It's a French Toast Emergency!

[geminigirl]

In the DC area, when snow is predicted, the region declares a "French Toast Emergency"-and milk, bread and toilet paper disappear from store shelves. I once had the misfortune of needing some milk to make dinner one night, while on my way home a day or two before snow was predicted, and it took me three stores to find an appropriate sized carton of milk.

Hurricane Wilma is coming. Now, this hurricane is a rather large and scary storm, in fact, the other day, when Cayne and I both happened to wake up quite a bit before the alarm, when he noticed that I was up, he said to me, "Promise you won't obsess over the news today...the hurricane has dropped to the lowest pressure ever, and is now a category 5 storm." I was flabbergasted.

I'm not inclined towards panic about this storm...I've been in several hurricanes before, and just not willing to go wildeyed over this one. But, the various news stations seem to be reporting that there's a potential for impact here in Orlando, so I figured I'd go out and get the things that we should have had in the house anyway, like candles and flashlights and batteries, and bottled water.

The storm isn't supposed to arrive for quite a few days. It took four stores yesterday for me to get bottled water.

(I so need a weather icon....)

Comments

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Milk, toilet paper, twinkies -- we're all gonna DIE!!!

[tisiphone.livejournal.com]

Parmelaat milk is your friend :> (Milk is prone to disappearance in the northeast when blizzards or predicted, or it snows, or, well, it's a bit nippy in the morning. I always keep a few boxes on hand.)

[margoeve.livejournal.com]

Really, if it's Category 5, I think you should get the hell out of there.

[geminigirl]

It's not likely to be a Category 5 when it gets to Florida-it's a 4 now, and they're saying it will likey be a 2 or 1 when it does hit Florida. It's also largely predicted to hit quite a bit south of here. If it were a Category 5 and heading anywhere near Central Florida, we, and the cats would be gone.

[datagoddess.livejournal.com]

Don't forget to fill the bathtub for extra water in case you lose water service. Handy for flushing, if needed.

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

I can't quite understand stocking up on milk, honestly. Though I suppose if you're stocking up for a snowstorm, you can always just stick the milk outside if the power goes out. Or inside, if you have electric heating :)

[geminigirl]

We had a discussion about cleaning the bathtubs yesterday. They both need scrubbing before filling. I thought about doing it today, but realized we've got at least two days of showers before filling the tubs, and so I'll wait until just before we're ready to fill.

[geminigirl]

I could never figure that out either. Bread, I can sort of see. Toilet paper, okay. But milk has never made sense.

I'm not expecting much snow here this year. I'll get my fill in Canada, I suppose.

[geminigirl]

I love the convenience of Parmelaat, but for some reason the smell makes me gag. I have the same reaction to baby formula and soy milk...soy formula-forget it, I'm almost guaranteed to hurl.

[fortryll.livejournal.com]

Please be safe, and careful. I've been thinking about you & worrying about you. And if there's anything that Tom or I can do to help, please let us know ASAP!

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

Not expecting any here, either. It snowed maybe an 1/8 inch in 2001, and that was the first time in ten years or so. We get below freezing temperatures and precipitation, but rarely both at once since cloud cover tends to raise the temperature.

[geminigirl]

Thanks.

We're fine, and far enough north that we're not likely to get much impact beyond rain and some high winds, but it's several days until the storm actually gets to Florida, and storms are prone to change. We're following the storm track carefully, and if we appear to be in danger, we'll do as advised, but for now, we're okay.

Soy Milk, Toilet Ppaer and ?

[geminigirl]

So what do vegans buy, since Twinkies aren't vegan?

Re: Soy Milk, Toilet Ppaer and ?

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Even pre-veg, I never really understood the whole pre-storm buying spree involving stocking upon items that I wouldn't normally use. But that's a good question.

In California, my quake kit had bottled water and Tasty Bites.

