I Detest Hurricanes!! After watching the weather channel nonstop for 7.5 days, I have decided not to have a complete nervous breakdown over Hurricane Dennis. I will not rush to the window to peer out every single time I hear the wind pick up. Nor shall I spend hours tying down all outdoor items with rope, that will take me until next hurricane season to get undone again. When I go to the store, I will not buy flashlights, candles, water by the truckload or enough ice to flood my house when it melts. I will, from here on out, refrain from referring to the weather guy by his first name, even though I feel like I know him. "But honey, Jim says we should buy enough food to feed Maryland for a year." "Jim insists you cut back those iffy looking trees least they crash into our house." Or the random high hysteria "JIM SAYS SEEK SHELTER!!" When the children continuously ask me what kind of damage a hurricane can do or When Bill, one hour before the worst of it is about to hit, starts insanely bringing inside all the chairs I previously did not tie down in between venturing back and forth to the store for Spam, rutabagas, tuna and chocolate donuts, I WILL NOT PANIC!!! When the birds in our yard begin twittering insistently and acting crazy in their suspicious bird way, I will resist the urge to join them or engage in any bird watching activities, in order to head off impending doom. "See honey, all those hours of forcing you to watch Animal Planet paid off! The birds know when bad weather is coming. Do you think Jim knows to watch the birds?" In the meantime, I will remain calm, repeating "things will be fine" over and over again to myself and them. And I believe I'll go watch the weather channel. PS. Do read Laurie Notaro! She has four books out and she RAWKS! Laugh out loud, funny stuff! I lurve her! I want to be her when I grow up! | 
And no, I'm not buying the candles, ruttabagas, and tuna either. Dh is buying ice cream... go figure! 
Good luck and report back in when you get out of the 'SHELTER' that Jim thinks you need to seek so suddenly! Phhht... like everyone is going to be out in the yard watching the 200 mile wide hurricane! 
