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Conversation with a Hungry Chaser

Joined
Aug 16, 2009
Messages
814
Location
Amarillo, TX
This thread really isn't meant to be much other than just writing my thoughts down. Maybe we can use it as a sort of "Random Discussion" Thread.

I think we're all in the same boat right now. Its been a while since a good setup has rolled across the models. And here we are about to approach the Fall season and we're on the brink of having the lowest annual tornado count since 2002. And may I just say, I'm STARVING for an El Nino year. Oh sure, there's some people that have done well since 2010. Hell if you chased the right storm this year, it should've been a very fruitful and generous year. Not I, though. I've wrapped up this year with 4 tors under my belt. Only 2 being somewhat "photogenic".

When I started chasing in 2008, I had no clue where I wanted to go with this hobby. Around that time several names were making big money doing this. Now it seems those people have become vilified for their need of destruction and dealing with the greasy industry of the media to put food on their own tables. And what do I think of that? Meh...to each their own. I certainly never thought I'd be riding a gravy train by selling my stuff. I never thought that would be possible. I didn't have anything when I started. In fact, my first 2 years of chasing were completely horrible. I went nil on my count in 2008, and actually ended up totaling my pickup when driving to a setup. The next year I somehow managed 4 tors, but lost my job cause I just couldn't leave these meager setups in KS/MO. I'm grateful for those who took me under their wings when I started. Specifically Steve Polley, Corey Sloan, and Chris Rice. I'm sure we all have a similar story of what actually pushed us to hatch from our little protective shells of local spotting.

Now that I've got a few years under my belt, I think I do know where I'm going with this. I'm going around the country. I want to see new land, new people, and of course, new storms. I'm glad to be a part of Storm Assist, which helps me help others in a field where it needs help. Although sorry guys, I didn't get crap this year in terms of footage. But I'll do what I can.

I'm in a new house, and have a wonderful girlfriend who joins my passion for chasing. I've scared the crap outta her a couple times, but she enjoys it. If there's any chaser that desperately needs a place to crash for a setup, we do have an extra bedroom. My door's open to chasers all the time. Cause I know there's some of us that barely have the money to head out. And sleeping in your car is usually uncomfortable. Anyways, random thoughts, I know. But this ridging pattern is so bloody boring.
 
I'm thinking it could also be RBS, or Rex Block Syndrome. I'm in dire need of trough therapy and a heeping dose of moisture.
 
The biggest problem this season was how most of the primary events occurred in situations that were very challenging for chasing. Yes, there were the Rozel and Bennington days, but if you botched up those days, like I did, most everything else involved cities and/or trees and/or low visibility...and there wasn't one big outbreak day along the lines of a 4/14/12...so that made it tough. But it's in the past now. Water under the bridge. 2014 will be here soon enough...for me, it cant go much worse than this year did.
 
Trying to keep cool about tomorrow. You know how it goes; deprived for a few months and the first marginal setup and you're chomping at it like a starving dog with a t-bone steak in front of ya. It is hard to get back into that mode in your head.
 
Catching up on some old threads... Hope people are still following.

2013 was particularly frustrating for me. While it may have been a low volume tornado year overall, there were plenty of memorable events, albeit within a very short window. You really couldn't ask for a better stretch than 5/18/13 through 5/31/13. I had my two week chase vacation for exactly that window, yet still managed to screw up every opportunity presented - starting with 5/18/13 and ending with a regretful decision to fly back home, instead of chase, on the morning of 5/31/13. And I've been chasing since 1996! I won't detail my 2013 failures here; you can check them out on the "chase wall of shame" thread. Nobody is looking forward to redemption in 2014 more than me!
 
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