Weather

I'll admit it. I'm slightly obsessed with weather. I've got it bookmarked on my computer, I've got the Weather Channel app, and I check these for more than just what's the temperature. I also actually check the Weather Channel home page- and actually read some of the articles.
I've never really been much of a fan of rain. And storms just scare me. But hurricanes and tornadoes? They fascinate me. Oh sure- they terrify me... but there's fascination there too.
Right after I graduated college, I went on a cruise with several of my classmates. Our last night on the boat, we were all feeling quite seasick after realizing the boat was significantly more choppy than we'd gotten used to. After we got off the boat, we discovered that we'd gone through part of a tropical storm. Surprise! But wait- I couldn't remember seeing anything about a tropical storm in the area before I left... but it had been a few days since I'd paid attention.
Then in graduate school, we had tornado watches and warnings far more often than I'd been used to (thanks flatter part of the state). During the Super Tuesday outbreak of 2008, one of my roommates had to wake us up after hearing the sirens on campus at 2am. Since we lived on the second floor, with only the model apartment below us, we couldn't bug our neighbors below us to shelter us. So, we did what we thought was safest, and huddled in the hallway with a big sheet of plywood by us, ready to get under the plywood if we heard the telltale sounds of a tornado in the area. One roommate left her tv on so that we were sure when we were out of danger. Of course, the news anchors were less than helpful, saying the oh so kind phrase, "Looks like everyone is out of danger... except those in" the town that we lived in. Awesome. That's just what you want to hear.
A year and 2 months later, another big tornado warning. This time, I'd gotten so used to tornado watches that I just kinda blew it off, and continued about with my day as I always had. Besides, you can't blow off a meeting with your practicum advisors because you're worried about a storm that may or may not happen. Well, as we were getting ready to leave our lunch meeting, I checked my phone and noticed the tornado warning texts. My practicum advisors, both from a local children's museum, felt like they would be safer back at the museum, where they could help gather guests. I decided I would feel safer at my home. So we run outside in the pouring rain, and I notice this big dark cloud in an oddly funnel-like shape. Never having seen a tornado in person, I was just about to get into my car and drive to my house (which was the same direction as the tornado), when my advisors yell, "That's a tornado! Get back here!"
While the tornado was going faster than I would have been (and had a head start), I still feel like they sort of saved my life by telling me not to get in my car. The tornado hit the neighborhood next to mine (half a mile from my house), as well as several other neighborhoods and businesses. And here, I'd watched it cross the intersection headed that direction. Of course, we had to wait out the storm at this restaurant, where the workers had no clue what to do in case of a tornado. Then we lost power. I made it home about 30-45 minutes later, calling my roommates frantically because none of them were home (they were all safe), and realized that we had no power at my house either. I have no idea how we had power when we returned home from a concert that evening at about 1am, but all I have to say is that the power company definitely had their work cut out for them all over the town. I found out the next day that it had been an EF-4 tornado.
The damage was amazing- it's exactly what is the worst thing about tornadoes. One side of the street will be demolished, and the other side looks like nothing happened.
Tomorrow's storms are already making me anxious- I can't tell you the number of times I've checked the Weather Channel's home page. We have a TOR:CON index of 6 (moderate possibility of a tornado), which is a BIG deal for where I live. Where I used to live? An 8... which means a high probability of a tornado.
Yup- Weather Channel will be an open tab all day tomorrow.

Museum Day- or Adventures Around Nashville

Today was free Museum Day across the nation, sponsored by Smithsonian magazine. I should clarify by saying that certain museums were free with a free downloadable card. With some of the local museums costing up to $20 per visit, I'm all for free Museum Day.
Amy and I decided to venture up to Nashville to go to the Country Music Hall of Fame. We lucked out and the rain stopped by the time we got there (even though the rain made it not fun to drive until then). By the time we left, the sun was out and it was beautiful.
Amy and I discovered that people who aren't in the museums classes probably shouldn't go to museums with us anymore. Our training has led us to look for pros and cons to everything in museums- from exhibit cases to text panels to interpretation to locations of bathrooms. Or the fact that we don't believe they follow Emmylou's advice very well (displayed as visitors exit):

But we were both amazed by this:

Carrie Underwood's dress from one of the award shows (she sang "I Told You So"). This isn't even all of the dress. In fact, there's an 8 foot train which you can barely see. But the dress was spectacular.

 So, when we left, we decided to take advantage of the weather and Saturday and already having paid for parking till 6pm, so we walked around Broadway. If you ever are on Broadway, you've got to go to Jack's BBQ- just look for the neon sign with flying pigs. It's amazing (and my 3rd time going there). You've got to try the pie too (chocolate fudge is my fave)!

Then we checked out Hatch Show Prints, which I always enjoy. And finally, we walked around the Schermerhorn Symphony- which is gorgeous if you haven't seen it. And two pictures I absolutely must share:

The maestro gets his own parking space! And these are the bike racks. How awesome are those?

Can't wait until my new ICON pass comes in and we can go to more museums for free!

(Click on images to see them larger.)