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Sandy: She's Arrived!

By
Real Estate Agent with RLAH@properties AB95346

The last time it was this windy, I was a little kid in Kansas hanging onto a tree trunk on the way home from school so I wouldn't blow away.   Right now, it's 44 mph with gusts up to 60.  And we're up to almost seven inches of rain. 

It's 9:30, in Washington, DC and they've closed down the Federal Government and the rest of the city for a second day. 

My basement hasn't flooded - yet.  But there are gigantic puddles in my back yard. A bunch of sand bags are the only thing between this mini-lake and my basement.  Yikes!

And we haven't lost power - yet.  But the trees along my street are bowing deeply toward the power lines in front of the house. Guess I'm lucky, because there are a million people in New York without power.  It's like the starving children in India the nuns told us about when I was in Catholic schools and refused to eat the cafeteria lunch. 

Reading some of the other posts, I do feel pretty lucky.  Andrea Swiedler had a tree fall on her house and had to leave.  All up and down the east coast, from the mid-Atlantic to New England, bloggers are hunkering down and making the best of a scrary situation. 

Watching the news about the world's largest residential building (under construction) with the construction crane flapping in the breeze, they said two of the units had been "sold" in the $55 million range.  And I had to wonder, have they settled yet?  Have the Realtors involved collected their brokerage fees already? 

Dang!  I hope so!

So the wind is howling.  Willie the Labradoodle really wants to go out for a walk, and I don't.  But if we let him out in the back yard, he'll try to swim in the huge puddles, and we don't need an energetic wet dog right now.  Maybe a little, wee walk. 

 

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Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Pat, I'm glad you don't seem to be feeling the brunt of the storm.  Other areas seem to be faring much worse.  It's too bad about Andrea.  I read an earlier post from her, so I will have to read the latest one.

Now... back to those starving kids in India.  It seems your nuns and my nuns way back then shared their notes, because I was told about them as well.

Question:  With India doing as well as they are now... perhaps THEY can start sending food to OUR starving kids in certain parts of our country.  I mean... fair is fair. 

And of course, my best to Willie the Labradoodle.  I don't remember if you've done a post about Willie, with lots and lots of pictures of him.  That would be fun.

Oct 29, 2012 12:38 PM
Karen Baker
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty - Sunset Beach, NC
Professional Help with Rapid Responses...
Pat ~> just wrote on Andrea's blog, thank goodness the tree didn't cause any damage ... Who knows what the rest of the storm will produce. Hope your power isn't affected and your basement doesn't flood.. Crazy to hear parts of West Virginia have had 14 inches of snow with blizzard like conditions..
Oct 29, 2012 12:38 PM
Janis Borgueta
Newburgh, NY
Retired RE Salesperson

Hi Pat.. my daughter in DC is still with power too.. Our lights are beginning to flicker here.. =( I will cry without my internet.. and yes... thank goodness things are not as bad up here as they are in NYC..

Oct 29, 2012 12:40 PM
Richard Iarossi
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Crofton, MD
Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate

Pat,

My two schnoodles have their back legs crossed, rather than get wet.

Rich

Oct 29, 2012 12:43 PM
Colleen Fischesser Northwest Property Shop
NextHome Experience - Chelan, WA
A Tradition of Trust in the Pacific NW since 1990!

I too remember those Kansas scary moments! Stay safe, sounds like they have downgraded Sandy finally. Hopefully the worst has passed.

Oct 29, 2012 12:44 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

I just read Andrea's post, and I am glad no real damage was done, but she's "had it" and has left.

Things must be pretty bad in New York City.  I guess quite a few people have been evacuated.  I watch David Letterman just about every night, and I just heard on the news... CNN maybe... that tonight he is actually doing his show WITHOUT an audience.  That should be interesting, because there is always quite a bit of fun interaction between Letterman and his audience.  But, he's never done the show without one.  Like I said, it's a sign things are pretty bad in NYC.

Oct 29, 2012 12:48 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Hi Pat,

It sounds like you are hunkered down..stay put an only a wee walk or as Tammie suggest..paper on the floor in the basement just might be the answer tonight!!

Oct 29, 2012 01:03 PM
Anna Dovger
Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX
Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX

Great to know that you haven't lost power. Please, stay safe and keep us updated.

Oct 29, 2012 01:10 PM
Rose King
David Tracy Real Estate - Friendswood, TX
Friendswood / Pearland / Houston Bay Area

Hi Pat! Hope you stay safe and escape any damage from the storm. Keep us updated!

Oct 29, 2012 02:27 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Pat, My neighborhood has been without power since early afternoon. Thank goodness for our wonderful generator. BTW my cats take care of themselves. So much easier in this kind of weather. Stay safe.

Margaret

Oct 29, 2012 02:38 PM
Lloyd Binen
Certified Realty Services - Saratoga, CA
Silicon Valley Realtor since 1976; 408-373-4411

Stay put and stay safe.  Put Willie on a treadmill if he must walk.

Oct 29, 2012 03:35 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Thanks for the personal updates Pat, I hope that things work out. Stay safe!

Oct 29, 2012 05:06 PM
Frank Laisch
Orlando, FL
"The Insurance Guy"

Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in the Northeast! With 7 Million people without power, Sandy is still packing a punch

Oct 29, 2012 08:56 PM
Peggy Wester
Realty Executives Integrity - Grafton, WI
Real Estate Agent Ozaukee & Washington County

I cannot even begin to imagine what it is like for all of you. We continue to pray for the safety and well-being of everyone.

Oct 29, 2012 10:30 PM
Mona Gersky
MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC - Sylva, NC
GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.

Pat, the suggestion for Willie to use papers in the basement has merrit.  If your dog is like ours though...after years of good behavior by not messing inside...it's very hard to get a dog to go inside.  Stay safe.

Oct 29, 2012 11:12 PM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Pat, I feel as if I am suffering from PTSD. Another tree fell on the back of my house but again, NO DAMAGE. These trees are huge, seriously. A friend of mine is insisting that angels protected us, and I cannot disagree. Sheldon Neal has damage, a tree came down on his house, but they are all ok. Donna Bigda had to be evacuated, no word from her yet. Gail Robinson chose to stay, Bridgeport was hit hard and I have not heard anything yet.

I know NYC is in big trouble, I can't imagine what they are going through, as the waterfront towns all up and down the New England sea coast.

As powerful and advanced as we believe we are, we are nothing compared to the power of natural forces.

Hope you and Willie are well, dry and with power.

Oct 30, 2012 03:14 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I hope you survived the storm without damage.

Have an outstanding week.  Enjoy the colors of the season with your camera in hand.

Busy Bee at Brookside Gardens

Oct 30, 2012 03:46 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I didn't know Andrea had a tree fall!  Glad you are well so far Pat.  We came out pretty much unscathed.  But it was a long night!

Oct 30, 2012 05:23 AM
Gloria Todor
Premier Property Sales & Rentals - Springfield, PA
& Doug Durren (484) 431-3686 in SE PA

It was an amazing storm.  Hope all is well with you.

Gloria

Oct 30, 2012 11:56 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

So glad to hear that you are alright, my friend!!!

Oct 31, 2012 06:56 AM