I apologize in advance that I am a little low on topics any great importance. Many of us are in survival mode. Fortunately I am not in any immediate crisis, but I have friends who are.
Fortunately for some, their only problem is lack of electricity to power up their cellphones and other electronics. But for others, it is much, much worse. Many have lost their homes and the National Guard is still hard at work rescuing the stranded and searching for the missing.
Please give to the Red Cross if you can (www.redcross.org).
On a lighter note, I have been a little pre-occupied for the last few days unsuccessfully chasing down a giant taco. Andrew, the hot sauce idea did not work. Any other ideas about how to subdue a giant taco?
Might I suggest guacamole? If not that, some of my more disfigured kittens might be able to lure it into a trap.
ReplyDeleteBev, I have never actually hunted giant tacos, so I'm sadly out of tips. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI wish your friends the best and I hope everyone comes through this ok. :)
Be careful Bev, you are still at the beginning of this mess.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the giant taco, don’t try to run him down. You’re a Texan? Like hunting, you sit and wait, trip him up when he passes by, then tacos for all.
Andrew - They will come through just fine. ConEd is predicting that power won't be restored until Nov. 11. That's crazy. Gas has run out and apparently there is no way to pump gas...all the pumps run on electricity. No gas, no generators. Whose bright idea was that? Again, not a problem I have to deal with, but FEMA doesn't seem to be much help. But the President is campaigning again!
ReplyDeleteStanH - Yes, things are getting dicey and there has been lots of reports of looting in the places most effected. Looting for food is one thing, but for other stuff is bad. And with electricity out for all of next week too, it is only to get meaner.
ReplyDeleteOn a lighter note: I was thinking of pulling a "Bugs Bunny" and dressing up as a Giant Taco girl with long eyelashes and pico de gallo hat! Maybe that would lure him into my trap!
Bev, I did a week without power in West Virginia after we caught the tail end of some hurricane and it sucked. It wasn't dangerous, but it really sucked. My best to your friends.
ReplyDeleteI saw that about the power and the gas. That really will change the election. This is going to be interesting!
Bev, That always works in cartoons! I'd give it a shot! :)
ReplyDeleteI did read they've called out the national guard to watch things. I doubt there will be much looting.
Did anybody see the Obama-supporting Hollywood types had a big Halloween party in Manhattan last night? So much for being sensitive to the people hurt by the storm.
ReplyDeletebest of luck, Bev
ReplyDeleteDUQ - In their defense, it was a fundraiser for park restoration or something. If it has been a political fundraiser, we probably would have stormed the Bastille. Ironically though, it had a French theme and there were more than one "let them east cake" Marie Antoinettes walking around...
ReplyDeleteThanks TennJ - I am doing just fine. Now if I can only get back to work. We can't reopen our office until they restore electricity downtown. I'm getting a little stir crazy working at home.
ReplyDeleteRE: Manhattan Halloween Fundraiser -- still, if the world was fair, the media would have lambasted these people as they did Romney for turning his already planned fundraiser into a donation drive.
ReplyDeleteBev, I didn't know there were any wild tacos left in the northeast? I just assumed they were raised on farms somewhere else and trucked in.
tryanmax, But Romney was craven, don't you know? That's the difference. His charity was for common people. The Hollywoodcrats were giving money to help a rich city buy more trees. Huge difference.
ReplyDeleteWild tacos?! LOL!
tryanmax, although it's not well known, you can in fact still find wild tacos in the northern Appalachians. They avoid contact with humans, though, so you'll have to do some searching to locate them. But they're there.
ReplyDeleteThe same cannot be said of the soft-shelled variety, I'm afraid, which is officially listed as endangered and may go extinct in the wild by mid-century. Sad but true.
Yes, Andrew - There are actually three categories of Giant Taco - Wild, Farm-raised, and Artisanal. It's hard to tell to know without looking under the lettuce, but it's very hard to get that close. I think the elusive giant "artisanal" tacos are stuffed with mixed microgreens and heirloom tomatoes, but that is only folklore.
ReplyDeleteI love this site!!!
ReplyDeleteBest of non-stir-craziness to you, Bev, and prayers for your friends & neighbors!!
My aunt wondered on fb if we out here in the West TX openness had enough supplies to last without electricity, etc for very long. I would nearly immediately decamp to another location, because the idea of being stuck in the house with my grandparents and no electricity (no TV or power tools to distract g'pa and no light for g'ma to read by) is akin to the worst horror movie imaginable [last 4 words said in Grinch voice]!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wild tacos in the northern Appalachians, you say? I always wondered what Bigfoot ate.
ReplyDeleteBev, I think I hit an Artisanal Giant Taco with my car once in a national park. I was swerving to avoid a Spotted Owl Burger that jumped out at me and squirted mustard all over my windshield.
ReplyDeleterlaWTX, That's why you need one of those laptops they sell in Africa with a huge crank on the side to get you 20 seconds of power. :)
ReplyDeletetryanmax, Big Foot eats endangered species.
