Texas Tornadoes

I'm sure you all have heard about the goings-on in my area. Yesterday was nothing short of a weather meltdown here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with something in the neighborhood of 10-15 tornadoes popping up over the course of the day.

My office is right on the edge of downtown Dallas, and we really dodged trouble with a couple of tornadoes around us at various times. We had sirens and craziness, and my team headed down to the basement parking garage at one point as we received news that other local business were evacuating into safe areas. At one point in the afternoon we received word that a cell was forming over the American Airlines Center, which I can see out the window from a conference room down the hall.

Even scarier was being here at work and watching on Facebook, our local NBC affiliate's website, and other outlets as a tornado moved straight toward my hometown where my mom and Greyson were hunkered down. Luckily, the tornadic activity passed over my town, but there was a Tornado Emergency declared for the next town over. I haven't heard damage reports yet but aside from high wind and large hail, it appears my area lucked out.

An event like this is really a wake up call on a lot of fronts. I am sending thoughts and prayers to those most affected by the storms in Arlington, Lancaster, and Forney. I was relieved to find out last night that all of my Forney family members are safe.

I also realized a greater appreciation for information sharing yesterday as updates on Facebook were more informative than the news about the exact location of storms and activity. My hometown's Facebook page was the first to put out the call to take cover.

I'm also thankful for the forethought and good planning our schools and daycares have in place. I called to check on things at the daycare yesterday and the team had already been over their emergency procedure, and they were putting that into action when my mom picked Greyson up. Those folks get a pat on the back from me.

Finally, thanks to all of my friends across the country who checked on my family and our other Dallas-area bloggers via Facebook and Twitter (and text message -- hi, Heather!). I so so so appreciate your concern and watchfulness. Those prayers came in handy.

Texas Tornadoes

I'm sure you all have heard about the goings-on in my area. Yesterday was nothing short of a weather meltdown here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with something in the neighborhood of 10-15 tornadoes popping up over the course of the day.

My office is right on the edge of downtown Dallas, and we really dodged trouble with a couple of tornadoes around us at various times. We had sirens and craziness, and my team headed down to the basement parking garage at one point as we received news that other local business were evacuating into safe areas. At one point in the afternoon we received word that a cell was forming over the American Airlines Center, which I can see out the window from a conference room down the hall.

Even scarier was being here at work and watching on Facebook, our local NBC affiliate's website, and other outlets as a tornado moved straight toward my hometown where my mom and Greyson were hunkered down. Luckily, the tornadic activity passed over my town, but there was a Tornado Emergency declared for the next town over. I haven't heard damage reports yet but aside from high wind and large hail, it appears my area lucked out.

An event like this is really a wake up call on a lot of fronts. I am sending thoughts and prayers to those most affected by the storms in Arlington, Lancaster, and Forney. I was relieved to find out last night that all of my Forney family members are safe.

I also realized a greater appreciation for information sharing yesterday as updates on Facebook were more informative than the news about the exact location of storms and activity. My hometown's Facebook page was the first to put out the call to take cover.

I'm also thankful for the forethought and good planning our schools and daycares have in place. I called to check on things at the daycare yesterday and the team had already been over their emergency procedure, and they were putting that into action when my mom picked Greyson up. Those folks get a pat on the back from me.

Finally, thanks to all of my friends across the country who checked on my family and our other Dallas-area bloggers via Facebook and Twitter (and text message -- hi, Heather!). I so so so appreciate your concern and watchfulness. Those prayers came in handy.

Stuff Week: Coffee Confections

It's "stuff week" again here at the old blog because I have been indulging in lots of stuff that makes me happy lately. Spring has sprung (or is it summer already) and I'm feeling that itch to clean and frolic. So what do I have in store for you today? Goodies, that's what! I'm highlighting some of my favorite indulgences and pleasures this week. No one is paying me. I just like to pretend I'm Oprah sometimes.

I didn't start drinking coffee until the last two years or so. I knew as soon as my mom bought a Keurig, good things were in store. I was positively convinced when she bought Chuck and me our own Keurig a couple of years ago.

Within the last year or so, with a long commute and often sleep-deprived, I do enjoy a cup or two first thing in the morning on the way to work or when I get to the office. Imagine my inward squeals of joy when I saw my new office has TWO industrial-sized Keurigs with a nearly-unlimited amount of K-cups! We always have a stash of standards like Green Mountain Coffee Breakfast Blend and Newman's Extra Bold. But what really flips my switch is when we get a box of specialty blend, as was the case last week when a new flavor came into my life.

*angels sing, caffeine junkies do backflips*

AWE-SOME.

This is a light roast with a distinctively cinnamon roll flavor. I know, I was shocked, too. It does take some prep work to figure out how much cream/sweetener to add. Lemme tell ya, not much! It's a sweet, cinnamony delight, and while I might not want it first thing in the morning, this is one of those coffees I'd love to enjoy in the afternoon. It has that comfort quality to it.

Green Mountain is probably my favorite K-Cup brand in general. I find their coffee smooth, not too bitter or acidic, and generally just right for me. I'm also one of those people that would never be caught dead drinking black coffee. I make it taste less like coffee and more like heaven.

The really important question is: what are your favorite coffees? Any recommendations for me (K-cup or not)? Come on, coffee nuts need to know these things. 

Stuff Week: Coffee Confections

It's "stuff week" again here at the old blog because I have been indulging in lots of stuff that makes me happy lately. Spring has sprung (or is it summer already) and I'm feeling that itch to clean and frolic. So what do I have in store for you today? Goodies, that's what! I'm highlighting some of my favorite indulgences and pleasures this week. No one is paying me. I just like to pretend I'm Oprah sometimes.

I didn't start drinking coffee until the last two years or so. I knew as soon as my mom bought a Keurig, good things were in store. I was positively convinced when she bought Chuck and me our own Keurig a couple of years ago.

Within the last year or so, with a long commute and often sleep-deprived, I do enjoy a cup or two first thing in the morning on the way to work or when I get to the office. Imagine my inward squeals of joy when I saw my new office has TWO industrial-sized Keurigs with a nearly-unlimited amount of K-cups! We always have a stash of standards like Green Mountain Coffee Breakfast Blend and Newman's Extra Bold. But what really flips my switch is when we get a box of specialty blend, as was the case last week when a new flavor came into my life.

*angels sing, caffeine junkies do backflips*

AWE-SOME.

This is a light roast with a distinctively cinnamon roll flavor. I know, I was shocked, too. It does take some prep work to figure out how much cream/sweetener to add. Lemme tell ya, not much! It's a sweet, cinnamony delight, and while I might not want it first thing in the morning, this is one of those coffees I'd love to enjoy in the afternoon. It has that comfort quality to it.

Green Mountain is probably my favorite K-Cup brand in general. I find their coffee smooth, not too bitter or acidic, and generally just right for me. I'm also one of those people that would never be caught dead drinking black coffee. I make it taste less like coffee and more like heaven.

The really important question is: what are your favorite coffees? Any recommendations for me (K-cup or not)? Come on, coffee nuts need to know these things.