Re: Lightning (was Re: Weathe   
     By: Daryl Stout to Damon A. Getsman on Sat Oct 31 2015 18:34:00   
      
    DS>  Unfortunately, with the law of entropy, sooner or later, in this life,   
    DS> everyone and everything is doomed to failure.   
      
     Very true.  I try not to focus on that too much right now.  I've had plenty   
   of opportunities to learn that it's true already.  I'm just trying to learn to   
   be more consciencious about living each moment as though it might be my last...   
   This while not focusing on the grim horror that comes with this meat reality.    
   Thoughts of losing myself don't hurt me.  Thoughts of losing people that I   
   love, or even knowing that bad things may happen to them, stress me out way too   
   much.  Especially after the multi-year stretch of terrible luck that I've had.    
   I saw a joke on TV the other day on some comedy show where the character   
   commented that his bad stretch had been a year, and it was funny strictly   
   because it had been so long.  So where does that put me at this point?  Heh.   
       
    DS>  I'm ignoring the "upgrade to Windows 10" option on the main BBS   
    DS>  computer. I'm happy with Windows 7 32-bit, and have everything working   
    DS>  the way I want it. The original BBS computer wouldn't boot up in April,   
    DS>  and I haven't powered it up since then. I'm seriously considering   
    DS>  donating it to the local shop for parts. The other 2 laptops I have have   
    DS>  Windows XP Service Pack 3 on one of them, with the MagicJack (tm) line I   
    DS>  use for voice mail...and Windows Vista Home Basic, with the MagicJack   
    DS>  Plus (tm) on it that I use with a Us Robotics modem for faxes. I had   
    DS>  bought a used laptop from a fellow Sysop, with Windows 7 on it, but the   
    DS>  power adapter kept heating help too quickly. So, I'm just using that one   
    DS>  in an emergency.   
      
     I would be ignoring that, as well.  Seven performed wonderfully whenever I   
   used it on machines with enough resources.  The main things that I've heard   
   about versions since then that I haven't liked are how much data it sends back   
   on user activities.  I know that you can avoid portions of that by refusing   
   certain patches and the like, but it's just evil software, if you ask me.  I   
   like XP a lot; it's a shame that it's not kept up any more.   
      
    DS>  Both of my strikes were indirect...at 3 and 16 years of age...but I   
    DS> still got the severe shock...and both were in south Florida.   
      
     Ouch.  I took my OSHA tests, I've seen some examples on film of horrifying   
   electrical encounters.   
      
    DS>  Lightning hit the tree, and it engulfed the house "in a red glow of   
    DS> fire", although the house itself did not catch fire. I had my hands on   
    DS> the metal frame of the window, and moisture had condensed around it.   
    DS> When the strike occurred, the surge, the metal, and the moisture gave me   
    DS> a severe shock. I started screaming bloody murder, and for 10 years   
    DS> afterward, you couldn't take a flash picture of me, as I'd scream in   
    DS> terror from the "flash back"...no pun intended.   
      
     That's intense.  Sounds like maybe a bit of PTSD from it, as well.  I've got   
   some from some previous traumas that I've been through in my life, as well.  I   
   don't know how well they're really worked over at this point, though.  I hope   
   you've been able to make some good progress with the flash horror, if nothing   
   else.   
      
    DS>  I closed the garage door, to change out of my wet clothes...and just as   
    DS> I put my wet hand on the washing machine to steady myself, lightning hit   
    DS> the house again.   
      
     That's incredible.  You're a pretty lucky man, it appears.   
      
    DS>  I took a CPR course from the local Red Cross chapter years ago, but my   
    DS> health won't let me do that anymore.   
      
     Sorry to hear that.  I've always thought that it's a great thing to know,   
   with the tenuous mortality that we have on this planet.  I definitely respect   
   anybody who has ever taken the time to learn such a skill.   
      
    DS>   I might have to consider that as a tagline.    
      
     Hehe.  I'm glad you approve.  I couldn't help but giggle to myself a bit as I   
   thought of it, either.  ;)   
     Take care.   
      
     -D   
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