Archived Weblog Entry - 11/12/2002: "Minor complications"

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11/12/2002 Archived Entry: "Minor complications"

"WARNING: You are in the path of a tornado...put your head between your knees and kiss your ass goodbye!"

It was pretty interesting last night. It started off with a thunderstorm; I've never seen it quite like that though. It was God's Malajusted Strobe light, constant flashes of light, some big and close, but most far away or sheet lightning. After a few hours of that (about 2:30am) the sirens came on, and we ended up getting up to watch TV and see where the tornados were touching down. Jen called her mom, who doesn't have a weather warning siren near and was in the path of a tornado, and we stayed up a couple hours wondering if we should go hide in the closet. In the end all was fine, the tornados killed 10 people in Alabama but no one we know.

Weather is fun...on my way here there were some pretty strong winds and 20 feet off the ground in Birmingham the plane decided to dip to the left. I admit that shook me a little. I had visions of the left wing touching the ground and this plane spinning out of control on the runway. In those fears I knew I would be alright, but it was going to be a Bad Thing^tm.

Some comments I have heard down here in the south...

"If you got problem with crime in that area your problems are coloured black"

"You can get spray to get rid of ants and insects in your house, but a couple snakes will get rid of niggers"

Those comments set off a nerve for me...I honestly like the guy who said them, but I have a pretty big racism twitch. I accept that he's an "old school"southern man, but it still irks me. Relates back to members of my own family using words like 'sandnigger', 'punjab', etc. to talk about the East Indians in the area I grew up. I don't like it, but then again I also look at the chinese drivers in my area with a little more caution than I do the white drivers. Though that could be because of the chinese-only driving schools which were shutdown a few years back for bribing the license officials. Even now in Vancouver it is totally legal to have a translator for your driving test, and a large number of people drive on BC roads who can't read the important signs. Am I racist for stating fact? Some people think so.

We went and saw the house we are getting married in on Saturday...very nice. It's a lovely old country house, at least 100 years old, and the ceremony will be lit by kerosene lamps and candles. It's going to look incredible. A bunch of people will take pictures, and they will be posted here when available.

Jen and her mom did all the real work for the wedding, and it shows. I love her very much for all of this.

Quick notes

My mom is flying in on Friday and we'll be taking her for a catfish dinner somewhere in Birmingham. Jen's brother-in-law suggested a place called the Bayou Grill that might be a possibility. I'd like some decent cajun food anyway.
I had some gumbo in an airport restaurant called Bayou Billy's in Houston. Ungodly expensive ($5US for a small bowl of soup). Tasted good, but I am spoiled by the cheapness of Vancouver restaurants.
Got a week's internet access for $9.95US
I didn't have hot wings in a restaurant that served them. This may be a first.
I can't wait to bring Jen back to meet everyone and eat at all my favourite restaurants. I've got quite a few of them, so I suspect we'll gain a few.
We are going to up our exercise level though (no, not a *nudgenudgewinkwink* thing)...there are a lot of hiking and walking places for me to show Jen.

Hopefully more tomorrow!