So, Friday was interesting. I made the trip to Conway for the Donald Maas workgroup (an hour and a half one way!). All the ladies were very nice. One I already knew from the Diamond State Romance Authors.

We were getting to know each other and talking about the story we want to use while we go through the Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook, when I look through the plate glass window and see a trampoline go flying by.

I must have said something like, “Well, that’s not something you see every day.” The women turned to the window and started making noise about how nasty it was outside. When more large objects got hurled through the air I said, “Let’s get behind the wall.”

Yeah, there was a tornado in the neighborhood. And we never got the siren or saw a funnel—just wind so strong it turned deck umbrellas inside out and bent them sideways, sent trash cans sliding down the street, and flattened large sections of privacy fence. The rain came at us sideways, and for a few moments even seemed to curve upwards.

When it was over, so was the meeting. There was just too much excitement to get back to work. Then I went out to my car and had a nasty surprise. A large section of shingle from a neaby roof had gotten wedged under my car, and the gritty side flapped against it. The side that faced the wind was covered with pits and tiny, hair-like scratches. I’m bummed because my deductible is pretty high, but whatcha gonna do?

I know what I’m gonna do—write another story to pay for the paint job.