255,000 homes are still without power. It's raining. Schools are still closed.
My normal commute of 30 minutes took almost 90 this morning. An hour to move 1.4 miles. Creeping along.
The ships have been coming back into the shipyard all morning. I have a beautiful view of the Elizabeth River from my office window. They go out to sea during hurricanes.
Have about 6 inches of ribbing done for Obi.
But did you see the new The Wool Connection catalog??? Simply Knit 2 is out and they have put together sweater and scarf kits. I'm in love with Toscana.
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Monday, September 22, 2003
What is normal?
Schools are closed. 1/2 million homes are still without power. 200 homes destroyed in Portsmouth. Millions in damage all over the area.
The MidTown tunnel is closed for at least a month, if not longer. They have to drain, shovel out the debris (which include fish and a VDOT truck) then check for structural damage. 40,000 vehicles use that tunnel during rush hours. I will be impacted.
Traffic into downtown Norfolk was light. The bank I work for has water, ice and a free lunch for associates.
We're expecting rain for the rest of the week.
The MidTown tunnel is closed for at least a month, if not longer. They have to drain, shovel out the debris (which include fish and a VDOT truck) then check for structural damage. 40,000 vehicles use that tunnel during rush hours. I will be impacted.
Traffic into downtown Norfolk was light. The bank I work for has water, ice and a free lunch for associates.
We're expecting rain for the rest of the week.
Isabel: The Hurricane
My journal: September 18th - 20th
Thursday, September 18th
6:00 a.m AccuWeather predicts land fall for Isabel at the Outer Banks at Noon today. We should expect very high tides with 3-5' over seawalls. Norfolk/Portsmouth downtown areas should expect flooding of 5' or more.
Right now it is windy and raining in my area of Chesapeake. Bailey went to the back yard with me but only stayed about a minute. He won't leave my side.
6:30 a.m. Took a shower and dried my hair debated on using a curling iron...I did...must look nice while waiting out a hurricane.
I also packed a few clothes, just in case. Course a book (Last Bride in Ballymuir) and my knitting (red hat and collared shawl).
7:30 a.m. Bailey has to go outside but he's afraid. So bundled up and carried him to the front yard. He finished quickly and we ran inside. The wind has picked up but not so much rain.
Drank a cup of coffee and read the paper. Local newscasters are showing live film from VB ocean front.
8:15 a.m. Just lost electricity. Damn. Was just about to fix a second cup of coffee and toast with pepper jack pimento cheese.
Water is still warm in the kettle so had a luke warm cup of Chai Tea and bread with pepper jack pimento cheese.
Wind has picked up. I've left the front door open (with storm door closed) on the front and back. Bailey is laying by the front door watching over his neighborhood.
8:45 a.m. Moved my knitting chair to the sliding glass doors which face my back yard. The better to see ya know. The way my townhouse is situated I have a small patio that is protected by two walls. I can stand out there and not get wet. My back yard backs up to a golf course. The "rough" is between me and the 11th hole. Lots of big trees.
Pulled out the wool for my red felted Fiber Trends hat and casted on.
No flooding in streets or backyard. Still have dial tone on phone.
9:50 a.m. There is a corner on the front porch that is not wet. Right up against the kitchen window.
A few cars have driven by. All I can hear is the wind.
I've named my red felted hat....Windy
10:50 a.m. Strange how I'm checking the clock every hour about the same time.
The rain has eased some but the wind is doing a hurricane dance whipping trees this way and that.
I've opened the sliding glass door to get some air in the house. My little secluded area is still protected. It will be interesting to see what happens when the hurricane passes over and the winds shift.
12:10 p.m. Turned on the radio. Have a little one that picks up local TV stations. They're reporting Nags Head ocean road has broken up, pier at VB is gone, electricity is off all over the area, worse time will be between 5-8 p.m this evening.
Had a tuna salad sandwich for lunch.
1:30 ish p.m. Turned off the radio. Tired of the noise. Almost finished "Windy".
No flooding in the backyard or front. Some limbs are blowing around the golf course but I can't see any downed trees. My crepe myrtles are still standing but the little one in the front is taking a beating.
3:20 p.m. Just woke up from a nap! Bailey and I were cuddled under a throw.
I finished "Windy" before my nap and it's sitting with My Constant Companion and Tomato Soup waiting for felting.
Wind has really picked up. Radio/TV says sustained winds of 55 mph and many power lines are down. They're also telling people not to touch the lines because they could still be live. Tides now expected to be 8' over normal now. Losing lots of leaves and bigger limbs on the golf course.
