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

Rip Currents

Wednesday September 22, 2010

I have written about the danger of rip currents in the past but some things are important enough that they bear repeating. Recently a woman from my area was caught in a rip current and drowned. It happened on a beautiful beach day which ended with a spectacular sunset. All should have been right with the world but instead there was a terrible tragedy.

It is important to stop and look carefully at the water you are going to enter. Sometimes you can identify a rip current from shore. There may be disturbance in the water-a noticeable break in the wave action, a column of different colored water, or a section of debris filled water moving swiftly away from the shore. Rip currents are at their strongest two hours before and after low tide and during a full moon.

If you are in the water and suddenly find yourself in a rip current your response will probably be the difference between life and death. It is vital to remember that a rip current will not pull you under the water it will pull you away from shore.

1. If you are caught in a rip current don't panic or swim against the current.
2. You should swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current and then swim toward the shore.
3. If you are unable to break free of the current, float or tread water.
4. Try to draw attention to yourself by waving your arms and yelling for help.

Additional evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

The Agitated Atlantic Ocean

Tuesday September 14, 2010

Before the start of this year's hurricane season most forecasters were predicting that it would be an extremely active one. This year they got it right. The storm count for the current Atlantic season stands at 11 named storms (5 of these storms reaching hurricane strength). Although 11 storms is the average number for an Atlantic season we need to remember that we aren't finished yet. We have over 2 more months (77 days to be exact) of the 2010 hurricane season left. Unfortunately, we are just now entering the traditional peak of hurricane activity.

The current satellite photos of the Atlantic Ocean remind me of the actions of a giant washing machine. Some of the Atlantic's surface waters are choppy and agitated while three other areas are in the violent spin cycle. I hope you will think of a washing machine every time the weather station displays the storms in the Atlantic ocean. If you can make this mental association it will help you to remember that your home's washing machine can be a valuable place to store possessions left behind during an evacuation. When I am packing my washing machine I always first turn off the water to the machine and then place the items inside garbage bags to help protect them. I try to make the washing machine as heavy as possible because I know that the extra weight will give it more stability. With all the storms swirling around out there we need all the stability we can find!

Additional evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

Turn, Earl, Turn!

Thursday September 2, 2010

Two hundred and fifty thousand coastal residents of North Carolina are under a mandatory evacuation. Hurricane Earl is bearing down on the Eastern Coast of the United States with maximum sustained winds of 145 miles per hour. If our luck holds this category 4 hurricane will not make landfall and will instead stay offshore to track its way up the coastline.
However you must not be lulled into a false since of security by this possibility. Earl is a solid category 4 hurricane with mb reading of 932 at the present time. Most disturbing, it has not yet made the critical turn required to keep its path from making landfall. Please remember that the flooding, storm surges, and destructive winds associated with a hurricane of this magnitude will impact areas located hundreds of miles away from the eye. If an evacuation has been ordered for your area then you must leave now.
If you live outside the threatened area and would like to help out I have an idea. Let's all focus our minds on the dangerous well-formed eye of this hurricane and chant, "Turn Earl Turn!" Everybody believes in the power of positive thought right? Then let's pray, chant, and send our positive energy to the threatened area. The people along the North Carolina coast have just been pounded in recent years by storms and they deserve a break.

Additional evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

August 12, 2010 Thursday

Last week I wrote urging teachers to discuss how geography can influence natural disasters with their students. I used the example of how the slope of a continental shelf can influence the magnitude of a storm surge. I received a phone call shortly after posting the blog from a friend asking me, "Please explain more about a storm surge so I can be smarter than my 5th grader."

So here is a little more information to help all the struggling parents/grandparents stay ahead of their children. A storm surge is simply water being pushed ashore by the fierce winds which accompany a major storm system (usually a hurricane). The difference in a storm surge and a tsunami is the force responsible for the water coming ashore. If the causing force comes from below the water, an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption, it will be a tsunami. However if the causative factor comes from above the water, a hurricane or cyclone, it will be a storm surge.

What geographical features can make a storm surge more dangerous? The level of the land above sea level is a critical factor. If your house is located only a few feet above sea level it doesn't take much water to flood it. The Gulf Coast and Atlantic coastlines of the United States are densely populated areas situated an average of only 10 feet above sea level.

Another important factor in the height of the storm surge is the continental shelf slope off shore. If there is a shallow shelf leading up to the land the surge will be bigger because there is nowhere else for the water to go. The coming wave will have to keep growing up (since downward growth is not a possibility) until it hits land. A steep off shore continental shelf is able to contain the water and diminish the surge which comes ashore.

Just to make things a little more complicated you must remember to factor in the time when a storm surge is likely to occur. A surge combined with high tides results in more water. A low tide and a storm surge will produce less water.

Well that is enough of a geography lesson for one day. Remember that you asked me for the information. On the bright side, I am certain that you are now smarter than a 5th grader.

Additional evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com