When I lived out east in Atlantic Canada, I lived through my fair share of hurricanes which veered too far north for my good. I recall during one wandering around from bar to bar with pals enjoying getting soaked in the warm tropical rain... until half a Halifax building's roof went rolling down the street. After that, we stayed put. Hurricane Sandy is heading towards New York City today with a promise of driving inland towards my house in Easlakia. Fortunately, it'll likely just be a big soak if and when it gets here. And, also fortunately, I was able to refresh the stash anyway on a drive across the border Friday so, just in case we were to get storm-stayed, I am sure I will be fine. That being said, they are panic buying in the Big Apple out of fear of what's to come:

Doug Barotra managed to carry more than 50 cans of beer out of his local supermarket after waiting 45 minutes to get to the cashier. He is expecting the worst from Hurricane Sandy. "As long as the power doesn't go, I think I'll survive," Barotra said as he struggled with his load on New York's Third Avenue back to his Midtown apartment. "I live on the 18th floor, if it gets bad I'm just going to stay there for the next three days." Long lines formed at supermarkets on cities in New York and other major east coast cities for bottles of water, bread, fresh foods, batteries and anything that could help last out the so-called "Frankenstorm" heading for the northeast United States.

Hmm. Doug needs 50 beer for for a three day blow. 16.67 cans a day. He should be fine. Maybe he should have picked up some solids, too, but Doug will do what Doug gotta do. Out east, there were similar things done in one pal's home town, a fishing village. They would gather in a house, fill it with food, musical instruments and booze, board it up so there were no windows to see out and batten down all the other openings. The house would rock in both senses for a few days and, once the wind died down, they'd unpack themselves and go deal with the damage. Doug's really just doing a one person version of that, right?