Diagonally Parked in a Parallel Universe

We Knew the Lights Would Go Out!

I haven't seen Jericho, but I'm been through a couple of natural disasters!

Iteration 3/07/07

1. The weatherman said Hurricane Jeanne was coming. We watched and tracked it diligently and in the end decided not to evacuate as we did for Francis.
2. Up went the plywood and the house became a cave.
3. We went to bed thinking it would be a category 2 and awoke at 6:00am to the news that a cat 4 was expected. It was too late to get out so we unconvincingly laughed about "hunkering down."
4. We had water and canned goods knowing that it could be awhile before the stores opened again. The cars were full of gas that we had waited in long lines for, all the while hoping that we would get through before the gas ran out.
5. Cocktails by the pool at sunset in the calm before the storm while looking at the screen that still hung, ripped and torn, by Francis.
6. The winds picked up. 8:00pm the power went out and the battery powered radio went on.
7. The walls shook. Plywood was ripped from a front window and the sound of the wind down the chimney sounded like women shrieking. Over all this, the sound of metal bending and finally giving away as the pool enclosure tore away from the pool.
8. Finally dawn came. Fences down. Limbs down. Trees down. A town under a curfew and the supermarket shelves empty even though they were open for cash-only transactions. No alcohol could be sold. All water had to be boiled. Cell phone service was non-existent.
9. Panic about not being able to reach my parents to make sure they were okay and to let them know we were fine. We couldn't leave town because no one was being allowed in; all entrance roads were blocked by police.
10. Really afraid there had been a breach at the nuclear power plant nearby. (unreasonable I know, but there nonetheless).
11. Cooking all the meat we had in the freezer on the grill and washing it down with lots of warm beer. Making breakfast on the grill with the last of the eggs and bacon. No coffee because I only had beans and had no way to grind them.
12. Agreeing that next time we would evacuate even though when we did that for Francis, it was a story unto itself.

Getting My Garden Ready

Iteration 2/28/07

1. Yank those weeds - Not to offend those purists who feel that a weed is merely a plant in the wrong place, but a weed is a weed is a weed.
2. Turn that compost - I may not be able to grow delphiniums, but I can sure grow some good dirt!
3. Love those micro-organisms - I'll lovingly feed you with all the organic matter I can get into our Florida sand.
4. Spray that seaweed emulsion - My garden may smell of fish, but my plants will be green and happy!
5. Haul that mulch - The soil will be cool and the moisture retained.
6. Cook those nematodes - Touch my tomato's roots and you're toast!
7. Clean that pond - Rotting leaves beware! You will not take oxygen from my koi.
8. Scrub that bird bath - My cardinals, painted-buntings, finches, robins, bluebirds and even mockingbirds deserve clean water.
9. Rake that lawn - It's 'fall' in Florida and the oak leaves make great mulch. It's free too!
10. Pressure wash those sidewalks - Make it safe for people to walk past and enjoy the fruits of my labor.
11. Cut those roses - Having fresh roses on my table each day brings the outside in.
12. Pour a nice cold beer, put my feet up and congratulate myself on a good day's work.