Shelf Life

I guess, despite my belief, everything wasn't exactly figured out; but I guess if nothing else I have learned that planning doesn't necessarily mean success.  I had high expectations for this and for that reason, and that reason alone, it failed.  You see, I had this fairy tale idea that we would all get along, chase a tornado or two, and experience no drama.  I thought I was going to find a place for myself while I was out there this week.  Turns out I got nothing done...at all.  But it's true what they say and here's the thing - when one door closes another opens.  This may not have been the fairy tale I was dreaming of but amidst the aggravation and disappointment I had an awakening of what I should do with the next few months of my life.  So I guess it's not all bad, huh?  Another thing I've learned is that experience isn't necessarily seeing things, doing things, and living things that others haven't; no, it just means you had the courage to remember it.

So even if everything did fall through and it unraveled in the most unexpected way I'm becoming somewhat okay with that.  I'm okay with losing a friend (or two), I'm okay with feeling empty for a little while before I figure out the next step, I'm okay with still not knowing what the hell to do with my life, and YEAH I'm okay with writing all this on the back of my college acceptance letter because it's time to face the truth.  This dream is no longer within arms reach.  This last week has made me wiser (although possibly a little weaker) but still ready for the next round.  As disappointing as it is to be defeated, maybe I'm just not ready to settle down somewhere and live a normal life.  Perhaps I'm just not ready to have a shelf life.

From Vernon, NJ to Oklahoma City, OK

It's been a hell of a two days.  We started off driving eleven (which ended up being thirteen) hours Vernon, NJ to Indianapolis, IN the first day and then another eleven today from Indianapolis, IN to Oklahoma City, OK.  After receiving a ticket for speeding, we decided not to be so time absorbed and just enjoy the scenery.  That only worked for about forty five minutes; (essentially twenty four hours in a car can do that to you).   If you ask me, I feel I've achieved alot in these last two days.  I've learned that when put to the test, I can accomplish just about anything I put my mind to.  I've also learned that I wouldn't have been able to do any of this if it weren't for the friends and family I have supporting me - and joining me on the adventure. 

I'm not in this on my own, I never have been, but I'd also like to think I have an advantage with the independent streak I was blessed with.  If and when I decide to move to Oklahoma I know I can make it work.  I know now that I will have what it takes to get exactly where I always dreamt I'd be.  One day MCOM will be a household name and I will have thousands of people following this blog and wanting to be a part of the charity.  But it's not just about me you know, it's about showing everyone that dreams are possible.  Despite your backround, the darkness you've faced, the faith you've lost - it's all possible.  I've only recently learned this, you see, but atleast I've got that knowledge now.  I hope everyone who reads this has a fantasic week, as ours will be, and hopefully the chase will be on tomorrow as Oklahoma City is on the map for some severe weather.  Thanks for reading!

A Week Before the Trip and Slowly Going Insane

Everyday we see the pettiness that life brings; we can see it in ourselves, others, celebrities, but most of us tend to shrug it off and act as if we are unphased.  I work in an environment that is stressful and as PETTY as it gets.  The women are worried about their weight, the men are worried about their money, and I sit here worried that I may miss the next storm outbreak by sitting in a financial office.  I've found myself wanting to ask the people in here what it all means.  Anonymous co-worker number one: what does it mean for you to worry about your weight so much to the point where you won't even eat those CRAZY GOOD bagels in the kitchen?  I mean, you do only eat a salad a day and you're probably eighty five pounds, you could use a damn bagel.  Anonymous co-worker number two: what does it mean for you to stress over the tie you're wearing, the 'close' you may not have closed, the things you may not have said (or said too much of) at a meeting?  These things, these overwhelmingly stressful little things, will be the death of all of us.  I have adapted to the toxicity this office offers, but I am not immune by any means.  I have found myself looking in the mirror, have I gained too much weight?, I find myself staring anxiously at my online bank account, do I have enough money?, when realistically - none of that shit matters!  Don't get my message wrong, I love everyone I work with, but I see them slowly killing themselves with their superficial addictions and obsessions and quite frankly it affects me as well.  I have spent alot of my time changing the way I think so I wouldn't have to worry about these things.  I'd like to think I'm a woman who eats what she likes, spends what she can, and is confident in the conversations she holds.  It wasn't an easy attribute to obtain but it's even harder to practice and hold on to, especially when the world is telling you how you should behave otherwise. 
I have priorities, and my priorities are to live a life that makes me happy and I'm sorry, friends, but I'm not happy with a salad (that doesn't even have chicken in it) a day and a life where money overcomes the obstacles that sheer happiness should. 
After long analytical pondering of the situation I've learned that these things I see around me won't go away wherever I go.  There are artificial self-made problems from New Jersey to Oklahoma I'm sure, but that doesn't mean it's not relieving to search for something else, somewhere else. So if anything I should be thanking these people for making it just a little bit easier to go far, far away.  And trust me, I am going as far as away as possible.

