More tornado damage pictures

Here are some more pictures of damage caused by Thursday's tornados. The big building is the arena on the Buffalo County Fairgrounds.

Tornado damage

According to the news, we actually had three tornados touch down yesterday. People are working incredibly hard all over town, cleaning up the mess. Here's some of the pictures I took.

We had a tornado this afternoon in Kearney, Nebraska

It moved through between 4:30 and 5:30. No injuries, but quite a bit of damage. At the hospital, an annex building on the grounds had a corner of it's roof collapsed, there's tree branches and limbs down all over the place, an apartment complex about 25 blocks from here took a major hit and the arena at the fairgrounds, just up the street from where we live was destroyed. The two major roads heading East, Highway 30 and I-80 are both closed because of downed power lines.

Before the tornado hit, Kim sent me home to take care of Snoopy and Smoke, while she stayed here with Jimmy. At our house, we had lots of rain and heavy winds. The only damage was the flimsy mailbox in front of our house getting knocked off it's pole. After the winds died down, I made sure the dogs were hunkered down safe and sound and came back to the hospital to be with Kim and Jimmy. I had to be a major asshole to get the dweebs in the lobby to get someone to escort me upstairs, where I found my family safe and sound. Kim was greatly relieved to see me. Jimmy? Well, he slept through the whole thing.

So, that's it from here. We are all safe and sound.

Daddy feeds Jimmy

Being a Daddy sure is fun!

Jimmy is doing very well. He's been getting lots of rest, lots of cuddle time and is bonding with us very well. It was worth the wait!

Presenting....

....James Harper Meissner, born in Kearney, Nebraska on May 27th at 7:15p.m. CDT. He weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 20 3/4 inches long. Jimmy and his parents are doing fine.

You can see his pictures at: http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn243/jimmymize/.

The big day is here at last!

We are at the hospital. Labor inducement has begun and we are praying that it works, because we want to go home with our baby!

We have set up a photo bucket account to post all our pictures. You can see them at:

http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn243/jimmymize/

We greatly appreciate your prayers. Thank you.

John, Kim, Jimmy(on the way), Snoopy and Smoke

See us on TV

This story appeared on the 10p.m. news Sunday night. Watch closely and you'll notice that Snoopy NEVER takes his eyes off the camera! Smoke does a good job putting on a show. Silly boys!

http://www.nebraska.tv/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?LaunchPageAdTag=News&ClipID1=2524946&h1=NTV%27s%20Giving%20Big%20Winner%20%234%3A%20Part%202&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=17033&ClipID2=2524918&h2=NTV%27s%20Giving%20Big%20Winner%20%234%3A%20Part%201&vt2=v&at2=News&d2=96134&activePane=playlist&playerVersion=1&hostPageUrl=http%3A//www.nebraska.tv/Global/story.asp%3FS%3D8378676&rnd=22804953

And doesn't my Pookie Bear look beautiful?!?!

(It looks like my tummy still sticks out further than hers. They're right....the camera does add 137 pounds!!!!)


This linky ( http://www.nebraska.tv/Global/story.asp?S=8378676 ) shows the written copy on their website.

http://www.nebraska.tv

Our angel visited us yesterday

Our local ABC affiliate, NTV, did a "Big Give" contest, where the winner has to spend the entire prize on other people. A wonderful young woman, Monica Goodell was the winner and her plan for the money was to buy baby things for expectant parents, who couldn't do so themselves. Kim, a/k/a "Pookie Bear," entered a contest at a baby store in Kearney and that was how Monica found out about us and picked us as one of the families to help. Monica got us lots of diapers and clothes, plus some toys, a photo book, baby monitor and a bassinet that Kim really wanted. We had been quite concerned about how to get some of these items, but God heard our prayers and sent us an angel named Monica to help us out.

I was so overwhelmed by it all and Kim couldn't stop saying thank you. Thank you Monica. God used you and NTV to help us. Look for a story on NTV's 10p.m. news this Sunday. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!




Monica, NTV's "Big Give" winner. I think she passed inspection.





You can NEVER have TOO MANY diapers!





Monica with more baby stuff, plus the guy from NTV arrives.





Sorting out all the "stuff."





"Ain't it cute?"





Kim assembles the bassinet.





Smoke sure is excited.





So is Snoopy.

Update time

Hello there everyone. I thought, "What better time for an update, than an absolutely boring night at work?" So, here goes.

