Comments on: Moving On http://wx5tvs.com/blog/2008/07/12/moving-on/ Storm Chasing Adventures with David Drummond WX5TVS Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:42:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Bill Doms http://wx5tvs.com/blog/2008/07/12/moving-on/#comment-1457 Bill Doms Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:13:15 +0000 http://wx5tvs.com/blog/?p=302#comment-1457 I know the feeling. Kinda started it this year where most of the chasing was/is local to the tv station and just for fun when outside of the DMA. I think next year the plan here is just to string when I feel like it and if I get something worthwhile. A few years ago, a chasing mentor of mine, Scott Woelm, made the choice to become totally reclusive. At the time I couldn't figure out why. I do now. I'm ready to put the "whatever it takes" attitude to rest. As you pointed out, there is a lot more to life. I guess my personal identity as a chaser isn't such a big deal anymore. The passion for admiring the sky is as strong as every, but the priorities are rapidly shifting. In regards to Woelm's decision, his highlights video still shows up in my mailbox about every other year. It still contains great chase footage and images and is always one of the most detailed productions of it's kind but...over the years it has grown to include more of his interests outside of chasing. Does it mean he is loosing his interest and passion for chasing? Not at all. It shows there is more to life than living just for the next chase day. Maybe it is a look into the future? I know the feeling. Kinda started it this year where most of the chasing was/is local to the tv station and just for fun when outside of the DMA. I think next year the plan here is just to string when I feel like it and if I get something worthwhile. A few years ago, a chasing mentor of mine, Scott Woelm, made the choice to become totally reclusive. At the time I couldn’t figure out why. I do now. I’m ready to put the “whatever it takes” attitude to rest. As you pointed out, there is a lot more to life. I guess my personal identity as a chaser isn’t such a big deal anymore. The passion for admiring the sky is as strong as every, but the priorities are rapidly shifting. In regards to Woelm’s decision, his highlights video still shows up in my mailbox about every other year. It still contains great chase footage and images and is always one of the most detailed productions of it’s kind but…over the years it has grown to include more of his interests outside of chasing. Does it mean he is loosing his interest and passion for chasing? Not at all. It shows there is more to life than living just for the next chase day. Maybe it is a look into the future?

]]> By: Graham http://wx5tvs.com/blog/2008/07/12/moving-on/#comment-1456 Graham Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:25:05 +0000 http://wx5tvs.com/blog/?p=302#comment-1456 I don't blame you buddy. Thanks for your hard work and I am sure we will still have a few chases here and there. I hear ya though, I am tired of the people, I would rather go lightning chasing in the middle of BFE than deal with 200 people around a tornado.......who are just going to turn around that evening and bitch and moan about something. Envy is a bitch and its gotten the better of the chase community. Take some time for yourself, god knows you deserve it. -gb I don’t blame you buddy. Thanks for your hard work and I am sure we will still have a few chases here and there. I hear ya though, I am tired of the people, I would rather go lightning chasing in the middle of BFE than deal with 200 people around a tornado…….who are just going to turn around that evening and bitch and moan about something. Envy is a bitch and its gotten the better of the chase community.

Take some time for yourself, god knows you deserve it.

-gb

]]> By: Jay M http://wx5tvs.com/blog/2008/07/12/moving-on/#comment-1455 Jay M Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:51:20 +0000 http://wx5tvs.com/blog/?p=302#comment-1455 David, I know excatly how your feeling. I am glad to see you taking a break from the chaos. I am also getting a bit worn out about the whole "community" status thing. I miss the "old days" when you and I 1st started chasing bare bones. No internet or GPS. Just a radio, camera, and our intuition. I will say I enjoyed this year more than I have in years do to 1 fact. I was able to chase with my friends. When I and Steve carpooled and when you and he and I and Jeff chased together it was non-stop laughs. Through in Dennis and it was hysteria. It was more than storms. it was buddies enjoying it all. The "West Texas Posse" has to ride on. I am sure we will have plenty of chances. Maybe another Rita event (oh brother). I am glad we have had the chance to share all these times with many more to come. Cant wait for the SDS party and the fishing trip to Alan Henry. Have Graham get that damn boat ready!! David,

