Ike Came to Kentucky

Ike decided to make a pit stop in Kentucky yesterday to cause some mischief. The day started out pretty windy in general. Jason and I left around noon to go grab some lunch and go grocery shopping. By the time we were headed home around 1:30 the winds had picked up drastically. By 2:00 tree branches were snapping, power was flickering and debris was flying everywhere in 75mph winds. We lost an entire side of screen on the porch, a dead tree fell on the fence - luckily it was a small one so no damage, and our turbine on the roof was knocked askew. We fared much better than our neighbors who lost shingles and window/roof trim and larger trees.

The weirdness of it all was other than the crazy wind it was a beautiful day. Sunny with a few clouds, warm but not too humid. Some of the neighborhood kids were standing on skateboards and using an empty pizza box as a wind sail to whip them down the street. Pretty ingenious!

So today 70% of the Louisville area is without power. We're one of the lucky ones that still have power and internet off and on, though our cell phone service is not working unless we drive to the beginning of our street - we don't have a land line. The last time this happened they took our power grid down during the process of fixing the others and we ended up without power for 3 days. Hopefully that doesn't happen again. Due to the extent of outages I'm also off of work today. They fired up the data center on the generator, but kept the main building down and most employees home. So a nice, unexpected day off.

I haven't been out with the camera, but lots of photos can be found through our local newspaper.

Ike Came to Kentucky

Ike decided to make a pit stop in Kentucky yesterday to cause some mischief. The day started out pretty windy in general. Jason and I left around noon to go grab some lunch and go grocery shopping. By the time we were headed home around 1:30 the winds had picked up drastically. By 2:00 tree branches were snapping, power was flickering and debris was flying everywhere in 75mph winds. We lost an entire side of screen on the porch, a dead tree fell on the fence - luckily it was a small one so no damage, and our turbine on the roof was knocked askew. We fared much better than our neighbors who lost shingles and window/roof trim and larger trees.

The weirdness of it all was other than the crazy wind it was a beautiful day. Sunny with a few clouds, warm but not too humid. Some of the neighborhood kids were standing on skateboards and using an empty pizza box as a wind sail to whip them down the street. Pretty ingenious!

So today 70% of the Louisville area is without power. We're one of the lucky ones that still have power and internet off and on, though our cell phone service is not working unless we drive to the beginning of our street - we don't have a land line. The last time this happened they took our power grid down during the process of fixing the others and we ended up without power for 3 days. Hopefully that doesn't happen again. Due to the extent of outages I'm also off of work today. They fired up the data center on the generator, but kept the main building down and most employees home. So a nice, unexpected day off.

I haven't been out with the camera, but lots of photos can be found through our local newspaper.

Labor Day Weekend

Oh how nice to have a four day weekend the week after being on vacation! And it's a good thing too, because that one week of being back to work was brutal! Friday after work I came home and got some side work done and attempted to clean up the house, which was still a disaster area from the painting of the bathroom, hallway and foyer (which looks so much better now). Then Saturday we got up and headed to Indy for our annual Labor Day weekend visit with Jami and Larry. We got there and grilled out some yummy burgers and dogs. Later that day we headed to downtown Indianapolis for the Sky Concert and Ribfest that was going on. We took Jason's F350, which is perfect for tailgating. After walking around for a couple of hours we headed back to the truck to play poker and have a few drinks. At 9:30 a spectacular firework show was a perfect end to the festivities. Pictures can be found here. Once back to the house we watched Superbad...a highly recommended movie for anyone that likes raunchy comedy. It was just as funny the second time as it was the first time, if not more.

Sunday we headed home and pretty much lounged around the rest of the evening, too lazy to do much of anything. Monday morning we got up fairly early and packed up the truck with stuff to take to the campsite. We finally were able to get the camper out to Dog Woods and get it mostly set up! It's going to be so nice! The last four times we've tried to go something has come up, but this weekend we're finally going to make it! Friday night we're helping a friend move and Saturday morning/afternoon we have my work employee appreciation deal at the fairgrounds. But right after that we're heading to Dog Woods for the rest of the weekend...with all three dogs in tow (which should be interesting). We still have a lot of work to do to get the clearing cleaned up. There are some random trees growing where they shouldn't be and lots of wood to cut up for firewood. The camper still has to be leveled and the bathroom area platform still needs to be built. We're also replacing weather stripping around all the windows and the inside could use some organizing. Hopefully we'll get some relaxing in at some point.

Thanks goodness for a two and a half day work week! More photos to come after this weekend.

Oh yeah, this is why you don't speed during holiday weekends - this was 9 of 15 vehicles we passed that were pulled over during our trip to Indy.

