So I Decided To Go Out ...

I had been in the house for days when I decided I really had to get out last Thursday. The news had said showers in the morning with gradual clearing after 1 PM.

I looked out the window a little after 1 and the sky did indeed seem to be brightening so out I went.

Once outside I noticed that the sky not visible from the kitchen window was dark and foreboding but in my capacity as freakin' self proclaimed meteorologist I decided the storms were headed north.

I was already out and the cupboards were bare so off I went.

Not even 10 minutes later ...

The first drops hit the car so hard I jumped. Even with the wipers on high it was impossible to see. Many of us pulled into the first parking lot we could find and just sat.

For 40 minutes.

The streets flooded so quickly.

The excitement never ends.

Barbara and Bowzer

By now I'm sure you've seen the video of ...

Barbara Garcia

Finding her best friend Bowzer alive and well in the debris of their home

CBS This Morning will be checking in with them tomorrow morning.

Check out this article on how you can help the animals of Moore, OK - Petside article

If you're attention deprived you can access the donation page for the OK Humane Society here - Donation Page

During Hurricane Sandy I had the cat carriers and food and meds all laid out just in case the evacuation zone extended to my home. The idea of struggling with all that during a storm was daunting so I really empathize with Barbara and all those who do their best to protect their loved furry ones.

By the Bay

In between rain and snow (it is spring?) I went over to the marina and a few other spots along the bay to see how things were going.

The bay is very unusually high in spots. I have read that storm related changes to the underwater topography along with sunken debris is causing this issue.

One hard hit restaurant put up new fencing to protect people from the rubble and that fence has since been knocked down by new flooding.

The business across the road can't get all the debris cleared yet.

A brighter spot up the road - Mike is rebuilding. Since 1961 Mike's Subs was a small fishing shack like building. Great food and great people. He was wiped out by Sandy. 

The new shop is up off street level. A lot of folks are looking forward to the grand re-opening.

Further down, away from the business district the bay looks rough and bits and pieces of destroyed piers hang about.

As I headed back home I was rerouted by a road crew who were prepping to restore some underground systems.

Guess this says it all 

Is It Snow Yet?

A few shots of the snow that took three days to get here and all day Friday to fall. We didn't get much accumulation; a small comfort after the high winds and flooding.

Have a good weekend everybody

Stop Turning Left

Who'd of thunk this pagan liberal would ever hate anything left.

Yet these freaking storms that come up from the south and then turn left just keep coming. The area by the marina and further down the road in poor hard hit Union Beach is already experiencing some flooding from this afternoon's high tide.

Thanks NJ.com for always being around to cover this area. You can see more photos from this afternoon
HERE
You might even recognize some of the places from my photos.

This howling wind is making me as skittish as the cats. 

Speaking of cats - thanks to all who asked how Siren is doing. He's fine. Actually he's very happy right now as he always is during the days immediately following his shots. It's a chronic condition and it is what it is. At least the meds still work.

Those of us about to float away salute you.

Enough is Enough is Enough

I don't know what sweet Nemo did to anyone to deserve having this latest weather ClusterF**K named after him.

I'm not all that worried about the snow amounts. If I lived further north or east I would be.
I am worried about the damn wind gusts - hurricane force at the coast they say.
Here in NJ our coast can't take much more.

This is still sitting out there

Although the storm surge is not predicted to be anywhere near as high as Sandy's there is so little left to protect us.

This morning Hope asked if we had enough gasoline for the generator. Even the little ones have become pros.

Then again there are those who wait until the last minute. I went shopping Wednesday for all things storm related. I passed Home Depot last night and it looked like the circus was in town.

What do people do with their shovels from year to year? How could so many need so much?

Right now I'm charging everything I can think of and making sure batteries are where they should be.

I try to have empathy for the utility workers but if power goes out and stays out I may need to beat the crap out of someone.

Then again, look how fragile it all is

I found these photos of Hope during her first snowstorm in 2010, she was 6 months old.

I love her face in the 2nd shot.

It seems to say "Enough."

Stay safe kids

Stormy Weather

We are all in the same boat in a stormy sea,

 and we owe each other a terrible loyalty

~ G.K. Chesterton

 

NATURE NOTES

Low and High

Yes, we're getting ready for more weather. I'm starting to really dislike weather.
Believe it or not the wind is already a bit too much round here.
People are being evacuated from places that were just deemed safe enough to go back to.
Shore is vulnerable.
Flying debris.

Who the hell thought they'd ever need to beware of flying debris in a small town in NJ.

We remain safe enough and I am grateful.

And ...

Thank goodness for common sense and decency.

A lot of the pundits said the President's response to Sandy had a lot to do with his win. Many of them are bashing my governor Chris Christie for being favorable toward the President during the storm.

Really?

So their idea of good government is for a President and a Governor to put politics before the welfare of millions of people?

No wonder they lost.

Sandy's On The Way

I ventured out this morning on my last round of hurricane errands.

After picking up more groceries and filling the tank I headed over to Firefighter's Park in Union Beach, NJ which faces Raritan Bay.

I live 2.8 miles inland from the shore and it's amazing what a difference that small distance makes. The wind was rocking the car, it was difficult to open the door and there were tree branches all over the road.

The wind was pushing in from the water.

The water was high and every time the wind blew the foam rushed up over the wooden piling. It stung my face.

This house was being reinforced. It faces the bay. I love how the statue seems oblivious to the work going on behind her.

I have no idea where flying watermelon came from. Beware of flying fruit folks!

The town has these earth movers strategically placed near all the spots off Route 36 that normally flood.

Stay Safe Everybody.

Sand Dunes of The Jersey Shore

A series of big storms topped off by last summer's Hurricane Irene have damaged a lot of the NJ Shore Line.

Dune Stabilization projects are being conducted all along the shore. I took these photos in late August at Bayshore Waterfront Park in Monmouth County, NJ. The sign says the project was to be completed in April but I saw evidence that it is ongoing.

This NJ Shore Website has a lot of interesting information and links.

Our World Tuesday

NATURE NOTES