I know excatly how your feeling. I am glad to see you taking a break from the chaos. I am also getting a bit worn out about the whole “community” status thing. I miss the “old days” when you and I 1st started chasing bare bones. No internet or GPS. Just a radio, camera, and our intuition. I will say I enjoyed this year more than I have in years do to 1 fact. I was able to chase with my friends. When I and Steve carpooled and when you and he and I and Jeff chased together it was non-stop laughs. Through in Dennis and it was hysteria. It was more than storms. it was buddies enjoying it all. The “West Texas Posse” has to ride on. I am sure we will have plenty of chances. Maybe another Rita event (oh brother). I am glad we have had the chance to share all these times with many more to come. Cant wait for the SDS party and the fishing trip to Alan Henry. Have Graham get that damn boat ready!!

]]> By: Darrin http://wx5tvs.com/blog/2008/07/12/moving-on/#comment-1453 Darrin Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:01:37 +0000 http://wx5tvs.com/blog/?p=302#comment-1453 David, You and I had differences while you were a moderator, but I know you did the job to the best of your ability and I respect you, mod or no. Recognizing that you need to move on is an important decision, as is lessening the role chasing has in your life. Hopefully, you'll never stop. I know I haven't chased for long, but I know it's here to stay for me, even though my own future will lessen the time and money I have to spend on it and might even take me down a path where I end up far away from storms on the prairies. I'm guessing the same goes for you and all other chasers who do it for the love of it - although it can be mitigated, it can never really go away. David,

You and I had differences while you were a moderator, but I know you did the job to the best of your ability and I respect you, mod or no. Recognizing that you need to move on is an important decision, as is lessening the role chasing has in your life.

Hopefully, you’ll never stop. I know I haven’t chased for long, but I know it’s here to stay for me, even though my own future will lessen the time and money I have to spend on it and might even take me down a path where I end up far away from storms on the prairies. I’m guessing the same goes for you and all other chasers who do it for the love of it - although it can be mitigated, it can never really go away.

]]> By: Rick http://wx5tvs.com/blog/2008/07/12/moving-on/#comment-1451 Rick Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:45:02 +0000 http://wx5tvs.com/blog/?p=302#comment-1451 Thanks for posting this entry David. I had felt the same way but never could put it into words. I quoted you on my last entry as you put it into perfect perspective. Thanks, Rick Thanks for posting this entry David. I had felt the same way but never could put it into words. I quoted you on my last entry as you put it into perfect perspective.

Thanks,
Rick

]]> By: Laura Dragoo http://wx5tvs.com/blog/2008/07/12/moving-on/#comment-1449 Laura Dragoo Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:38:53 +0000 http://wx5tvs.com/blog/?p=302#comment-1449 A heartfelt Thank You David for your many years of keeping us safe with your knowledge and for your genuine concern! I understand your desire to scale back your volunteer time and such...sometimes a person needs to step back and look at the important things in life. I know I threw myself into the rebuilding efforts of Hallam and it wasn't until last year that I finally resigned from all of the committees. After I resigned I realized how it had consumed my life. Now that I've had a break, I'm ready to dive back in...but this time I'll keep it in check and limit my responsibilities. Your efforts, along with most of the other long time storm chasers, is very much appreciated by many people such as myself! I value your opinion and cannot say thank you enough for your continued contact to alert me to "rough weather". Don't think that's going to stop, you can't get away from the "Hey David, How's it looking for us up here...." emails! :) If your travels ever bring you up our way we'd love to have you stop in. Beer's always cold at my house! :) Enjoy and have fun. You deserve it! Laura A heartfelt Thank You David for your many years of keeping us safe with your knowledge and for your genuine concern! I understand your desire to scale back your volunteer time and such…sometimes a person needs to step back and look at the important things in life. I know I threw myself into the rebuilding efforts of Hallam and it wasn’t until last year that I finally resigned from all of the committees. After I resigned I realized how it had consumed my life. Now that I’ve had a break, I’m ready to dive back in…but this time I’ll keep it in check and limit my responsibilities.
Your efforts, along with most of the other long time storm chasers, is very much appreciated by many people such as myself! I value your opinion and cannot say thank you enough for your continued contact to alert me to “rough weather”. Don’t think that’s going to stop, you can’t get away from the “Hey David, How’s it looking for us up here….” emails! :)
If your travels ever bring you up our way we’d love to have you stop in. Beer’s always cold at my house! :)
Enjoy and have fun. You deserve it!
Laura

