Bye... Bye... IRENE...

Ok, so that was not too much fun... 

Saturday began with tons of rain and alot of wind coming out of the north and northeast... We kept the TV set to our local favorite wvec.com (the ABC affiliate here in Hampton Roads). They ran non-stop all day and evening and the coverage was exceptional (though at times very repetitive)...

We had some dinner and settled in to bed around 9:00pm after switching to the Food Network for something other than hurricane coverage. I awoke around midnight hearing some unusual noises. It appears our power crapped out at around 10:30pm and I started to hear more of the effects of the "backside" of Irene, coming from outside the house. I headed out to the front porch (which had been safe all day) only to find that the wind had shifted dramatically and was now coming from the side of the house and nearly blew me off the porch (in only my boxer-briefs)... 

Irene's posterior proved to be much more intense than her front side. The rain was not as severe, but the wind was much stronger (at least for us). Large tree limbs and alot more smaller debris arrived during the overnight hours.

After a very sporadic (sleep-wise) night, we woke to yards and streets filled with organic materials layered over all the normal surfaces.

Our neighbors upstairs to the west (all 3 homes) and across the street were either already out of town or had bugged out on Friday. I texted all of them to "Not hurry back" as we had no power. Most showed up before noon-time regardless. We did a group cleanup of the leaves and branches then all hung out on the porch hoping our electricity would come back on before bedtime. Our neighbors' two young girls were a bit antsy so we fired up a sprinkler in our front yard to give them something to do. Of the six adults, I don't think one of us didn't take a run or two through that sprinkler to cool off too...

I will probably recall more of our experiences as the days pass. I would however, like to thank our really cool neighbors for making the day (Sunday) more palatable... Thanks Toni, Meredith, Ryan, Brian, and of course my Michael for helping the day pass with a little less stress.

Over and "Out" for today, from Portsmouth, VA USA

Eye... Eye... IRENE... (Part Four)

Just received this on the City's Facebook feed. Our garbage can is still full and in the street... I am not bringing that smelly thing into my house!

Over and "Out" from the closed city of Portsmouth, VA USA

Eye... Eye... IRENE... (Part Two)

Hmmm... Based on my first post (two days ago) it looks like the Hurricane Center's prediction about Irene is pretty close. The local news has pretty much dropped any discussion on the 5.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked the east coast (including our area) and in it's place is repetitive coverage of the impending hurricane.

I understand the need to encourage residents to act early to protect property, but the local news here runs from 5pm to 6:30pm in the evenings and from 4:30 to 7:00 every morning... Irene, Irene, Irene... Yack, Yack, Yack...

I know it's only going to get worse over the next few days... I so remember Brian Norcross (the local ABC Weatherman in Miami) before (and after) Hurricane Andrew blew through South Florida 19 years ago yesterday. He was talking to people in closets, bathtubs, and under mattresses (on the phone) giving them advice as to what to do. He is now one of the Hurricane Experts on the Weather Channel...

I'll try to keep everyone posted, unless "someone drops a house on me too"...

Over, "Out", in the path of Hurricane Irene, here in Portsmouth, VA USA

Eye... Eye... IRENE...

I was pretty convinced that Irene was going to slip right into "Hurricane Alley" (that area of water between the Southern Bahamas and Northern Hispaniola)... When living in Miami and the Bahamas, we always were warned that when these storms come up through "The Alley" you've got to watch out as Miami has often been the preferred destination of hurricanes on that path....

Not so this time...  Looks like Irene is heading our way (the mid-Atlantic coast) and may be arriving as an unwanted guest for Sunday dinner... (See forecast graphic above)...

We'll see where this one wanders. Meanwhile:

Over and "Out" on an absolutely beautiful day, here in Portsmouth, VA USA

Virginia's First Light Rail System...

Is there any other state in the union that doesn't already have a light rail system? I was amazed when first moving to Richmond (from Miami) in 1999 that there was none there.

