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When the Thunder Cracks and the House Shakes....

By
Real Estate Agent

As are many of you in the Rain, we too are experiencing strong storms these last few days. Actually, if truth be told May has not been a very dry month thus far.

Perhaps those of us who scoffed at the "World is coming to an end Sunday, May 22nd at 6:00 pm" should revamp our convictions. 
For those of you who have had far worse than our thunder, lightning, winds, rain & hail--in NO WAY is this making light of your terrible weather events.   

Today it was to have been a warm [70s] type day until about this time tonight [7:30 pm];
someone forgot to tell the weather that was the plan.  the Red boxes covered the national map from the SW right up to the Central Mid West which includes MI as well as OH, IL, IN. among other close states.  Before coming down to go online, I saw that at that time [ 6:45 - 7:00 pm] three tornadoes were spotted or seen-on-ground in Ohio.

For a while it did seem like one of those 'Disaster SyFy Movies"--dark clouds, roiling and folding back into themselves. lightning and thunder [in the distance--you know lightning---count 1001-1002-1003, etc--Thunder clap = distance from you/ house].

This time I did not even see any lightning, but a Thunder Clap so loud that our lights flickered & the House shook.
That usually means that some house nearby had been struck.  It has happened before; It will happen again.





The last two times this took place, the house to our due East on our side street Nocera was struck ]; their house has a non-used aerial on the right hand side of the roof;  The house is a colonial that sits on a two-lot parcel.

Last year, it took out part of the connection to the chimney, roof shingles, theie deco tree, & sheered off two limbs from 2 of our trees as it moved along a diagonal Rt to Lt.  They left the aerial on the roof because they had never used it and it was not connected to anything inside. OK !  Not for me--but perhaps I am too taken by nature & the effects thereof when it is churned up.

So, both of us knowingly stated, well they got hit again it seems;  or one other colonial 4 houses to their North on the same street.

Never did we consider that maybe this time WE got hit. 
Will check tomorrow to see---still pouring rain, thundering & altogether way too wet out there.

The reason that I mention this fact [that it could have been our home] is that the Italians who built this great house, placed three very strange decoration upon the chimney which is wider than most as it functions for two fireplaces. These look like gargoyles to me==free form gargoyles, but gargoyles just the same.  Hope they did not get hit, further hope that they did not do damage to the roof as this is the 3rd roof in 15 years--don't ask.

So, instead of sitting here all pompous & smartaleckly, perhaps we will be the talk of the neighborhood tomorrow. You know the: "Why didn't they remove those things when they put on the new roof[s] and  painted and replaced the sofits with siding, or when they glazed the bricks-[boy are we  the show-offs.]

Well, I won't begrudge anyone from those feelings IF we did get hit.
We knew those creatures were there;
We commented upon them often;
We never thought to remove them as we were doing all the other outside upgrades;
So, If we did get a 'jolt' this storm--we deserve it.

Will go out tomorrow and take a look; but then severe thunder storms are on the predicted weather, so maybe this will take another passing of a day. Need to also check the 20' Flag pole too--that is some tall "lightning rod"

Some times it seems that we need a slap up-side the head to straighten us up;
Don't mind the slap ting;
Don't want to have to fix a chimney and roof.
Perhaps, tomorrow will show us the truth--but then, the question will be "do we remove those "Gargoyles" or not" ??  

[photo below is winter 2010-old storm doors, but you can see the Chimney Gargoyles  

   

Stay Safe out there.
Stay Dry.
[Check what it presently upon Your roof top] 

5 /26/11:  All's well  that End's well

Posted by


Live, Learn, Love, & always remember to Laugh!

 
a Keyless start....a Forward Looking VIEW from the DASH; Join the RIDE 


Barb & Sal

Comments(9)

Ronald DiLalla
Century 21 Discovery DRE 01813824 - Anaheim, CA
No. Orange Cty Real Estate

I know the interior of your home must be awesome....Great curb appeal...you deserve a fantastic June.

