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The used to be a series of documentaries on NETFLIX regarding those struck or close at hand to strikes ... some wild impulses noted in how they perceived the experience ... shock treatment?
 
I love thunderstorms, the cracks, the pops, the bangers, the lightning and the wind.
Our house has a old-style sunroom attached, and we would often sit out and watch storms roll-in and through. Our children grew up with us saying, let's turn off the lights and watch the lightning..


I've done that but it's like I am with spiders - I have an awe and fascination that wrestles with my mild phobia.
 
On another note, my oldest son is moving to newfoundland for a job and he has been asked to start Monday. So happy for him but I will miss him. I am thankful that he is a communicator who texts.

I will miss the plop on the couch with a big grin "scratch my back" or "I 'm hungry". He is a big light in life and I will miss his warmth and presence in the house.

The joy of him landing a full time job is massive, and so proud of his chosen career. I will learn this new way of being mother and son and look forward to trips down east
 
@Carolla CrazyDaughter was at her in-laws alone with her 2 year old and pregnant with her next. She phoned to see if

it was storming in town. As we were talking, there was a bang and a crash and I heard her say "help me. help me" and then dead silence.

An aunt was close by and with in minutes someone was there.

It was underground wiring but the long and short of it was - lightening came through the line , through the phone, through her ear

out the bottom of her maternity top( it was singed) and then it came through grandson.s leg. They were in

hospital for 3 days, both on heart monitors, electrolytes checked. She didn't miscarry and the oldest is now 27

finishing his Masters at Concordia and the next one(that she was carrying is 25 and in 3rd year at University of Regina.

It was a long time before I could have long conversations with Crazydaughter on

the phone.and I have great respect for the power of

Prairie storms.
 
:eek:. I've heard stories like that before about lightning and phone lines, @crazyheart , but never from someone directly connected to it.

My only close encounter with serious lightning was actually on my first job as a systems librarian and no human lives were directly affected. I was running an old "mainframe" computer with terminals connected (which basically just gave the user a screen and keyboard, everything else like drives and memory and so on was back in a pair of boxes the size of laundry machines in a computer room) that ran the libraries circulation and catalogue system. One day during a storm, lightning hit a powerline for our building and triggered a surge that hit a terminal in the public services department. The surge went bouncing through various wires and fried the terminal, the barcode reader connected to it, and the port on the mainframe that the terminal was connected to (which had, I believe, seven other terminals also connected, though none of them got fried). Probably cost us $500+ in damages.
 
Wow crazyheart - that's incredible! Amazing they were all okay. My parents always used to carp about "get off the phone" during thunderstorms ... also "don't take a bath" "turn off the TV" etc. We used to think it a bit extreme - but I guess not!!
 
I have to admit, I usually do turn off my computer during thunderstorms ... even though I have an excellent surge protector. I wonder if it makes a difference though. My son is an electrician, and he commented that some people get a 'whole house' surge protector installed right at the panel, which I imagine would be very costly - but probably worth it in some areas.
 
Wow CH - your daughter and kids lived through a real miracle! You must have felt frantic when it happened. I have heard that phones should be left alone during storms - but never heard of anyone I knew having a problem (mostly because they stayed off the phone maybe?) Glad it all turned out ok.
 
Wow CH - your daughter and kids lived through a real miracle! You must have felt frantic when it happened. I have heard that phones should be left alone during storms - but never heard of anyone I knew having a problem (mostly because they stayed off the phone maybe?) Glad it all turned out ok.
Probably less of an issue with most phones now. They might stop working - but someone likely wouldn't be hurt.
 
That is scary CH! My mom always told us to stay out of the shower but I've never heard anything about the phone.

