Priorities

Some rather intense storms came through the area last night starting at around 7:15.  Around 7:20 a tornado watch had been announced for Summit County. One had been sighted in North Royalton, there was one near Ohio City, and another was filmed on I-80 West.

North Royalton tornado 5/23/11. clevelandleader.com

Back down in Akron, the sky was black and the wind was blowing.  I had just returned home and was settling in  for the night when that warning buzzed on my phone.  So, like a mature adult solely responsible for the lives of two cats and a dog, I herded everyone to the basement.  I realize the giant red blotch on the radar was in northern Summit County, but I'd rather be overly cautious than not.  Make fun of me all you want.  I've watched Twister .

Also, as you know, tornadoes have been tragically vicious this spring.

Nothing came of the warnings down in Akron and life went back to normal for a couple of hours until another storm showed up at around 9:30ish.  A giant red splotch was heading my way this time.  No tornado warnings were announced, so I didn't herd everyone back to the basement.  However, something else was causing me worry.

Crazy George's ash tree.

Crazy George is my next door neighbor.  He is eccentric, to put it kindly, and he has a giant nearly dead ash in his back yard.  Crazy George thinks its healthy and won't cut it down.  He also thinks that having a hole in the roof and a collapsing foundation is perfectly normal.  And, he's been known to walk in front of windows in the nude (Akron is so fun!).

The tree is rotten all through the middle.  It is home to all sorts of things like skunks, raccoons, a nation of squirrels with no tails, and an evil tribe of gnomes.  It leans menacingly over my detached garage.  The tree guys told us that more than likely that nasty old sucker will land on that garage when it finally takes a dive.  Its ok, we have no love for the garage.

But, the Varsity was in there.  Never mind the cars, I had to go out and bring the Varsity in to the safety of the basement!

So, out I ran out in my slippers and pajamas in the rain and lightening and hauled that steel beast back into the safety of the house.  So much for being a mature adult.

The Jeep would have to fend for itself.

Funny how priorities change, isn't it?




*Note:  No trees came down last night.  All was well in the morning.