The Hurricane Blog
[ The Day of Our Lord (who I'm holding personally responsible
for all natural accidents and errors in spelling and grammar),
August 27, 2011]
DOWN THE ROAD A SPELL (PUTTING THIS THREAD TO SLEEP)
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 9:10:30 a.m. -- A New York Times article is headlined, "Hurricane Cost Seen as Ranking Among Top Ten." The lede describes Hurricane Irene as most likely to prove to be one of the 10 costliest catastrophes in the nation’s history.
Yours truly is wondering if this includes the billions and billions of dollars spent on the media blitz that scared the pants off most of us -- but which, thankfully, kept the news media professionals working overtime and the advertising revenues flowing.
Interesting phrase to use -- most likely -- denoting more conjecture than fact. This is true of all the so-called "news" these days -- it's not really news. Just speculation about what might, could, or should happen, really just designed to sell newspapers and air time. And then there's the extra, value-added perk of putting fear into the hearts and souls of the audience. See this witty and insightful article, "Fear In Advertising: How to Make People Buy Your Stuff By Scaring the Crap Out of Them."
But fear can be so addictive, right? I mean, hour-by-hour, day-by-day (etc. etc. etc.) I promise myself to keep the TV turned off and the Internets tilted way from the news channels; but find myself peeking at the drivel over and over again.
I can't seem to help myself; I'm like the child who loves to be scared-to-near-death by monster movies -- just as long as mommy and daddy are nearby for protection. Except that as an adult, mommy and daddy are nowhere to be found, and there's no one who can protect us from the spooky stuff. They're under my bed, they're in my closets, and now they're selling me politics and items I'm told I can't possibly live without.
It's easy to remember the sage words spoken March 4, 1933, by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt at his first Inaugural Address:
"The only thing we have to fear is fear it'self - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified, terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."
But for myself, I prefer the more simple and succinct German proverb that advises us that:
"Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is."
Good words to remember, as I put this thread to sleep.
See you at, during, and hopefully after the next calamity!!!!
+++
The DAY AFTER
12:12:44 a.m. -- Spent the night surveying the damage by walking the streets from known bars and restaurants. It was far worse than you can imagine. Here are just two photos ... I couldn't bear to snap any more. My hands were shaking and my heart was torn asunder.
How could you, God, how could you?
 |
| Fallen Soldier on 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC | | | |
|
 |
| The Horror, The Pain (14th Street, NW, Washington, DC) |
6:35:10 p.m. -- My survey of the damage between my home in the U Street Corridor and Court House in Arlington, Virgina is complete.
There were twigs and acorns everywhere. It sickens me thinking back on such calamity.
I will have nightmares for the rest of my life, no doubt.
9:05:04 a.m. -- Woke up to the devastating realization that my electricity had blinked out during the night. Just enough to shut down my air conditioning but not long enough to cause that crazy blinking in the clocks of my alarm clock, microwave oven, stove, or coffee maker. You think you're safe in life and then when you least expect it, horrific and unexpected things can occur.
Without air conditioning my dreams were swathed in heat and humidity. The reporters on CNN are now describing the reasons why their deadly forecasts were averted (wrong) -- and still trying to hype the storm's assault on New York City (it was just reduced to a
tropical storm.). The reporter on TV is still trying to describe the what-ifs and what-could-have-been scenarios;
what would have happened, she's asking, if the Holland Tunnel had filled with water. (I'm wondering what would have happened if she'd actually attended journalism and news-gathering school. LOL!)
VIEW OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: The nightmarish sun has just come out -- it's fierce yellow color surrounded by clouds tinged in gray and blue. The
Washington Post man is standing in front of the St. Augustine Catholic Church is negotiating a sale with a solitary person.
Here's the latest blurb showing on TV ... "
Rain Begins Falling in New York City." The two commentators are arguing about the severity of the storm. He's saying the storm has just been downgraded to a tropical storm, and she's arguing that it can't be true and she feels she should be allowed to say she survived the hurricane in New York City!