6:30ish p.m. Finished dinner. The rest of the tuna salad, crackers, chocolate chip cookies.
Radio/TV reporting 1.5 million without power. Two tunnels have flooded: Midtown and West Bound Downtown....this is NOT good. They are the major links between Norfolk and Portsmouth. How did this happen?!? Town Point Park is under water.
The wind has shifted and the back yard is now getting the brunt of the wind. I heard a tree go over earlier. Can't see it from any of my windows.
Casted on for the "Collared Shawl" from The Purl Stitch. I'm using alpaca. Think I'll call it Isabel . Should have copied the chart. It's sooo tiny to see in the twilight.
8:30 p.m. Don't knit in the dark when you don't know and can't see the pattern. LOL
Flashlights are on. Wind and rain have died down quite a bit. Bailey is asking to go out. His instincts are telling him it's over.
11:25 p.m. Half way through "The Last Bride of Ballymuir". Romance.
Took Bailey out front for a short walk down the block. Just a drizzle and light rain. Trees are down. What I could see is not good. Hear a few generators.
I'm going to bed. I'm praying what I'm hearing on the radio/TV is exaggeration.
Friday, September 19th
3:00 p.m. Slept well. Woke at 6:30, no electricity or phone. Brushed my teeth, washed my face, threw on my shorts, t-shirt and tennis shoes. The sun is just lighting the sky.
Bailey and I walked every where. He was checking out his neighborhood. Chimney's are gone, trees split in half, trees upended. Only 3 houses had trees fall onto them. My neighborhood was very lucky.
I spent the morning raking, sweeping, talking to neighbors.
The houses across the street have NO signs of hurricane damage in the front...no limbs, no leaves, nothing. Nature.
We got power back about 11:00 and phone and cable. I emptied the fridge. The freezer did well. I packed it with bags of ice so everything stayed frozen.
Talked to my family and a few friends. My mother lives in an old house with big trees and lots of power lines. She never lost electricity! My brother lost electricity but has gas hot water and cooking. My sister lost her electrical box...the thing on the outside of the house...blew off. That doesn't sound good. Most of my friends were still with out power but expected it soon, after all they have underground cables. Ewe Knit Kits and Yarn is closed...no power at the shop or her home.
Saturday, September 20th
12:30 p.m. I left at 10:00 this morning to run to Harris Teeter. My neighborhood is getting back into shape. Piles of limbs and leaves line the curb.
I had to move into the left hand lane at Volvo and Eden Way...the line of cars waiting for gas at the Fake 7/11 was very long....I wondered why?????
Target and Harris Teeter were the only stores open in the shopping center. Best Buy, Babies R Us, Steinmart, Pier 1, Barnes and Noble were closed. Harris Teeter was giving away ice. The line was long. HT had a generator that kept the cold food cold. So I picked up a few things and went home.
Life is back to normal for me.
Sunday, September 21st
Life is normal. Walked Bailey, read the paper, washed clothes, raked a few more leaves, knitted, read.
Finished seaming Obi....it fits very nicely. Now to knit the front ribbing. Should go fast. K1,P1 28 times! Emmy's are on so I'll get a lot done.
1 million still without power.
Thursday, September 18th
6:00 a.m AccuWeather predicts land fall for Isabel at the Outer Banks at Noon today. We should expect very high tides with 3-5' over seawalls. Norfolk/Portsmouth downtown areas should expect flooding of 5' or more.
Right now it is windy and raining in my area of Chesapeake. Bailey went to the back yard with me but only stayed about a minute. He won't leave my side.
6:30 a.m. Took a shower and dried my hair debated on using a curling iron...I did...must look nice while waiting out a hurricane.
I also packed a few clothes, just in case. Course a book (Last Bride in Ballymuir) and my knitting (red hat and collared shawl).
7:30 a.m. Bailey has to go outside but he's afraid. So bundled up and carried him to the front yard. He finished quickly and we ran inside. The wind has picked up but not so much rain.
Drank a cup of coffee and read the paper. Local newscasters are showing live film from VB ocean front.
8:15 a.m. Just lost electricity. Damn. Was just about to fix a second cup of coffee and toast with pepper jack pimento cheese.
Water is still warm in the kettle so had a luke warm cup of Chai Tea and bread with pepper jack pimento cheese.
Wind has picked up. I've left the front door open (with storm door closed) on the front and back. Bailey is laying by the front door watching over his neighborhood.
