[cromag]

Nice day, today!

But ... this is the last week of October. Now, I like October, I really do. I like the leaves changing color, the earlier sunsets, the chill in the air. Heck, my birthday is in October!

However, October has it in for me! In the last two years October has tried to kill me as it left. In 2011 we had a blizzard that brought down a bunch of trees in the yard and tore the electric service wires off the house -- along with a bit of the roof and some siding. We went a week without electricity. No lights, no heat, and (since we have a well) no water.

Then, last year, just as October was getting ready to leave, we got hit by Sandy -- who seemed to have a particular grudge against New Jersey. All the weak trees were already down from 2011, but Sandy tore the storm door off and knocked down more healthy trees than we could count. (Seriously! Firewood is very, very cheap this year!) We had no traffic lights in town for five days, no electricity at home for 8 days, and no internet connection for two weeks.

So, much as I like October, I'm taking some simple precautions. I've got a pallet of water jugs in the garage, canned goods in the basement, and stacks of paper plates and plastic utensils. I've got a big box of batteries and my flashlights are handy.


And I've been thinking of taking short vacation this week. Maybe a nice visit to Indiana ...