The media vs. hurricane

I have to admit, I was a little scared at first. The first hurricane to hit New York in a really long time. And we took some precautions, got some extra rations, put away all the little things that might go flying around if one of the windows gave, unplugged all electronics, and put a lot of stuff we didn't want to get wet in the upper storage areas of the closet just in case one of the windows gave, and the rooms became inundated with water.

And we watched the news. Between each commercial break, you'd see a interstitial flash of stock video footage of tidal waves, lightning flashes, and palm trees waving around like pompoms. But if you listened closely to what the anchormen were saying, you could tell things were actually getting better.

- "This could still be a category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of up to 74mph." Basically, the weatherman is giving the definition of a hurricane, a hypothetical situation rather than an impending one.

- In one interview, the reporter asks an emergency crewman if people can use sandbags for the next hurricane if they don't use them this time.

- And of the major selling points, millions of people will be affected. While this is true, really, any storm over Manhattan would affect millions of people. It doesn't mean the world is going to end.

Meanwhile, rain was falling gently outside. What was supposed to be the worst of Irene got pushed out from 2am, to 6am, to 8am. Looking at a couple weather websites showed sustained wind up to 60mph. While that's nothing to sneeze at, it's not catastrophic either.

So long as a stray branch doesn't go crashing through the window, and depending on how much the subways are going to get flooded (it really doesn't take much to flood the subways), I'm guessing things won't be so bad. I understand the need for authorities to take the most conservative precautions when lives are at stake, but really this doesn't seem like that bad of a situation at all.

My quiet little niche.

I don't mind the time I have to myself these days. Sure, there could probably be more things I could be doing. But whereas in the past, my soul was running on a treadmill, I'd say these days it's taking a tranquil walk.

And that isn't to say I didn't do anything this weekend. Went to J-Town with Scott for a quick bite and a little festival music, nursing a hangover dealt the night before, where I met up with some folks from Fire Fly for a bar hop and a few drinks. Today I dusted Roomba off and set him loose in my room, haphazardly bumping into things, earning each scratch of white paint on his bumper.

I had an argument with Brian again. This is a recurring theme in my life. I'd like to think as people move forward in life, they can bring others along with them. But sometimes hanging out with Brian feels like I have a lasso tied around my waist, tied to an anchor. When given the choice, some people simply refuse change.

I also spent time with Jane on the phone. Like the summer, our long-distance relationship is quickly drawing to a close. Meeting Jane has been one of the most awesome experiences in my life. At this point in my life, I'm more independent and experienced that I have been in the past. To be able to say that and to meet someone like Jane, who is deeply in touch with her family and a bunch of close friends, smart as a whip, and has a sense of humor to boot makes me feel really lucky.

There's only been one other time where I have to remind myself everyday to appreciate how lucky I am. That was every day I set out to drop my niece off at school and walked to work. To enjoy the physical movement, the sights and sounds of people, traffic, and nature echoing down avenues of concrete canyons. To feel alive.

My life moves now at a decidedly more Californian pace. But I'm in a good place now. I'm managing the apartment building much more on my own. I've got a kick-ass job that pays well and that doesn't leave me feeling mistreated, but challenges me to think about how I can do my job better. And I've found the love of my life.

So here I am. Enjoying it. Relishing it. Knowing full well things will not always be this way, for better or worse.