]]> By: Dewdrop (Jenn Bilak) http://wx5tvs.com/blog/2008/07/12/moving-on/#comment-1446 Dewdrop (Jenn Bilak) Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:26:36 +0000 http://wx5tvs.com/blog/?p=302#comment-1446 David, I stayed away from ST due to some wise advice from friends out there. I appreciated the advice and have held tight to it. I have talked with you from time to time about your ultimate decision, and I know it is the best thing for you, based on those discussions alone... it was a long time coming. Congrats on your new chapter. I am personally excited for you, as you shift your scope to something new and interesting, growing your business, exploring greater passions. I commend you. Good luck in those pursuits. I also commend you on getting back to your roots, doing what you love, the way you love it and leaving all the mess out of it. I think you will receive a great deal of satisfaction in that. I am happy for you, David. You seem to have a new lease on life. Time to shine. David, I stayed away from ST due to some wise advice from friends out there. I appreciated the advice and have held tight to it. I have talked with you from time to time about your ultimate decision, and I know it is the best thing for you, based on those discussions alone… it was a long time coming. Congrats on your new chapter. I am personally excited for you, as you shift your scope to something new and interesting, growing your business, exploring greater passions. I commend you. Good luck in those pursuits.

I also commend you on getting back to your roots, doing what you love, the way you love it and leaving all the mess out of it. I think you will receive a great deal of satisfaction in that. I am happy for you, David. You seem to have a new lease on life. Time to shine.

]]> By: Chris Bradley http://wx5tvs.com/blog/2008/07/12/moving-on/#comment-1443 Chris Bradley Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:41:38 +0000 http://wx5tvs.com/blog/?p=302#comment-1443 When we are tired and under stress our immune systems work very poorly. That's why I'm glad to see you make this decision. When we are tired and under stress our immune systems work very poorly. That’s why I’m glad to see you make this decision.

