Strike!
After a pretty nasty thunderstorm, a tree in our front yard was struck by lightning which sent a surge of power through our house. Luckily, the only damage to the tree is seen in some of the roots – there are a couple which are completely bare of bark and the force of the lightning left a nice dirt trench surrounding the area.
Of course, we were in a hurry to head out of the house so I was spending some of my last few minutes on-line checking my e-mails. I actually receive a very light shock in my finger which was on the keyboard at the moment of lightning impact. My husband Joe, who was standing in the middle of the family room, could actually feel the electricity through the floor. Luckily, we all came through unscathed and my laptop was spared. My power adapter wasn’t so fortunate and I am now working on my laptop with a borrowed power adapter from my neighbor. We also have sporadic internet access, since we think the modem was affected. So, I will probably won’t be spending too much time on the internet this week. Let’s just hope that Dell is quick in delivering my new adapter! I think I’m having blog withdrawal!
Stephanie's Written Word 
Yikes!!
I am glad noone was seriously hurt, or seriously damaged!
Storms have been horrid this summer. I am not liking it.
Yikes Stephanie! I was driving to work in the middle of a huge thunder and lightening storm yesterday–I’ve never seen lightening like that before. It was so blindingly bright–it was like bombs going off! So glad that you are all okay.
Holy Cow – glad you only received a little zap – that’s freaky. Have any unusual senses now? Psychic abilities? 😉
I second Cat, the storms this summer have been horrible.
BTW, we’ll be coming up your way soon – I’ll email you with particulars.
wow, what are the chances of that? We often have lightening storms and it feels like they’re right over the house, but nothing’s every hit yet! Glad no one was hurt- well, except the poor tree! Do you suppose it’s been moderately injured?
Oh wow… I think I would have freaked out a bit. Glad you guys are all ok!
Lightning strike strips a root bare? Yow. That’s pretty freaky.
Glad everyone’s okay. I’ve been scared of thunderstorms since the summer I canvassed for the Sierra Club and it was storming and there was bright light about two feet in front of me and then there was a black scorch mark and the road was steaming. Scary stuff that lightning.
Glad you are ok. Thunderstorms make me very leary of anything since I was in a severe one that resulted in a Tornado when I was young. Scared me for life it did. 🙂
How scary! Glad you guys are okay. Here in California we don’t get storms often, but when we do it seems like the end of the world with flooding and sink holes. etc. Especially not fun when your internet access is affected.
Wendy – Yep, that was the storm! You should stop on by to check out my tree!
Tammy – got your e-mail and can’t wait to see you!
Jeanne – It looks like only a few of the roots were damaged – the tree itself is a huge (maple or oak – I can’t remember) and I think it will survive.
Everybody – I’m working on battery power right now and am hoping to get that adapter soon! Thanks for all the comments – I sure am glad we were inside when the lightning struck!
I’m so glad you’re okay! My husband was stuck in Newark for hours on Monday due to bad weather. We haven’t had a storm here in months and months. I’d love to have a rain storm.
What an amazing photo you included! Glad to hear you and the family are ok.
How scary! We don’t have thunderstorms here in the Pacific Northwest. I miss them but not THAT much. 🙂 I’m glad to hear you are OK. I would have been doing the same thing!
That was scary! I’m glad everyone at home are ok!
OMG! Glad to hear it didn’t damage your house or you and family.
Thank goodness you’re all ok!! We get so many storms here during the summer, I’ve gotten in the habit of unplugging my computer at night, just in case. Not sure what I’d do if I were actually on line and felt the surge through the keyboard! Probably wet my pants!!
What an amazing photo of the oak tree, did you take it yourself? Or do you know who did?