Next up: Plague of Locusts!

I have survived 2 separate natural disasters in one week: an earthquake and a hurricane! First up, there was a 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Virginia last Tuesday that was felt all the way up in New York. So we definitely felt it in Baltimore. I was at work, talking with some coworkers at the circulation desk. We heard something by the windows, and thinking it might be the window washers or some kids messing around outside, I said I would go and see who it was. Before I had taken two steps though, the entire building started shaking, and people were freaking out. My branch manager yelled, "Everybody get outside!" And to set a good example, she reached the door in about 1.2 seconds.

After about half an hour outside trying unsuccessfully to use our cell phones (I gave a helpful speech about why an earthquake might disturb cell phone service to a bunch of children), we were told we could go back inside. Then about 5 minutes later they changed their minds and told us all to go home. And I had only been at work for about three hours! I ended up spending the afternoon with Maren and Grace, making tropical squares, hiking in the woods, watching The Electric Company, and eating dinner. It was a really nice day. Thanks, earthquake! The only damage at work-some cracks in the walls that might have gotten bigger. The only damage at home-one of my pictures tipped over. All in all, my kind of natural disaster.

My second natural disaster was Hurricane Irene. I'll admit, this one wasn't as pleasant as the earthquake because:

1. We knew she was coming. So we spent a lot of time getting really nervous about her. 
2. Even though I got out of work 2 hours early on Saturday, I have to use my own time for it. Boo! 
3. The main storm hit while I was asleep, so I didn't even get to appreciate it. 
4. There was apparently some kind of leaking by the front door of my house, so it is now freakishly hard to open and close it. We're really hoping that it will dry out in a couple of days and go back to normal. If not, our landlord says he'll come and shave down the doorframe or something. I don't know. 
5. Church was canceled. Of course, I had already made my food for munch and mingle, so now I have a ginormous bowl up substandard (I messed up the recipe) German potato salad to finish off, and I don't think I can do it. Plus, having home church is way hard. You can only do churchy things for so long by yourself before you start to go crazy. 
6. The tree in my front yard was almost completely blown over in the storm! I should have taken some pictures of it before I staked it up, but I didn't think to. So you'll just have to trust me. It was leaning over a lot more than this. Also, trust that it is a heavier tree than it looks. I literally could not get it to stand up any taller than this.

But by far the worst thing about the hurricane was the power outages. We got lucky at my house, and the power never even flickered. But I'm pretty sure that was just our street and a few houses around the corner. A good portion of the rest of the neighborhood was still without power as of this morning. Maren and Dave had no power for about 42 hours. Several of the libraries in the city have been closed because they have no power. And most tragic of all, the schools have been closed! The first, blessed day of school was supposed to be Monday, but since many of the city schools had no power, they have been off for the last two days. It just isn't fair. I was supposed to be free! Free!!!

Update: Since typing the above, I have heard that school is starting tomorrow! I'm saved!

Anywho, those were my two natural disaster experiences. Since I have gone my whole life without living though any natural disasters, it's pretty amazing to have had two in one week. I can only conclude that this trend will continue and try to prepare. I think we'll be facing a plague of locusts next, but for our fourth disastrous occurrence, I can't decide what it will be. I'm torn between Rise of the Machines and Zombie Apocalype. The way things are going, we might get both! But rest assured, unless it's the Rise of the Machines, I will be blogging about it!

I rewatched it so you don't have to: Roswell, Season 1

Aka, my obsession for two years of high school. This post is for Chelsea! And any other closet Roswell fans who read my blog. Once, our friend John had to plan a fake campaign trip for his fake run for office, and he said one of his stops was going to be Roswell, NM because Chelsea and I would surely be living there. My computer password for all of high school was "Roswell." Don't get any ideas-that's not my password now, so stop trying to hack me!

Okay, so eventually I plan on rewatching the entire series, but after binging on season 1 (I honestly watched it in about a week), I needed a break. So, without further ado, my thoughts on Roswell Season 1.

