DEVASTATION IN THE SOUTH

Two days ago, on April 27, the Southeast experienced catastropic weather that had not been seen in 40 years.  Tornado after tornado destroyed homes, property, and lives.  So far, the human loss of life stands at 290, with the majority of deaths occuring in Alabama. Areas in and around Tuscaloosa & Birmingham have been completely destroyed, wiped away as if they never existed. 

With cleanup & relief efforts underway to restore life to normal, I can only think of those who lost loved ones in the catastrophe. For those individuals, life will be hard as they remember how quickly & brutally their lives changed in an instant.  I pray that God give them the peace & understanding and helps to lift them up when they are at their lowest point and think that they can't go on.

Even we were not spared in the lastest round of Mother Nature's Fury. At 12 am EDT 4/28, we were struck by the tail end of a tornado. Fortunately, we didn't suffer any loss of life. My camper started rocking really bad & as I rushed to get out of it, I saw sparks fly as power lines came crashing down. It was a sobering moment as I realized that if I had parked a 100 feet away from where I was at, it could have been disastrous.

Here are some photos of those lines:

I generally park in behind the the camel ride(the red trailer) but this time I was parked far away because the groundskeeper told us the ground flooded in that area if it rained.  I know in my heart that God was watching out for me from the time we arrived due to him telling us that. 

                                           This is one of the side poles for the tent. The photo
                                           below shows how hard it impacted the truck.

I thank God it was a truck that caught it & not a person.  We also had severe damage to the tent that was repaired the next day.  Here are some photos of the work taking place:

The aftermath from the storms was also a moment of reflection on this morning's drive.  I saw trees snapped as if they were toothpicks.  In one location, a tree had fallen & completely destroyed a house. I pray that nobody was inside when it happened.

I am grateful that we survived this devastating attack, for the most part, intact. It could have been a lot worse.  The scenario of what if... keeps playing in my head.  I am also thankful for my friend in Arizona, Beth Janelle.  She kept me informed on where the storms were at & if we were under any more danger from further outbreaks.  She stayed up until the threat had passed to make sure we were kept safe.  She truly is a caring & thoughtful lady. 

All of those affected by this devastation are in my thoughts & prayers.  I truly hope that, in time, all of your lives will be healed and the bitter memories fade.

Until later, God Bless us everyone, see you down the road.

A New $100 Bill & My Dad's Birthday

I discovered today what a $100 bill can also look like.  Here's a shot:

Yep! A new tire for the camper set me back a $100 bill.  The tire company quoted me a price of $69.95 yesterday but when I got there today they were out of those so I had no choice but to get the higher priced tire.  I was in tears as I paid for not 1 but 2 $100 tires.  At least I should be alot safer traveling down the highway now.

On a brighter note, today is my father's birthday so I want to take a moment to tell him HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!! I'm so proud to be your daughter & I give thanks everyday that I wake up to know that you are still with me.  I love you so much & I wish I could be there with you to celebrate your birthday. 

I am getting ready to take photos with a snake so I'll leave it there for now & until later See you down the road & God Bless!

HAPPY EASTER!

After a scenic drive over Grandfather Mountain, I was the 1st person to arrive in Spruce Pine, NC.  We have today off to celebrate Easter.  Our show cook, Albert, is preparing us a traditional Easter dinner, complete with deviled eggs.  We will begin our feeding frenzy in about an hour, at 3 pm EDT.  I just wanted to share with everyone some of the beauty I have discovered up here in these mountains.

The Perfect Backdrop for the Circus 

A tree in full bloom, just outside my camper

This is what makes life beautiful.  It's not how much money you have, what kind of car you drive, or even the home you live in.  Life is taking time to notice the beauty that surrounds & envelopes us. Most of all, life is sharing your joys & heartaches with friends & family. 

Happy Easter to all & see you down the road! 

