No, the sky doesn’t look like this at the moment. I took this recently with my iPhone and I like the way it looks like a painting. No big fluffy clouds for us – not for the last several days, and certainly not for the next several days. It’s around 9 AM as I write this on Monday morning. Sandy hasn’t come ashore yet, but it’s very windy here already. I have all the shades down.
It can be quiet for a minute or two. Then the winds start up again. And these winds are mild compared to what is coming.
Very unsettling. Very nervous making. I’ve been contacted by other bloggers who are in the path of Sandy’s fearsome power. We’ve all stocked up. We’ve all secured everything we can secure. And now we wait. That’s all we can do.
NYC has closed the subways down, stopped mass transit of any kind. Wall Street is closed. Schools are closed. Broadway theaters were dark last night and will be dark tonight. Low lying sections of NYC have been evacuated. Ships have been sent out to sea. It must be a very strange feeling to be in that city of so many millions of people, with stores closed, no way to get anywhere and a very real sense of fear about the storm surge and what it might do to the island of Manhattan and the outer boroughs.
Yesterday, Don and I took out all the window air conditioners and stored them. We brought every plant in from the porch and every spare surface in the house has become a temporary home for them. We walked the property, grabbing every item we felt the wind could turn into a projectile and put it in the shed. Trying to find a treeless place to park the car on our property is a losing proposition, so we opted for a little area near the shed that seemed to be the best bet. But then I immediately worried about the trees in the woods falling.
There’s no way to be sure of anything. You just hope you made the right decision and cross your fingers.
I alternate between watching the Weather Channel and local news and turning it off because I don’t want to have my fear spike out of control.
It’s cold in the house because we have so many windows and there is so much wind. We may bring a mattress downstairs tonight to sleep. Being upstairs in a house surrounded by trees leaves us feeling a bit vulnerable.
My dad just called to check on us. There he is in Florida, that state that is associated with hurricanes, calling to check on his daughter and son-in-law in upstate New York who are expecting a hurricane. What’s wrong with this picture?
As I said before, we may have power, we may not. But I do have a book review written and scheduled to post tomorrow. If you don’t see a post on Wednesday, you’ll know we’ve lost power.
I’m praying for everyone in the path of this terrible storm. I’m hoping that it becomes less than it’s predicted to be. I’m wondering how anyone can question climate change in a world where every weather pattern is changing drastically. Sandy is coming ashore due to a blocking pattern in the upper atmosphere – a massive dome of high pressure south of Greenland. If this blocking pattern wasn’t occurring, Sandy would turn out to sea. These blocking patterns have occurred more often and more intensely in the past few years and many scientists think this is due to the loss of Arctic sea ice – an effect of global warming. The 2012 sea ice melt season was extreme, with a great loss of ice. That loss has resulted in more expansive open areas of water which then absorb more solar radiation, adding heat and moisture to the atmosphere, eventually altering weather patterns. The blocking pattern, coupled with a deep dip in the jet stream, has brought a massive hurricane inland. And these storms will also produce more coastal flooding due to rising sea levels that have been occurring consistently over the past one hundred years as a result of warming ocean waters and melting polar ice caps.
Sorry. I’m on the side of the scientists on this one. Facts are facts. We can’t do what we’ve consistently done to the atmosphere for years and years and years and not see significant changes for the worse. 2 + 2 does not make 5.
What have we wrought?
I’m off to wait out the storm. Thank you for your comments. Reading them has helped. Knowing that you are holding us in your prayers and thoughts helps enormously.
Thinking of you all out there on the east coast. Praying for peace in your hearts and for safety.
Hang in there Claudia! My thoughts and prayers will be with you and Don. Here’s hoping that the storm makes a turn before it gets to you! Watching and waiting right along with you.
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Crochet, crochet, crochet!
Sending prayers and positive thoughts your way! I, too have been monitoring Sandy, since I have family all along the eastern seaboard. Stay safe and dry.
I am sending prayers and thoughts your way. My hubby’s sister/family live on Long Island and we have not been able to contact them. My brother lives in upstate NY and we are praying for him and his family, too. Blessings to you, Claudia. My heart aches for you and everyone out there- xo Diana
Claudia, Please know that all your blogging friends are thinking of you and sending positive thoughts out to you and Don. Everyone’s eyes are on the weather channel, and our prayers are in our hearts for all of you caught in the wake of this storm. Hopefully it will turn before it makes it way to your area. My go-to phrase: Keep calm and carry on (as best you can!). xxoo Martha
Global warming or evolutionary change..it doesn’t matter when you are facing destruction. I believe it is both..
Hunker down, stay safe and to all of you eastern bloggers..pop up and let us know you’re Ok as soon as you can. :D
I agree with you on the effects of global warming. There are more and stronger storms than there used to be. Let’s hope for the best. Stay calm! Regula
Ah, Claudia, thank you for the update. It’s a great relief to know you are as prepared as possible. Love the idea of camping out on the ground floor. We too, like your Dad, are watching and waiting, sending prayers . . . for all in Sandy’s path.
