I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

BarbaraA

Bren I had chestnut trees also and you are right, those pods are wicked.

Sunflowers, looks like the eye is going right over Springfield. Yikes.

kira1234

Having gone through a hurricane a few years ago my prayers go out to all who are going through this today.

1Athena1

Sunflowers, I am more than fine. I live on the third floor and my neighborhood in DC is on a slight pendant which goes up in the direction of the alphabetized streets. I am on Q. :-) I expect the only disruptions here will be to Metro.

Hoping Ducky's house is ok, and you too Sunflowers. Bren, how are the winds now?

BarbaraA

I don't know why but winds today on the west coast of FL are around a steady 14-18MPH from the west. Go figure.

kira1234

Barbara,

My DH is working at a home on the beach and just called to tell me the same thing. Could it some how be from the storm?

Bren-2007

Can I just say I hate these chestnut trees!!!  These stupid pods are falling like crazy and you have to wear a hardhat to walk underneath them!

Athena .. the wind isn't bad here ... I call it breezy.  I've got all the windows open, which is nice, but it's still hot and humid ... upper 80's.

I did see that 70% chance of rain was forecast for here this afternoon around 3 pm.  Don't know if it's from Irene or another system north of us.  I suppose I could put the news on and find out ... duh.

Hope all our east coast friends are safe,

Bren

PS .. Tim's son just called from his base in Norfolk (he's in the military) and said the base was shut down.

BarbaraA

Kira, I would doubt it but who knows?

Bren, I suspect a lot of stuff will be shut down. It is a huge storm.

Athena, you live near Conn and Dupont Circle, right? Good, high ground there.

Anonymous

Barbara - yup, a little west Springfield, and about 30 miles north- VOILA - me.

Just filled up my oil lamps, cuz many of the lamp flashlights are dimmmmm - don't know if batteries or bulbs are gone.  BUT, as it's still a little light at my "bedtime" - as long as I have my LLBean forehead lamp for reading in bed - I'm fine.  Just boiling up some hard boiled eggs - won't have anything but sterno for about a week - at minimum - per what everybody is saying.  I learned this at the Dump ( we don't have garbage, or recycle pickup in town) so the Saturday Dump is the source of all the news - well, that & the Post Office - no mail delivery either...

Went into nearest town to fill up car tank - long lines, didn't even THINK of it, but at dump learned pumps can't work without electricity!  "Oh, so that's why everybody is  emailingme to fill up my gas tank!  Power company cars starting to line up on sides of main roads - in advance.  Intereting to see the midwestern plates on cars in the hilltowns!  SO I guess everyone is as ready as they can be.  Interesting how different it is inland, vs. at the shore.  Tho the Connecticut River is a mighty force around here.

lewing

Rosemary, hahaha on grinding coffee beans in a mortar and pestle!  On that awful morning when I awoke with no power, with all the coffee shops around me closed for lack of power as well, I did give that a try.  But my mortar and pestle is tiny: great for pulverizing spices, but lousy for achieving even a semblance of ground coffee.  I was able to crack a few of the beans (the ones that didn't ricochet out of the mortar - or is it the pestle - and skitter across the floor), but I think the power would have been back on before I had enough beans ground finely enough to be brewable. 

You must have mad mortar and pestle skills (or a much larger mortar and pestle)!

Lost_Creek, I'm very sorry to hear about your friend, but touched by your story of a community coming together.

L

kira1234

We went 3 weeks after Charlie with no power. We had a fema trailer in our front yard for 1 year while our home was rebuilt! It was not a fun experience.

Come to think about it I've read so many times how stress can give us cancer. Well that must have been one of the most stress full times of my life.

crazy4carrots

Power Failure Survival Tip #52:  Keep a tin of ground coffee in the freezer at all times!

kira1234

lindasa, You're so funny keep it in the freezer!  Well one thing we did do was cook all the food in the freezer rather than lose it. We were very happy we had extra gas for the grill. But finding ice to keep it was a real chore. Stood in lines for hours to get the ice and water.

Bren-2007

Kira .. I can't even begin to imagine what you went through.  A FEMA trailer in the front yard for a whole year.  That's amazing.

Still no rain here, just very breezy.  It does feel good to have all the windows open!

Linda .. everything here is on electric, so if we lose power, there goes my coffee.  When we lost power a couple of months ago, I just drank the stuff cold.

LindaE .. too funny about the little beans pinging around the kitchen!

hugs,

Bren

crazy4carrots

Kira -- I keep all my coffee - ground and beans both -- in the freezer.  Keeps it fresh!  

I have a very full freezer.  I'd have to invite all the neighbours over several times to use it all!  I expect they'd get pretty sick of leftovers, chicken parts, tomato sauce, frozen berries and coffee!  Besides which, they'd be doing the same thing with their own freezers!

kira1234

BinVa, It's funny we didn't lose a single window, but the roof blew off so lots of water damage. We had over $120,000 in damage. No windows were replaced though I wish they had been, they let the wind and sand in now.

kira1234

lindasa, I keep my coffee in the frig, but never thought to keep it in the freezer. Does it really keep it that much fresher?

crazy4carrots

Well, I can't say for absolutely sure, but I CAN say that I've never had a stale cup of coffee at home!

