Last Night's Storms

So anyway... Yesterday was quite a day. I was with my cousins who are visiting from LA. We were talking about real estate stuff (which needs a separate post, maybe later ok?) and it was decided that they were going to go to the Evil Empire and buy some stuff they needed. Which I admit I hate but what the hell, the EE is kind of a fun place to snoop around and just see what the neighbors might be buying (or not buying); this is how most of America defines what is cool and in fashion. XD Unfortunately... my one cousin dearly loves to shop at a local high-end store whenever she visits. And as I have stated before, I *loathe* clothes shopping w/a passion! Now I could quite happily outfit myself w/a trip to a sporting goods store or better yet, from the NHL web store. However, such an attitude is met by horror and dismay by my cousins. What can I say? Like I said, they're from LA and know *fashion*. My idea of haute couture (sic) does not jibe with theirs. *Anyhoo...* off we go shopping. We get there and they split up, so Charle decides to buy candles (!) and Chris decides to but a baby outfit for one of her friends. I end looking at stuff w/Chris, who is the driver. (Her car is an '05 Saab, combined w/the CA liscense plates, it gets a lot of stares.) I'm keeping any eye on the weather because there were storm warnings out and I don't trust the weather that much. Live in a place all your life and you develop a feel for the weather and I was feeling that there was going to be trouble. But there was much to be considered about baby clothes before a decision was reached and then there were shoes to be looked at. ARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH! Now *I* am looking at the sky, which was turning a nasty black-green color and I'm saying to her "I think it's going to storm" in an attempt to at least get out of the store. But no, it's time for shoes. So off we go and I am sitting nervously as they both decide to try out different shoes. I am also the one to hear the thunder and the sales clerk and I share worried glances as they are discussing whether or not one style is better than another. So. They finally pay for the shoes, look at some jackets and then it is another stop at the baby section, to see that everything has been duly considered. By this time I feeling like screaming "FOR FUCK'S SAKE LET"S GET OUT OF HERE AND GO HOME BEFORE THE STORM HITS!" But I really can't do that in a store where probably 90% of the customers are local and know what "our" weather patterns. Besides, there have been warnings for adjoining counties all day, right? Sure enough, just before we finish the check out, the store announces that the sirens are going off and they close out the registers and start ushering everyone back to customer service and the inner walls. *Now* Chris freaks out: "My dog! He's outside! I left him outside!" as the rain begins pouring down in *sheets*! *Now* she wants to leave and I say "No. You cannot outrun this." Thankfully Charle calls Uncle Joe on her cell and he manages to get Charley-the-dog (a Portugese Water Dog) inside just before the storm reaches them. Cell phone calls abound and several calls are made on the store's landline. I finally sit down and wish I had a book to read. Charle and Chris just look at me and say "Aren't you worried? Does this happen often?" And I say to them, "This weather is to me like temblors are to you." So I think they get it, at last. We wait inside the store for about an hour before it clears enough to leave. We manage to get to my aunt and uncle's despite streets flooding and a whole lot of trees and branches that are down. That is when I hear reports that Harvard has been hit bad and so now I start to worry. My aunt is pretty well hyper and wants me to stay but just... no. We eat supper about 7pm and everyone is still hyper. Lots of phone calls, before I finally get Lisa H. on the phone, just in time to warn her that it looks like another front is showing up near Minden, so to be careful. Fortunately no "one, two punch" just more rain. And that's pretty much my story of the storm. I get home, find no discernable damage and spend time w/the furkids.