East Coast, the new Sodom & Gammorah?

Tuesday 08/23/11. Was in a meeting on the 12th floor when I felt the ground shake. I sat absolutely still to make sure that it was not my tired mind playing tricks on me. Within seconds a second stronger 'shake'. It was like being in a vibrating chair and the window panes rattled. My first initial reaction was..."Holy fuck a bomb just exploded!"

9/11 just being around the corner and also combined with the fact that the institution I work for has been listed as a target, it was a legitimate worry.

I grab my handbag, cell, kicked off my heels and was out the door before you could even say "fish". I was trembling like a leaf by the time I got down and out. Hundreds of us were out in the streets without a clue as to what had just happened. Networks had gone down too. Slowly we got news that we'd just been hit by a 5.9 earthquake.

Holy Mother of Turtles...an effing earthquake!

There was panic and chaos in DC. We were told to go back home because the engineers had to check for structural damages and didn't want us in the way. You didn't have to tell me twice! I wanted to go home to check on my house but traffic in DC felt like it was 9/11 all over again. Gridlocked. Where were the evacuation routes? Dammit DC!

So that was tuesday...four days later we were hit my Hurricane Irene. Another event which brought chaos. Folks were flocking to stores buying out water, batteries & canned food. Evacuation centers were set up not only for residents but also for pets.

Although by the time Irene hit the east coast she had been downgraded from a category 3 to 1, the damage she caused in her wake was almighty. We were lucky being north of DC, our area wasn't too badly affected. Downed trees and power but no flooding and large scale damage to properties & vehicles. And most certainly no deaths...thank god!

It was frightening nonetheless to hear the winds howling and the trees swaying and dancing to a rhythm of their own. My house is surrounded by loads of trees, needless to say I had a sleepless night. Apart for a few broken tree limbs, all was good.

I hear now that there's a potential Hurricane Katia & Lee brewing.... say what?!?

Stick a fork me me already cause I'm DONE!