October, and it feels more like springtime.  It feels more like April or May than fall.

We are under the gun for possible severe weather, including the threat of tornadoes, dangerous lightning, large hail, damaging downburst winds, and severe flooding potentiality. 

It wouldn't be so bad if shelters were readily made available here.  When it storms, we have to go to the center most room of our residence, place of business, or hospital, school, or church (depending where you are at at the time the severe weather potential is forecast by the SPC ... Storm Prediction Center).

I live in Childress, Texas, right in the heart of Tornado Alley.  Storms are at their nastiest during the spring months (March through June), but they can form any time of the year.  We can even have tornadoes and severe weather in winter (and it has happened; two years ago, in fact, a tornado hit about five miles away from here, and it was an EF-3.  Did a lot of damage, and you could hear it rumbling in the distance.  It sounded just like a freight train, and you could feel the ground trembling).

The weather people are saying that storms could fire any time after 3 p.m. this afternoon (Texas time).  I believe it too: the air is thick with humidity; humidity levels have got to be running somewhere in the 60 to 70 degree range, which is one of the prime ingredients for severe weather (as is heat, and the wind speeds).  Clouds are already starting to dot the sky; right now they look fluffy and white and harmless; they remind me of cotton balls.  But later on, things could get very interesting ...

The weather folk are saying that we need to have our "severe weather kit" on hand in case it does get ugly outside.  We need to have our NOAA-approved radio to keep updated on the latest weather conditions and fresh batteries (as well as a flash light or some kind of light in case the power goes out).  Don't worry, folks: I have my severe weather kit with me on hand at all times, especially on days like today, where storms are likely (the weather forecast is calling for a 50% or greater chance of storms, some of them which would more than likely go severe).

I have been in more than enough tornadoes to know what to do, but still ... it doesn't make me like them any better.  Tornadoes (or severe weather in general) scare the flop outta me; there's no telling what they can do!  

Just keep me in your prayers and pray that we get through this stormy period coming up! Any and all prayers are greatly appreciated!!

~End of part one!~