Surviving Edouard

It appears we are going to survive Tropical Storm Edouard. I have to say this is, in large part, due to our prudence and preparedness for this situation. After noticing several gas stations were lined up to the streets yesterday, I took mental note that filling up the car seems to be the thing to do when a storm is approaching. So Chad and I waited in line to fill up the car. I really don't know why. We weren't evacuating. Even if the storm grew unexpectedly stronger it would be too late to go anywhere at that point. We also drug every item off the deck and porch and put it in the garage.

Then, we decided we'd better stop at Walgreens (seemed less crazy than the grocery stores) and get a few things in case the electricity went out:

The diet of champions. We have a gas stove. I could have made steamed veggies and baked fish. I don't know why, but "junk" seems like more appropriate survival food. Besides, when else are you going to have an excuse to by 12 packages of Ramen for $2.00?

Businesses closed early yesterday. Our school district shut down until Wednesday at noon. A few of our neighbors boarded their windows, but we decided we weren't going to. The rain and wind started around 6 a.m. and continues now as I type this, though it has let up significantly. The worst wind seemed to be from about 9-11 this morning. Our neighbors palms were pretty torn up, but our only damage was this itty bitty piece of shingle that came off the roof:

At some point during all of the rain, Chad noticed that a breaker was blown in the garage. He decided this "must be fixed right now." I think he just wanted an excuse to play in the rain. I talked him into grabbing the newspaper while he was out there:

Finally, after the rain let up a bit, it seemed only appropriate that we hold a competitive boat race. So over our Ramen lunch (chicken flavor), we discussed the rules of the event: no wood and only items which could be located in the kitchen. We set to work and this is what we each came up with.

Mine is the one with the protective bubble and Chad's is the pointy thing. Chad one the first race. (The bubble was not as effective as one would think.) After some minor adjustments on my part, Chad won the second race, also. Once we picked a longer route we discovered the real design flaw in his creation: Longer race + deeper water = taking on water. The Party Barge won the last race...we decided my craft was more of a marathon racer where as Chad's was more of a sprinter.

All in all, we have received a LOT of rain, a little wind, and no damage. It's been like a snow day except with rain instead. We never did lose electricity. It's actually been fun. I'm considering "We Survived Edouard" t-shirts. Chad is less excited about that idea. Next up on the agenda is couch time and naps. I might even cook something healthy for dinner now that the crisis has been adverted.