Sandy - The Aftermath

Now that Hurricane Sandy has come and gone, things can finally get back to normal.  Or as normal as they can be anyway.

Most know by now that Sandy was a major bitch, bar none.  She knocked out our power for 24 hours, damaged a tree out front, ripped apart our back yard fence, and obliterated a pool toy box we had out back.  Granted the box should have been put away, but it's heavy and survived Hurricane Irene so we thought it would make it.  Instead, pool floaties and noodles flew out all over the place.  I guess if we are gonna pollute projectiles, pool noodles is the safest route to go.

Tree split - in front my house

Many trees are down all over my town and surrounding towns but even being without power for that long of time, nothing compares to what my fellow Jersey residents down the shore are dealing with.

The boardwalks of Atlantic City and Seaside Heights both felt the horrific wrath of Sandy.  The amusement piers at Seaside, which were famous long before Snookie took up residency there, were swept out to sea.  I have been going down to Seaside since I was a little kid. Walking up and down the boardwalk, playing the wheel games, playing in Lucky Leo's, eating Maruca's Pizza, having a water ice, salt-water taffy, and riding the rides.  All of that is tainted.  But its not even the fact its sad for me and my family/friends, it's the people who reside there all year round, who have lost homes and businesses.  My heart goes out to them.

Seaside's Boardwalk - Taking Sandy's wrath - NJ.com

The same can be said for Ocean City too.  I know the people who own Ocean City Coffee Company which is located on the OC boardwalk and hope everything is okay.

I also truly hope, that all those affected at the Jersey shore can pull through this. But right now, things aren't looking too promising.

A week ago, any talk of a 'Perfect Storm' hitting the mid-Atlantic states went in one ear and right out the other.  Especially when a hurricane was mentioned.  This time of year, yes we have our fair share of Nor' Easters but rarely does a hurricane hit at the end of October, in New Jersey.  So when the news people were spouting about the potential for a direct hit, I poo-pooed it, laughing it off.  Yeah well, I stopped laughing Monday.

The winds literally shook my house, the sound of trees breaking apart, and crap flying around, kept me on edge.  I may talk a good game, and keep things on the lighter side, but deep down, this storm was no joke and at times quite nerve racking.

One damaged section of the back fence

But me and my family survived!  YAY!

I just hope that kind of weather event NEVER EVER EVER EVER happens here again.  Once is enough for me.

- Heather

Auntie Em, Auntie Em!!!

Ahhh yes Mother Nature has decided to mess with us on the East Coast, or more importantly New Jersey.  I'm inland, closer to Philadelphia than I am the shore.  However, the news people keep stressing how those living inland will take the brunt of the heavy rains and damaging winds.

So why the famous "Auntie Em" words uttered by the Wizard of Oz's Dorothy?  Because my house doesn't have a basement.  And when there is a threat of tornadoes, I'm pretty much toast.

We only have a downstairs closet as our place of refuge. Which is such a joke. That closet is small, filled with food, and any other crap that I don't want seen or room for.  So how three people and a dog would fit in there is something we have yet to attempt.  It would be taking a clown car reference to a whole new level.

Anyway, a few years ago we had a tornado warning for our area and I called my husband at work to see what I should do.

His response:  "Put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye!"  That was his way of being funny and to be honest, it was. Obviously I survived, because the tornado never came to fruition.

In August of 2011, during Hurricane Irene, tornado warnings were going off left and right, but again we were fortunate that none ever hit our town.  Though there have been a few tornadoes reported in locations not too far from us.  But still nowhere near like the ones the midwest folks deal with.  Which props to those people cause I wouldn't live in 'Tornado Alley' if you paid me.

So as Hurricane Sandy is about to turn into one bad-ass Nor'easter aka Frankenstorm (since its happening Halloween week) aka the Perfect Storm, I guess I should hope for the best.  Or you might just see me and my house floating around the sky.

Levity is good!

- Heather