Let the dog in!

I hesitate writing before I am sure we are in the clear, but so far we have power tonight! Winds gusted to 40mph this afternoon, but it has quieted down, the lull before the storm? We start tensing up like a bad dog seeing that rolled up newspaper. Power outage, please don’t hit us! Squint, squint.

My DH is Mr. Prepared, so we have portable heater, generator, and emergency food and water (our house has no water with power outages). But, he says, the ferry tonight had rudder problems so he’ll be late. Rudder problems?? But I NEED you here!! It doesn’t breakdown often, but I bet there are grumpy crowds at the Seattle terminal, muttering under their breath. I bet there are grumpy mommies on this side, muttering too (oh? you are having a drink at IVAR’S while I have carrots thrown into my hair? Shall we count this as a boys’ night out??).

At least we have ferry service. The Port Townsend ferry closed down completely for the night. Isn’t weather fun? On Douglas Island in Alaska, they get cold, fierce winds called Taku winds, 100mph+. Windows would bow and break; roofs get ripped off. Add just 60mph winds to icy roads, and you can see some entertaining ice skaters coming out of the bars at night, especially the small-sized customers (see, dieting IS bad!). Count yourself lucky if older model cars had been parked nearby, the kind with handle-shaped, metal handles. That way, as you sail by on the ice (down coat = sail), you can grab on and flap in the wind while you catch your breath for your next tact. A live air hockey puck. I know a petite woman there who puts spare changes or rocks in her pockets on windy days. Interestingly, last month winds ripped the roof off of a National Weather Service office in Yakutat, Alaska. Rut ro!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we wait…..for The Storm to come. For the ferry to run again. For a revised menu for the kid?

“But, Mommy, I didn’t order carrots tonight.” Doesn’t she know what happens if you send your food back to the kitchen?* Daddy, come quick!

*see the nonfiction book, Kitchen Confidential by A. Bourdain

[This post can also be found at Bainbridge Breezes.]

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