Climate's what you expect; Weather's what you get.

This has been a week, and last night's adventures topped it off.

We started to go up to see Trish's show, and to join Tripp and Laura as they led what promised to be an interesting discussion afterward. According to Frank's report, it was terrific; but we missed it. Two miles from home, we turned around, because of the storm. By the time we got back to the house, things had gotten really icky.

No one official spotted a funnel cloud, but the neighborhood sure looks like one went through. Downed power lines, trees broken and uprooted. We have a couple of roof leaks and some standing water in the basement from 10 hours without electricity. It would have been lots worse, except for the generator that spent the night rotating throughout the neighborhood, operating sump pumps in shifts (We have wonderful neighbors). Yes, it was a long night.

We are also in mourning for the tulip poplar that used to stand by the driveway. This especially hit home with the kids, who both learned to climb on its branches. Only about a third of it is left; the rest was unceremoniously draped across the asphalt.

I'm really sorry to have missed the evening, folks-- but we were kind of busy, here.