Claudia, It sounds like you’ve done everything you can do to be prepared. My son is in NYC visiting his BF for the week. I’m really nervous about that-what luck to chose this week to go, but he and we had no idea when he left last Friday. Anyway I’m thinking about you all and hoping for the best.
Claudia l just wanted to say my heart goes out to you and everyone that is in the path of the storm l will be thinking of you all, and l will say a pray for you, be safe xxoo cheryl
The news keeps getting worse..Now the winds are up to 90 mph and headed straight for us..I did my posts for the week..dull as they may be..I’m sure we’ll lose power at the very least..Hoping for the best for all of us..
I’m in Texas in the middle of a major drought. Seems the weather gets out of control at times even I know the Lord is always in control. Trust Him and know you are in my prayers.
Sue
My thoughts are with all of you in the path of the hurricane today. My sister is in Brooklyn, NY riding this out in her apartment. I encouraged her to stock up on food and water and she did so. But I’m worried about everyone along the east coast today!
I didn’t understand the title, until I finished reading…so true…anyone who cannot see that climate change is upon us, should seriously take another look! How far away from NYC are you? About all you can do, is batten down the hatches, hunker down, and ride it out! Stay safe my friend. Hope to see you up and running on Wednesday! ;)
I’ve been praying for everyone in Sandy’s path and those with loved ones affected by the storm. Your blog put a personal touch on the storm that the tv news just can’t capture. Here in Maryland, we are being pounded with hurricane wind and rain from the south east and a blizzard from the north west! Since I am centrally located and have battened down all the hatches I could think of, I am going to try to just be grateful I don’t live in an evacuation area and spend some time cooking, doing laundry and ironing as long as I have power and just wait for the storm to pass. I hope you are able to enjoy some down time too!
Hi Claudia, Like you I am anxiously awaiting the hit. The winds have just picked up and some of the trees are touching the ground. Knowing people are thinking of us does help, doesn’t it? I’m sure the power will be out soon, and I’m just hoping it will not be for 10 days as it was with Irene. I lived and worked in NYC when Gloria was due in 1985, and was sent by my boss to a meeting at The Plaza. Fifth Avenue was absolutely deserted–no cars or people, except me. I could stand in the middle of the street. Too bad I didn’t have a camera or cell phone (none at that time, of course!). It was the eeriest and most indescribable experience I’ve ever had. It just felt like a movie set or a nightmare. I’ll be thinking of you. Turn off the tv! It just makes the waiting worse! Do some crocheting — maybe you can do some Sandy scarves! :) Linda
Thinking of all my fellow Americans in the path of this storm. And you in particular since I’ve followed your blog for sometime. Since it is going to hit no matter what just hope it moves VERY fast through the NE. Having been born and raised in FL know what you are feeling although the worse storms I have endured have been since I moved to Texas. Agree with your opinion of climate change and even if humans are not causing this(which seems to be the favorite belief of those in denial) and it is just natural it doesn’t mean we should just ignore the obvious. So I am seeing this bad weather flying over you with little or no damage. And on a lighter note have you thought of using your unshredded paper in a compost pile? Just a thought might not work. Susan
Hi Claudia,
I guess you’ve done everything possible to protect yourselves from this storm. I have family in DC and N Carolina…so I’ve been busy praying for everyone. It’s really all a person in the middle of the country can do. Now that I’m a blogger…there are so many more on my prayer list. I think obout everyone from state to state who is in the path.
Be safe,
Balisha
Wow, you wrote what I am feeling exactly. I live on Long Island. Right now it’s just windy rain. The real stuff comes later on. This waiting around is making me so anxious, and the neighbor behind us has very large trees that they refuse to prune, and they could fall on my house. I have tried without success to get them to do it. So I can only pray nothing happens. I hope you sustain no damage as well.
I am watching the news/weather channel and praying for everyone’s safety. Global warming is a fact we now have to live with. I remember as a kid 55+ years ago being worried all the time about polio, the Cold War, Bomb Shelters. This generation has so much more immediate information/facts to deal with.
Take care of you all.
Joy
Love and prayers for you and all in the path of this storm.♥
Hugs and prayers. Hoping all will be well.
Sending protective thoughts your way. I do hope the predictions of it’s severity are wrong, that has happened many times. ((hugs)), Teresa
I hope that all goes well for you and Don. We don’t know what will happen until it actually does. Right now the winds are starting to kick up here. Expecting gusts up to 60mph through tomorrow and maybe some snow. Hoping our power won’t go out either. Funny, my sister who lives in Florida said the same thing to me. Even Ohio is going to feel the effects of this hurricane that will morph into one big storm! Stay safe…~Hugs, Patti
Have lived through many storms as a Florida naitve then transplanted to Virginia Beach and now Oklahoma where we have had our fair share of tornados and earthquakes. Mother Nature has her own schedule and you are so right about how expensive it can be too. Glad yall have done your prep work and are hunkering down. The unknown is scary and we are praying for this storm to be kind to everyone in it’s path. I pray that everyone heeds the warnings like you have.
