That's why I was worried about you. I kept thinking of all your grand and majestic trees and about how dry they are in that part of the state. We had fire here similar to what you saw in MWC and Purcell in the droughts of 2005-2006 and 2008-2009. At some fires in Love County in 2008-2009, the emergency personnel at the scene of some large fires described the large, wind-driven fire as "rolling over the tops of the trees". It was an incredible and terrifying sight and I thought it was a very accurate description. In 2005-2006, it was so dry here in our county that even the underground tree roots and humus in the soil burned, and sometimes they burned for days. The highest Keetch-Byram Drought Index I remember in 2008-09 was a little under 700 and I think we were only in Extreme Drought. In 2005-06, I think it was higher and we were in Exceptional drought but I don't remember the highest KBDI. In much of central Oklahoma, the Keetch-Byram Drought Index is rapidly approaching the 600s and the kinds of underground burning we had in 2005-2006 usually occurs once the KBDI is in the 600-800 range. Wind, however, can change the equation considerably. I've seen really bad wind-driven fires even with relative moderate KBDIs. We've lost homes to wind-driven wildfires when the KBDI was in the lower 500s, and we likely could have stopped those fires from reaching the homes in that kind of drought had the wind not been so persistently strong. Sunday is looking especially dangerous at this point in time, but it is still a few days out and the forecasts this far in advance are still kind of 'iffy'. I'm hoping they change for the better before Sunday gets here.

I have one of the same breed. She is 19 and moved back home after leaving her husband of 2 years about 5 months ago. She has my grandson that will be 2 in January 2011. Same here. I have been screamed at, cursed and threatened in my own home until I am sick of it. She started seeing someone immediately after leaving her husband who was much less than desirable. I was unable to drive for a while due to illness. Every night after putting the baby to bed she was out the door until the wee hours of the morning and on the weekends when the baby was with his daddy, she came home only to shower and leave again, which I saw as a blessing. Things are constantly going missing the most valuable being a stainless steel watch, a gift from the president of my company. My home is in constant uproar. Do not ask her the simplest of questions or it leads to a 30 minute screaming fest. Do not ask her to clean up after herself and the baby in any place other than the room they sleep in. My kitchen is a disaster. The cabinets where my dishes belong are empty and the same goes for my glasses and silverware. I have not slept in my own bed in over a week because I have chosen to work and then leave and stay with a friend. This morning she woke up cursing and screaming at the top of her lungs to one of her friends about what a b*&!h I am for asking why she had taken something out of the fridge and hadn't put it back. When she first came back home she was my daughter. I have no idea who she is now. I have managed to get her back with her husband and for the last week she has been going to be gone every time she throws a fit. She keeps my grandson in the bedroom most of the day. He can't be eating a healthy diet even though there is a full pantry here. She worked for me 2 days a week until I realized that all of the money she was making was going in the pocket of the boyfriend. She is paying nothing to live here. She would get paid on Friday and couldn't put gas in her car on Monday. I also found out that the "boyfriend" was drug addicted and had a 21 count felony record at the age of 27. With her personality change, I cannot help but believe that my clean and healthy daughter got involved herself. There are times that I just cry because my grandson is treated so harshly and there are times that I confront her because I just can't stand her mouth any longer. I was threatened with calling the police this morning to get me under control. My next step was a call to the captain of my local PD. I too have been drained. I feel it more everyday. The 19 year old girl who sleeps in my daughter's old room is now a stranger to me and I want her out of my home. I to worry constantly about the treatment of my grandson. I have come to the conclusion that hopefully with the husband being back in her life that he can control the situation better. I know that beautiful baby boy is the center of his world as he should be. My beau is very adamant that he will not tolerate her abusive attitude toward me and has offered to handle the situation of he is ever here when it blows up. I cherish the days of peace and tranquility in my home and long for their return as quickly as possible. They are making arrangements to move into an apartment locally with some friends of theirs. I know in my heart the the arrangement won't last because of my daughter's mouth and abusive attitude. I never thought I would feel this way about one of my children as much as I love the 4 of them, but she has successfully managed to put the words, "I want her out of my house", on my lips and in my heart. I will be changing the locks on my house and there will not be an open door a second time I can assure you of that. I went through more than enough struggle and stress to raise the 4 of them as a single parent. I have given 33 years of my life away to taking care of them and providing a 2 income household on one salary. She is the youngest of the 4. My son's have grown into wonderful men, husbands and fathers. I had only wished as much for my daughter. I really do not believe God will think harshly of me for standing my ground in this and taking the rest of my life back to have peace for myself. I pray all is well with you and yours. I to apologize for being so long winded.

Yes I am in Houston. Haven't talked to my neighbor across the street yet... thus, don't know how my neighborhood fared. I am so glad, I left when I did. Raven, there was/is absolutely no time. Got here around 4 PM, had to ride to Jenn's house (she was still at work) and will leave riding north at 7:00 AM. I didn't get off from work officially till Friday at 1:30, but called in sick and left at 7:10 AM, to get here. If anyone wants to read along my adventure, click below. Moni Here is a link that might be useful: riding across Texas and half of Oklahoma

If he won't step up, you will either live with this, or you will leave. Remember that pointing out a child's deficiencies will only make the parent defensive. Asking a child how many date nights she wants with her dad is inappropriate. A child should not get any "date nights". There should be father-daughter time, but to put her time as equal to your time is damaging. They are equally important, but not the same at all. She doesn't like the relationship you have with your daughter because she wants a good relationship with her mom. "I think I should get my dad to myself EVERY night." Have you said to her that you understand her feelings? Here's an example of what I'm talking about. My SD and I went to the beach with her dad this weekend. She and I went to the water because he's not the water-person I am. She was afraid. We stood at the water's edge for FOREVER. Finally she said that she's "used to" her mom and her mom telling her it would be all right, etc. She said "if you were my mom, I'd believe you". I looked right at her and said, "sweetie, I'm not your Mama. We don't have that history or trust built up. I can't tell you the same words and have you believe them just like your mama would." I said "honey, if you were my daughter, I'd throw you under my arm and take you out to the waves, (that's what I do with my dd) but you're not. So we're just going to have to get through this the best we can, and we can stand here as long as you like." She got it. I'm not a replacement, but I will not be made to feel bad because I don't have the history with her. We're here at square one. Now what. Now someone makes a move. But she is not going to control my life. I am the adult. I respect her as a child under my care, as my DH's daughter. I made it clear I will protect her, that I want to know her, and that we are a family. But the family starts with me and DH. We are the trees, and they get to enjoy the shade.