LIVE WIRES

Ever wondered how to get electric for your camper when there are not any plugs available?  Here's a short tutorial of how to accomplish that.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

PLUGS TO WIRE(CALLED PIGTAILS), BREAKERS, & VOLTAGE TESTER

CIRCUIT BREAKER BOX

HOOKING UP THE "HOT" WIRES

MAKE SURE YOU TIGHTEN THEM GOOD

QUICK TUG TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE TIGHT

THE FINISHED PRODUCT

And that is how you get power from an electric breaker box :)

Until later, God bless, see you down the road!





HIGH WINDS, THUNDERSTORMS, & TORNADOS

On Friday, April 8 I left North Carolina bound for Seattle, WA for a little fun.  While I was gone, a major storm system came into Monroe, NC that almost blew our tent down.  My boss told me they fought all night to keep the stakes in the ground and he thought that a couple of times they were going to lose it. Fortunately, the all night struggle wasn't futile as the next day our tent remained proudly standing, gently rippling in the wind.  However, from having played this lot before, I knew the real trial lay ahead.  This lot consists of the famous red clay dirt that is only found in the South.  Once water mixes with it, an instant quagmire is created.  While I waited patiently for my flight to return home, they had to pull everything out of the mud.  We have 6 trucks & it took 5 hours to push & pull them out.  I have been through this before & it's not any fun to be pushing on a truck & trailer thru something with the consistency of quicksand.

I felt helpless & worried as I waited for my flight.  I had left my trailer behind when I went to the airport & did not know what to expect when I returned.  As soon as I got back to my trailer, I did a quick inspection to see if there was any outside damage.  Fortunately, the outside looked fine but when I went inside, it was a mess.  The wind had rocked my trailer so bad that items I had on the walls had come down & it also caused the cap on my milk in the fridge to come off so there was a big puddle of spilled milk on the floor.  Nothing worse than the smell of spoiled milk hitting you in the face.  After cleaning it all up, I headed down the road to rejoin the show.

Yesterday, we were in North Wilkesboro, NC and once again we got hit by Mother Nature's fury.  It had started raining Friday night & by 11 am Saturday, we were in gale like conditions.  It wasn't raining that bad but the wind was so extreme that it made the tent billow out like an accordian.  The tent poles were dancing like it was a hoedown.  Fortunately, the ground was as solid as a rock and the stakes held.  The weather cleared long enough for us to get the first show started & then about 15 minutes into it, the wind picked up again.  My trailer rocked so bad that I hooked up my truck to give me some added weight & stability.  I believe I have now experienced sheer terror.  I can only thank God for protecting me, my family & friends during this horrific weather. 

I know from reports that many families were not spared during this violent outbreak.  In Sanford, NC, a town I played just last year, a tornado touched down and destroyed many buildings.  While buildings can be replaced, it is the loss of life that is permanent.  In Alabama and other states in the Southeast, at least 35 people are confirmed dead with the death toll likely to rise today after search parties clear away the rubble of demolished homes.  I am left to contemplate why folks who live in much solider homes than my camper were taken but I was spared.  I pray for guidance & understanding. Most of all, I pray for those that lost loved ones & are left to carry on.  Life can be so cruel.

I am now staring out my window at a beautiful Sunday afternoon that gives no indication of the horrors experienced by so many yesterday.  The show will go on but I am a changed person.  I now realize there is a greater power that watches over us all, especially for those who work in a less stable environment that is the Outdoor Amusement Business & those who fight Mother Nature's wrath to earn a living.

Until later, God Bless, see you down the road...