Anyway, Introducing the "TIDE"... 13 years in planning, almost 4 years of construction, 330 Million dollars (way over budget) and a year and a half behind schedule...

Today was almost like a holiday in downtown Norfolk. The local news had live rides, and interviews all morning, people showed up just to "Ride-The-Tide"... Now, I do remember when Miami's Metro-rail opened (the first phase) and later the elevated Metro-mover, and it was a helluva hoopla... So I guess Norfolk touting Virginia's first light rail is truly a BIG thing...

Congrats to the City and to all the taxpayers of Virginia!

Over and "Out" from across the river in Portsmouth, VA USA

Who Says Bachmann doesn't Suck?

I know this picture is making it's rounds (as are many of Ms Crazy Eyes) but I had to download it and post it for shit's and giggles...  I wonder if "Marcia" (aka Marcus) taught her how to do this as part of his "pray away the gay" program...

Over and "Out" from Portsmouth, VA USA

Who can't resist a Gay Top...

A friend from Vegas posted a few of these vintage 1950's (or possibly earlier) ads, from gaytwogether on his facebook page and I was amazed by the titles more than the content...

What wonderful ads they would make in today's media marketplace, or even the upcoming election cycle...

Speaking of which, is anyone else surprised that Michelle and "Marcia" Bachmann are claiming a "major" victory after some 4900 people voted for them in the Iowa Straw Poll yesterday? I can get 4900 people to vote to see me with my pants down (and that certainly ain't sayin' much)...

Over and "Out" with less than 4900 votes, from Portsmouth, VA USA

Show us Integrity and grow some Huevos....

As some may know, I am a firm believer in the theory of "The Four Agreements", a book by don Miguel Ruiz. Our elected officials (Congress, Senate and Administration) should take heed and take a peek at this book and the teachings it contains. Go ahead, take your time, enjoy your summer vacation (while some of us have no job)... Take a quick look at what the four agreements shares:

The Four Agreements are:

1. Be Impeccable with your Word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the Word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your Word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don’t Take Anything Personally: Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don’t Make Assumptions: Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best: Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

I have probably shared these with alot of people in my life, but after the past few weeks, I firmly believe Washington DC politicians need to open and read something other than "How to fuck up America" ...

Over and "Out" from my soapbox here in Portsmouth, VA USA

Best Thing about Me...

I was reading some of the Facebook posts on my feed and ran across the above video posted by my sister-in-law. I have always liked the songs that Ricky Martin chooses to perform, but this one has an infectious melody (thanks Sharon) that I will be humming all day now...

Over and "Out" with the best things, from Portsmouth, VA USA

Six on the Sixth - August

Ok, I started this and will continue until someone tells me to "Shut the F**k up"...

A few more things that some may not know about me. Unless you have read my blog from the beginning:

1.   I was born in Doylestown (Bucks County). Pennsylvania, in 1955.

2.   I migrated (with my parents) to Santa Barbara, California in 1956.

3.   I moved to Carmichael, California in the early 60's (with my
      Mom and soon to be Dad).

4.   We all (3 brothers, a cat and dog) moved to St. Croix in the
      US-VI's in the late 60's.

5.   After that, also in the late 60's we moved to Coral Gables, Florida.

6.   We (my parents) found a family sized sailboat to live on, in
      Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in the early 70's.

Obviously there are a few more things you may (or may not) know about me coming on the 6th... Stay tuned, or tune out... Your choice!

Over and "Out" on the sixth, from Portsmouth, VA USA

Duck and Cover...

I totally swiped the above off Joe My God's blog... I watched it a couple times just to put the timelines in perspective... There were several periods that the tests were ravaging, yet there were also months and years where almost no blasts occurred... How many of you remember those "Duck and Cover" drills in school?

And they wonder what causes global warming... Where is all the fallout from these explosions? Doesn't the radioactivity hang around for like a zillion years?

Just Sayin'

Over and Thermonuclearly "Out" from Portsmouth, VA USA