Bev, I was thinking of you and am glad to hear you're ok! I hope your friends and family all make it through ok, too.
ReplyDeleteCrispy, Don't encourage her, she'll just want more hurricanes! ;)
ReplyDeleterla, but can the worst horror movie be mangled up in tangled-up knots? I'm skeptical.
ReplyDeleteI'm not trying to be dumb or anything, but wanted to know if someone can explain in as few of words as possible, so that I can tell someone else who just doesn't get it (I've already tried, but don't know if I made any progress).
ReplyDeleteA comment was made to me about all the people who have been standing in line for gas which was "They knew this was coming, why weren't they prepared? And now they are trying to find gas? How stupid is that?"
I need somebody else's explanation, maybe Bev's, or anyone who'd like to comment.
Jen, It would probably help if you told us what side you are on in this apparent debate.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, I realize that there are some people who don't prepare (think 'Katrina'), and think that they are going to be taken care of. From what I have seen/heard, since it has been a few days, there are some who have generators, or need to get somewhere, and not everyone being 'unprepared'--which is the side I am on.
ReplyDeleteMy friend, who made this comment, is reacting to what she was seeing on TV (The Today show for example), and is lumping everyone in the 'unprepared' category.
Does this help? I figured Bev could comment on what was going on because she is there. Does she (Bev) think everybody was just waiting around for gov't. assistance?
Here's another example I heard today:
ReplyDeleteRUSH: Wow! Anderson Cooper sounds a little surprised that Hoboken citizens are clearing their own storm drains. “Wow, that's so great!” Anderson, what do you think happens in these disasters? Do you think government magicians show up and magically fix everything when these things happen? This why I mean they're out of touch. It's a shock to him. Well, not a shock, but he's enthused to see people helping themselves. What else are they gonna do?
I told my friend about this, and she said "I'm surprised that they even did that. Again, with her watching the MSM, that's how they portray people.
Jen, You're mixing several points. (1) Waiting for the government is stupid IF you can fix it yourself and IF you have the right to fix it. But most people will wait because they either don't know how to fix something or don't know if they have the right to fix it. You'd be a fool (and a criminal) to try to put up falling powerlines for example.
ReplyDelete(2) The media always reports on people doing things for themselves. There's no political angle there, it's called "human interest story." And it is the reporter's job to act surprised and impressed with anyone in a human interest story.
That said, cleaning out storm drains is a notorious and popular way to thin the gene pool.
(3) Lumping people together is how humans speak to each other. Otherwise you caveat everything you say to the point that your sentences become nonsense.
(4) Anyone who waits until after the disaster hits to get gas or extra food is an idiot. There's really no other way to say it. And while a couple of these people might have somehow blasted through their vast preparations after just one day, the majority of these people are just idiots who didn't think to gas up before the storm hit.
Andrew, there was more to the storm drain cleaning. I was just trying to get to the gist of it, but there were volunteers helping along with the city workers. I'm not schooled in law like you are, and depending on what it would be, I'd never even think about the criminal aspect of 'doing something', if I thought I could. Power lines? Forget it, I know better.
ReplyDeleteThin the gene pool with storm drain cleaning? Hmmmmmm, no comment. ;)
I just don't trust what the MSM says because they are really good twisting/editing/lying instead of reporting what is really going on. That being said, I really don't know what to think, and given whose mouth the comments came from, I had to write this.
I once worked it a grocery store, so I know what people do when there is a big storm warning, like as in lots of snow. It can sometimes become panic because of what was reported for the weather forecast. And, if there was another scare a few days later, the same thing would happen--shelves were wiped out. It always looked like they were planning on getting snowed in for months. Most of the time, we didn't get much snow.
All I know is, whenever there's a 30 percent chance of snow, everyone around here runs to Wal-Mart for milk, bread, and toilet paper. It would be the same if we had hurricanes, but we don't. The one thing we don't bother preparing for is earthquakes, because a) they can't be predicted, and b) when the Big One hits, we'll all be dead regardless of preparations. So.
ReplyDeleteFunny Bev, I was thinking of fixing up a Taco meal while visiting my girlfriend in King of Prussia, only to find that the Supermarket stores selling dairy didn't have the component I so desired: Sour cream. Needless to say, I still found a cheap pasta meal, but I am glad that you found some of the components.
ReplyDeleteIt's true even at the regular supermarket chain where I worked a few times while I was a Penn State student, that people panic due to everything from snow to yes, forecasted hurricanes, and often buy the very perishable items where I think, WTH?!!! If your power goes out, how are you supposed to keep that meat and cheese from spoiling in your freezer or fridge for more than a day or two?
Bev
ReplyDeleteThe best bait to lure Giant Tacos is called "el Pollo Loco".
Which I am told is Spanish meaning either a Pole in your immediate vicinity or a crazy chicken. I forget which but there are many Taco hunters of great renown in Miami and they state that "el Pollo Loco" whatever that is, is the best for Tacos.