My Trip to Seattle, Pt. 2 & Return to the Circus

The rest of the day passed in a blur with so many activities taking place. I met Reesa, a very talented artist who is paralyzed. If you ever see her artwork, you will be amazed at the quality and attention to detail. This young lady is amazing!  Then I took a seat for the Crew Strikes Back panel and there were just so many HILLARIOUS moments but my favorite was when Jake Anderson presented Sig with the Biggest F__kn D__khead award, a giant dildo!  I had a hard time breathing from laughing so hard!!  I did manage to get a handshake & photo with Sig during the Captains autograph session.  When I handed him my hat to sign, he said "Where should I sign it at?" & I told him at the top where he belongs!  He & Edgar got a kick out of that. :D  I also got  Keith Colburn(Captain of the Wizard) to sign it & I was a split second to late to grab his hat when he held it out to me!!  Think I'll send him one of our hats since he liked mine.  All too quickly, CatchCon was over & my friend came to pick me up. We went to dinner at the Crab Pot & then she took me to the Airport.  Little did I know, my return flight had been cancelled & I wouldn't leave Seattle for another 24 hours. 

MY AUTOGRAPHED HAT

So what does a body do after a good night's sleep?  Why take a boat tour of Ballard Locks & Puget Sound of course!  Argosy gave an excellent 2 1/2 hour tour of the Harbor.  I got to see the Locks the boats pass thru every time they leave Fisherman's Terminal, along with the floating home made famous in the movie, Sleepless in Seattle.  It was a breezy, drizzly day so I was the only one who was out on the bow for all of the trip.  Once we hit Puget Sound, the boat started pitching in the waves and made for uneven footing.  However, I didn't get seasick!  It was an exhilarating ride up & down on those waves.  We docked at Pier 56 & it was time for me to get back to the airport.  I flew out on the red eye, arriving in Charlotte at 6 am.  It was a direct flight so I was sore for sitting so long.  I found my truck & drove to Gaffney to meet my mother & pick up my dear Smokey Joe.

I then hit the highway for my return to the show.  I picked up my trailer in Lancaster and drove 120 miles to Asheboro.  I was almost there & I saw an exit sign that made me smile:

This was a perfect ending to my whirlwind trip to Seattle as Norman Hansen was the first person from Deadliest Catch I saw & it seemed that I was granted a moment in time to reflect on the being there for this awesome experience. I know I won't forget it until my dying day!! :)

Until later, see you down the road!

Lakefront Property & a Trip to Seattle, WA Part 1

Last Monday(4/4) I headed to Laurinburg, NC before the rest of the show to make sure that a piece of property was big enough for us to set up on.  I got there & decided it was big enough.  However, during the night, Mother Nature decided to open the flood gates & the property was saturated to where we couldn't get our trucks on the lot.  This was the view from outside my trailer:

We left the spot without setting up & journeyed to Kershaw, SC.  During a rare evening off, I was busy deciding what to take with me to Seattle, WA to meet the guys of Deadliest Catch during CatchCon, a convention that Discovery holds for fans of the show.  On Wednesday, it seemed Mother Nature was sorry we got a raw deal & the day was absolutely perfect, granting us 2 strawhouses.

After leaving Kershaw, it was a short 15 mile drive to Lancaster.  We arrived, got everything spotted, went out for breakfast, went downtown for the necessary licenses, & waited for the arrival of the inspectors.  After passing inspection, I left for home to take my kitty to my Mom to watch while I was in Seattle.  I tried to sleep but I was too excited! :)  After tossing & turning for an hour, I gave up & took my shower, got dressed, & headed to the airport.  I spent the next 6 hours in the air before my arrival at SEATAC International Airport.  As we neared the airport, it was a gorgeous day, with everything visible.  I was shocked to see snow on the mountain peaks, as around here it is already melted.  We touched down & I made my way to Downtown Seattle to the Mayflower Park Hotel.  My accommodations were nice & after freshening up, I left to walk down to the waterfront to meet up with members of the ClubNorthwestern Forum at the Edgewater Hotel.  I walked thru Pike Place Market, where it seemed you could buy anything from around the world.  After browsing for a while, I got to the waterfront to see my FAVE boat tied up to the dock at Pier 66 for the tours next day.

