Move right along, folks, there's nothing much to see here.
 

Today was as busy as yesterday, but I did it alone. I went to the landfill, the post office, the pharmacy and the grocery. At the first one, I dropped lots of recyclables, and at the other three, I dropped copious amounts of moolah. The grocery brags in advertising about how it is lowering thousands of prices, but so far, my checkbook isn't seeing much difference.

In preparation for  Hurricane Irene, which I devoutly hope is a non-event for central NC, I brought into the house most of the small items from the deck, and pulled all the chairs and tables up close to the house. The weather people are saying that the storm will veer to the east and that our area will only get rain and some wind - but that could change. If it does, all the furniture will be carried to the garage. I sure hope I don't have to do that. My back already hurts from dragging it around the deck, and I have to work for the next three days!

Our daughter who lives in this area invited us to dinner tonight. She has either the best luck in picking out steaks or the best grill in the world - but dinner was excellent - as usual. NY strips, mashed red-skin potatoes and spinach salad - yummy! Dessert was fresh-baked chocolate cookies. Then I got to watch TV on her giant screen. NOVA had a program on fractals, which I don't in the least understand, but am nevertheless fascinated by!Check out some of the images here.

A Busy Day and a Big Surprise

We got haircuts this morning, exchanged some jeans for mr. k and ate at Wendy's, where a little boy (who looked to be about 13 mos. old) could. not. be. fed. fast. enough. to keep him from screaming in between every bite. He was quite fond of French fries. His mother came in "wearing" his little brother (about 4 months old) in a pouch on her chest, and leading the toddler and a girl of about four. I felt sorry for her. Having three kids under the age of four is not easy.

One of mr. k's strongest pet peeves is children making excessive noise in restaurants - even fast-food places. I don't know what was worse: the screaming kid or the carping about him. Sheesh.

After lunch, we went to get our feet done. Mr. k has been to the nail salon three times now, and he seems to enjoy it more each time. But, of course, who doesn't loved to be pampered? After he was finished, he sat up front to wait for me. Around 2:30, he got a phone call from someone in NJ, telling us about the earthquake. We knew nothing about it, even though many people in this area felt the shaking, we were seated in vibrating massage chairs when it happened, so we didn't feel a thing related to the quake. Then the girls in the salon turned on the television, and we heard all about it. After we left the salon, I drove to the pharmacy to pick up some meds and I had orders from mr. k to buy an emergency weather radio, in preparation for the hurricane that is rapidly advancing on the US. Shortly after I entered the store, my call phone rang. It was our younger daughter, who had been trying to reach us and got no answer on either phone. The TV reporters had said cell phones were not operating well, due to the jammed circuits after the quake. She was on her way to our house, thinking we were "dead." I put her mind at rest, and she drove to the store and talked to her Dad, who was sitting in the car.

I needed to go to the grocery store (badly) but after all the excitement, I was pooped out so we came home. I've been thinking of the excessive heat of this spring and summer, storms that have caused our trees to fall, an earthquake today and a hurricane on the way. What more can happen? I'm almost afraid to ask!!

More from The NC Aquarium

Raleigh is near the middle of the state map; just under the red and green lines.

This photo shows the height to which the water rose during each hurricane.

One of their huge fish and shark tanks.
(This is at Fort Fisher)

Well, well. I just got a message from Picasa/Google that I have reached 100% of my allotment of photo space. I guess that means I'll never post another photo, since I have no intention of ever - ever!! - paying for more space. Anyone have any ideas for me?