Tropical Storm Bill

All of a sudden there was Tropical Storm Bill.  On Monday, I kept my eye on the forecast, went to the grocery store to get a few things on my way home and made sure I had plenty to read.  When I got home, I watched more weather reports, realized I didn't have enough dog food to last in an emergency situation, so I trekked back to town.  It is somewhat of a trek because I live 15 miles to the nearest grocery store.

I woke up Tuesday expecting rain and wind.  Well all we had was a little light rain and drizzle.  Went back to town to have a birthday lunch with my brother.  Even stopped by an estate sale. Then I headed home and waited for Bill.  And waited.  And waited.  Well, Bill finally arrived Tuesday afternoon.  Satellite went out.  That's the weather alert system at my house.  When the satellite goes out, bad weather is here.   Had my flashlight and book ready.  Well, the winds picked up and the rain blew sideways for hours.  I tried to read, but I just kept looking out the windows amazed by the force of a small tropical storm.  I couldn't imagine riding out a category one much less a category two, three, four and definitely not a five!

Okay, I know what you're thinking.  That's it?  It really doesn't look that bad on these short little videos.  But did I mention the wind and the rain lasted for hours???

Wednesday, Bill just would not leave.  It kept raining.  And raining.  And raining. We probably had at least ten inches of rain, but were in no danger of flooding.  Eventually, the strong winds had died down, and I calmed down so I was finally able to finish my book All the Answers by Kate Messner.   By the way, I think that magic pencil could have come in handy.  What if you could find out answers for a test and truths about people?  Sounds great, right?  But on the other, by the time I finished reading the book, I think I would not want a magic pencil after all.

 

After all this experience with Bill, I know the perfect book to kick off my Bluebonnet Book Club:  Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick.  In this fictional account of Hurricane Katrina, Zane takes the readers through a very descriptive and moving experience.  I know my students and I will have much to talk about.