Thursday February 3, 2011

Wednesday February 2, 2011

Recently a severe storm system rolled across the area where I live. I nervously watched the approaching assault on the weather map and listened to the repeated tornado watch and warning bulletins being broadcast. Of course I happened to be home alone and bedtime was fast approaching. Why do tornadoes have such a nasty habit of threatening you at bedtime? Don't we all have a difficult enough time trying to get some sleep during normal time?

There is some but not a great deal of planning which can be done for tornadoes. I've got the basic survival plan down. In the event of a tornado, I know the safest place to run to and take shelter. I have blankets, flashlight, and extra water stashed there. I also made sure my cell phone was completely charged before going to bed.

I also did some Brenda planning (the important stuff you will never see on any official lists). Before retiring to bed during a tornado watch this is what you need to do.
1. Wear decent sleepwear. (In emergencies you often see people
you didn't plan on seeing-news crews, emergency workers, etc.)
2. Sleep in you best jewelery. (If you have to get up and run
the jewelery is packed for evacuation on your body.)
3. Place a pair of quick slip on, closed shoes by the bed.
(I stick my UGGS bedside.)
4. Get your best and largest purse and fill it with the most
critical items you would need. (Vital documents, medicine,
charged cell phone, remaining jewelery, photos, cash, etc.)
Place packed purse beside your shoes.

Once my Brenda planning was done I gathered my NOAA weather radio and went off to bed feeling as prepared as possible. Follow these few simple steps and you also might get some sleep during threatening weather.

Additional evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

Is Evacuation Always a Good Idea?

Tuesday December 28, 2010

Absolutely not! There are critical times when you should not try to evacuate. It can be deadly to just jump in the car and take off without adequate thought and planning. This is especially true during winter storms.

The first thing I advise during an evacuation is to decide where you want to go and then determine if there is a safe route. The current Eastern blizzard is a good example of how dangerous travel of any kind can become. There are road closures, unplowed streets, and abandoned cars littering the roadsides of every location the blizzard hit. In New York City alone there are over a thousand abandoned cars. The EMS workers in these disaster areas are overwhelmed. Every abandonded car will have to be checked to see if anyone is trapped inside needing help.

Should you find yourself in a severe winter weather and decide you must leave your home please take a few precautions prior to departure.
1. Fill your gas tank
2. Charge your cell phone
3. Everyone traveling should dress warmly (coat, scarf, hat, and gloves)
4. Place blankets inside the car
5. Pack water and snack food
6. If you have a battery powered radio take it and extra batteries
7. A shovel, windshield scraper, and flashlight should be in the car
8. Tell someone where you are going and by what route. Arrange to call
them by a certain time and ask that they alert the authorities if
you don't call.

Additional evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

Thanksgiving Eve

Wednesday November 24, 2010

On this Thanksgiving Eve in Florida, I am thankful that hurricane season is coming to an end. However, for most the season for snowy weather and the disasters that can accompany it are just around the corner. So for those of you who live in these colder areas, it is time for you to start preparing and re-reading my Wine and Chocolate Evacuation Plan (even if you are staying put through the storm).

Also, read through my previous blogs and you will find all sorts of helpful hints such as filling up the bathtub before an ice storm since the water pipes often freeze. But more specifically, now would be a good time to store some driveway salt in the main house so you aren't going out in the freezing cold looking for it. It would also be a good idea to stock up on high energy food and put some extra blankets, protein bars, bottled water, and a flashlight in the car just in case you are driving somewhere when a storm hits.

Additional evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

45 Days

November 10, 2010

We have 45 days till Christmas! This is information I would have been happier avoiding for just a little longer. I prefer to keep up with the number of days left in the hurricane season (20 days). However since I realized that I now have yet another countdown to keep up with, I've started my holiday shopping. This year I decided to give some gifts that might not elicit cries of delight when first opened but might save your butt when it really counts.

I am ordering an Aqua Pod Kit for several people. I have been advising everyone to fill up a bathtub before hurricanes, wildfires, etc. for a long time. The reason is that city water lines are often damaged and the water contaminated during natural disasters. If you have a bathtub full of water it allows you to flush your toilets and clean up.

The great thing about this Aqua Pod is that it allows you to store up to 65 gallons of water in a plastic bladder placed in your bathtub. Because the water is contained in a sealed system which you pump from as needed it will not become contaminated. In an emergency your family could have sanitary and drinking water for up to a week and that is a beautiful gift.

Before anyone asks, I am not associated with this product or company. I am sending them my hard earned money just like all everyone else.

Additional evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

Have You Told Oprah?

Friday October 29, 2010



Once again today someone asked me for the thousandth time, “Have you told Oprah about the book and what you're doing?" Once again today I truthfully replied, "No." The follow up question, as always, had a slightly accusatory edge to it. "Well why not? Oprah should be told." I come away from these exchanges thinking people can be so unfair.

