Sichy

They're tiny and they're teeny
Much smaller than a beany
They never can be seeny
The Atoms Family

Together they make gasses
And liquids like molasses
And all the solid masses
The Atoms Family

Neutrons can be found
Where protons hang around
Electrons they surround
The Atoms family

Chorus:

They're so small
(snap, snap)
They're round like a ball
(snap, snap)
They make up the air
They're everywhere
Can't see em at all
(snap, snap)

That's the song Morgan and Alexis were singing last night.

In retrospect, I have discovered two more travesties.

1.) I left off Warren Zevon from my playlist. HOW COULD I FORGET WEREWOLVES OF LONDON????

2.) not_hothead_yet pointed out...There were no candy corns. None. Zero. Zip.

What is WRONG with this, people?

After some serious marathon travel, I had time to sit down and resize pics.

Behold...The Wicked Weekend



( Let's Defy some Gravity! )

My connection is having major problems. I thought, at first, that it was the wireless that was dropping. The study does tend to get a little interference so I just assumed that's what it was.

However, I realized that my cable modem itself has been dropping. Cox is coming on Tuesday. They said they do see "abnormal levels" coming over my line.

I've tried taking off the splitter that goes to the TV and it is still dropping connection every 2-3 minutes. It's a pain in the ass.

So, I'm around, just frustrating as all hell to get online.

A further favor from an earlier post.

If you don't support me, whatever you do, don't wish me dead. I'm sorry, but I firmly believe that negativity such as "You're just walking into a bullet" and "You're stupid if you think you won't die" can be completely prophetic.

If you have those thoughts, keep em to yourself. I don't wanna hear them. I am well aware and even a little scared, myself. But don't fucking wish me dead.

That is all.

Just went to retrieve one of the shutters out of the yard. While I was out there, I noticed the street looked funny. The water is up over the storm drain. Shin deep in the center of the street. Knee deep by the curb. This neighborhood doesn't flood. REAL hard for it to with the damn and all draining off into Jones Creek. I figure if the rain will slack up we will drain off okay. BUT...

As I was going into the bathroom to get a towel to dry off with...the toilet gurgled at me. I looked. Water is gurgling and bubbling and rising in the bathrooms.

This reminds me of Andrew. It's so much different than Katrina as we are on the Eastern side of it this time. The winds are only about 30 - 40 mph, but they are pretty steady and the rain is torrential.

Power flickers and flashes, but haven't had a full on outage yet. *keeps fingers crossed*

Okay. Shit. This looks bad. Real bad. The current NCEP model and forecast track and latest satellite loop are putting us nearer and nearer the eastern side of this storm. Bad fucking place to be.

This hurricane season is not only breaking records but it's breaking people. Not only in the form of injury and death, but financially and emotionally. Everyone is bickering and uptight (including me) and everything is going to hell in a handbasket 'round here.

To old friends! Sometimes they surprise you.

In other news...we're watching Rita. I'm starting to get this urge to go to a bar. Hurricanes, Ritas...all good drinks. Unfortunately, also really not something I can handle right now. This state can't take anymore. With each new track it goes a little further east. Looks like it might pay a visit to SouthWest Louisiana.

I read a little bit ago that if it hits Texas, it will be the first major hurricane to do so since Alicia in 1982. That was the one we evac'ed last minute for. It put 40 feet of a tree into my bed. It's what got me interested in the weather in the first place. I mean, I'd liked thunderstorms from the time I was a baby, but it really piqued my interest.

Anyhow...that's life in Louisiana today. Watching and waiting. Oh, and picture taking.

( Queer Guitars and Prom Dresses )

I sit here having just checked the latest update on Ophelia.

I am having a terrible time resolving my feelings about things right now.

You all know of my love for hurricanes. I've always stated right up front that while I love mother nature and, more specifically, hurricanes, I do not like seeing anyone lose life or property. Unfortunately, Katrina, while a beautiful storm, did so much damage to life as I know it that I'm starting to take this shit a little personally.

Now Ophelia is headed for my boys.

What usually spares New Orleans and Jacksonville are these pressure fronts. Everytime a storm pops up it either rides straight up the coast or crosses the peninsula of Florida and smacks into the panhandle. On a rare occasion it steamrolls into Texas. But usually the Louisiana Coast and the Jacksonville area are spared the majority of the storms. Obviously, this is not the case this year.

Katrina has, for the forseeable future, really changed life here in the Baton Rouge area. Today it took me 3 hours to go about 8 miles. So many people. While we definately welcome the refugees from New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Baton Rouge is ill equipped for it. We are now the most populous city in Louisiana. But with all the people, we didn't get all the roads or housing or businesses. Houses that have yet to have the foundation poured are being sold. There's nothing to rent for miles around.

Now Ophelia is heading for my boys. Nathan and Madison. She's a baby. A not-so-well organized Tropical Storm. But my boys, you see, they live on an island. I'm worried about them. Not because this is an intense storm, but because these storms are really hitting home.

I took some cleaning supplies to Charlotte today. That was what took me 3 hours. The good news was that their house wasn't horrendously damaged. However, the area is unlivable for several months at the very best. So they will keep their rented place here. Totally uprooted.

The selfish side of me (which most of you know is pretty small), is glad she's here in town. It's good to see old friends.

Gaylen has yet to make contact. I hear rumor that he is alive and well and in town. But text messages have gone unanswered and I don't have an email address for him.

This hurricane season has found me a little less than pleased at the storms I'm seeing. It's breaking records left and right and if it keeps up, we may well run out of names.

Please, Ophelia, don't be too hard on my boys. Just be beautiful offshore and bring them waves upon which to surf and a cool breeze to ease their day.

~Holly

Finally time to sit down and write a respectable update. I’ve been dizzy all day today and now I am happily laying on the couch listening to Kate, Keith and Cat playing munchkin. But I didn’t really feel up to the task of sitting upright and thinking.

I figured I’d shed some light on the last few days.


( Warning...This is really long )

Folks, it's all over the news. So I don't think I really need, nor do I really want to go deeply into it.

Suffice it to say, New Orleans will likely never be the same again. They are going to get ass-raped.

I'm about to venture out into the mass traffic jam that is Baton Rouge and pick up my prescriptions and hit the bank.

I'm worried. You guys know me. I love a good storm. But Katrina is a Bad Ass Bitch and I don't know what to expect.

This time, I don't think Louisiana is going to dodge the bullet.

I'll update when I can. Me and the kids are safe and sound and have plenty of stuff in the event of a loss of power.