My wife Kim and I are fine. Jimmy still hasn't arrived yet, but it's getting close. We had an OB visit yesterday and an ultrasound showed him heads down, in position and ready to go. He has dropped quite a bit in the past few days. Due date is still June 1st, but we expect he'll be here sooner than that. Well, at least we hope so anyway. Kim is well past ready to have this baby. She says "I want him in my arms, not my tummy!" Keep checking back for details please. Our dogs, Snoopy and Smoke, are also anxious for Jimmy to arrive. Snoopy takes such great care of his Mommy and Smoke loves to spend time with us all. And it looks like we have finally turned the corner with him on our housebreaking efforts. Just in time too!

For those who are wondering: I will not be back as the radio voice of the Tri-City Storm in 2008-2009. While I thoroughly enjoyed the position, the players, the travel, the coaching staff and the fans, but with the changing dynamics of my family, I had been considering other, more financially rewarding positions. I have been offered a position with an expansion team in a class A level professional league, which I have accepted. All that keeps me from officially announcing where I'm headed, is a contract to sign. So far, all indications are that it will be a job that will help me gain the experience I seek for a more fulfilling career in hockey. Quite frankly, that is not something that would ever occur with the Storm. The position of radio broadcaster in Kearney will never be anything more than a part time position. I think my frustration with that fact rubbed some people the wrong way and it was their decision not to bring me back, not mine to leave. That and the fact that it's abundantly clear that if someone is over 30, they have no future with the organization, other than in coaching/hockey operations.

Much was made about the long-term viability of the franchise with the staff changes that occured during the past season, plus those that are occuring now and may occur in the near future. The recent controversy over proposed name/logo changes created a lot of publicity, much, well most, very negative. I feel that for the franchise to survive long-term, it needs an experienced leader, who can train and manage the employees and point them in the right direction to grow the business. Whether that would include a change in ownership is not something I am qualified to answer. However, I'm not sure it is the best interest of the Storm franchise for it to continue as it is right now. That does not mean I am predicting doom and gloom for "Hockey in the Heartland," but I do feel that there are further changes that may well be necessary, to improve customer service, to not only bolster the community's confidence in the long-term viability of the franchise, but to attract new customers and new advertisers as well. I most certainly wish all involved the best of luck. I'm sorry I wasn't asked to be a part of things again, but quite frankly, I was tired of people not being honest and straightforward and it was time to leave, whether they wanted me back or not, because I was never going to be asked to be anything more than just "the radio guy." Am I bitter? No. Disapointed? Yes. I had much to offer and management chose not to take advantage of it. I wonder how much of that might be that I'm older than every other front office employee by at least 20 years?

Well, that's it for now. Thanks for your time and by all means, please keep checking back for not only Jimmy updates, but to keep in touch as well. I've made many good friends during my time in Kearney and I'd like to stay in touch with you. If you'd like to stay in touch as well, feel free to write me. Have a great spring, okay?

John, Kim, Jimmy, Snoopy and Smoke
J_Meissner@msn.com

Help support the 2008 Buffalo County Nebraska Relay for Life

Dear Family and Friends,

I’ve decided to take action against cancer by participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life® event right here in my community. Relay For Life® is about celebration, remembrance, and hope. By participating, I am honoring cancer survivors, paying tribute to the lives we've lost to the disease, and raising money to help fight it.

Please help support me in this important cause by making a donation. It is faster and easier than ever to support me by making a secure, tax-deductible donation online using the link below. If you would prefer, you can send your contribution to the mailing address listed below.

Whatever you can give will help - it all adds up! I greatly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.


Sincerely, John Meissner


To make a donation online, visit my personal page. http://main.acsevents.org/goto/johnmeissner



To send a donation, make all checks payable to:


American Cancer Society
3808 28th Avenue, Suite E
Kearney, NE 68845

PLNBUFRFL


Double Your Money Many employers offer matching funds programs. For example, if you gave a $50 donation it could turn into $100. Please inquire with your personnel/HR department to complete the paperwork required to get your gift matched. http://www.matchinggifts.com/acs/


American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network You have the opportunity to fight back against cancer year round by joining the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. For a donation of $10, you will become a part of a growing organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major public health problem. Through issue campaigns and voter education, ACS CAN works to encourage lawmakers and candidates to support laws and policies that will help people fight cancer. You CAN take action. We CAN save lives. Join CAN today, at http://www.acscan.org/site/PageServer.



Mosaic Of Hope You can also memorialize your loved one by creating a Mosaic Of Hope. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/DON/DON_2_Mosaic_of_Memories.asp?from=RFLFooter



For General Cancer Information and Patient Services Available in Your Community Please call our National Cancer Information Center at 1-800-ACS-2345 (toll-free) or login to http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp. Both resources are available 24 hours a day/7 days a week. We want to help!