Friday, while I was at work. Oh well.. Next time, I'll set Rerun up with a camera, so I won't miss the action.

Granted, I am just learning how to read models, but next weekend looks to be my first chance to actually chase. I am not going to call it a chase, because that implicates I know what I am doing. Let's just say, I'm going to get into my car, drive towards a storm, and see what I can see. I won't have my laptop in my car.. Just the BlackBerry radar. Interesting, I have figured out how to zoom into street level, so it is ALMOST like having GRL3 attached to a GPS, minus the storm velocity scans, awesome resolution, and giant screen. So, I hope the models hold up and we will have a DAYTIME WEEKEND event within 50 miles of my house!

I'm so excited about this year. Going for your dreams has been everything I hoped it would be! I WILL be going to the UK, and I WILL go on my first REAL chase this year! Next year, I don't know if I will be "Plains-ready," but I'll be close!!

Things That Are Good

I'm trying to be a more positive person for Lent. If you know me, well, you know that there are times that I can be down or a bit angry, even. I try to contain my feelings, but at a certain point, things just boil over. One of the most helpful things that anyone ever told me was that I have a terrible poker face! I always thought I was holding in my feelings, but in reality, my face was telling on me!

Anyway.. Right now, I'm focusing on the positives. I really enjoy my classes, much more than I ever imagined that I would.

Stacey and I WILL be going to the UK this summer, and that's not the University of Kentucky, baby! We are going to ENGLAND! I am so excited that I can't even explain.

Between all the good things going on, it's really tough to focus on such meaningless stuff when I watch the pictures from the earthquake in Chile. What can you do about an 8.8 earthquake? Nothing!

Hope everyone has a good day! I'm going to have a great dinner with my hubby, watch some basketball, and snuggle with my puppy!

Well..

Today was a pretty good day, honestly. I think this new job could be great. I hope he decides I'm worth the effort. I was really tired and had a headache, but I felt like I was able to converse with him fairly easily about regulatory even! I felt good about it!

Fingers crossed... This will work out! :)

Not wanting to get ahead of myself, but....

Some good things might be coming my way soon. I don't want to be disappointed, but depending on what I hear on Wednesday, I might be changing jobs and leaving the lab. How do I feel about that? Well, this is tough for me. I really do like my job right now. But, I started school because I wanted a career change. Something that will advance my career and also give me the opportunity to make more money. I think Regulatory Affairs is extremely interesting, but I'm so scared about leaving the lab!

All I can think is...

What if I hate this? What if I am TERRIBLE at this? What if the job bores me to tears?

Anyway.. I have a lot of decisions to make in the next week or two. We'll see what happens.

As far as weather goes, we've warmed up a bit, but I think winter will be making it's last stand in the next coming week or two. The temperature is supposed to drop again, and perhaps we might see some more snow. I think by mid-March we should start seeing some severe, and I can go on my first spotting/chasing expedition! I can't wait! I hope it happens on a day when I can go outside and play in the weather!

Been a long time, been a long time!

Well, it has been awhile. I promised not to ignore my little bloggy blog, but, alas, it has happened. Let's see here.. Last time, I was talking snow! We've had TWO significant snowfalls since that last event! One added up to be around 3.5 inches! Amazing!

I attended spotter training class. That was all kinds of fun. I wish Stacey could have been there, because the people watching was better than going to Walmart at 2am. The people were generally nice, though, and I learned a lot more than I thought I would. I thought I knew it all! HA!

School is getting tough, as it tends to do in the middle of the semester. I'm sure my posts will be few and far between.

I'm ready for spring time so I can get out there for real instead of just talking about a chase. If I hate it, at least I tried. I hope I love it!