[fairion.livejournal.com]

Even at the time of your post it was already down to a 4. Still 4 is dangerous but as you comment later it is gonna weaken before it makes Florida. My aunt in the Keys has evacuated and school is out for my mom (Broward county) until Tuesday. This hurricane season has been bad but I strongly recommend not panicking. Unless it is Catagory 3 or better there is very low likelihood of losing water at all or power for long periods. If you rush to prep for every storm even when they are not scheduled to come to you, it will make for very harried and stressful summers

[katbyte.livejournal.com]

I live in the panhandle. I am way too used to all this.

Make sure you get gasoline, and as soon as possible.

Good luck.

[geminigirl]

I filled my car yesterday. Cayne filled his two days ago. I also got some cash, batteries, new flashlights (didn't know where the old ones were) water, etc.

I'm not worried, unless it takes a turn north of where it's predicted to land.

[geminigirl]

I'm not panicked. Not yet anyway. As it is now, we'll get some wind and rain, but nothing major-I've been in worse storms. Most of what I bought is stuff we should have in the house, hurricane or not.

Re: Soy Milk, Toilet Ppaer and ?

[geminigirl]

I think if we were expecting a more serious storm, where we'd be without power for days, and probably stuck in the house for a while, I'd get some treats, but we're not.

Re: Soy Milk, Toilet Ppaer and ?

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Tasty Bites are sealed Indian food packs that can be cooked in boiling water (the water doesn't even have to be clean since the packs are sealed), or eaten cold if necessary. They also don't need refrigeration so are great pantry items. Just about everyone I knew out there had a bunch of packs in case of quake. Not to mention just to eat cuz they're yummy.

Re: Soy Milk, Toilet Ppaer and ?

[whitebird.livejournal.com]

Not me! I've never heard of them, and I don't really have an earthquake survival kit.

[wolfden.livejournal.com]

soy formula here too. YUCK! Babies even hurl it (which is actually even worse than pre-consumed). Hehehe. I guess I breastfed to avoid the smell of formula (and dealing with bottles). I never noticed the difference between babies that had breastmilk versus babies that got formula until after I was around several breast fed babies. Also, formula smell bothers me more now than it used to. We don't really drink much milk except for Chris. Parmelat, he used to get when it first came out but now we get real milk always.

[wolfden.livejournal.com]

If you need a place we're in Raleigh. Must tolerate small child (6 years).

Also we've pets but since you've cats of your own I fgure that's okay.

[geminigirl]

Is that a Bernese Mountain Dog in your icon? I had the opportunity to dog sit for a pair regularly for a couple of years and fell in love.

We're okay with small children. In fact, we both like them.

I think we're fine for now, but I'll keep you posted.

Thank you very much for the offer.

[wolfden.livejournal.com]

Weather is weird. No one believed Fran (1996) would come to Raleigh. No one was prepared. Except me since it was our first hurricane season here. We have the bread, milk, and TP thing here too (hurricanes and ice storms), who really uses 2! 36 roll packs of TP before the ice melts or the power comes on.

Yes Trooper is a Bernese Mountan Dog. He's twerpy at 25 inches and 75 pounds. Also he's so sweet. We have a lab mix, a toy poodle and a lhasa also. And 2 cats -short haired, a Beta, an ant colony, a worm composting experiment and 3 jumping beans.

I hope the storm veers off. But you are always welcome here. Everyone thinks Tatiana is a riot. Except me cause we live with her genious little mind.

[katbyte.livejournal.com]

Hopefully it will not be north. I doubt it. The cold front should push it south and weaken it.
Also, fill your bathtub with water. It can be used for all kinds of things like flushing.

Hope it misses you.

[geminigirl]

They're telling us tropical storm stuff...

Bathtub cleaning is on the list of things to do late tonight, after litterboxes are cleaned and showers for tomorrow have been had.

[aliki.livejournal.com]

Hey, we just got back. We were driving, and didn't want to be caught in traffic if the storm were to hit earlier than expected. We left Friday night/Sat morning. Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet up.

[katbyte.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you are ready. At least if you lose electric, it is not so hot.

[cmariewt.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of you last night while watching news about Wilma. I hope all goes well for you. Keep us updated on the happenings. Especially about any bizarre kitty behavior.