My name is Theodore Roosevelt, but believe me, I am anything BUT famous. I didn't choose to be named that: I happened to be born into the Roosevelt family, but it's not THAT one. For one thing, I happen to be African-Ameircan.
I am twelve years old. I live in Abilene, Texas, with my family. I have my mama and daddy, and I also have my twin little sisters (Theresa and Tamara; they're six) and my baby brother, Tripp Wyatt, who is only seven months. I also have a dog, a Jack Russell Terrier named Springy, on account that he jumps so much!
We are staying in until some of this smoke clears. We're under high wind warnings, red flag warnings, and fire weather watches. There's smoke in the air, and it makes it difficult to breathe. I have to stay in on account that I have asthma; have had asthma just 'bout all my life.
It wasn't too bad yesterday, but it was humid and hot, and we got some nasty storms that rolled on through, thanks to a rather potent dryline. We didn't have too bad of weather here, but north and east of here got rocked pretty good with storms containing high winds, heavy rain, large hailstones, and even tornadoes. All we really got was some strong winds gusting to over 60 miles an hour, some hail (about quarter to half dollar size was all), and lots and lots of lightning/thunder. It was pretty intense while it lasted, but it was over quickly 'cause the storms were moving northeast at 40 to 50 miles an hour.
The fires are west and east of where I am at, but it is enough to make the air a hazy, smoky mess. You can smell the smoke every so often, especially when the winds howl (gusting to 55 miles an hour at times). But the air is a lot less humid, just very smoky. NOT good for anyone who has asthma, allergies, or other breathing issues!
To entertain myself, I have been playing video games or reading to my sisters, or playing with little Tripp, who is a little gigglebox. He's discovered his voice, and he is always squealing and/or laughing. He's so cute; I just love him to death! (My sisters, I love too, but they can be regular little pistols at times: full of salt and vinegar, as mama likes to say!)
Yesterday before the storms rolled through, we went to look at all the bluebonnets. They're Texas' state flower, and now they're blooming. You can't pick 'em or you could go to jail; it's the law. Still, they are pretty to look at, and Tripp and the twins were having a ball sitting among them while mama, daddy, and myself took oodles of pictures!
I like to do many things, including playing video games, playing baseball, fooseball, or football (when the weather co-operates or isn't too hazy or smoky out), drawing, writing poetry or short stories, singing, playing the banjo and fiddle, and listening to music (bluegrass and gospel are my favorites, as is traditional country music; Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn are my favorites). I also love playing with my little sisters and baby brother; they're a lot of fun!
Well, I gotta go. Supper's 'bout on. We're having tacos and salad, and for dessert, pecan pie. Yum!! One of my favorite meals! Mama's a great cook! I will write in here again one day; until later, this is Theo Roosevelt saying so long and God bless!
~Theo.
