May 16, 2000

	We're in a very confusing weather pattern... the juicy air is under 
an impossible cap.  There was no clear-cut path to the storms, but after much 
MUCH analyzing, we decided our best shot was to scoot north into NW Kansas, 
putting ourselves in a position to approach the storms we thought would be 
popping about 6pm in Nebraska.  By about 5, our forecasting team came to the 
conclusion that IF there were storms in Nebraska, they would break well after 
dark... not a good time to be chasing around on unfamiliar roads.  We decided 
to return home, and it turned out to be a good call.
	This is what chasing is all about, girls and boys, and this is why we 
tell newbies time and time again that you have to be as in love with the 
process as you are with the prize. We consider today a success, because our 
data was sound, our deployment well founded, our decision to abort; sane.  
	Most of us here would rather be here doing our thing than anywhere in 
the world right now.  Even though the luck factor has not played out, the 
cell connections are horrible for some reason, and the air conditioner in our 
room broke just as the warm weather started to return.
	There is never "nothing happening" in the sky out here this time of 
year.  Even though there weren't any attractive storms, the clouds teased us 
all day, and the sky acted as our text book.
	Some of the highlights were Nancy's sales presentation to a desk 
clerk at a hotel, which resulted in a free room for about 1/2 hour and a 
land line with which to confirm our data... it often helps to have a used car 
salesman along!
	Though it may not be a highlight, another interesting occurrence 
happened.  Chris Howell was stricken with a touch of food poisoning that 
nearly landed him in the hospital with dehydration.  But Chris is a trooper, 
and rallied in time to chase north with the rest of the team.
	Bill Steigerwald, our accompanying reporter, is being a real boon to 
moral.  We're all sure Bill is under the gun to report on some real action, 
but has shown good spirits and staunch fortitude in the absence of anything 
really worth reporting.
	Geoff has been eyeing OZ and asked Allan if it were possible to make 
one large enough to house a human.  Those of you who don't know Geoff 
(videographer for Discovery Channel), you may thing he's joking.  He isn't.
	Brian is handling his first year as MESO's president with valor.  
Its a tough job, as we hold him personally responsible for the lack of severe 
weather to date.  The job of any team leader is to meet the needs, wants and 
desires of the team in so far as it applies to the mission statement.  C'mon 
Brian... where are the storms!
	And Allan keeps shooting away with his camera, able to make art out 
of almost any photographic opportunity. The digital camera this year has been 
a marvelous tool, and we have grown to love it.
	Tomorrow, we're going north to escape the cloud cover, and hope to 
get lucky. We're going to be mobile all day and will cover quite a distance... 
possibly going into Nebraska if conditions indicate.
	In closing, we did our good deed for the day.  Just before we did our 
turn around, two other chasers from Ohio saw us, and though we were hot, tired, 
disappointed, hungry, and eager for base camp, we took the time to share our 
data and technology and steer them not so much in the right direction 
(where's that?) but away from a course that was sure to lead to disaster; 
night chasing in Nebraska.  Yeah, it took a few extra minutes, but it save 
these guys time, money, frustration, and possibly a windshield.
	Hopefully tomorrow, we'll hit pay dirt.  But for what its worth, if I 
were to return to New York with nothing more than the times shared and the 
things learned thus far, I would have to count this year as a resounding 
success.

Nancy Bose

MESO     (www.mcwar.org)