Why I like Hurricaines more than Earthquakes

Hurricaine Isabelle is heading our way.  She's hovering between a category 4 and 5 which is pretty honkin' big for a hurricaine.  She is also likely to do a lot of damage when she lands.  However, I really do prefer hurricaines to earthquakes.

Why?  Well, we've got a one week warning to batten down the hatches.  Those of your reading this blog in California could have an earthquake right now.  I like the feeling of perceived control.  People can prepare and get out of the way.  Or they could have an earthquake....right now! 

Neither natural disaster makes me jump up in down in happiness.  But the idea that everything could change in an instant is too frightening to me.  A friend told me when I moved to LA:  "If you have time to ask 'Is this the big one?', it isn't."  That's how fast everything changes in a bad earthquake.  How unexpected and life shattering it is.  Give me some prep time with a little forewarning and I can handle whatever life throws at me.  Things that catch me off guard make me nervous for a long time.

That is why I prefer earthquakes to hurricaines.  <---I just reread this entry and I have decided to leave that sentence the way it is despite the fact that I erroneously wrote it that way.  Why?!?!?!  Because I am a big, fat ding dong!!!  I do that all the time---especially when I'm lecturing.  My poor kids!  I sometimes look out and everyone is confused and I ask "What did I just say!?"  At parties, Dave will generally have to reinterpret what I say with a "And the subtitle to that is......"  I don't know why.  I've asked some of the cognitive neuropsychologists in the dept why I do that, and basically, they can't stop laughing long enough to give me an answer.  I can usually edit it out.  But clearly, not always.

6:29:01 PM