Twister...and not the game

“Having just finished a nice hike in the Wausau Labor Day parade, carrying the banner for Reino's pal who is running for governor, Reino and I stopped at the local Applebee's for dinner before making the drive back north. The sky had been threatening all day, with predictions of possible damaging wind storms brewing up in late afternoon.

Shortly after getting a table, the rain finally came. Then came harder. Then really hard. But hey, we were inside with cold beer and BBQ ribs and chicken on the way. Shortly after our order arrived, as the rain was just starting to let up, the waitress casually mentioned to us and the table next to us that a tornado was in the area and if we wanted to have our meals boxed up so we could bug out, she'd understand...that, or we could stay and if a funnel showed itself, we could join the staff in the beer cooler. Reino and I thought the latter option made perfect sense and continued eating.

When we left a short time later, we had gone only a couple miles north from the restaurant on Hwy 51 when we came to a minor bit of chaos. Emergency vehicles, cars in the ditch, TV crews, snapped off trees, and the twisted remains of a pretty big metal highway sign. Had we left the restaurant when the waitress asked, guess where we would have been! Still more than 1,000 without power on north side of Wausau this morning.

But worse, Ladysmith, which is to the west of Rhinelander on U.S. 8, along the famous Flambeau River, got nailed hard -- 4 blocks smashed by a twister from the same storm that came our way . In a small north woods town, 4 blocks is a lot of town to get smashed. So far, it appears about 5 tornadoes came down across our region. No reported fatalities, but some serious injuries in Ladysmith.

Not a Labor Day to be out in a tent.”

“"or we could stay and if a funnel showed itself, we could join the staff in the beer cooler. Reino and I thought the latter option made perfect sense and continued eating."

Good choice.”

“Where do I get a beer cooler and why has Wisconsin become so interesting?”

“I second what chili said!”

“I`m glad you`re alright and I hate it for those that weren`t as lucky as you were. Tornados are a fact of life here and no one where I live hasn`t been touched by them in some way directly.

I live in one of those small towns like you described and everyone here has lost friends, or loved-ones and property to the many twisters that seem to haunt us twice a year and for days and weeks at a time, sometimes.

It`s a wonder more people aren`t killed in them than there are. A tornado`s natures furry, run-amuck!”

“Glad everything worked out, pekka. I hope your family and loved ones in the surrounding areas are all OK.”

“My brother-in-law and wife moved to the Laysmith area about 6 weeks ago! News reports say much of the downtown area is heavily damaged. They live outside of town. Still waiting to hear from them seeing power is out.”

“Let that be a lesson to us all. When given a choice, always stick with beer. :)

Glad to hear all is A-OK, Pekka, and good to hear from you! Going to be back in MI anytime soon?”

“Hey there, Smiley Girl. Going to be in Traverse City the end of October for a H.S. reunion event -- rather than celebrate graduation anniversary in the home town, going to celebrate that we've hit 50 years old, and do it at a comfortable resort. Seems very boomerish, but looking forward to seeing old friends.

On the weather front, it is absolutely gorgeous in the North Woods today - 70s and sunny. Hard to imagine tornadoes on a day like this.”