"
I just have to say there's still going to be tremendous flooding!" she pouts.
The truth is that they all got a lot of this nightmare wrong; but they can sleep soundly knowing that, in spite of their fear mongering and drama, they'll still get their pay checks. Like doctors who get the diagnosis wrong, the consumer is still expected to pay them for their BS degree-certified opinions.
I'm heading out to Virginia today so that I can view the vast devastation that hit the area between my home and Clarendon. God help me in my journey -- there's always a possibility that a wheel will fall off my train and we'll be delayed for an hour or two. Zounds!
+++
"
I think we fared quite well. The storm could have been a lot worse." -- Mayor Anthony Williams, Washington, DC
+++
The STORM
polly nose flicked against my window. Leaves are stirring just a tad. Sadly, my eyelids are getting heavy and I can't decide whether it's natural exhaustion or the awesomely life-draining jabber-wabber spewing from the newscasters who are masquerading as actual news women and men. Fortunately, we all know that actual news -- balanced and accurate and fit to print -- no longer draws in enough ad revenue or supports politicians; so this blather is the next best thing. Ahhhhh, what the heck. It's all good. I woke up this morning with air in my lungs and my heart beating strong -- so the day has been perfect for me.
10:29:17 p.m. -- A reporter on MSNBC was just describing all the things that possibly, might, maybe could happen as a combined result of the earthquake earlier this week and the hurricane threatening us this evening. This includes the Washington Monument -- which was cracked -- breaking and/or toppling over. Keep in mind, this is all make-believe, conjecture, or fairy tales. For myself, I want you all to know that my fairy tale is that when I go to sleep tonight, I might possibly maybe will wake up surrounded by handsome young men offering me smiles and gobs of gold bouillons. Oh yes.
7:47:20 p.m. -- Fell asleep watching The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer as he yelled on and on and on about "
this monster storm." The mayor of Washington, DC is on now saying he fully expects the President to approve emergency aid to the city. THANK GOD, as it's getting really dark outside and I'm afraid that the sound of the gentle pelting of rain on my window will keep me awake -- which will require an emergency procedure to wake me up in the morning. Intravenous caffeine, I hope.
3:28:56 p.m. -- Rain drops on my window. This is bad. I can't keep count of them there are so many. Rain everywhere! It's a deluge.
2:43:13 p.m. -- The sun is out; the sun it in; the sun is out; the sun is in.
2:08:30 p.m. -- Had that tingly feeling you get on your lip just prior to a cold sore outbreak; walked into bathroom and checked the mirror. OH MY GOD!! I do have a cold sore developing. The stress of this storm is killing me. Outside, all is calm. Fortunately for the world, CNN is keeping up the pragmatic fear level.
12:58:23 p.m. -- Had to close windows -- which were open just a tiny bit. Rain blew in on my window sills. Armageddon has begun.
====
I'm going to be blogging throughout the day in the hopes of keeping the rest of the world informed about our fate here in the Nation's Capital. Hurricane Irene is bearing down on the East Coast and we, in Washington, DC, are still reeling from the deadly earthquake of several days ago.
Personally, I've stocked up on all the necessary supplies: toilet paper (for a half-year) and liquor (for a day or three months, depending upon the number of guests I have in the next few days/months; a week's supply of red meat (my vegetarian and vegan friends are on their own); cash for when the electricity (in other words, ATMs) go dead; gasoline (I don't have a car so I guess this is to burn the dead bodies resulting from the calamity; clean clothes; and candles (in case this goes into my birthday next week and I have to celebrate alone).
Things I forgot to tend to were water (bathing or drinking); extra sleeping pills and Viagra just in case pharmacies close forever; batteries; flashlight; and ice cooler for ice and food. I'm sure there's more.
Oh well, sigh. Anyway, here goes the blog -- which will have current entries on top.
