Toto - I think we are back in Kansas

While I anticipated with pleasure the high mountain desert climate of Denver I did not realize that meant that I would shed my skin like a snake every few weeks.   It is still better than feeling like a wet sponge in the middle of August in New York.

Perhaps more humorous was a cultural shock that I really was unprepared to experience.   Around mid-day I heard a siren blast with one long shrill tone.    While I did not remember hearing this before I figured it was a daily test of the siren at high noon.    But then I checked the clock and saw that it was after 1 pm?

Before I could ask Rachel for some input on this puzzle the TV show Marissa was watching was interrupted with words I have not heard since I was a kid:  "This is the Emergency Broadcast System".

Of course I had only heard those words at the end of the broadcast day (which I don't think exists anymore) with the familiar and politically incorrect Indian head and bulls eye.  (Why the Indian?  Does this mean we should circle the wagons?)

It would start out with the same "This is the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS)" but would continue with 'This is just  test.  If this were a real emergency you would be given instructions....blah blah blah'.   

I always associated the EBS with the nuclear threat and the Cuban missile crisis.   For a moment I thought we were under attack.   But before I could completely process this shocking news we were informed that Denver and the surrounding counties were under a 'tornado warning alert' until 2:45 p.m.

While I decided this was a much better alternative than the end of the human race I did know what to do if there was a nuclear attack (head for a fallout shelter and pray) but had no clue what to do if under the threat of a tornado attack.

Fortunately, with internet access, I was able to go the weather channel web site and get the technical definition for 'tornado warning' versus 'tornado watch' and what to do in case of either situation.   Of course the only situations it covered were single family wooden structures, schools, and mobile homes.   Nothing for apartment dwellers on the 23rd floor.  

I figured at least we would be the first to spot one.  Thus I spent about 10 minutes on the balcony in 'tornado spotting mode' but quickly determined that our western exposure was useless in this situation.   Apparently 'tornado alley' is toward the eastern plains.    But I felt like I had done my part and was no longer a naive New Yorker and one step closer to discovering my western roots.