Lessons I learned today. (read till the end)

[NateNLogansDad]

1. No matter what the end date is on a photography scavenger hunt, the day after it's overyou will see so many things you could have used for it.

2. Your pictures should be backed up, on a removable media, in somewhere else other than your home.

3. On a personal note, when the stuff hit the fan and things are happening so fast that there is no time to think at all, I will still grab my camera to record it.

4. Keep your cell phone 100% charged. You just never know when you will need all of it. Even if you aren't going somewhere there may be a time where people may need to contact you just to make sure you are OK. A dead cell phone may give other people the wrong idea.

5. I am totally lost without my laptop bag. Inside there is a charger for my laptop, a charger for my phone, a power inverter, GPS, busy work, and usually a snack or two.

6. No matter what, when you are done using your SD card, PUT IT BACK IN THE CAMERA.


Here's how my morning went.

Around 1pm I was sitting around with the boys watching WDW video's on youtube. Just about a block from my house, there is a welding supply place that also is a pretty large supplier of propane. Within 30 minutes or so there was over 50 explosions. Tina was out at a job interview and I had the kids for a few hrs before work. I got the kids outside getting in the car and I grabbed the 2 dogs and my camera bag I had sitting next to me. Everybody was in their cars trying to get away so I had to wait a sec. I leaned out the window to snap a few pictures of yet another explosion with a fireball in the air, and guess what.......rule #6 was strictly adopted from now on. No camera card means no pictures
We were out of there in seconds but my cell wasn't charged up all that much. Bunkered down with my mom till we were allowed back home. Now I'm at work with no pictures but everyone got out safely. Hey, at least we can see it on the news right?

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/gallery?section=news/local&id=7644086&photo=1

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7644038

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/feature?section=news/local&id=7644340

 

[pednurse]

WOW. Glad you are all OK! And #3.....so true!

 

[Marlton Mom]

I'm glad you weren't blown over to the Jersey side of things. That story was big news around these parts.

Maybe it's better that you didn't get any pictures and just got out. I hope the boys weren't too scared

Glad to hear you all are safe!

Marlton Mom

 

[ColleenG]

Glad to hear you got ok and hope there was no damage to your home.

 

[JoeDif]

I was watching on the news....scary stuff. I've got family in Glenolden so I was worried there for awhile

Glad you and the kids are ok!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

That looks pretty scary with all the thick black smoke and fire! Glad you got out safely!

 

[mom2rtk]

WOW! That's pretty scary even for adults. I hope the kids weren't too spooked!

Good instincts grabbing the camera. I bet next time you grab it for something, there will be a memory card in it! I've gotten lazy about putting mine back. I think I need to go back to keeping a spare in my purse... you've just give me the push to do that.

I'm glad all is well!

 

[omghidanielle]

I know a lot of people who live in your neighborhood! We were talking about that at work today, totally scary! But lots of room for King of the Hill references. (not that it's funny, but when I hear propane, I think Hank Hill)

I'm glad everyone is OK!

 

[PrincessInOz]

I'm glad that you and the family are all safe and sound. But what sort of excuses are these??? Where are the photographs?

1. No matter what the end date is on a photography scavenger hunt, the day after it's overyou will see so many things you could have used for it.

2. Your pictures should be backed up, on a removable media, in somewhere else other than your home.

3. On a personal note, when the stuff hit the fan and things are happening so fast that there is no time to think at all, I will still grab my camera to record it.

4. Keep your cell phone 100% charged. You just never know when you will need all of it. Even if you aren't going somewhere there may be a time where people may need to contact you just to make sure you are OK. A dead cell phone may give other people the wrong idea.

5. I am totally lost without my laptop bag. Inside there is a charger for my laptop, a charger for my phone, a power inverter, GPS, busy work, and usually a snack or two.

6. No matter what, when you are done using your SD card, PUT IT BACK IN THE CAMERA.

p.s. I know if you realise this but the scavenger hunt is over; although this would have made the perfect EMERGENCY! And I'll assume you missed the Fire Ladder EXTENDED as well!!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Yep firetrucks with extended ladders, emergency, I even walked past a ladies house with all these different flowers out and thought to myself "there's probably 5 points right there"

The kids are still a little shaken and I'll admit I am a little bit myself too, but we are OK and that's what matters. I just can't believe I didn't have that SD card!!!!!! Eventually I'll stop kicking myself.....eventually.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Quick side note, a freind just sent ma a link from the Delco times. They interviewed a few people near there with their reaction and I'm on it

During the interview I still had my camera bag on my shoulder......that should redeem me a little right?

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I know a lot of people who live in your neighborhood! We were talking about that at work today, totally scary! But lots of room for King of the Hill references. (not that it's funny, but when I hear propane, I think Hank Hill)

I'm glad everyone is OK!

You have no idea how bad I needed that

There's a bad wreck down the street from me right now and my friend is stuck in traffic looking at it. He's describing what he is seeing and it's not good at all. Seems like a crazy day but at least I got one good laugh. Thank You!

Real quick, can you picture HAnk Hill walking out the front door and seeing one of the fireballs and saying "What the he11?"

 

[hjd0411]

So glad you and the boys are OK! What a day you have had!

Hopefully tomorrow will be better...

 

[Twigs]

Glad you are all OK!!

 

[tazdev3225]

I heard about the explosion on the news and didn't pay much attention. I'm glad you and the boys are OK.

I second the always remember to have a card in the camera. I had several shots this summer that were without my camera card. I learned that lesson.

 

[AlbertZeroK]

A good reason to keep spare cards in your camera bag. Even if it's a cheap no-name card!

you forgot

7. Keep Helicopter in back yard gassed up.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I should look into a helicopter......just behind where that happened there's also a place that sells oxygen and setaline. I think if that place went down though, even the helicopter wouldn't help.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

As I was reading your post, I looked down at my desk and noticed four 8gb sd cards sitting there. Both DSLR's were in their respective bags without a card in the camera. I immediately stopped reading, grabbed the cameras, re-formatted the cards, and re-established my baseline settings on each camera! I guess I tend to get lazy sometimes!! Thanks for getting me re-motivated.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

My pleasure!

 

[omghidanielle]

You have no idea how bad I needed that

There's a bad wreck down the street from me right now and my friend is stuck in traffic looking at it. He's describing what he is seeing and it's not good at all. Seems like a crazy day but at least I got one good laugh. Thank You!

Real quick, can you picture HAnk Hill walking out the front door and seeing one of the fireballs and saying "What the he11?"

I'm just glad you got the joke!

The woman who was telling me about it lives in Glenolden, and she couldn't remember what type of place it was that was on fire, and she said something along the lines of "You know...they sell that stuff for the grill?" and my response was "Oh! You mean propane and propane accessories?" and I was the only person who laughed.

That's right

laughed at my own joke

which no one understood