8:45 a.m. Moved my knitting chair to the sliding glass doors which face my back yard. The better to see ya know. The way my townhouse is situated I have a small patio that is protected by two walls. I can stand out there and not get wet. My back yard backs up to a golf course. The "rough" is between me and the 11th hole. Lots of big trees.
Pulled out the wool for my red felted Fiber Trends hat and casted on.
No flooding in streets or backyard. Still have dial tone on phone.
9:50 a.m. There is a corner on the front porch that is not wet. Right up against the kitchen window.
A few cars have driven by. All I can hear is the wind.
I've named my red felted hat....Windy
10:50 a.m. Strange how I'm checking the clock every hour about the same time.
The rain has eased some but the wind is doing a hurricane dance whipping trees this way and that.
I've opened the sliding glass door to get some air in the house. My little secluded area is still protected. It will be interesting to see what happens when the hurricane passes over and the winds shift.
12:10 p.m. Turned on the radio. Have a little one that picks up local TV stations. They're reporting Nags Head ocean road has broken up, pier at VB is gone, electricity is off all over the area, worse time will be between 5-8 p.m this evening.
Had a tuna salad sandwich for lunch.
1:30 ish p.m. Turned off the radio. Tired of the noise. Almost finished "Windy".
No flooding in the backyard or front. Some limbs are blowing around the golf course but I can't see any downed trees. My crepe myrtles are still standing but the little one in the front is taking a beating.
3:20 p.m. Just woke up from a nap! Bailey and I were cuddled under a throw.
I finished "Windy" before my nap and it's sitting with My Constant Companion and Tomato Soup waiting for felting.
Wind has really picked up. Radio/TV says sustained winds of 55 mph and many power lines are down. They're also telling people not to touch the lines because they could still be live. Tides now expected to be 8' over normal now. Losing lots of leaves and bigger limbs on the golf course.
6:30ish p.m. Finished dinner. The rest of the tuna salad, crackers, chocolate chip cookies.
Radio/TV reporting 1.5 million without power. Two tunnels have flooded: Midtown and West Bound Downtown....this is NOT good. They are the major links between Norfolk and Portsmouth. How did this happen?!? Town Point Park is under water.
The wind has shifted and the back yard is now getting the brunt of the wind. I heard a tree go over earlier. Can't see it from any of my windows.
Casted on for the "Collared Shawl" from The Purl Stitch. I'm using alpaca. Think I'll call it Isabel . Should have copied the chart. It's sooo tiny to see in the twilight.
8:30 p.m. Don't knit in the dark when you don't know and can't see the pattern. LOL
Flashlights are on. Wind and rain have died down quite a bit. Bailey is asking to go out. His instincts are telling him it's over.
11:25 p.m. Half way through "The Last Bride of Ballymuir". Romance.
Took Bailey out front for a short walk down the block. Just a drizzle and light rain. Trees are down. What I could see is not good. Hear a few generators.
I'm going to bed. I'm praying what I'm hearing on the radio/TV is exaggeration.
Friday, September 19th
3:00 p.m. Slept well. Woke at 6:30, no electricity or phone. Brushed my teeth, washed my face, threw on my shorts, t-shirt and tennis shoes. The sun is just lighting the sky.
Bailey and I walked every where. He was checking out his neighborhood. Chimney's are gone, trees split in half, trees upended. Only 3 houses had trees fall onto them. My neighborhood was very lucky.
I spent the morning raking, sweeping, talking to neighbors.
The houses across the street have NO signs of hurricane damage in the front...no limbs, no leaves, nothing. Nature.
We got power back about 11:00 and phone and cable. I emptied the fridge. The freezer did well. I packed it with bags of ice so everything stayed frozen.
Talked to my family and a few friends. My mother lives in an old house with big trees and lots of power lines. She never lost electricity! My brother lost electricity but has gas hot water and cooking. My sister lost her electrical box...the thing on the outside of the house...blew off. That doesn't sound good. Most of my friends were still with out power but expected it soon, after all they have underground cables. Ewe Knit Kits and Yarn is closed...no power at the shop or her home.
Saturday, September 20th
12:30 p.m. I left at 10:00 this morning to run to Harris Teeter. My neighborhood is getting back into shape. Piles of limbs and leaves line the curb.
I had to move into the left hand lane at Volvo and Eden Way...the line of cars waiting for gas at the Fake 7/11 was very long....I wondered why?????
Target and Harris Teeter were the only stores open in the shopping center. Best Buy, Babies R Us, Steinmart, Pier 1, Barnes and Noble were closed. Harris Teeter was giving away ice. The line was long. HT had a generator that kept the cold food cold. So I picked up a few things and went home.