Taking a few shots of her, the time neared to meet people I had only talked to online.  I went into the Lounge at the Edgewater where I sat down at the bar.  There I met the 2 Moderators of the forum, Rhoberta & CtBassGal and then Scottie, another Mod.  After finishing my drink, I wandered over to the lobby where I met several members of the forum: Camcolwill, BilgeRat,Lapidarylady,BethJanelle, Angel Girl, Wolverine22, Ducky10 to name a few.  I had a blast but I was tired & not very talkative.  It was great meeting them and after a while, Matt Bradley & his wife Angela arrived for us to meet them.  They truly are gracious, kind, & caring.  They are a perfect couple. :)  Time passed and Edgar Hansen arrived.  This was a suprise because nobody thought he would be coming.  Taking time, he posed for photos with us fans.  Here's my shot:

Edgar mingled, talked, & mixed with the crowd.  Just as I was about to call it a night( I had been up since 5 a.m. Thursday) an even bigger suprise lay in store.  Norman Hansen, the most elusive of the Hansen brothers, showed up.  Edgar sent him back outside so we could all holler Norm when he walked thru the doors, like they did on Cheers.  He also spent time posing with us for photos.

I gave up after getting to meet him & walked what was supposed to be a mile back to my hotel.  I made a wrong turn though and ended up walking about 3 miles before getting back there.  Needless to say, I was exhausted & finally slept until 6 the next morning.  I went to breakfast with a friend from high school and we did some sightseeing.  I got to check out some of the places that Sig Hansen talked about in his book, North by Northwestern.  To set foot on the actual places was a huge thrill.  Fisherman's Memorial was next after Ballard.  The solemnity of the Memorial & the many names inscribed on the plaques really makes you realize how dangerous the life of a commercial fisherman is.  By the time I reached the tile dedicated to Captain Phil Harris, sorrow overwhelmed me, & as I knelt down and reverantly touched it, my tears mixed with the cold hard granite.

There were a couple of tiles that I recognized because of Sig's book: Capt. Oddvar Medhaug, his mentor, & Capt. Sverre Hansen, his father. 

There were other tiles that I recognized from watching Deadliest Catch: Jeffrey Nes, who died after falling from a stack of pots; F/V Katmai, that sank after taking on water in rough seas, taking 7 brave men to their fate. 

We walked the docks where I had a chance to see the Sea Star, a boat that was featured in the early seasons of Deadliest Catch.  It was so awesome to be able to walk up and get close up photos.

We left from Fisherman's Terminal & she dropped me off at Bell Harbor Conference Center, where CatchCon was taking place.  I got inside & as my photo was being taken, Nick from the Northwestern slid in.

He really is nice as after doing that, he posed with me for a personal photo & autographed my hat.

I went on a tour of the boats after getting this photo taken and before it was over, I was lucky enough to get some photos taken with the crews of the Wizard & Northwestern.

I'll leave it there for now & I will continue my story tomorrow.

One Day Stands, Strawhouses, & Wind

Today & tomorrow I am in Sumter, SC at the beautiful County Fairgrounds.  We just finished up 3 one day stands in a row, so tomorrow I will, hopefully, get to sleep in a little(at least til 8ish.)  Our first day here was a moderate success, with all the bleachers full of circus patrons.  We also had to sit them on mats on the ground.  This is what we call a strawhouse. 

The first of our one day stands was Johnston, SC & it, once again, rained but we lucked out at showtime.  The rain finally quit & the public turned out on a Wed. night to enjoy 2 spectacular Circus performances.

We left from there & drove a 100 miles to Santee, SC.  It was so cold & windy, not to mention rainy,but even with foul weather, folks still braved the elements to see the performances. 

After Santee, we journeyed 60 miles north to Lake City.  Going north, we left the rain behind but not the wind.  The wind was so strong that my satellite dish refused to cooperate & I was without TV all day.  I learned something new while I was in Lake City though.  It is the hometown of the late Dr. Ronald Mcnair, who was an astronaut on the Space Shuttle Challenger.  I will never forget the Challenger as it met its end on my birthday.  Hard to believe this year marked the 25th anniversary of this disaster. I was only in 8th grade.  God bless their families.

It's been a long day so for now I'll say Good Night & see you down the road!