It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

Perhaps that should read "stormy and dark"; the one preceded, and caused, the other.

A little after 8PM, the tornado sirens went off and sent us scurrying for the basement. (Actually, I grabbed and scurried; the dogs tried evasion, but I was too quick and strong for them.) The usual followed: howling wind, pounding rain, mysterious gurgling noises.... After a while the lights flickered, and again after another while, and finally went out altogether.

Next time, I'll grab a flashlight and a book on the way down.

We didn't come back up until about 9:15; I spent a while reading by flashlight, and finally went to bed around 10. Power wasn't restored until about 11 AM, which made for a dull and fidgety morning, exacerbated by a developing caffeine-withdrawal headache. I will say, though, that power loss is much more tolerable in June than in December.

All is well. My coffee cup is full; there doesn't seem to be any roof damage; and, though the forecast is for more thunderstorms, the center of the system has moved east (and apparently weakened a bit).

I suspect it's going to be a longish summer, in this respect.

March of the Crabs

Every year, the red crabs of Christmas Island migrate from the forest to the shore and back again. It takes about a week each way, and has become something of a tourist attraction.

Weird, weird world.