My old PC is working (and I am using it now) and I got a replacement router and just finished setting it up so I could tell you folks about the fun times at Casa Treydog.

Next thunderstorm, I will go around the house unplugging things....

So Tuesday night, Mrs.Treydog and I were sitting in the den reading. We were reading instead of Netflixing because there was a thunder storm rolling through and we always turn off the TV and computers during the boomers.

About 7:30, there were 3 loud "pops" and a pinkish/yellow sphere flashed near the ceiling of the room (about 5 feet away from us) and then there was a loud "boom" right over the house. The power didn't go out, so we thought we were okay (if a bit shaken). But then, we started checking things....

Central air- dead. Cable TV box- dead. Cable modem and Internet router- dead. Mrs. Treydog's computer- dead. TV set- dead. PS4- dead. My computer- flaky, but possibly recoverable.

Good news- no attic fire or fried people (2- or 4-footed). In fact, Rico (the grey and white clown kitteh) slept through the whole thing on the back of the couch in the room where the fireworks occurred.

First time in my (mumble mumble) years I have seen ball lightning, and I hope it is the last.

My old PC is working (and I am using it now) and I got a replacement router and just finished setting it up so I could tell you folks about the fun times at Casa Treydog.

Next thunderstorm, I will go around the house unplugging things....

Holy smokes Treydog, that was quite an event. Best I recall, the worst that happened to me is lightning taking out a motherboard, video card and one other component in a long-ago computer. I had it unplugged at the time. However, I didn't think to disconnect the (dial-up) modem. That's how it fried my computer. Oddly, the modem was okay. Go figure. Glad you guys are okay!

(Well, I suppose the worst storm event was a 1998 hailstorm that totaled my entire roof, two walls of vinyl siding, and my car. Like your pet, I slept through it, and that was back when my hearing was still adequate. My parents once survived a tornado that totaled their home by hiding between their bed and what turned out to be the only corner of the house that remained standing, though it too collapsed a few hours later.)

Huh. There was a little hickup with the server. Nothing serious. It's fixed now.

Was only down for little over a day but, man, Khajiit missed you guys!

Many thanks to Stargelman for keeping this site going. I don't know what we would do without it . . .

I've been sick since Wednesday night - mold. Would have been better by now if it hadn't been for the HEAT WAVE we are currently undergoing - 95 degrees for three days in a row, combined with a very high allergen count (yeah, I'm allergic to lots of things, but especially blooming trees and mold) and a high ozone rating.

Had to leave work early Saturday, and had to call out yesterday and again today. The problem is, I'm sick in just those areas that require me to be at my best - hearing is shot, and I find it difficult to focus when people are talking to me. Speech reading is hard enough, but this just puts me over the edge. Ugh. I hate doing this to my teammates at work but . . .

So if you see me online in Tamriel (ESO players), bump me and say hi - I need some cheering up!

Khajiit wonders if people really are sitting around watching that. It’s mostly a blank screen and occasionally someone wanders by.