May 25, 2011 02:03 PM
Barb & Sal Dragotta
Macomb, MI
Macomb County Michigan

Ronald...well, aren't you nice. That would be great too.  This Home was built by Italians who designed it like a family villa from North of Rome--they had / have a grape & Olive groves there. The inside with the chimney & Gargoyles is one long room-12 ft ceilings, rare in '86- no interior windows there, but large windows from Kitchen , Dining Room and all those windows around the front doors let in the sunshine / light. 
It is so fun to live here--it is too large for us now & we are ready for sun, sand, & surf--SOON.
Thanks for your comment.  Have a great rest of the week.

Barb

May 25, 2011 02:30 PM
Ellen Caruso
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

Barb & Sal, you have a lovely home and I know the work of a builder so you are safe! In another case, I've been on and off with the internet for 2 days, a thing my husband cant fix, but the repairman will. Here's too a better June!

May 25, 2011 03:43 PM
Laura Giannotta
Keller Williams Realty - Atlantic Shore - Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Your Realtor Down the Shore!

Perhaps the chimney adornment is actually some sort of a malocchio, you know protection from the Italian evil eye! 

May 25, 2011 11:53 PM
Barb & Sal Dragotta
Macomb, MI
Macomb County Michigan

Ellen...there is a fun story about the construction of this Home; it seems that the builders--an Italian father & son-in-law and their families were out of town during the 'raising of the walls'. When returning they discovered that though the walls [stick build all over] the 'floor' specs were not followed thus all door jams were too low to pass through.  The entire house was taken down to the cement [slab area] and wooden sub floors.  The workers could not read English and no one was around to interpret for them--not such a good idea.  The Home now is sturdy, & any or all needed upgrades have been handled.  Just love such stories--as long as we were not having it built & didn't know any of this when we purchased in 1997.
I do love this Home; IF it sells then so be it; IF the Market here is still slow moving we will make a decision in late September as to 'pull from the Market--or not'.
Yesterday was a difficult day on line here too. so far it seems to have been covered.
AT&T is 'upgrading all our customers...'
A better June is a good thought.  Thanks for your comment. Have a great rest of the week.
Barb 

May 26, 2011 07:35 AM
Barb & Sal Dragotta
Macomb, MI
Macomb County Michigan

Laura...you may have identified the answer to the unspoken question [What are those ??]. If you look at them in the new photo--they look like empty 'eyes' so-o-o perhaps the "Malocchio" protection is present. Whatever they represent, I really like them and am happy to see them make it through that storm.

As to our neighbors, as far as could be seen through the 'mist' of this a.m., all seems to be well for them too. hopefully, that is the truth this time.  Whatever happened yesterday afternoon was loud, & the House shook.
Thanks for your comment.  Have a great rest of the week.  Sal did say today, "If they're gone, they stay Gone" 

Barb

May 26, 2011 07:42 AM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Barb - at least we don't have to shovel the rain but enough is enough already ..... it seems like everyting is growing at twice the normal rate.

May 26, 2011 04:54 PM
Barb & Sal Dragotta
Macomb, MI
Macomb County Michigan

Kathy...you are so right on this; it seems by your comment, that you,too are having the-rains-up-the-wazoo.
The best part of this, is that we did all our plantings of, mostly Perennials--flowers on Wednesday. Today peaking at them from inside or through the rain drops, they look very good--nothing like natures' rain to help the flowers grow.  Actually think that this year,even if we get the hot,dry spells, these flowers with their early strong start will survive; one thing is for certain,  the weeds are going-gang-busters.  Thank you for your comment. Have a great weekend. 

Barb

May 27, 2011 05:48 AM
Paul Gapski
Berkshire Hathaway / Prudential Ca Realty - El Cajon, CA
619-504-8999,#1 Resource SD Relo
 

Thank you for sharing your blog; we need Real estate Professionals to share their comments and information regarding their markets and experiences. Thanks again from beautiful Sunny San Diego!

Jul 01, 2012 11:48 PM