Belle and Bill.

Kansas people love the weather. I think it comes from this farming gene that is passed down and manifests in city dwellers as an obsession with the local weather. It's not unusual to hear Kansas City people argue over which TV station has the best weather anchor (I'm a loyal Gary Lezak fan). Erica and I regularly debated where to take cover in our second floor apartment in case of a tornado. Kansans are freaks about tornadoes, a fact affirmed by popular culture. Dorothy chased a tornado all the way over the rainbow.

Northern Virginia isn't in tornado alley. But we do have our own weather phenomenon that generates just as much buzz on the local news stations: hurricanes. Their sub par weather dudes are all excited right now about Bill. As I write this, Bill is located almost straight east off the coast wrecking havoc on beach vacations and dumping significant amounts of rain on us. It might ruin the president's family vacation too. Hurricanes last longer than tornadoes which means this coverage could go on for days!

Personally, I am thankful for Bill and the rain. Last night I fell asleep to thunder and lightening which made this feel a little more like home. The dreary outdoors makes it easier to convince myself to tackle my graduate paper due this coming Friday. Or scrapbook and watch reality TV.


Even though she is a Kansas native, Belle could care less about Bill or any other weather condition. Tornado, hurricane, blizzard, she has to go outside. It's just mother nature.