Until That First Blackout

That Sound You Hear? » Have You Ever Seen The Rain? by CCR
Days of NHL Lockout » 296
Big News » A United States Circuit Court judge actually sentenced a reporter to four months in prison for not divulging the name of a source. How do brain-dead people like that ever get appointed to the federal bench? It's remarkable, really.

Now, today's story...

I woke this morning, like most people around here, to the sound of pouring rain outside. This wasn't totally unexpected. Hurricanes do tend to move at a snail's pace and it's not like Floridians don't have the Weather Channel on instant recall. Which we do.

I showered and was in the process of shaving when Dennis, of Category 3 strength, cut out the lights on me. If you've never tried it, shaving in the dark is tricky. Shortly thereafter, I was in the kitchen eating by the very cloud-dimmed sunlight coming through the window when it hit me.

Every year when May comes around all the local TV stations turn over the reigns to their respective meteorologists who pound away: "This could be the worst hurricane season yet." And everybody just sorta nods along because, you know, we tend to forget. I mean honestly, the last storm was at least six months ago.

Then June 1 knocks on the door and politely informs us that Hurricane Season has officially begun. But with clear tropics, you could give a crap. Right?

Which leads me to my prior revelation. It's not until that first blackout that you take a little notice. Hurricane Season is here. And for the next six months, you'll flinch every time you hear a weather man come on the television. Last year made everyone a little tense. Four massive balls of wind and rain can do that.

That said, we were powerless today for only about 20 minutes at my house. It wasn't bad at all. Matter of fact, it was about 19 minutes after the power initially went out that we all decided to pass the time by playing a poker in the dark. I swear that just as the first card was dealt every light came back on. We played anyway, but how's that for irony?

Anyway, without wanting to dwell on it, I just thought I'd get it on record. I see it now. Hurricane Season 2005 is upon us.

Oh, and on a side note you folks at APC, manufacturer of my battery back-up, I'll have you know that my battery, which is supposed to last a good 30 minutes, died in about five. I'm extremely disappointed.

That's right, you heard me. Extremely.

Good News: Word on the street is the NHL Lockout could be drawing to an end and we just may have a season come October. Of course neither the NHL nor NHLPA will stipulate to that. They'd like to drag it out a little longer. Just a little bit longer.