As we waited for Hurricane Sandy to wind down, I wanted to distract my family from it as much as possible. So during the worst of the winds (and while secretly praying the windows didn't get blown in and the neighbor's tree stayed rooted) we sat in the kitchen working on a family project--assembling a propane grill. Putting together grills is much easier than it used to be, but there are still plenty of parts and too many opportunities for jokes about what gets connected to the ham bone. (Ever hear the "Dem Bones" song? "The knee bone connected to the thigh bone"???) Oh well my kids didn't know it either.
In addition to the project, there was general goofiness. Things like reminding the kids to let me know if anything valuable blew into the yard--finders keepers! And telling my son (repeatedly) if he needed to go to the bathroom he would have to go outside and use the Euphemism. Fortunately he is familiar with Halloween is Grinch Night, the story of little Euchariah Who getting blown away by the wind when he went outside to use the outhouse.
Now that I think about it, except for putting together the grill (in case the power went out) and the sound of the wind, it was pretty much a normal day at our house.
We were very, very lucky. I hope you, your family, and friends who were in Sandy's path are all safe and sound.
I am glad that your home wasn't hit by sandy!! I saw on the news this am people in. Ny and nj waiting hours for gas, waiting blocks and blocks for the bus!
ReplyDeleteThe eye of the storm passed fairly close to DC before heading north. We didn't get a water surge because of the direction of the wind vs. our geography. I think our wind damage was limited because we had a huge, freak storm hit in July. It knocked down hundreds of trees. Having the weak trees thinned that way must have helped us with Sandy.
DeleteI'm glad to hear your family is safe and sound, Rick! You are a good dad for keeping everyone's mind off the storm. The last time a grill got assembled around here was three years ago. Kellen and Jay were putting it together for the pre-wedding dinner we were having at our house. There were A LOT of bad words spoken, and they never did get the button you push to start it working. :-)
ReplyDeleteHaha, I love that story. In the past I've gone off by myself to assemble grills so my bad words wouldn't be heard. But this one was relatively simple. Only 12 steps.
DeleteI'm glad y'all are alright - are you back to work? PS - The Big Bang Theory episode last night was hilarious!
ReplyDeleteYes! It was great...Dr. Loser and what do Sheldon Cooper and a black hole have in common? lol
DeleteI am so glad to hear that you and your family are all right. Looking at the pictures of the devastation, it makes me so grateful that we're alive and ok.
ReplyDeleteGlad no one got blown away by the wind!
Me too! I'm glad all my Who friends are okay. :)
DeleteIt is good to hear that you and your family are safe and sound!! I couldn't follow the news cause my TV broke... and I'm not a fan of reading news online XD My friend's parents house in Longe Beach New York was damaged, so I'm really glad the DC area wasn't hit. And I'm sure your kids weren't afraid even for a minute with that super distraction programme :)
ReplyDeleteI was glad they didn't know there were a few moments dad was worried.
DeleteI'm so so sorry I didn't ask after you. It slipped my mind that you are located in or near New York. I often see "Bowie" and "Maryland" on my counter but due to my bad geographical location, I didn't link it to New York.
ReplyDeleteIt is good that you and your family are safe.
Thank you so much for your concern. I replied you on my post.
You needn't reply if it isn't convenient. =)
Keep safe.
PS: You can see I'm trying to normalize myself now by doing normal things.
That's okay Jo, I wouldn't have thought of it either. DC wasn't in the news because our damage was very limited. We were lucky and everything is back to normal now--and they will be for you too.
DeleteI'm so happy you and your family are safe Rick!
ReplyDeleteThanks Roma!!!
DeleteI don't know the Dem Bones song either. Is it a song the ancient Romans used to sing? :P I kid, I kid... but honestly I'm glad your family's doing good. Glad you're not in New Jersey, too coz it looks pretty bad.
ReplyDeleteAlso I hope the mainstream media doesn't forget about the even-worse aftermath in Cuba and Dominican Republic and several other places. :(
I googled it so I could answer you. Turns out it's an old spiritual song (now hear the words of the Lord). I never heard that part before, thought it was just about bones.
DeleteDamage in other places???? Just kidding. Poor Haiti seems to exist just to have Mother Nature punish it.
OMG you're staying along its path? Is there anything we can do to help? Is everything okay now?
ReplyDeleteThank you Blair, you're very sweet! We're fine in and near DC. NJ and NY got hit the hardest and need the help.
Deletei was very lucky to be in europe during this time.. hope all is good!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were out of harm's way. The storm was so huge It was still raining here when it arrived there. Just crazy!!
DeleteHey Rick. It is great to know that you guys are safe. And how awesome that you thought of a creative way to distract yourselves from thinking about that horrible hurricane.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mel! We all need distractions from time to time. :)
DeleteWe weren't in her path, and she still gave us some nasty wind still. I can't imagine how bad it was up north.
ReplyDeleteI read the storm was 900 miles wide and affected 15 states in the US--after busting through Haiti, Cuba and the Carribean. I hope the folks saying this is the new normal are wrong.
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