Sandy: The Aftermath

We were lucky.

We didn't lose power--except for a few seconds of flickering lights.

There was a potential of losing sewage treatment but the plants were only closed for about two hours last night.

Jeff and I had never been more prepared.We have a gas stove and figured we would make meals that would be easy to heat up such as a turkey breast, chili and soup. We also made carrot-jicama salad. We stocked up on batteries, got out our radios, flashlights and candles. Late last  night, we filled vases, trashcans, pots, etc. with water. We figured the bucket we had previously filled would  not sustain us through a closed sewage plant.

I'll say it again; we were lucky.

Many other areas of Connecticut were not.

What can I say about  the Jersey Shore? It's been devastated--I worry about my cousin Barbara's home in Ortley Beach. Her house may have been pushed out onto the state highway.

Why have we had so many devastating storms in the past few years?

Can it possibly be the result of climate change?

It's only a myth according to many Republicans.

Seen

At Stop and Shop parking lot on Route Seven in Norwalk this morning:

I liked this because I usually sing in the car. I don't care if I look funny.

Waiting for Frankenstorm aka Hurricane Sandy

Tom says the waiting is the hardest part.  Yes, it can be nerve wracking waiting for Frankenstorm. Why can't it be more like this?

At least we had a few days to prepare. Jeff got batteries, bottled water and some food yesterday. I had an idea to cook a turkey breast this Sunday before hearing about the impending storm and it still seemed like a good idea. Jeff made chili and I made a butternut squash-carrot-sweet potato-apple soup and a carrot-jicama salad.

We expect to lose power. We got out flashlights, candles, radios, lantern, battery charger, and battery charged clocks. We've charged our phones and kindles. We put ice cubes in plastic bags and froze plastic containers filled with water to keep the freezer full and cold. We also froze some of the soup and chili. We have a gas stove and can use the stove-top even if we lose electricity for leftover turkey, chili and soup. I figure we can go into the freezer once.  If we're careful and lucky, we may only lose milk from the refrigerator. 

Meteorologists are saying that this storm is unprecedented. We are taking this seriously. I hope that because we are prepared--we won't have problems. But, we just have to wait and see.

A Happy Earworm

Maybe it's the beautiful fall foliage that has brought this song to my mind. I've been singing snatches of it for the last few days.

I didn't appreciate Petula Clark until I heard a radio program retrospective of her work. She is awesome.

Once Upon A Halloween Eve--The Party

Our friends, Jenn and John, have a Halloween party every year with a special theme. Last night the theme was Once Upon A Halloween Eve. They started a blog and invited guests to add to the story. Jeff and I wrote posts to put our characters into the story.

Jenn and John always go all out on the decorations--inside and outside. The living room was an enchanted forest, including the golden tree that I wrote about.

I actually tried to go as the golden tree. I brought garlands of autumn leaves, an eye mask, a head band, a Sharpie brown paint pen, a piece of brown felt, pieces of brown foam rubber, gold tablecloths and brown and red cream makeup. I didn't have a clear concept (oh I sound like the judges on Face Off) and I had trouble executing the ideas I did have. I felt that I looked stupid but most people were complimentary. There was one woman who called me a pile of leaves. Whatever. It was a good party.

Seen

I was walking Spike this morning and noticed a series of leaf prints on the sidewalk adjacent to the hospital on Maple Street. I don't know why these were only on part of the sidewalk, but I was intrigued.

Spike was stubborn; he didn't want to wait while I snapped this photo and pulled on his leash. It's not a particularly good picture but it gets the idea across.

Veronica Mars Re-Watch: Season One Episode Seven

The Girl Next Door: The mystery of the week involves the disappearance of Veronica’s upstairs neighbor. Veronica finds her but later questions if she should have gotten involved and wonders if some things are better left buried.

Veronica’s journalism class project has her helping an alum plan a high school reunion. Looking through an old yearbook, Veronica learns that her mother and Duncan’s father were high school sweethearts.

The best part of the episode is the interaction between Logan and Weevil, stuck in detention together.  Weevil gets blamed for his and Logan’s revenge (putting their English teacher’s car on the school flagpole.) Weevil is expelled.  Logan is able to work a deal with the Vice Principal, confesses his part and gets Weevil reinstated at Neptune High.  All because Weevil had promised his grandmother that he would graduate from high school.  Hmm, just when I thought Logan was pure evil again.

