Raising 'Canes

At 3:30 this morning, I awoke to a heavy rain, the first in far too long. So begins the 2006 hurricane season - six months of intermittent torrential rains, oppressive humidity, and obsessive viewing of The Weather Channel.

This year, like last year, there was a sales tax break on certain items considered hurricane supplies, like batteries, generators, candles, tarps, and such. I had already acquired tarps, gasoline containers, and most other nonperishable supplies last year, but last night I went and stocked up on canned foods and bottled water. At this point, we're about as ready for storm season as we can be. I suppose in a way hurricanes are like having children - no matter how much you prepare, you're never *truly* ready.

I am ready for some more of that rain, though - we got less than half an inch in the torrent this morning, and we're 8 inches shy of the average rainfall for this time of year. All of the retention ponds and even the reservoirs are getting rather low, and it would, unfortunately, take a hurricane's worth of rain to make up the shortfall. But hopefully, all my dear readers will hear from me on that is my usual bemoaning of the rain'n'drain cycle of the Alternate Dementia swimming pool, and not being in some storm's crosshairs!

A little humor - old but still funny:

Top Ten Reasons Hurricane Season is Like Christmas
10. Decorating the house (boarding up windows)
9. Dragging out boxes that haven't been used since last season (camping gear, flashlights)
8. Last minute shopping in crowded stores
7. Regular TV shows pre-empted for "specials"
6. Family coming to stay with you
5. Family and friends from out-of-state calling
4. Buying food you don't normally buy ... and in large quantities
3. Days off from work
2. Candles

And the number one reason Hurricane Season is like Christmas ...
1. At some point you know you're going to have a tree in your house!

But speaking of hurricanes, I just finished watching Game 7 of the Sabres-Hurricanes game. DsS and I are a tad disappointed because we were cheering for the Sabres, but DD was happy that the Hurricanes have advanced to play Edmonton for the Stanley Cup.

Who knows, maybe we'll get to test her theory about a Hurricane Cup preventing hurricane effects in Central Florida!