Come on Irene!

3:00 pm: Hurricane Irene is currently walking up the east coast at a very slow 14 miles per hour. We were told to expect tropical storm force winds (39-63 miles per hour). The rain started at around 11:00, and has been coming with some force for the last hour or so. We've put a measuring cup outside in a pretty protected section of the deck to see how much rain we get. Now, we've decided that it's wine-o'clock. More updates to come later.



6:30 pm: Anastasia is enjoying a pajama day and Myney and I have endulged in a little wine before dinner. We're seeing a lot of rain, but not nearly as much wind as they've called for. Our measuring cup on the deck, placed there at about 2:30 pm, was almost full.



We've replaced the 1 cup measuring cup (1/2 liter for my Swedish followers) with an 8 cup model (2 liters). Our backyard has a few puddles in it and the garage is starting to take on a little water. Still, the city drainage seems to be functioning well, so for now, we're sitting pretty.

9:30 pm: Anastasia is sleeping to the sound of the rain on her roof, and Myney and I are watching the rain as it continues to pour from the sky. It looks like the wind's energy is focused on the coast and leaving us with just the rain. No flooding to report, though I did unplug the freezer and work light in the garage just in case.

12:00 am: it's time to go to bed. The wind is stronger than it's been all day, but still, it doesn't feel like it's something we should be very worried about. For a tropical storm, the temperature is quite chilly, and the water seems to be being absorbed by the drainage system.