Another disaster at the Masoner household

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Okay, this one actually isn't so bad.  I just thought "disaster" would
make a catchy title.  Just an inconvenience more than anything.

There are several large trees in my yard, and one of them is a diseased
tree that I was intending to take down.  It's right between the side of
my house and the alley, about six feet from the house.  It's maybe
thirty feet tall and has a trunk that measures twelve inches at the
base.

Last night, a line of severe thunderstorms came across Illinois (and
much of the rest of the Midwest), producing gusts of up to 50-75 mph,
according to the National Weather Service.  You guessed it, one of
these gusts pushed that thirty foot tree right over *crash*.  It missed
my house by *that much*.

On the way down, the tree did take down another tree in my yard and
smashed a few bushes before tearing up my lawn and a couple of flower
beds.  It's now laying half in my lawn and half in the alley.  It's
also blocking part of my neighbor's driveway.

Many confused squirrels and little birds scampering around this
morning.  My toddler son thought it was really cool that he was able to
touch the top of a tree.

Any suggestions on what I should do with this thing?  I've never had a
tree fall over in my yard before.  Maybe I should string some lights on
it and call it a Christmas tree, except it's blocking the alley and the
driveway.  The kids who regularly drive their dirtbikes down the alley
are in for a real treat if they're not watching where they're going.

Richard Masoner