If you don't have an "el Pollo Loco" I think la Ropa Vieja will do. But given the disaster in NY maybe good rope is in short suppy.
I guess how you prepare for emergencies depends on your perspective. Folks here on the hurricane prone Outer Banks know to stock up on water, batteries, candles, gas for the car and/or generator and non-perishables before hand. It's actually "old hat" for us, so to speak.
ReplyDeleteFolks up north get way more snow than us, but hurricanes not so much, so they aren't quite as prepared for how bad it can be.
Back in 2003 when our area was hit by Hurricane Isabel, we were without power for about 5 days. We evacuated to South Carolina and actually only had to deal with about 3 days without power. We are on a well, but because we knew ahead that we couldn't get water without power, my husband attached a hand pump to our well so we had water to flush the toilets with. We had a propane camp stove, so we were able to cook up some of the frozen veggies that were thawing in our freezer and we made out fine. Again, it all comes down to being prepared.
We have since bought a generator to at least keep the refrigerators going so we don't lose our food and to run the water pump.
By the way, I heard on Fox & Friends this morning that NYC has set up generators to be used for the marathon this weekend. Um, I'm no genius, but I think those generators could be better used to power some of those gas stations instead of getting ready for a marathon, but what do I know?
I'm glad you're doing okay Bev and my heart goes out to everyone up there having to deal with this mess.
Indi - your espanol is ummmm interesting.
ReplyDeleteT-Rav: I'm pretty sure there is mangling in horror movies, whether it's into tangled up knots, I am not sure - I rarely watch them.
RE Anderson Cooper: he's a twit. and they pay him to be one. But he's one of the least twitty of the MSM twits - usually.
Indi - We just have Giant Tacos running wild in the streets since the Hurricane. Apparently there is no way to catch them...
ReplyDeleterlaWTX - I hear they have cancelled Anderson Coopers' daytime talk show.
*Hugs* to you, Bev.
ReplyDeleteBut...did I read correctly this morning? The NYC marathon is still being held this weekend?! Do my eyes deceive me?
TJ, Isn't it amazing what the priorities are for some people? That they would worry about a marathon while parts of the city are flooded really makes me wonder about Mayor Chavez.
ReplyDeleteBut hey, he endorsed Obama... so it's all forgiven. //rolls eyes
I'm sure that there is an influx of $$$ from the Marathon so that makes more sense to have it than to cancel it. Not that I want to give El Mayor any credit...
ReplyDeleteThe New York Marathon. If Bloomberg had delayed this for about a month or 2 or even the spring then it could've been a big "The Big Apple is Back!" moment instead its going to be seen as an example of waste and a source of resentment and anger among the people of New York City.
ReplyDeleteMayor Bloomberg, prove to New York and America that you have at least a modicum of intelligence and CANCEL THIS EVENT! Hand over the generators so they can be used to help bring power back to a city on the BRINK OF COLLAPSE!!!
My biggest fear is that this devastation and the waste of using the resources for the marathon could result in violence.
ReplyDeletePeople seem pretty pi$$ed about the marathon and it would not be surprising to see some marathon runners bearing the brunt of it. God help the city if it gets out of control.
Add this to the class warfare anger the left (as well as some NY mags) has been pushing and the potential anger over a Romney victory; you could be looking at an explosion of violence in the heart of world's greatest city.
OK - read more about the Marathon and I retract my former statement that assumed (silly me) that there was some sense behind the decision and process...
ReplyDeleterlaWTX, I have no idea what Bloomberg's thinking except that he likes the marathon. But this is no time to take away all the cops and other workers needed to clean up the city and get it running again.
ReplyDeleteKit, I doubt it will turn violent, but this was a bad decision. You don't play until you finish working, especially when 12 million people depend on you.
ReplyDeleteThe Marathon...Bloomberg swears it will not take away any resources from finding bodies and stuff. And the Roadrunner Society or whoever the heck they are who run the marathyon have promised to donate $1million dollars for relief and will advertise raising money for the Red Cross (who have really screwed up this disaster by the way). There are even runners who are staging a boycott. Hotels are refusing to honor reservations to runners if they have displaced Sandy victims.
ReplyDeleteI think it stupid. I understand that we "need this to move forward", however the bodies are piling up and there are many neighborhoods in NY/NJ who need help NOW, not telethons. You know, like they have no heat, no water, no food, and no electricity and no resources except the media to get help. And another storm is predicted for next week - a Nor'Easter. Bad move. They are lying when they said that there is no damage along the route...there are businesses all along 1st Avenue in Manhattan that have been closed since Sunday and will not get power until tomorrow evening. They cannot possibly clean up and restocked by Sunday morning.
BUt they will have to cancel, there is no choice to postpone. Many of the runners of from out of town. But I am sure when it is all over and the race is over, we will all go "okay, I'm glad we went ahead and did that."
Bev, Yahoo is reporting they just cancelled it.
ReplyDeleteI just read that Andrew! Finally sanity!!
ReplyDelete