12/30/2004: "Whether the Weather be Wet..."

music: Howling wind
mood: you're getting Sleeeeeepier

Well for those of you not in California, I must say, its pretty wet out here. I like a good clensing rain, i of course love a big storm, but it's getting soggy and moldy and it looks like another 2 weeks of pretty much uninterrupted rain is being forcast. It's been a steady fall for the most part, and flooding way down south in LA ( and a tornado if you can believe), but wouldn't you know, just when it would be REALLY nice to have some dry moving weather. Supposed to get down to 30 tomorrow night and with the rain still going, I am sure we could see snow on the mountains nearby. Causulties have been low here due to the very high winds. A very wet check in the mail for $200 was salvaged, the bamboo screen outback blew down and the pine in a big pot in the front yard blew over. No cracks, but I left it down for the time being as more wind is expected tonight, up to 50 mph. I had a fun trip home from Palo Alto in the jeep, damn need blew my little fisher price car off the road. House is still in tact, though every creek is heard and in my mind I have already decided how to escape and survive should a big tree fall on the house. No leaks or gutter problems that I can see though the chimney we have discovered is not sealed.

Bear is unpleased at having to pee outside at the moment...He's not much of a water dog interestingly enough...he would rather wake me up at 4 in the morning in an emergency, than go when he doesn't REALLY need to before bed. Reminds me of me actually. Thank goodness we have bladders of steel. The sound of rain doesn't make it easy though. Trickle trickle trickle. Always a bit of a risk when you are peeing in your dream....luckily it was JUST a dream last night.

Still, with the Tsunami pictures on TV constantly (some pretty amazing footage) I feel lucky we are dealing with drops and not waves, though as a pisces if I was going to go...better than trapped in a fire, not to be morbid or disrespectful, just saying you know, if I could choose. The Pictures of Phuket Thailand where I was just 3 years ago ( and my new roommates were two months ago) are unrecognizable. The market row is in shambles and the beach is not the crystal blue it was when I visited. I worry that they are focusing WAY too much on Phuket ( because it was a tourist spot) and not on the countless other beaches and islands along that coast that were FAR more beautiful and just as populated with locals.

Looking on the bright side though, one of the best stories to come out of this disaster though is that in Sri Lanka they can't find remains of any animals. A huge preserve of elephants and leopards was part of the area worst hit and since they can't find any bodies at all, they are presuming that the six sense they have perhaps prompted them to higher grounds before the main impact. Very possible....yeah animals!!!

Alright, one more blog to come, and then it's off to snuggle down for the night....try to stay dry and warm where you are....