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UndercovrAngel · 04-04-2012, 08:03 PM

You are right Monster.. it is actually north and west of DFW. It just seems to me like it is more east/west than north/south on 81/287. When I have to drive there in the morning as the sun comes up.. it is always in front and just to the left of me. Coming home in the evening as the sun is setting.. it's the same thing. Makes for some fun driving if the inside of the windshield isn't clean.. and at times, even sun glasses and visors don't help one iota.

It's to bad that cars don't have memories and could drive themselves. I have driven that road so many times. Going to drive it again Friday down to the DFW area, and back home Sunday evening. Then Tuesday I have to go to both Keller and west FT Worth to see my neuro and dermatologist. Going to be a long day as the 1st appointment is at 10 AM, the 2nd at 2 and there is only about a 45 minute drive between the 2. Luckily, I won't hit rush hour traffic on either end of the drive. But will be gone 8 hours all in all for the appointments.

Have a super night

Angel ^j^

UndercovrAngel · (This post was last modified: 04-08-2012 12:04 AM by UndercovrAngel.)

Randy and I came down to the DFW area for a weekend get away as we do every so often. One of our friends and his spouse have their business in Arlington and their home in Mansfield. Both of these are very close to the areas where the tornadoes touched down.

We drove out to our friends home in Mansfield today, and one of the highways we had to take, took us through Kennedale, which is one of the areas hit hardest. I was surprised to see how quickly clean-up is taking place. Most homes that had just roof damage are all tarped and waiting repair. The damage was on both sides of the highway, but you wouldn't have known, as the highway and surrounding area were totally litter/debris free. I was amazed at how quickly the surrounding neighborhoods/cities have pitched in and offered help to get the town back up and running.

As we sat visiting, our friend described what they went through with another of the tornadoes that went through where their business is. The entire front is glass windws/doors and they could see the tornado as it approached from the distance and sirens started going off. All of the women (I believe Jerry is the only man that works there, and his wife is the actual owner) went into the bathroom at the back of the cement building. Jerry stayed back from the windows until he saw the debris field entering the street on which their business is located and then joined the women in the bathroom. They kept waiting to hear the glass break, or the roaring of the tornado.. but after about 5 minutes when nothing happened, they exited the bathroom and found that they had not sustained any damage at all. They don't know if the tornado veered off, or lifted as it approached, but thank the good Lord, not only was their home, but their livelood spared from the storms.

Angel ^j^

monster1963 · 04-08-2012, 11:40 PM

I'm happy to hear that your friend's home and business were spared. I was in wichita falls April of '79 when the big one hit. It tore a path down Kemp Blvd 8 miles ling and 1/2 mile wide. Took out alot of the mall not to mention the main drag. 45 lives were lost that day. Tornadoes were coming down everywhere...I watched them as long as I could. They were coming down in pairs and threes. Three came together to form the big one. You don't realize the magnitude of their power until you are in one or see the damage first hand.

Hope you had a happy Easter girlfriend and so glad you and Randy as well as the furbabies are safe Smile

monster1963 · (This post was last modified: 04-08-2012 11:40 PM by monster1963.)

I'm happy to hear that your friend's home and business were spared. I was in wichita falls April of '79 when the big one hit. It tore a path down Kemp Blvd 8 miles ling and 1/2 mile wide. Took out alot of the mall not to mention the main drag. 45 lives were lost that day. Tornadoes were coming down everywhere...I watched them as long as I could. They were coming down in pairs and threes. Three came together to form the big one. You don't realize the magnitude of their power until you are in one or see the damage first hand.

Hope you had a happy Easter girlfriend and so glad you and Randy as well as the furbabies are safe Smile

Oh man I have bugs again lol

UndercovrAngel · 04-09-2012, 02:17 AM

Monster,

Randy and his family have lived in Wichita his whole life. He was living in Dean when the tornado struck. But his parents were out with the rest of the family. They ended up taking cover in a culvert covered by concrete at the corner of Kemp and Southwest Parkway. Randy has done a lot of research on tornadoes and you wouldn't begin to believe the stockpile of newspaper articles, cassette tapes and video footage he has. He is also the official weather watcher for all of the WFISD. If any storms are predicted, he monitors them via computer at school and if it looks like they might turn into something like the storm of 79 or anything close, he sends out a warning to all of the principals, as well as to the superintendent so they can make an informed decision about what to do with the students.

Given what I have heard and seen of tornadoes and their destructive nature.. I think I would almost rather go through a hurricane. At least you have more of a warning to prepare or evacuate your home in that situation. But to be huddled in a storm cellar, closet or bathroom with no idea what is happening outside.. I would be scared chitless.

Angel ^j^

monster1963 · 04-09-2012, 10:51 PM

While in Cali I said I would take tornadoes over earthquakes...well now that I'm back in tornado counrty I think I'll take earthquakes over tornadoes lol. Hec, I want to move to a tropical island I think, one that doesn't have hurricanes lol Wink

Does Randy have stuff on the one in 79?

UndercovrAngel · 04-09-2012, 11:36 PM

Monster,

The 79 tornado is the one that he did all the research on. He still looks for new information on it even today. Talking of which, we are experiencing some pretty fierce thunderstorms as I type this and are under a tornado watch until 2 AM. Hope we just get the thunderboomers and rain, as I have 2 appointments in the Keller/DFW area tomorrow. Neurosurgeon and dermatologist. Will be leaving about 7:45 AM and probably won't get home til some time after 4.. probably closer to 5 with the traffic.

Then I have to turn around next Monday and return to Keller to see my pain management Dr. Yippee Fricken Skippee. He's usually in Keller on Tuesdays, but for some reason he isn't this week. And there is no way I could squeeze in a third Dr tomorrow. And according to weatherbug, we have a chance of storms every day from now through next Monday. Oh so much fun. But have to admit that the drive is a little nicer now, due to all the green fields and the Texas Bluebonnets scattered along the roadside with various other wild flowers. Very colorful.

Angel ^j^

monster1963 · 04-10-2012, 10:20 AM

You have a safe trip and let us know you're okay. We have a chance of rain through Monday too I believe but nothing serious. The country here is beautiful as well! ALl the bluebonnets and other wildflowers are just gorgeous. It's making my sinuses go nuts but they sure are pretty Smile

monster1963 · 04-10-2012, 10:20 AM

You have a safe trip and let us know you're okay. We have a chance of rain through Monday too I believe but nothing serious. The country here is beautiful as well! ALl the bluebonnets and other wildflowers are just gorgeous. It's making my sinuses go nuts but they sure are pretty Smile