I'm dreaming of a stormy Christmas

I don't think those lyrics will replace the popular "White Christmas" lyrics anytime soon. As most of you know (and if you don't, God bless you) I am a weather junkie and one of my dreams is to actually see a tornado with my own eyes. However, this is not something I tend to think of as a stocking stuffer.

Our Christmas forecast (south MS) calls for strong thunderstorms and a decent possibility of tornadoes. I would prefer to meet a tornado somewhere on the plains, somewhere relatively flat and free of trees. Tornadoes are things you want to see coming a good ways off. Where I live now, a tornado could sneak up the interstate, tiptoe through several backyards, and pounce on me as I took out the garbage. If I were to get a look at a tornado from the vantage point of my yard, its whirling debris heading over the oaks and the neighbors' roof would be about the last thing I ever saw. Not ideal, to say the least. Also, I wouldn't be able to get the entire thing in one frame of my camera.

I hope everyone stays safe if traveling this Christmas, even if just to church and back. Those strong storms will continue to move to the east, heading for the rest of my family (at this moment we're the farthest west) but all of them are very weather-wise and I'm sure won't make any rash decisions.

Preparations-wise, we're making sure there's nothing loose in the yard today while the sun still shines. Santa Claus got smart and moved all the boxes from the trunk of the car where he was keeping them to the attic so he won't have to go out in the rain to bring things in. Our menu tomorrow includes things that can be eaten if the power goes out so we're all set. I made a run to the drug store and got more cough medicine (and had to show my driver's license...do they really think I look younger than 18? Shoot, I'm more than freaking twice that...ok, rant over.)

Anyway, I hope everyone has a safe and merry Christmas!