Labor Day Weekend

Oh how nice to have a four day weekend the week after being on vacation! And it's a good thing too, because that one week of being back to work was brutal! Friday after work I came home and got some side work done and attempted to clean up the house, which was still a disaster area from the painting of the bathroom, hallway and foyer (which looks so much better now). Then Saturday we got up and headed to Indy for our annual Labor Day weekend visit with Jami and Larry. We got there and grilled out some yummy burgers and dogs. Later that day we headed to downtown Indianapolis for the Sky Concert and Ribfest that was going on. We took Jason's F350, which is perfect for tailgating. After walking around for a couple of hours we headed back to the truck to play poker and have a few drinks. At 9:30 a spectacular firework show was a perfect end to the festivities. Pictures can be found here. Once back to the house we watched Superbad...a highly recommended movie for anyone that likes raunchy comedy. It was just as funny the second time as it was the first time, if not more.

Sunday we headed home and pretty much lounged around the rest of the evening, too lazy to do much of anything. Monday morning we got up fairly early and packed up the truck with stuff to take to the campsite. We finally were able to get the camper out to Dog Woods and get it mostly set up! It's going to be so nice! The last four times we've tried to go something has come up, but this weekend we're finally going to make it! Friday night we're helping a friend move and Saturday morning/afternoon we have my work employee appreciation deal at the fairgrounds. But right after that we're heading to Dog Woods for the rest of the weekend...with all three dogs in tow (which should be interesting). We still have a lot of work to do to get the clearing cleaned up. There are some random trees growing where they shouldn't be and lots of wood to cut up for firewood. The camper still has to be leveled and the bathroom area platform still needs to be built. We're also replacing weather stripping around all the windows and the inside could use some organizing. Hopefully we'll get some relaxing in at some point.

Thanks goodness for a two and a half day work week! More photos to come after this weekend.

Oh yeah, this is why you don't speed during holiday weekends - this was 9 of 15 vehicles we passed that were pulled over during our trip to Indy.

Camping Trip Delayed

Well we were supposed to be headed to Indiana about now with the camper in tow to get the campsite set up. Unfortunately instead I am sitting at the computer, still in my pajamas and drinking coffee. Yesterday Jason screwed up his back pretty bad - something that happens once every year at some point, it seems. (This is the second time it's happened on vacation - last time we were in Orlando and he was stuck in the condo all day for most of the week.) So depending on how quickly it heals will determine whether we make it out this weekend at all. We may just reschedule to go next weekend instead since we have to take the camper out there, back it, level it and assemble a picnic table and dog pen, and all that is near impossible to do with a screwed up back. Not to mention, who wants to go camping in that condition? I sure wouldn't!

The rest of the vacation week has been awesome. We haven't really done much, which is just how we wanted it to be. We made a trip to the zoo and got lots of good pictures. I've done a lot of reading and porch sitting. And best of all, we've both managed to not work at all during the entire week! We've been online playing chess and scrabble and, of course, playing on Flickr - it's too addicting. So all in all, a fantastic vacation!

Speaking of photos, the Courier Journal has launched a "Capture Kentuckiana" contest that will result in an awesome coffee table book of the Kentuckiana area. I have submitted some photos and will be submitting some more. If you will, please go check it out and vote! You can get to my profile here...but be sure to check out all the others also. There are some awesome photos that will make a fantastic book in the end result!

Camping Trip Delayed

Well we were supposed to be headed to Indiana about now with the camper in tow to get the campsite set up. Unfortunately instead I am sitting at the computer, still in my pajamas and drinking coffee. Yesterday Jason screwed up his back pretty bad - something that happens once every year at some point, it seems. (This is the second time it's happened on vacation - last time we were in Orlando and he was stuck in the condo all day for most of the week.) So depending on how quickly it heals will determine whether we make it out this weekend at all. We may just reschedule to go next weekend instead since we have to take the camper out there, back it, level it and assemble a picnic table and dog pen, and all that is near impossible to do with a screwed up back. Not to mention, who wants to go camping in that condition? I sure wouldn't!

The rest of the vacation week has been awesome. We haven't really done much, which is just how we wanted it to be. We made a trip to the zoo and got lots of good pictures. I've done a lot of reading and porch sitting. And best of all, we've both managed to not work at all during the entire week! We've been online playing chess and scrabble and, of course, playing on Flickr - it's too addicting. So all in all, a fantastic vacation!

Speaking of photos, the Courier Journal has launched a "Capture Kentuckiana" contest that will result in an awesome coffee table book of the Kentuckiana area. I have submitted some photos and will be submitting some more. If you will, please go check it out and vote! You can get to my profile here...but be sure to check out all the others also. There are some awesome photos that will make a fantastic book in the end result!

Almost Vacation Time!

Can you tell I'm looking forward to vacation? I think my brain is already halfway there. It's been a hell of a week. Work has been crazy, both at my "real" job (Job 1) as well as my "side" job (Job 2). I think I've put in about 50 hours so far this week in a matter of three days...yes, I need my vacation. I just have to get through 8 hours of training at Job 1 today and do some finishing touches and wrap-ups on Job 2 stuff once I get home and I'll be good to go.

Friday is only a half day at Job 1 and I go straight to the state fair after that to wander around before my booth shift starts at 3:00. But the fair is fun so I don't really consider that work. If anyone happens to be there Friday night stop by the Kentucky Farm Bureau booth in the South A wing and say hi! I'll give you a cool KFB notebook and yellow school bus bag and you can test your skills on Kentucky history. ;)