OKC storms...

Today was a fantastic day for storms here in Oklahoma. We had a super cell thunder cloud move in from the west and with it came high winds, hail the size of grapefruit and some pretty destructive Twisters.

There was a very high chance, 8/10 in fact of a tornado hitting my location and a funnel cloud did start to form where I live but it did not touch the ground. The moment this happened all hell broke loose here at the house. The rain was so heavy you could not see through it, the wind was so strong that it was making the walls and the windows groan under the pressure, and there was a noise, an almost growling noise coming from outside, and this was all from something that never quite touched the ground. Imagine what it would have been like for me had it done so.

I found the whole experience very exciting and was incredibly disappointed to learn that only 30 minutes after it passed our house, a huge tornado touched the ground, about 50 miles away. I was all for jumping in the car to chase it but the boy wanted to come too and I could not very well take him with me and I did not want to go on this adventure, only to leave him here, so I chose to leave it this time.

There will be others, and those others, I will chase...

The photographs below are mainly from after the storm had passed over head and tracked east across the state.

the storms are plentyful...

Another collection of lightening photographs from tonight. it was awesome. we had heavy rain and hail, and the wind was very strong. at one point the wife got worried because she thought she heard the tell tale ‘train sound’ that comes with an approaching tornado.

Turns out it was just the wind funneling down our chimney.

I am now going to change my shorts.

Also, when storm watching/chasing it is essential that you take the correct equipment with you in case of an emergency situation.

my equipment list:-

Nikon D40 - for taking super fucking awesome photographs

Beer - for when I get thirsty

Hooded Sweater - for when the temperature drops

Back-Up Camera - to take pictures of yourself with your equipment

more storms...

Picture the scene if you will. Sitting at my computer about to reply to theneilshow when my lovely wife said to me “i could really go for some ice-cream right now” to which I responded with putting on my shoes and driving out for two hot chocolate fudge sundaes.

I was driving merrily along the road, headed north, when in the distance I noticed some very dark clouds on an otherwise very clear night. What really stuck me about the black wall that was looming ahead was the purple and pink lightening shooting through it in beautiful ballet of light.

This, of course, was another perfect opportunity for me to practice my lightening photography. I ran into the store, grabbed the ice-cream, raced home, gave the wife hers, stuffed mine into my face, grabbed my Nikon and tripod, dived back in the car and drove north, toward the storm.

It was the perfect setting, I managed to find a huge football field with a perfect view of the skies ahead. I set up the gear, sat on the grass, and while enjoying the light breeze on my back and warm night air, fired the camera and came away with some pretty good shots.

Here is to really loving the Oklahoma storm season.

lightening storm...

Oklahoma has the strangest of weather. Unlike anything I have seen back home in England.

Take this morning as a great example. 6am, with a huge storm brewing at the back of our house I hopped in the car and drove out to an open area to try and capture my first lightening shots.

Try and picture the scene, me, stood in the middle of a wide open space, with a few trees littered here and there. It’s dark (because it’s 6am) the air is perfectly still, not a single drop of rain nor a gust of wind, it’s warm too. Lightening flashing in the distance, heading this way.

Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, I was almost knocked over by a sudden blast of wind, it was as though someone had pushed me in the chest. There was debris flying across the field, a for sale sign from a house and a few pieces of old wood, probably from somebodies yard fence. Then there was hail and rain and really, stupidly high winds. I came to realise that it probably was not a good idea me being out there.

I had no idea what was lurking in the darkness.

So hopped back in the car and shot the rest of my pictures from the garage and the back porch.

I was relatively successful, although, there were times when I could have photographed some spectacular bolts, only my camera was processing other shots when this happened….typical. Patience and luck, I have discovered is the key.

Looking at the weather now, you would have never guessed we had a storm this morning. Bright blue skies and lovely warm sunshine.

Oklahoma weather sure is strange.

almost a month has past...

Since I last took the time to blog. And boy, what a month it has been!

Where do I start? The beginning I guess!

Deanna and I have been house hunting for most of the last month ready for our house going to auction on the 26th February. We think we may have found somewhere, we have been in touch with the owner and we will swing by his office to talk more about it tomorrow, at least, Deanna will as she has the car, so fingers crossed.

Shit.....I am actually lost for words.

Oh, we did get married!!!!

19th February to be exact. It all happened on a spur of the moment decision based on a few factors, but mainly because of Deanna's ex-husband. He never leaves her alone, and also, in part, his new wife are constantly harrassing her, like he always has been ever since Deanna and I got together. Sending nasty, bullying and damn right unacceptable messages to her on her mobile phone, email and now publically on her blog sites.

I came to the decision that enough is enough. She needs me here, with her and the boy, as a family unit. I was all set to going home on 6th March but you know what, she and her son are far more important to me.

It's about time people realised that she is not on her own anymore and I will not tolerate abusive behaviour in any form. I have already had to have one conversation about things with the other party and we have had no more incidents, lets hope I don't have to have any more (although I am sure I will and I will welcome them too)

In other news, we adopted a lovely (although troublesome at times) Chocolate Labrador named Blue. He really is a delight, when he is not eating the freshly baked bread we have just layed out in the kitchen, or any other food that may be laying round for that matter. We have had him now for getting on 4 weeks and he seems to be happy here.

So, to end, here are a few pictures that sum up the last month....kinda'


(wedding shots taken by Abbey Northcutt)

ice storm...

Would you believe that we are having an ice storm here in Oklahoma. Since being here in December I have witnessed some very extreme weather for the time of year, from blizzards to warm sunny days and now an ice storm.

I have never seen anything like it! Ice has literally wrapped itself around everything, almost cocooning cars, trees and garden ornaments. Snow has started to fall now so I guess we are in for another cold week and icy roads.

We woke up this morning to find two, really big branches from the tree in the front garden has literally broken off with the weight of the ice. The boy and I had to pull one of the larger branches down from the tree and boy, did it come crashing down.

Here are a couple of photographs from this morning.

power smoothie...

I am a guy that likes to use the gym and train on a regular basis. However, in order for my body to accept the hard and sometime very rigorous training I put it through, it needs to be fuelled in the correct way so that it can deal with whatever I decide to throw at it.

Hence this post. There are a million sport supplements that are available to us, from protein powders, weight gainers and energy drinks, the problem is, they are all so damn expensive.

So I asked myself "what if I could make my own, all in one supplement drink that does not cost the earth" and that is exactly what I did.

Here is the how to :

Ingredients Required

Protein Powder (i use EAS 100% Whey Protein, 5lb bag, $30 or around £30 in the UK)
Old Fashion Oats - 1kg tub
Ground Flax seed - package size varies
Semi Skimmed or 2% milk
Bananas


What to do

Take half of the Oats and add them to a food processor, then add around 4 to 6 table spoons of Flax seed and blend until it all turns into a fine powder.


Then place to finished mix into a separate, seal able tub. This is the energy and calorie part of the smoothie completed.

Add around 40oml's of the milk to a food blender, add your protein (usually two scoops) and blend with the milk. Whilst the blender is running, add a single scoop (the one provided with your protein will be sufficient) of the Oat/Flax seed mix and two bananas. Blend until smooth. Pour the contents into a large glass and drink.


By my calculations, based on the nutritional information on the packaging of each product, this shake gives you approximately the following:

25g of Protein (this is based on the protein powder you used)
470 calories:

150cals from Oat/Flax mix
120cals from Protein mix
200cals from Milk
(for more calories add an extra scoop of your Oat/Flax seed mix)

I have found this to be an excellent, cost effective supplement drink for anyone that enjoys regular visits to the gym and does not have the budget for pricey supplements.