Maybe that's not a nice thing to say about the otherwise sane people who make these Oprah remarks. I want to be nice and I try to be nice. I absolutely believe there should be more niceness in the world. This belief is the only reason I continue trying to be nice when secretly I have lost all interest in niceness. The truth is there are just times when niceness is hard to sustain.

I would like to take this opportunity to clarify my relationship to Oprah. I don't have her personal phone number on my speed dial. Oprah and I don't have lunch together or do girl trips. We are not even pen pals. Yes, I do feel as if I know Oprah from watching her show and reading her magazine. Oprah on the other hand doesn't have a clue who I am so I CAN'T TELL OPRAH!

Why is it the world views Oprah in such a completely different light from all other celebrities? Is it because she has been a consistent presence (through her TV show) in our lives for so many years? Maybe, but I think the real answer lies with the quality of the time she has spent with us. Oprah has tackled some tough problems which often mirror the challenges we face in our own lives. The public has come to trust and respect her opinion. Most people I meet view Oprah as a distant family member who should be informed and consulted about important events. Although I would love to keep Oprah fully up to date on my activities, once again, we don't know each other!

However I will let you in on a secret. I have a reoccurring dream which involves an Indian village and Oprah. In this dream I enter a large tee pee and sit down on the ground before a tribal council. At first all I can see are three figures with their heads bent down wearing large feathered headpieces. When the three figures look up I see Oprah in the middle with Ellen on one side and Paula Dean on the other. They begin to speak to me but I can't understand what they are saying. I can see their lips moving and realize what they are trying to tell me is important. I'm desperately trying to make out their message but I can't understand the words.

However I haven't given up hope. I believe that one night I will have this dream and suddenly the words will become clear in my head. I plan to sit there and absorb every bit of wisdom and guidance they offer me. And then do you know what I plan to do? When I finally unlock the dream language and can communicate with the 3 wise women I will take this opportunity to tell Oprah all about my book and what I'm doing.

Additional evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

Hurricane's Verbal Path

Monday October 11, 2010

Has anyone else ever been driven crazy by some unknown or forgotten piece of knowledge? It could be a forgotten song lyric, book title, or locker combination. It could be a never known personal blood type. The lack of knowledge starts out as an annoyance, progress to irritation, and before you know it you are completely obsessed. When this happens there is nothing to be but surrender to the obsession and go find out the answer.

Yesterday I was reading something on hurricanes and suddenly thought, "I wonder where the word hurricane came from?" I tried to go on reading but my attention had already been derailed by my need to find out the origin of the word hurricane. I surrendered and here is what I learned.

The experts seem to have some disagreement on the issue. Some sources say hurricane is derived from the Carib god, Hurican; while other sources say the word was derived from one of the Mayan creator gods, Hurakan. I am old enough to still give ultimate authority to my old friend The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. This reliable reference traces the hurricane verbal path back to the Spanish huracan which in turn came from the Taino's hurakan. Most experts in this field of study say that the original meaning was simply storm. (To be fair there are also some pretty smart scholars out there who argue that the original meaning was storm god or evil spirit.)

Hurricane is a word which came to English language directly from the Spanish language with no Latin involvement. The first European to document the occurrence of these mighty storms was Christopher Columbus in 1495 while sailing in the West Indies. So now we know all about the origin of the word hurricane. If any of you should win a trivia game with this information I want to know about it.

Additional evacuation information at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

Kitchen Disaster

October 1,2010 Friday

I had an unfortunate kitchen disaster a few days ago. This is not an uncommon occurrence for me (I seriously doubt anyone would ever confuse me with a domestic goddess). Usually my kitchen disasters involve fire and something burning. However, this time I unleashed a new disaster-the kitchen flood.

It all started out so innocently. I put my tea kettle in the middle of the kitchen sink (directly on top of the drain hole) and turned the water on to fill it. Then I received a phone call which required me to check my desk calender. After the call I decided to attend to some work since I was already at my desk. Fifteen minutes later I am industriously typing away when I hear a disturbing gurgling sound. Only then did I realize I had forgotten to turn the water off! I rushed back into the kitchen to find water overflowing the sink, down the cabinet, drenching everything inside the cabinet, and now starting to cover the floor.

Of course, this kitchen flood was completely my fault. I wasn't paying attention to the possible danger. I underestimated the potential damage of a little obstructed stream of water. It was a good reminder of the power (both constructive and destructive) of water.

Since flood danger is so fresh in my mind I feel it is time to review some important flood terms.

FEMA FLOOD TERMS

Flood Watch: Flooding is possible. Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.

Flash Flood Watch: Flash flooding is possible. Be prepared to move to higher ground; listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.

Flood Warning: Flooding is occurring or will occur soon; if advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

Flash Flood Warning: A flash flood is occurring; seek higher ground on foot immediately.

Additional evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com