Last weekend my bf and I went to Montreal for a long weekend. Initially we were just going to got for a RUSH concert since they are one of the bf's top 10 favourite bands but we realise it was also our 3 year anniversary on Tuesday so we decided to make a bit of a holiday of it. Neither of us had ever been anywhere in Quebec before and it was definitely a change. I thought I knew enough French to get by but I have defnitely forgot a lot since I was in classes and was a little lost in places. It almost felt like we were in a different country! We took back roads instead of the 401 so it took us about 9 instead of 6 hrs to get there (and back) but it was a really nice drive so definitely worth it. We got a hotel right downtown (about a block from the Bell Centre where the concert was) so we parked the car for the weekend and did a lot of walking.
Saturday was our busy day with a 2hr bus tour of Montreal followed by a 2hr walking tour of Old Montreal. We had a nice lunch on a patio at a place we had tried in Ottawa called the 3 Brassseurs then headed to the Science Museum. The Science Museum had an exhibit on the history of gaming and had games that you could try, everything from pong to Pacman and Mrs. Pacman and all the way up to the xbox one. That evening we saw Jurassic World in Imax.
Sunday we were giong to look into doing an aquatic bus tour but when we got on the bus to get there (the same as the day before) the tour guide was so much better that we decided to stay on the whole way again. Then we stopped at one of Canada's largest music stores and the bf took a look at some of the guitars. He's specifically looking for some Gibson guitar that they didn't end up having anyway. After that we ended up having to go back to the hotel because the bf' wasn't feeling well (turns out he has a bad ear infection) and he wanted to try to feel better before the concert. We had dinner at a Mexican place recommended by a friend called the 2 amigos which was amazing! The concert itself was ok for me, I don't really know the band that well so I wasn't too into it. The bf loved it though and that was the main point. They've been touring for 40 years and we don't know how much longer they will so he can scratch it off his bucket list. All in all a great weekend!
 
Why do most blind people carry white rods ... wands ...?

What's easier to catch up to no good ... characters blinded by emotional excess? Such a pitty ...
 
I was in Calgary for a couple of months one summer, living not far from the power lines and there were a few huge electrical storms. The thunderstorms scared the daylights out of me. You could feel the electricity in the air. We don't get that many here on the west coast, but once in awhile, when we do, I feel like a cat who wants to hide under the bed, and can't wait for it to stop. I really don't like them.
 
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Love your rainbow rose Kimmio!
 
Sometimes, even when you know something is wonderful and good, it can be a sad time.
My oldest left the house today, to move to Newfoundland and start his career as a paramedic.

Just like when he went to school, it was an awareness of life changing, his moving out for a job is also a sign, and to be so far away.
I kept it together, but was a bit of a blubbery fool after he was gone, and today, am feeling the melancholy...though I know it is joyful, and I am thrilled, I will miss his presence in our home.

I will enjoy hearing the stories of his life, of sourcing furniture, of first days at work. I am sorry that I won't be there for him after his first hard call. I know they will happen. I trust he will have good friends. I know he has already connected with folks...coz that is who he is. A good man who will make good friends. just going to miss his presence here.

I think of Seeler, whose son is so far away, and others who have shared the stories of children moving...
 
Little M has mused a bit about going out West for university (UBC). That would be tough for us, esp. since we are both still working so following him out there wouldn't be an option. Not sure how serious he is, though. I don't think it's any better academically than some of the Ontario options, just closer to major ski areas. :rolleyes:
 
Hugs to you pinga ... on this special day. You are so right about knowing it is good, and sad at the same time. I remember very well putting our daughter on the plane for Whistler almost 7 years ago ... that tension of 'holding it together' and then letting go. I'm reminded of a comment I heard at Conference recently ... along the lines of - with faith, first you leap then you sprout wings. I think these moments are leaps, for both child and parent.

I waited about 4 months so she could settle in, then went for a visit - I just wanted to experience her new community, meet her friends, see her places of work and play, see what she looked at every day as she walked to work ... it was a wonderful visit, and a comfort to both of us to celebrate together such a passage into a new chapter of life.

He is no doubt a very fine young man which much to offer the world. And yes, you'll miss his goofy smile, and smelly socks, and stories ...
 
Certainly a little of feelings from opposite ends of the spectrum, Pinga, happy and sad, melancholy and proud. This is when modern messaging becomes vital! Good luck to both of you in this new phase in each of your lives.
 
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