Thunderstorms

[arwalden]

Poll question: Thunderstorms

Assuming that you're safely INSIDE your home (and not stuck in a tent or on the golf course or beach)... do you like thunderstorms?

Do you enjoy the sounds and the light-show? Or does it frighten you?

When the power goes out, is it an excuse to light the romantic kerosene lamps and scented candles... or are you annoyed because you can't be online and watch TV?

For me... I just LOVE them. I like the crackling thunder and the rolling thunder, the winds, the sound of the rain on the roof.

Even so, D.C. area seems to have had MORE than our fair share of thunderstorms... DISABLING thunderstorms... in recent weeks. It's not even 8-AM as I'm typing this message, and I hear another thunder-bumper approaching.

My little Shih Tzu dog doesn't appear to be panicked by thunderstorms... but I can always count on her wandering over to be near me whenever a big one hits.

-- Allen

[eyesroll]

1. I'm in between...

I like the light show and the rain, but the first summer we lived in the house, we had a nasty roof leak during a thunderstorm (it was due to a bad contractor who replaced our roof earlier in the year). Unfortunately, the leak was right near my bird's cage, and she just freaked out. (She's normally OK with loud noises and flashes of light, but the drip, drip, drip just bugged her.)

[MuseRider]

2. The storms

are one reason I won't leave Kansas. I know everywhere has them but there is nothing like watching them come at you from a state away without obstruction. You can see and hear them for hours before they get to you. I might consider Tampa since it has the most thunderstorms than anywhere in this country but I think I will just stay here.

[BlueJazz]

3. Living in the Tampa Bay area, we ....

....get HUGE thunderstorms almost every day at this time of year.
I think they're Magnificent!

[Robb]

4. Love them, but MAN...

...The other day we had one in the MORNING!! Never had that happen to me before, went to bed with the window open and around 6:00 AM there was this huge CRACK-POW!!

In my state (the same one in which I try to pick up and answer the alarm clock -- "hello? HELLO?!?") I thought the propane tank had gone up.

[Birthmark]

5. Like Radicalliberal

I live in Central Florida. I'm kind of sick of thunderstorms. I should probably mention that my power goes out about once a week. So, thunderstorms don't thrill me much.

[arwalden]

6. We've Got UPS's / Surge Protectors For Just About EVERYTHING...

... in the house except the hair-dryers and the toaster. (Especially for the PC's and DVR's though.)

I understand how you feel though. Blackouts and power spikes can definitely be a pain in the keister.

After the big Northeast Blackout (and in anticipation of the next earthbound asteroid I guess) my partner added a 6000w 120/240v 11HP Coleman portable generator to our emergency supplies.

Personally I just prefer candles, lanterns, and cooking on my camp-stove if needed.

-- Allen

[Kamika]

7. I love them

Here in Houston we got great thunderstorms and its just soo cozy sitting inside with all the rain and thunder

[SiouxJ]

8. Mostly love them

The lightning here in AZ is so amazing. I've been told by people who live in other places, that the lightning here is very different from where they live. We have lots of horizontal bolts that rip across the entire sky. It's great watching them if you don't have anywhere to go. I hate say, running errands during a storm. Especially when there are close strikes. Getting in and out of the car is dicey! But yeah, I love sitting at home watching a storm.

[WillParkinson]

9. Hahahahahaha!

I love thunderstorms even if I'm out in them. I just love the feel of the raw power.

And you said 'big one'....

[Devils Advocate NZ]

10. You ain't seen nuthin' until...

you've seen a thunderstorm WITHOUT rain...

When I was young and I lived in Australia, my auntie and uncle owned a farm near Kandos in the outback of New South Wales. At the time, Kandos was going through a drought that had lasted for about two YEARS!

Anyway, I was staying with them during school holidays when this huge thunderstorm came in. There I was, thinking the drought had been broken and that it was now about to rain like the biblical flood, when my uncle set me straight.

Apparently these thunderstorms were quite normal, except for one thing - it never rained. So we all grabbed some chairs and sat outside to watch the show.

I have NEVER seen lightning or heard thunder like it. We are talking massive horizon to horizon sheet lighting and enourmous forked lightning that seemed impossible, and the thunder made the ground vibrate.

Yet not a single drop of rain fell.

I swear, after having seen that, you don't need to believe in god, nature is more than enough! The sheer power of this storm was amazing, and I will never forget it.

[arwalden]

11. I Love Your Accent!!

-- Allen

[Devils Advocate NZ]

12. Actually, funny story there...

My mother is Australian, and my father is a New Zealander. I was born in Sydney but moved to NZ when I was 12. When I first moved here, I was teased (good naturedly) about my Aussie accent. A couple of years ago, I went back to Australia to visit my auntie and uncle (the ones from the thunderstorm story) and what do you think happened?

That's right, I was teased (once again, good naturedly) about my Kiwi accent.

I guess I just can't win.

Devils Advocate NZ - Proud to be an Auswi! (Aussie/Kiwi)

On edit: Just wanted to add that there is a famous Auswi: Russell Crowe! Except in reverse. He was a Kiwi that went to Australia when he was young, and he is a cousin of a famous New Zealand cricketer, Martin Crowe.

Hey, I just realised that Russell is a reverse Auswi... So does that make him a Kissie? I report, you decide!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

13. I love them, but...

if they're sever, they scare me. That tornado that swept through College Park 3 years ago came very close to here; and about 10 years ago a microburst hit my neighborhood and split a huge silver maple into timber in my backyard.

And once, we were picnicing on Skyline Drive when a sudden thunderstorm sent us to the car to finish eating. I barely got in the car when lightning struck a tree about 20 feet from us. Crikey! :scared:

[Wcross]

14. Having taken a hit

I have been shocked by lighting. Happened at a summer camp when I was 12 or 13, hit a tree next to a table I was sitting at. It traveled from my foot and out the opposite buttock, It left some pretty big burns and scared the heck out of me.
All that being said, I love a good electrical storm. (as long as I am inside!)