Back at the Ranch

If you didn't know before, then you will find out here that I grew up on a ranch and farm operation in southern Ellsworth county. Every once in a great while, I find my way back home to remind myself what an honest day's work includes. Every spring, family, friends, and close neighbors get together and work the baby calves to get them ready for summer grass. There are vaccinations to give and the calves get a brand that goes on the left shoulder. (a brand is a way to keep your cattle from being stolen) My sister-in-law was responsible for the vaccines, my dad does the branding, and my brother and I do the grunt work of bringing the calf to the ground (of course, we get help from the others too). Every once in a while, the jobs are switched around to keep the help from wearing out. Even though there is work to be done, we still find time to swap good stories, share some good laughs, and remember what draws us together as family and friends. I'll let the pictures tell the story, but it was a beautiful afternoon for working cattle and just another day I'll remember for a long time to come. I'm a little sore today, but I managed to make it through the day with just one big bruise on my leg. I guess I'll survive. (Click on the pictures to see them in a larger format)

CBS Programming Returns

It turns out to be another evening with severe weather in Kansas and Storm Team 12 takes over the air. I know it's frustrating to have your favorite show covered up. I set my VCR to record "Two and a Half Men" Monday night but what I ended up with was storm coverage for the northwest corner of our state.

I know this topic comes up again and again, but why in the world do we cover storms that are 300 miles away from Wichita? We live in a TV market that has one of the largest viewing areas of any in the country. We are responsible for approximately 90 counties, some of which are in Colorado and Oklahoma. Here is the dilemma that we fight each time there is severe weather hundreds of miles away from Wichita. Anybody watching us on satellite will only get the Wichita broadcast. Therefore, in order for us to reach our loyal viewers on satellite (and there are several), we have to be on in Wichita. It is frustrating for you and for the Storm Team, but we are doing it in hopes of saving lives. Remember, we only do continuous coverage when there are active tornado warnings and there is significant risk to life and property. Wouldn't it be nice to have technology that allows us to pick a zip code that's being affected by a storm and go on the air in those areas only? Okay, it might be wishful thinking, but maybe someday.

In the meantime, I'm posting a picture from Monday's storm near Protection (in Comanche county). It comes from our chaser Brandon Ivey. Thanks to everyone for sending in the pictures.
GOOD NEWS: No more severe weather the rest of the week or over the weekend, so your favorite shows will return uninterrupted. Thanks for your understanding. I'm heading home to work cattle Friday. Be sure to check my blog for some good pictures and a good laugh at the end of the week.

Earth Day 2007

Okay, so the day comes and goes and most of us don't even remember there is such a day. Earth Day is April 22nd and to celebrate, I visited the 4th and 5th grade students at Jefferson Elementary on Friday. It's the part of my job I enjoy very much; visiting with young students and working to get them interested in science and just maybe, weather.

We covered many topics, including low and high pressure, jet stream, weather balloons, and of course, tornadoes. I still perform the "cloud in a bottle" trick for them and even if they have seen it before, I still get the "ooohhhh, awwww". All it takes to do the experiment is a 2-liter bottle with an inch of water in the bottom and two matches. Light the matches and count to about 8 or 9 seconds, then blow out the fire and put the matches in the bottle. Put the lid on the bottle, shake it up and then squeeze and let go repeatedly. You will see the cloud shortly after.

At any rate, thanks to Jennifer Rudolph for the invitation to come down and speak to the students. The posted picture is just some of the students from the Earth Day talk.

I hope the kids aren't trying to sell my autograph on EBay, because they will be disappointed to know it's not worth 20 cents, if that. Have a great weekend.