Book Review: Storm Kings by Lee Sandlin

Non-fiction.  I read this for the non-fiction book club at my local library (March 2014).  I thought this was a very cool and interesting book, where you do indeed learn about the first tornado chasers as the cover implies.  There is also tons of interesting information about how we came up with weather reports and devices for observing weather patterns, how tornadoes behave, and putting an end to a lot of nonsense: like that cities do not get hit by tornadoes, that there is a certain side of the house that is safer, or that opening windows helps equalize pressure (all not true).  I would recommend this if you want to learn a little about weather history or if you are fascinated by tornadoes.

And so it goes...

Outlawing Cellphones

Driving safely is always an important issue. It used to be we talked about the dangers of having food and beverages, playing loud music, and talking with real live friends in the car; but now, the major concern about safe driving seems to swirl around the issues of not only talking on your phone in the car but about texting in the car while driving.

I know we live in a day and age where multi-tasking is often a matter of professional and personal survival, but so is putting the phone down! As if driving weren't dangerous enough people are adding to the difficulty for something that really truly can wait until we are done operating something that weighs several tons and is flying about at 60+ mph. When I took drivers education in the 1990s, they taught us defensive driving. This not only meant we didn't give ourselves 8 million distractions but we actually watched out for other people who were driving poorly.

For the safety of all, I hope all of us can and will: put the phone down until we aren't driving and watch out for other people while driving.


Staying alive is more important to friends and loved ones than us answering that phone.

And so it goes...

Cell Confusion

O.K. I know I am an alien or something...but...I have not had a cell for about a year. My husband lost his job a few months ago shortly after I was in the car accident in December. We just didn't have the money for $100 a month for 2 phones and such, and the local phone landlines were only about $10 a month, so we said ciao! to the cells.

Now that I finally have transportation again after 5 months with no car (god it takes lawyers and insurance companies forever!) we are thinking about taking a trip to OH to see our family. So, this makes me nervous to travel without a cell, it is a 13 hour drive :( So I think I should at least get a pre-paid one or something. I don't need anything awesome or fancy, something simple for now. Money is beyond tight, it is non-existent right now in our house, so I need to hunt wisely.

The thought of checking online with the 8-billion cell adds makes me cringe! So I am turning to you blog world to see what you think. Does anybody out there know of a really simple, really basic, prepaid cell of some sort that they actually use for travel and only pretty much that? I would rather ask actual people then those just trying to sell me something. I used to have a Virgin prepaid when our son was first born and it was o.k., not sure if they are still good though. I really don't want to spend $100 a month, just a few bucks to keep it going if I have to, so we have it every so many months when we go see family, and to have for job interviews. I am on the hunt for a new position, so I may be traveling to search for a new job in other states or commuting daily 1 hour or so if I get something in Chicago. I basically just want to call family from the road with an ETA, have it for roadside emergency calls to AAA, or if some other emergency would happen to us along the way.

So if anybody has some good ideas I would love your thoughts!

And so it goes...