EA:  Bren, do you have a fireplace?  Or an outdoor grill?  It takes forever to boil water over coals or burning wood, but it can be done.  Be a pioneer, girl! 

Bren-2007

"Be a pioneer"  Linda .. you crack me up!  We have a gas grill that I have never learned how to turn on.  Think I will ask Tim this weekend how to work the thing.  Too bad I don't live close to a "Timmy's."  That coffee was better than Starbucks!

hugs,

Bren

Bren-2007

I heard that Libby is still in the hospital.  I don't know when she'll be released.  She's having physical therapy and trying to walk.  Enjoyful did say that Libby had breakfast .. so that's a good sign.

AnneW

Talked to my sister last night--she lives in NYC/Forest Hills. Her work (Bloomberg News) is putting her up in a Manhattan Hotel this weekend, since she must work (she heads up the weather team.) Poor girl, she had to evacuate Katrina, and still feels a little PTSD-ish about that. She's taking her bottle of Jack Daniels with her (my kind of girl) cuz she can drink that if there's no power/ice. (I should have told her to pick up some cake, too!) I told her to try NOT to be on the 15th floor, in case the elevators are out...She's not one for stairs!!

It's the storm surge that will get NYC in trouble. But hopefully things will weaken soon...

My calendar will be available on line. I'll post a link when it's ready!

crazy4carrots

There are a few considerations in being on high floors during a prolonged power failure. Having to climb several flights is one thing, but the loss of water pressure is even more frustrating.  That was a huge problem in Toronto (and other cities I'm sure) during the power blackout in August 2003. 

kira1234

lindasa, You're right so many things to consider when living in a high rise. My daughter lives in one in our town. The complex houses mostly elderly people. It was very hard for the elderly during the 3 weeks without any electric. I will say one thing though you learn how caring people are during such times. The town came together to help each other it was just amazing to see.

BarbaraA

Hugs and well wishes for Libby. Miss you.



Yes, it is really gratifying to see how a community comes together. When Charley was coming, everyone in the neighborhood helped everyone board up. I am so happy my townhouse has hurricane impact resistant windows. No boarding needed.



Praying for all in the path of Irene.



Well, plans for tonight include dewars, HGTV and just enjoying being home.

kira1234

At the time of Charlie we didn't have shutters. We had no time to get wood. So it makes me laugh when I think about it we used tape on the windows. Cover the window with a big X will prevent breakage.

BarbaraA

It is an urban legend. Maybe not though. Yours made it!



DH is working a gig about 50 miles away so I am not going, nor do I want to ride with him and get home at 4 AM. Nope, those days are over.



The insomnia thing happened Tue. And Wed. but Thu. (thanks to my friend Cindy, who wined and dined me) I slept for seven hours straight! Yes! Maybe wine is the answer.

Bren-2007

Barbara .. I don't think I'd want to travel those 50 miles either and get in at 4 a.m.  Can't blame you for staying home.  Maybe some of that nice ice wine will help you sleep tonight.

hugs,

Bren

otter

Barbara, my PCP told me once that if a glass of wine for dinner (or after dinner) relaxes me and helps me sleep better, GO FOR IT.  He said it's a lot cheaper than prescription drugs.  That was pre-BC; now I'm a lot more careful about alcohol.

More for the preparedness list (these are for the future -- not if the thing is coming tomorrow morning):

1) 2-burner propane camping stove (white gas is so yesterday)
2) old-style percolator coffee pot (the kind your mother used every morning)
3) pre-ground coffee (okay, folks – bite the bullet and get some plain old Folgers)
4) pre-moistened wipes (try alcohol-free Huggies wipes – they’re lots cheaper than the “adult” version)
5) mechanical (non-electric) can opener (the kind with the big, grippy handles)

I am trying to stay out of trouble.  It's too friggin' hot here in Montana, though. (This is where we came 'cause it was too hot at home.  Go figure.)  We're moving tomorrow to yet another "blue ribbon" trout stream, this time in an area where we will not have electricity and are most likely not going to have an internet/cell phone signal.  I might be out of touch for a few days.  Y'all promise me you'll stay safe, okay?

otter

AnneW

Enjoy living off the grid, Otter. Hot here in CO, too. Go dangle your toes in the trout stream, drink a glass of wine, and read a book!! I envy you.

Bren-2007

Hi Otter .. good to see you.  You would think it would start cooling off in Montana this time of year.  Last time I was in Wyoming it was 18 degrees in the morning this time of year.

The fishing sounds lovely .. hope you are taking pictures!

hugs,

Bren

rosemary-b

Big mortar and pestle. And I do hope everyone weathers the storm well. Oh boy that was not intended edited for clarity not intended as a pun. You guys are in my thoughts and prayers(Think I covered atheists agnostics christians and all others there)