Gustav: The Waiting
Aug 29th, 2008 by Nola
On this, the three year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we have:
- procured a generator.
- stocked up on food stuffs (including booze).
- filtered lots of water.
- gathered flashlights and batteries, hurricane lanterns, candles, fans, a radio, our satellite radio, and the contraflow map.
- filled one car with gas and parked the other in a high and safe garage.
- assembled phone numbers of friends, families and neighbors.
- secured several options for places to go in the event we need to leave.
- packed all photo albums and stored them in a safe, dry place for the duration of the storm.
- prepared checklists of what to pack if we leave.
- called Vet to get pets’ rabies documentation in the event they get boarded.
- prepped my office and CS’s shop.
And now, we wait. We wait to see whether we will stay or go. This decision is likely to be made Sunday. Tomorrow, we will wait some more. What I resist my damnedest to do is watch the Weather Channel or the local news for the next 30 or so hours. They will know nothing concrete until Sunday. So why risk my cuticles, my nerves, my very sanity for the media to churn this story? I can’t and won’t do it.
So, what does one do when the majority of the city is leaving in droves and the nervous energy is all but electric? I read, play with Sun, nap, twitter, watch TV, span time with CS, call family and friends. My mind stays on the weather. Doubt creeps in—I start to get unnerved when the city really thins out. One of my four neighbors has left already. But I let reason and season guide me. I am stubborn but ultimately am more reasonable than stubborn. And my family members, all born-and-raised New Orleanians, know when to leave and how to stay and be safe. I trust their seasoned experience far more than all the weathermen combined.
This waiting sure gives new meaning to “long holiday weekend.”
Brother Martin is beating East Jefferson, 32-0 in the EJ Jamboree and there’s another half-game after this. consensus is everyone is waiting till tomorrow night to make a final decision.
and nobody is overly concerned until then!
YatPundit’s last blog post..Politicizing NASA as a scare tactic
Yep. Waiting and seeing here, too. Northshore-style. Escape route planned, full tank of gas, some, but probably not enough, booze. Have been invited to stay at a home with a natural gas-powered generator, in case things are bad, but not the worst.
Pontchartrain Pete’s last blog post..One K A Day, Day 21: Signs
Well, I already tweeted this, but again, I am thinking, praying of y’all. Praying Gustav sidetracks the Loop Current or whatever. No one up here in SC is overly concerned, but I have y’all in my heart every moment. Sorry to get all emotional, could be the prosecco talking! Keep us posted! I will be thinking of you all weekend, up in the NC mountains.
suz’s last blog post..Back to the Mundane, If I Have Any Readers Left..
good for you. this is the rational approach. and while i can’t fathom what it’s like to live in the wake of katrina – not every ‘cane is going to wreak utter destruction, even in a weakened area. there is no need to borrow trouble. que sera, sera.
my guess? gustav will peter out or not land near new orleans … just the perverseness of the imp.
Good for you. If I wasn’t moving, I would have stayed too. Probably came over and brought you brownies. Because knowing me, I would have baked a lot of desserts while waiting. Keep safe!
Jane Moneypenny’s last blog post..My Fickle Friend
And keep in touch!!
Jane Moneypenny’s last blog post..My Fickle Friend
I do not envy you the waiting. Do you enjoy football? Since they’ve moved up the LSU game to 10am, perhaps that could distract you some tomorrow? It sounds like you are prepared, and calm, and there isn’t much more you could do.
saintseester’s last blog post..8/29
And I forgot, come to Austin if you want something different.
Jane Moneypenny’s last blog post..My Fickle Friend
Very good list. Hope all is well. A safe passage through the storm.
lilalia’s last blog post..Creating a Dialog
I’ve been reading the big breaking news headlines over here and they DO make me worry.
Please stay safe.
Xbox4NappyRash’s last blog post..A man’s work is never done
Doing much the same thing over here!
pistolette’s last blog post..The Cone of Doooooooom!
You’ve got booze, you’ll be fine. Maybe you can invent the Gustav martini over the weekend….
You are welcome in NY,,,we never get hurricanes here. Massive snowstorms yes, hurricanes, not so much.
And if the rest of the city is leaving in droves now, the highways will be clear on Sunday.
Stay safe no matter what you decide to do! it is eerie round my hood…kinda quiet. Neighbors gone. Will be leaving here in about 5 hours….
stacey’s last blog post..Gustav
Thinking of you.
Be safe.
Moondance’s last blog post..Treading Water
I will be keeping up with, but don’t wait too late to leave
patrice’s last blog post..Random thoughts…
Well, I have tons of cookies. Trying to save some stuff from the freezer. Most stuff can go. I am going have to remember that garbage trick. Don’t want to ruin my fancy fridge.
SoMo’s last blog post..Comedy Time with Sam
Do what you feel is best. JUST STAY SAFE and update us all! My immediate family is already in Shreveport…but my aunt in Jefferson is going to ride this one out.
jen’s last blog post..Kenny was A-W-E-S-O-M-E!