First of all, I can't believe these kids were supposed to be the same age as me! They look older than I do now, and it's been 10 years(!). Seriously though, they're not even trying to look like teenagers! Max is actively looking middle-aged.

Speaking of Max: What a buzzkill! Honestly, he has no personality at all except boring. Is boring a personality? On the other hand, that makes him perfect for Liz, who, in spite of her super shiny hair, is about as exciting as watching paint dry. And man, those two are gross together. I honestly reached a point where I would automatically cringe and look away whenever they would kiss. Gross! They disgust (and bore) me. And when Max isn't wearing a shirt: EW!!! I have never been so disgusted by someone's muscles before (or since). At the end of the season, when we find out that Max is the leader of the aliens, I believe I said something like, "Oh you have got to be kidding me!!! He is going to be so much more lame than before!" C'mon Max! Remember when you were in that one episode of Buffy? You were awesome! What happened to you? I can only conclude that Roswell sucked the fun out of you. It's a fun sucker.

On to more interesting/exciting things, namely Kyle. Seriously, when Liz dumped him, I kept yelling very rude and uncomplimentary things at her. She's a fool! Kyle is the best/funniest character on the show! Honestly, the extra helping of Kyle is what I'm looking forward to most in season 2. Woo! Kyle! I love you and your cowboy outfits! And your hair!

While we're at it: Sheriff Valenti, good job for being the grown-up on the show. You always wore a cowboy hat. That's about it. Oh, and stop trying to arrest Max for saving Liz's boring life! It's not illegal! Good job becoming less crazy by the end of the season, but really, you should have paid more attention to your son Kyle (aka, the light of my Roswell life).

Okay, on to Isabel! Um, I feel uncomfortable by the fact that really old guys are always hitting on her. Because she's supposed to be 17. But she is a better actress than Liz and is about a million times more interesting that Max, so there's that. Plus, she's definitely the most famous Roswell alum. You go, Isabel! True, many people find you to be incredibly annoying, but at least you're not irrelevant! P.S. If I were you, I would just tell Max to shut it and tell my mom the truth. She deserves it/Max sucks. And BTW, you should really not pretend to like Alex. It makes us all feel weird on the inside.

Hey Alex! She's not into you! And your BFF Liz is totally suck! You should try to hang out with Maria and Kyle more. And maybe get a new stylist. This totally baggy look is not good for you.

Last but certainly not least, we have Michael and Maria! YAY!!! Aside from Kyle (ILU, Kyle!), Michael and Maria and definitely the reason to watch this show. I feel like this is what they might have been going for with Liz and Max, except that Michael and Maria and interesting, funny, and not painful to watch. Yeah, I said it. Plus, Michael is all damaged because of his crappy childhood! And Maria and all quirky because of her weirdo mom! Thanks for making Roswell swoony for me, you guys!

Okay, other stuff about the show. Since this show takes place when I was actually in high school myself, the fashion is really representative of how people looked (or wanted to look) at that time. Some of the fashions are hideous! But I was very surprised by how nostalgic it made me for some of those fashions. Not belly shirts, though. That does not look good on anyone. Also, I totally remember loving Maria's hair, but it is really stupid. So I obviously had bad taste.

Other things to mention-the technology! Remember when Miss Topolski is trying to send a secret message to the FBI, and she has to wait for her dial-up internet to connect? Good times! I remember dial-up! Mom would always need to use the phone while we were trying to use the internet or vice versa! So frustrating. Anywho, while we're on the subject of technology, will someone please get busy with inventing my flying car? Thanks.

Finally, the theme song! Oh man, I love!!!!!!! this theme song. Even now, I still totes love it. In fact, one of the first CDs I ever owned was a Dido CD, which I got because of the Roswell theme song. Whoever picked that theme song did a real grood job.

So, overall, this is a totally cheesy and kinda dumb teen show, but I can see why I loved it so much as an actual teenager. And I really am looking forward to season 2. If only Liz and Max weren't in it...