]]> By: Steve Miller OK http://wx5tvs.com/blog/2008/07/12/moving-on/#comment-1442 Steve Miller OK Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:14:26 +0000 http://wx5tvs.com/blog/?p=302#comment-1442 Well, David, I can't help but say I feel the same way. You can tell by reading my blog over the past couple of years just how much my passion has faded. Used to I would post pictures and chase accounts. Now all I do is bitch about the stupid things that happen in the community. I too am never going to get chasing out of my blood and have moved from a chasing when I have time mentality rather than making time for chasing. Things have changed community-wide and while evolution is part of life, it's made chasing less interesting for me. Posting video and pictures and getting kudos or making friends through sharing the experiences caught on tape was fun. Now the video is criticized, stolen or otherwise. Thanks to i-reporters and Andy Fable's stunt that was brought to light last week, media is less interested in our video now too. Without an audience, I have no reason to shoot storms. MP mentions getting back to the roots of chasing and I agree. I would love to have an opportunity to have a memory brought back from the early years and can't help but think if I did have that memory, I would feel different about things. I haven't had that middle of nowhere feeling in a long, long time though. Wish I would. This is a long winded comment to say you aren't alone in feeling like it's time to put chasing on the back-burner. Fortunately for all of us who feel this way, it's the end of the season and we have plenty of time to think things through. In contradiction, I'm positive I will be just as excited about next season as I have been about every season before it by the time March 09 rolls around. Well, David, I can’t help but say I feel the same way. You can tell by reading my blog over the past couple of years just how much my passion has faded. Used to I would post pictures and chase accounts. Now all I do is bitch about the stupid things that happen in the community. I too am never going to get chasing out of my blood and have moved from a chasing when I have time mentality rather than making time for chasing.
Things have changed community-wide and while evolution is part of life, it’s made chasing less interesting for me. Posting video and pictures and getting kudos or making friends through sharing the experiences caught on tape was fun. Now the video is criticized, stolen or otherwise.
Thanks to i-reporters and Andy Fable’s stunt that was brought to light last week, media is less interested in our video now too. Without an audience, I have no reason to shoot storms.
MP mentions getting back to the roots of chasing and I agree. I would love to have an opportunity to have a memory brought back from the early years and can’t help but think if I did have that memory, I would feel different about things. I haven’t had that middle of nowhere feeling in a long, long time though. Wish I would.
This is a long winded comment to say you aren’t alone in feeling like it’s time to put chasing on the back-burner. Fortunately for all of us who feel this way, it’s the end of the season and we have plenty of time to think things through. In contradiction, I’m positive I will be just as excited about next season as I have been about every season before it by the time March 09 rolls around.

]]> By: Steve Miller TX http://wx5tvs.com/blog/2008/07/12/moving-on/#comment-1441 Steve Miller TX Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:05:26 +0000 http://wx5tvs.com/blog/?p=302#comment-1441 David, It was good to see at least a few people on ST acknowlege your hard work and sacrifice. I knew it was taking a huge toll on you for awhile and as a friend, glad you made the decision to scale it all back. Not trying to be a happy coach here, but sometimes too much of a good thing ends up being bad...like booze. ;-) Next year with my schedule being more flexible, hopefully, I can team up with you on more chases not only to cut the fuel costs, but to make it a helluva lot more fun and entertaining. The Memorial Day weekend excursion we had was a total blast and what stormchasing should be about. My gut ached for a few days afterwards from the laugh riots!! On top of that, we got to see some amazing stuff including the crazy dust event in KS and a wierd tornado near Pratt...and my first ever major hail core punch! ;-) I still want to see the video from that one. LOL!! You and I have talked at great length on many occassions about the negative portion of the chaser community. You summed up quite nicely. 'Nuff said. Don't forget the Second Annual SDS Therpay Session coming up in August sometime and of course, some camping excursions to Lake Alan Henry this fall!! Maybe you can help me install some amber lightbars on my vehicle as well before next season. :-) David,

It was good to see at least a few people on ST acknowlege your hard work and sacrifice. I knew it was taking a huge toll on you for awhile and as a friend, glad you made the decision to scale it all back. Not trying to be a happy coach here, but sometimes too much of a good thing ends up being bad…like booze. ;-)

Next year with my schedule being more flexible, hopefully, I can team up with you on more chases not only to cut the fuel costs, but to make it a helluva lot more fun and entertaining. The Memorial Day weekend excursion we had was a total blast and what stormchasing should be about. My gut ached for a few days afterwards from the laugh riots!! On top of that, we got to see some amazing stuff including the crazy dust event in KS and a wierd tornado near Pratt…and my first ever major hail core punch! ;-) I still want to see the video from that one. LOL!!

You and I have talked at great length on many occassions about the negative portion of the chaser community. You summed up quite nicely. ‘Nuff said.

Don’t forget the Second Annual SDS Therpay Session coming up in August sometime and of course, some camping excursions to Lake Alan Henry this fall!! Maybe you can help me install some amber lightbars on my vehicle as well before next season. :-)

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