Pray for the Best, Plan for the Worst

The news media are declaring Hurricane sandy to be a storm of historic and epic proportions. A disaster unlike any we have ever seen in our lifetime. I scoff at such predictions and suspect that the excessive hype is secretly promoted and paid for by the milk, bread, toilet paper and flashlight industries.

But ignoring a real possibility is foolish, so I'm planning for the worst and praying for the best.

Confidence is preparation. Everything else is beyond your control. -Richard Kline

I think this is the 4th or 5th Hurricane since we moved to Maryland's eastern shore in 1997.

Since then I bought a really big chain saw and have cut up no less than 12 trees. About half of those were downed by the various storms over the years. The others just died and had to be felled. Don't get me wrong, I love trees and hate to see them go. But there are still 3 within smashing distance of our house. These are always a source of worry. Although healthy, you never know what 10 inches of rain and 60-70 mph winds might do.

Aren't the fall colors beautiful? See that big tree next to the driveway?

I spent most of the day yesterday preparing for what I do have control over. Filled the cars with gas. Serviced the generator (yes we did buy it for Y2K, didn't need it for that but have used it many times since for power outages). Stocked up on food.

I even made skylight covers.

Not that they would stop a tree, but possibly prevent a broken skylight from falling branches.

Hauled these 2 things plus 8 - 40 lb bags of sand up a ladder.

Of course what does a dog care about all this?
Reilly just wants me to throw the chucker.

And I suppose ignorance really is bliss. Don't they look blissful?

So we are ready. I'll let you all know how we fare on the other end.
Before it gets really bad we do have an evacuation plan. Some friends invited us to their house, even the dogs. Not sure how their cat will like that.

Stay safe out there!