What? - Nothing about trailer courts? I don't think I'm in Kansas anymore. I score this one an F5.

Johnny-do they have many tornados in Taxachussetts?

Thank you, Guy and Royce.

Royce, an average of about a half dozen or so tornadoes touch down each year somewhere in New England - and since they tend to be rare up north, and since Rhode Island is so tiny, that means Connecticut and Massachusetts bear the brunt of this manifestation of nature's fury.

I'm a big Tornado geek, so I enjoyed this. Regional difficulties aside... about 99.9% of Tornadoes strike in the evening. But i won't hold it against you.

Thanks Leah! Well....maybe a fraction of that 99.9 % strike at 12:01 AM, hmm? rumble rumble rumble rumble

There is one tornado I will never forget: the Xenia, Ohio tornado of April 3 1974. Only 32 people were killed and our electric was out for two days

Thank goodness you were unharmed, Tim. Like Leah, I am also a tornado geek, and more generally a meteorology geek - before I dropped out of M.I.T., I was taking undergraduate coursework that would prepare me for graduate study in meteorology. But I blew that off.

Anyway....I've never suffered through the terror of a tornado directly myself, but I have had two close encounters: (1) Once while working late at night at a programming job north of Boston, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for my exact location - I took shelter in the men's room (inner room, walls reinforced with pipes), but no tornado occurred - I think it was rotation observed on Doppler, and since it was night, it would have been tough to spot the funnel until it was too close for comfort; (2) Several years ago, my wife and I were vacationing on North Carolina's Outer Banks, and we watched waterspouts - tornadoes forming over water - form, dip down, go back up, and form again over the sound. They were far enough away that I wasn't scared, only fascinated. One of my older brothers actually wants to accompany storm chasers to see what it's like to chase and get close to a tornado - no thanks!

Tim, quick correction to my tornado story in my previous comment - the National Weather Service's warning wasn't for my "exact" location when I was working late that night, but for the county and/or town I was in .... but still, knowing how unpredictable tornadoes can be, that was still too close for comfort !

I, for one, hate tornadoes. We live in tornado alley, and in springtime, I always keep emergengy stuff, (radio, flashlight, etc.) handy and breathe somewhat of a sigh of relief when spring is over. I don't know whether to shake over this subject or laugh at your comment, Johnny...'before I dropped out of M.I.T., I was taking undergraduate coursework that would prepare me for graduate study in meteorology. But I blew that off'. lol You really get 5's on this one. (Btw, no other weather scares me) shudder!

Thank you, Adagio.

That blew me away!

Thanks, Diva...... 6 commentators, 5 votes......good people, kindly inspect your chads - thank you all !

That was my dangling chad, sorry. I'm a Floridian.

No problem, Diva - thanks very much !

Johnny D - Never had to deal with a tornado, for which I am most glad. Been in Southern California area since 1959. Earthquakes, yes, a few. Just got back from our last department xmas party a little while ago, it was a blast, lotta good vibes and a lotta fun. Good parody. You don't have to wonder what you scored. Dude!!! you are AUTOMATIC now. Have you had anything OTHER than "5-5-5" this month yet? I probably haven't read half of the ones you've posted and some I looked at I did not know the original but everything has been top stuff. Well, gotta go, I did 3 parodies at the party and all the adrenaline and nerves & sugar are now worn off...zzzzzzzz. tomorrow.

Thank you, Paul. Sounds like you had fun at the party - which of your parodies did you perform?

I wanted to drop out of my current program and become a meteorologist! But then found out it was like, 6 years of school. So I settle for weather channel specials. I don't enjoy watching people get hurt, lose property, or even become scared... I just think storms are amazing.

Same here, Leah - I wouldn't wish the terror and destruction of a tornado on anybody - but I admit that I find them utterly fascinating and scientifically sublime.

Johnny D - Originally my carpool partner Larry and I were going to do "Bong Time Coming", based on CSN's "Long Time Coming" but I couldn't follow the music (he plays violin) except for the part behind "appears to be a long" etc., so instead we did one I haven't posted here because the references are too specific to what we do. It's based on Glen Campbell's version of "Wichita Lineman" and it's called "The Wichita Phone Rep". Wichita is the company's other support location and they are getting our jobs. I originally wrote one called "The Tax Support Phone Rep" after my first season here and I just modified that one for the different situation. Then I did " "The Morons and Lilian" ('cuz I wrote that especially for Lilian (one "l") Iverson, my supervisor here, who really is great and is probably getting screwed worse than anybody else but is still doing her job.) It can't be much fun to have to go around and give people their termination letters even though they know it's coming. I think she felt worse than I did when she came over here. Anyway, after the party she asked if I would come over some night and play the CD and teach her husband (he sings and does karaoke) the song. And then I did "Litter Green", my parody of Gordon Lightfoot's "Bitter Green", since she has a cat, and of course, a cat box. It was a gas. I'm glad I'm going out on a good note (well, SOME of the notes were good. I really can't make it through "Litter Green" without breaking up in the middle of a couple of the verses. Plus the original is so ingrained in my head that it is difficult to not lapse into those words.) Food was great and a couple of folks who were working here when I first started came by too. Everyone had a real good time. Thanks for asking.