Gaining the Strength of Thousands

Someone once said that if you lose the fear of failure, you gain the strength of thousands.  For the chasers of MCOM, nothing rings more true.  The people who are involved in the organization are walking miracles and that's what makes MCOM so unique and powerful.  They have been hopelessly addicted to drugs, close to death, and through drug treatment facilities.  "We are adrenaline driven because that's all we've ever known" says one chaser, "and that makes us dangerous.  Effective, but dangerous."  The chaser recalls her time as an active addict as "nauseating and exhausting."
"I didn't sleep, I didn't live, I didn't dream.  All I did was get high and after I was done I'd get high again.  A vicious cycle that never ended."
Two chasers spent one year in a treatment facility located in Mendham, NJ, one says that without it her life would've ended abruptly and silently at the age of eighteen.  She is now twenty and living a life she never thought she'd live.
"I have a great job, people that support me, and a dream that no one can take from me.  It's better than anything I've ever known."
MCOM has not yet chased the storms they so actively seek but are planning their first storm chasing trip to begin May 21.  Their journey begins in Vernon, NJ and will be carried out all the way through to Oklahoma City, OK.  In NJ, they have successfully encountered dangerous downdrafts, severe thunderstorms, and flooding.  In one week in OK, they plan to see more than most people see in their lives.  They are anxiously hoping for what they refer to as - "the finger of God."  They encourage anyone to 'chase them' by following their twitter (www.twitter/com/MCOMchasers), their facebook (www.facebook.com/MCOMunitedstormchasers) and of course their blog right here at http://www.mcomunitedstormchasers.blogspot.com/

End of the World?

Lately there has been a seemingly overwhelming uprise of severe, life taking weather.  There are religious fanatics claiming these are the end times and God is letting His wrath reign, and there are science fanatics who are saying this is merely an uprising of documenting technology. It's a question that we have seen being stirred up everywhere from weather.com to facebook, etc., and it's a question that is not easily answered.  In the Bible, God seems to speak of severe weather that will be seen in the "end times":

"... and huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men ..."
(Rev. 16.21)

"Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire." (Isaiah 29:6)

"And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake." (Rev. 8:5)

One can see why some one may see these bizarre weather changes as an act of a Divine being.  Science disagrees with this religious theory and counters it with statistics, documentation, and modern technology.  Some scientists claim that the increase in severe weather patterns is purely due to the advances in internet use, media broadcasting, and the ability to document weather like we never have been able to before.

The "Enhanced Fajita Scale" is a recently updated version of the tornado measuring F-scale.  This has given meteorologists a new perception of a tornado's power, strength, and duration.  Also, the new awareness that SKYWARN has given to the general community may add to the number of tornadoes that are documented.  Most tornadoes in the past have gone unnoticed, undocumented, or unrated because of the lack of technology.  Could this be the reason behind the significant increase in numbers?

One can suppose that whether you're a science fanatic or a religion fanatic, the answer will never truly be revealed.  We will dig for an answer when all we come up with are theories and beliefs.  Instead of looking for the answer to an unattainable question, we should be looking for answers for those who have been seriously affected by these unusual and deadly natural disasters.  Perhaps praying and brain storming is just not enough, we need to act, we need to respond.