Stay safe and warm. Prayers sai that things don’t turn out as badly as they predict.
Claudia, I am saying prayers for you, Don and everyone in the path of Sandy. My dear friend has two homes, one in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ and one on Chincoteague Island in Va. She is on the island and her husband in the NJ home. Water is up to her porch now in VA and the storm hasn’t hit land. I am so stressed for everyone! Be safe, dear friend.
much love and positive thoughts.
Becky
Praying for all of you. I can feel your anxiety. You have done all you can do Claudia. Hang on.
I can understand the nerves, reminds me of the year we had an ice storm then wind. All night long I kept hearing limbs fall…we had to park our cars way down the driveway. Praying for all my blogging friends effected by darn Sandy.
Stay safe, glad you, Don and Scout are all together
Living here in Florida just 25 miles from the eastern coast, Sandy passed us on Saturday and Sunday. We stood at the beach watching the waves crash, marveling at the power behind a storm that was 140 miles out to sea. I am from, and have family still, about 100 miles north of you. We here are all thinking of you and everyone in Sandy’s path.
Continuing to watch and pray along with you and the others. You are not far from my thoughts all day. xo
Praying for you and Don and the others that may be affected. We have family members in the Hamptons and Long Island. Our temps are dropping and the wind is nasty already in Ohio. I can’t imagine how it will be for all of you.
Needless to say , don’t even think of mailing that scarf til next week or when things get better. I am sure you already knew that I wouldn’t be expecting that.
Keep us posted please.
(((((HUGS)))))
Be safe, my friend.
Brenda
Claudia – Praying hard that the storm doesn’t come as far inland as they are saying. I agree with you. I’ve said for years that the natural conditions of the earth were changing. We use to have tornadoes by the dozens every year and now, they’ve gone farther east. The last two years of summer have been almost unbearable due to temps way over 110 for weeks in a row. The ice storms we have had the last few years are just astronomical. Everything is changing. I don’t know how anyone could say they weren’t.
Stay safe.
Judy
We’re hunkered down, too, here in Virginia. Saw FEMA folks in the grocery store this a.m., Georgia Power is here and ready. It’s supposed to hit here by 8 p.m. tonight. We’re moving our sleeping downstairs in the den (next to the gas fireplace), praying for the best, prepared for the worst. Will be thinking of you all there, too. Hugs ~ Mary
Stay safe Claudia, thinking of you guys over there affected by Sandy, from over here from our (very) early snowfalls.
The weather patterns are definitely changed everywhere in the world, someplace it’s more benign and some other place it’s more ominous. However, I hope that Sandy will blow less hard than it’s forecast to…! Sending lots of positive thoughts and love towards your part of the world. Aniko from Finland
Claudia, I left you a nice long comment, earlier, but Google Chrome wasn’t functioning properly with your blog, so lost it all. the gist of it was I am thinking about and praying for you and Don. I agree completely with your views on global warming. We need to take better care of out earth. Please stay safe.
Hugs,
Laura
We lost power for a while here today – nothing to do with weather – and immediately one realises how vital it is to modern life. I’d gave been by sooner if it hadn’t been for that. I’ve been thinking of you and Don, and my other East Coast blogging friends all day. Stay safe xxx
Continuing my prayers for everyone on the east coast!
Stay safe!!! I will keep you all in my thoughts as you weather the storm! pam
Prayers going up for everyone in the path of this storm! I must agree with you that weather patterns have changed and I know its how we live as a planet! Keep safe! We all wait to hear from you.
Big Hugs, Linda
We are thinking of all the humans and critters along the coast and inland.
My father and I bounced climate change around thoroughly some time before his death. I agree climate change exists normally on its own, but no one is going to convince me humans haven’t thrown a monkey wrench into it!
Claudia, having lived in FL for many years and ridden out many a storm, I understand the apprehension, fear and tension of waiting for the unknown. Will be thinking of you and all who are in the path of this tremendous and surprising storm. Ann
Claudia, I have been thinking of you and other blogging friends in the storm’s path. Hope you are safe. Let us hear from you when you can.
XO,
Sheila
Claudia,
It sounds like you’ve done all you can do to make your house secure…you’re in my thoughts and prayers, stay safe. Very smart to move your mattress downstairs.
God bless
:)
Lori
Fingers and toes crossed for you – stay safe
I’m watching BBC News about Hurricane Sandy. Oh, it’s awful! You are in my prayers.
I’m relieved you came through it all, Claudia. xxx