Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Spontaneous Amusement Park

We had an earthquake today. The magnitude was 5.4 and the epicenter was in Chino Hills. My estimation is that Chino Hills is about 18 miles away (as the crow flies). It hit at 11:42 this morning. We have been having aftershocks ever since, ranging in magnitude from 2 to 3.8. I am really not amused by this.

The earthquake was a "roller" rather than a "crash" (my terminology). I estimate that it lasted about 45 seconds. It seemed like an eternity. I was out with some of my friends at a local McDonald's, and apparently I lost all color and gripped the table. I started to cry. I must have looked like a complete ninny. Thankfully my friends were there and calmed me down. Sheesh.

Now all the networks have gone into "all earthquake all the time" mode, which is NOT helping. I think earthquakes are the Earth's way of telling people that we should NOT live here.

The initial reports were saying that it was a 5.8 magnitude, but they downgraded it to 5.4 (whodahell determines that anyway?). I was doing okay until the CalTech seismologist, during the press conference made mention that she was not sure if this was a "pre-shock" or not.

PRE-SHOCK??? REALLY???

My anxiety level is now in hyperdrive. Really trying to keep it together for my daughter, no need to freak her out. I know it was not "The Big One". But the thought of "The Big One" completely frightens me.

Monday, July 7, 2008

EEEEEEEK

Check out what I came face to face with this morning.



OK, so it was not this very Spider (because at 6:30 in the morning I am almost always without my camera). But there was a Black Widow Spider on the wheel of my trash can, in my garage.

I am still freaked about this. I gingerly rolled the trash can out to the street (it is trash day here in north MasterPlanistan). I was bare footed, so stepping on the beastly thing was not an option. I was ready to just completely firebomb the garage after seeing the precious specimen.

I only hope she was as terrified of me as I am of her. I usually like spiders, but venomous spiders that can KILL me and my family, I am not a huge fan of. Something to be said for self preservation and all that.

I am now afraid to go into my garage.