Life is back to normal for me.
Sunday, September 21st
Life is normal. Walked Bailey, read the paper, washed clothes, raked a few more leaves, knitted, read.
Finished seaming Obi....it fits very nicely. Now to knit the front ribbing. Should go fast. K1,P1 28 times! Emmy's are on so I'll get a lot done.
1 million still without power.
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
Anticipation
This is going to sound crazy, but I'm ready for some blustery weather. I'm looking forward to being confined to my house for 24 hours. But I don't want damage to anyone or anything and I know I can't have it both. Am I making sense?
This morning was so beautiful and strange. Clear blue skies, gentle breeze, low humidity and no birds singing. So very quiet. Bailey has been plastered to my side all day.
The dark clouds arrived about 3:00 and the rain at 4:30. But it's a nice gentle rain. Bailey and I took what might be our last walk for 24 hours in it.
Latest weather report shows that Chesapeake should feel the brunt of the hurricane at 5:00 pm tomorrow.
Did anyone hear modeknits mentioned on Ellen DeGeneres show today? A pat on the back for Annie!
This morning was so beautiful and strange. Clear blue skies, gentle breeze, low humidity and no birds singing. So very quiet. Bailey has been plastered to my side all day.
The dark clouds arrived about 3:00 and the rain at 4:30. But it's a nice gentle rain. Bailey and I took what might be our last walk for 24 hours in it.
Latest weather report shows that Chesapeake should feel the brunt of the hurricane at 5:00 pm tomorrow.
Did anyone hear modeknits mentioned on Ellen DeGeneres show today? A pat on the back for Annie!
Tuesday, September 16, 2003
We were just told not to come into the office tomorrow or Thursday and probably not Friday. And that the servers would more than likely be brought down at noon tomorrow. I'm moving some files that I will need so that I can "productively work from home" to my hard drive.
And on a "physical" side...."if you have an office with windows, please put down and shut the blinds before you leave." Could someone explain to me how shutting the blinds on my windows that are on the 9th floor of a building one block from the river and facing that same river will help if the window breaks? But I'll put down and shut my blinds before I leave.
Is it more stressful preparing for a storm than actually being in one?
This evening I'll finish picking up the yard ornaments, potted plants and chairs and move them into the garage. Tomorrow I'll unplug all non-essential electrical things and check to see if my insurance papers are where they're suppose to be. Thursday I'll wait for Isabel.
I may need another bag of M&M's.
And on a "physical" side...."if you have an office with windows, please put down and shut the blinds before you leave." Could someone explain to me how shutting the blinds on my windows that are on the 9th floor of a building one block from the river and facing that same river will help if the window breaks? But I'll put down and shut my blinds before I leave.
Is it more stressful preparing for a storm than actually being in one?
This evening I'll finish picking up the yard ornaments, potted plants and chairs and move them into the garage. Tomorrow I'll unplug all non-essential electrical things and check to see if my insurance papers are where they're suppose to be. Thursday I'll wait for Isabel.
I may need another bag of M&M's.
More changes?
So Blogger is changing again? I can't keep up.
I did add TagBoard over there <---- if you want to write.
I've watched the boats/yachts/ships comming up the river all morning. All going inland out of the path of Isabel. The Navy and AirForce have sent ships and planes to safer locations.
I've been following Isabel's path here: AccuWeather
I did add TagBoard over there <---- if you want to write.
I've watched the boats/yachts/ships comming up the river all morning. All going inland out of the path of Isabel. The Navy and AirForce have sent ships and planes to safer locations.
I've been following Isabel's path here: AccuWeather
Monday, September 15, 2003
A new look.......
Couldn't figure out how to make the title bold so decided to change the template.
Finished My Constant Companion and a second Tomato Soup red hat. They'll go into the washer next.
Isabel will be visiting later this week. I'm prepared. Sesame sticks, M&M's, almonds, tuna, crackers, milk, Cheerios, diet cherry coke, water, doggie treats, People Magazine, knitting, re-read of Under the Tuscan Sun, batteries.
The weather men are too giddy.
Finished My Constant Companion and a second Tomato Soup red hat. They'll go into the washer next.
Isabel will be visiting later this week. I'm prepared. Sesame sticks, M&M's, almonds, tuna, crackers, milk, Cheerios, diet cherry coke, water, doggie treats, People Magazine, knitting, re-read of Under the Tuscan Sun, batteries.
The weather men are too giddy.
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