Hurricanes and Lockdown

Had an in-service meeting at work today. I’m sure I’ve mentioned on posts from last year that at my job we go into “lockdown” if we are in the cone of possibility for a hurricane.

During a routine inspection it was discovered that our building – nor even our backup center – would withstand a category three hurricane. Previously it was forecasted to withstand a five – apparently they weren’t inspecting it right or something.

Because of this, new plans had to be drawn up. Now if a category three hurricane heads our way we must evacuate to an elementary school several miles inland. The school was undergoing a remodel and isn’t scheduled to be ready for kids for another year or more.

The place is much smaller then our current six floor building. In previous years staff were allowed to bring in their immediate families and their pets. Due to the space constraints this year we can only bring ourselves.

Our existing building will be fortified on the outside by adding an additional layer to the shell. It sounds stupid to say the least. They hope it will be completed in time for next year’s hurricane season but I doubt it will be. Our break room sink has been out of commission for two months so far and they just had to repipe it. The building will cost at least $15 million to bring up to category five code.

One of our neighboring counties just built an entire new facility for less then what we are paying to refortify. Our facility is already too small for us with no room for expansion. What are we going to do as our county continues to grow??? We already aren’t at staffing capacity for a county our size. Ridiculous.

For lockdown we have to bring three days minimum worth of supplies for ourselves. Believe me, it is a long list. Try to think about everything you use or need for an overnight trip…we need all that and more. Everyone was encouraged to buy plastic totes to store their stuff in – I feel like I’m packing for an extended camping trip.

Have to bring food, our own nonperishable, dishes, shower supplies, toiletries, entertainment, flashlights, medicines, clothes, etc., etc.

One tote won’t be enough. Because we’ll have limited cooking facilities we need to bring foods that don’t need to be heated or refrigerated. Hard to think of food that fit in that category.

So now, though I am a hurricane enthusiast, I am really hoping all the hurricanes just slip on by us. Somehow being locked down with hundreds of others in cramped places for three to five days really doesn’t appeal to me.

It is not doing the thing we like to do, but liking the thing we have to do that makes life blessed. –Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

News from the Hood

Because we live in a global neighborhood, I thought I’d check out what was new in the hood. You just never know what fun stuff you will find when you start perusing the news internet.

Scientists in London say we have to get cows to burp less if we want to help global warning. They are working on more digest friendly food for cows. Coming soon to a town near you – “gourmet food store” for a happier bovine.

A giant 550 lb squid washed up on a beach in Australia. This is a very rare occurrence because the squid lives in the deepest parts of the ocean. Makes me wonder just how polluted our oceans are…probably a lot worse then we think.

In Beijing they have put a bounty on mosquitoes. Payment is $125 for every 2000 dead mosquitoes a person turns in. Now, why didn’t we think of that? Will we see our government officials scrambling to make it a federally funded program?

Also in Beijing they held their fourth condom fashion show which features dresses, hats and other things made exclusively of condoms. Condoms can be inflated or not. Before long condoms will become a fashion statement.

In Chicago, after extensive & expensive research, it was declared today that women prefer men with a more chiseled look. In other words, muscled men get more sex then their flabby counterparts. Sorry guys, guess you’ll have to start hitting the gym with us gals.

Seoul has ordered the shut down of karaoke bars and internet cafés declaring they are a threat to society. Huh, wonder how much research went into that declaration?

A Malaysian hospital finally got their nurses and doctors to wash their hands before handling patients – especially those in the intensive care units. 40% of staff refused to wash their hands even after being show how not washing them adversely affects the patients – they had to be told how the health of the staff could also be affected. Um…eww!!!

Japan’s finer restaurants are looking to buy tuna that is “less stressed” because tuna fish that are happier to be caught actually taste better then those who would prefer to stay in the ocean. Wonder if sharks think that? “I’d rather bite a human who is less stressed because they’ll taste better?” Good luck finding one of those.

Only in New Hampshire would a bank robber disguise himself as a tree to rob a bank. He got an undisclosed amount of money and was only caught after an acquaintance turned him in.

In Brooksville, FL Chik-fil-A will give out free burgers to anyone who will come to the fast food restaurant impersonating a cow. Bet they have a long line.

Counting My Many Blessings

The biggest lesson I’ve learned… was that if you have all the fresh water you want to drink and all the food you want to eat, you ought never to complain about anything. –Eddie Rickenbacker

I’m counting my blessings before I go to sleep tonight. I know that I am a blessed person who is content more then most. Doesn’t mean I don’t want things but I know how to unplug from the rat race to appreciate the basics of life – something I think only content people really know how to do.

My son is my first and foremost blessing. While it is hard for me to think of him as anything other then my baby boy, he has grown into a fine man. I am also blessed that he was not hurt in the car accident he was in yesterday. I am blessed that he looks not to material things to make him happy – that he realizes “things” only get you so far – that integrity and values are foremost.

I am blessed with a family that can bicker like a bunch of hens in a henhouse but will always be there for each other. I am blessed to be a part of it as it continues to grow in numbers.

I am blessed because I can pretty much pay my bills and that my job provides me with health insurance. The job provides the other things in my life but it is not my focus or my center. As in the lessons of the five balls – work is the rubber ball and the others are all glass.

I am blessed that I have no diseases or de-habilitating illness. I know I need to work on being healthier and am happy that I have the ability to work towards that goal.

I am blessed that I live in a country that has such compassion and is so generous. At work we take up collections by holding raffles, bake offs or whatever is needed to help a fallen or sick comrade. What we have left over at Christmas goes to someone who would otherwise not have happy holidays. Our country has its problems but lack of generosity or compassion is not one of them.

I feel blessed that I live in Florida. I love the salt air, the Gulf, the ocean, the tropics, etc., etc.,. I’m sure I’d feel equally blessed to live somewhere else – there is beauty everywhere.

Right now I am truly blessed because this shift is over and I get to go home!

Good night cyber pals and keep it safe out there.