It was Mr Toad's Wild Ride around here yesterday. We were without power for 13 hours....
Ozzie was in back wrapping a pressie for Moi for Christmas and my birthday ( the 29th) and I was in the kitchen. At first it sounded like 3 divisions of aircraft ( that would be 12 of em) flying low overhead but it continued far too long..or maybe the 3 garbage trucks dragracing down the street but it was not garbage day...then the house just shook. It was violent. But our building codes here are so strict and on the surface it looks like our house is ok..we have some checking to do.and it is raining here today.....
Amyway. just before the big one hit ( there had been several smaller ones felt in NO county, Taco just flew under the bed..I never saw that cat move so fast....Missie on the other hand just opened one eye as if to say " What is all the hubbub?" and went to sleep again...not going to upset that girl..( by the way she is doing pretty well despite the cancer..has a big knot but she eats,is thin but a cuddle bug). We ran outside and could not stand up. The mountain range here is said to be moved up by a foot at least.
Lets see...when the rolling stopped ( it was not gentle oh and the two women killed in Paso were not shoppers they worked at the Ann's Dress Shop) we checked inside the house. pictures all catywampus, things fell but the most amazing thing is that my 4 panel floor screen which weighs about 150 lbs ( I brought it back from Okinawa in 73..it was made in Hong Kong) was leaning against my delicate Korean table which was held in place by the Chinese Oriental run..it did not break but do have to check for small damge. Right now I have it folded and lying on the floor and it will stay there for at least a week..until the aftershock period is past.
After we sort of house proofed our house, as best one can in earthquake country) we packed up the truck with clothes, my jewlery, food, a few keepsakes ( meaning a picture or two) and camping gear just in case we had to get out of the house.
Here is the really dicy bit...I just got a new 2004 Toyota Sienna...had leather put on the seats..the installed did not do the back panels and there were a couple of areas I was not totally pleased about so the van with 300 miles on it ( I got it Nov 30) was being taken by trailor to Fresno so the Supervisor can look at the quality control aspect and repair the damages they did and finish the interior...my van was on the road about an hour's worth which would have put it near Paso about the time the quake hit. The driver called his company to say he was ok.. I hope my vas was ok too....the dealership said they heard from the company and nothing was said about the van so they assume all is ok..I hope they are right.
We got our power about 0100 this morning. I could not sleep well after this...Ozzie had not trouble. I had my watch cats in my lap..slept dressed to get out if I had to. They tell us we could have aftershocks up to a week following yesterday's event. Let's hope we have seen the end of it. By the way..the Hearst Castle which is in San Simone, withstood the 1906 quake, the Loma Prietta 6.7 quake and had next to no damage...it is open today. That is the building to be in during one of these wake up calls from God.
SO9