I don’t get Veronica questioning herself about helping her neighbor. Yes, a man is now dead, but he’s a rapist and none of Veronica’s actions led to his downfall.

Is Veronica thinking about something else completely?  

Veronica Mars Re-Watch: Season One Episode Six

It’s been a while since my last Veronica Mars post. I actually caught this episode a few weeks ago on Soapnet. Today I watched it again on DVD.

Return of the Kane: The mystery of the week involves Neptune High’s Student Council election when Duncan Kane beats a more popular student. 09er Madison Sinclair rigged the voting instructions to ensure Duncan’s win. Another friend portrays Veronica’s trust.

A subplot provides the first glimpse of the Echolls family when Logan’s movie star father Aaron appears in a campaign ad for Duncan. Logan also returns to Pilot form as an obligatory psychotic jackass. He and his friend, Dick Casablancas, organize bum fights. After footage of the fights end up on the Smoking Gun website, we learn some dark secrets of the Echolls family.  

The official story of Lilly’s murder continues to unravel. Veronica discovers that the evidence linking Lilly to her convicted killer was apparently planted.

Once Upon A Halloween Eve

I've been trying to add a post to a friend's blog and it's not working so I thought I would link from here  and see how that works.

Anastasia knew that she was on her own. She tried to remember the details of the stories she had always ignored.  Old Nan had said there was only one way to escape the Dark Forest—something about following the path of the Golden Tree. What did that mean? All the trees ahead were dark with leaves of fire.  But she had to keep going if she were ever to find her way back home.

She moved forward—slowly and carefully. Those stories –those horrible stories--returned to her in a rush.  A young man who had mocked the Queen was lost when he stumbled over a tree root. The root wrapped around his leg and pulled him underground. His screams had been heard for hours. The Queen just laughed. Then there was the King’s cousin who challenged his rule; she was driven into the Dark Forest and never heard from again.

What's Cooking?

After a few days with warmer than normal weather, temperatures plunged last weekend. Sunday seemed a perfect opportunity for a day of cooking.

I didn't accomplish as much as I wanted (the story of my life) but I made a flank steak black bean chili. Tuesday I made vodka sauce. Today it was carrot ginger soup, roasted potato salad and lentil salad. I later had to add more carrots to the soup--it was too watery. Despite keeping a careful watch, I overcooked the lentils--they are mushy but still good, but I don't think they will stand up as a salad.

I enjoy cooking when I don't have to rush--when I can take my time. It's nice to have many options for meals for another week.

Fall Free Association

This morning I woke up around 5:30. As I was trying to get back to sleep this chilly morning, I started thinking about words associated with autumn. 

In no particular order:
apples
pumpkins
crisp
gold, orange, red
hayrides
Halloween
leaves
leaves crunching beneath my feet
soups
early sunsets
shorter days
harvest
flannel sheets
Thanksgiving.

Is there a poem in there?

Day of the Girl

Today is the first International Day of the Girl. Its mission: “To help galvanize worldwide enthusiasm for goals to better girls’ lives, providing an opportunity for them to show leadership and reach their full potential.”

To many of us in the US, it's hard to comprehend that girls going to school is a radical idea. I also never had to think about how to avoid child marriage. Ending child marriage is this year's theme.

I linked to Melissa's post on Shakesville because she has the best discussion I've seen on the topic, especially child marriage. The story disappeared from the CNN website.

Sigh. It's easier to count gaffes in tonight's VP debates.

Back to the Gym (Deja Vu)

I wrote another post with this title in January; it is similar to what I'll write today. It's been about three months since my last gym appearance. I have the time; it makes me feel good to work out, so what's the problem.

Why is it so hard to keep up good habits and so easy to continue bad habits? Are good habits always hard?

Whatever. I'm glad I worked out and hope I'm into something good.

Seen

I forgot to post this earlier. We saw this at Citi Field after RA Dickey secured his 20th win on September 27th.

We can relate. Spike gets treats when the Mets win. It's been a sparse few seasons for him, but like us, he hopes.