Irene Day 2

[greygirlbeast]

We're provisioned, high and dry, and watching the charts, the diagrams, the broadcasts. I'm not especially worried about Providence. And the storm will have spent most of its fury before it reaches Boston. We'll get heavy rain and bad wind. And hellacious swells and tides (Why am I not surprised that LJ can't spell "hellacious"?). But it's Manhattan and the other boroughs that worry me the most.

Regardless, it'll be a rough weekend on the Eastern Seaboard. I'd thought maybe I could get to Moonstone Beach late this evening and get in one last swim before the storm hits. But the surf report for the day is looking less than optimum. By the time I could reach the shore, late this afternoon, the surf will be 3+ feet (waist to stomach height), with swells at 2-3 feet. The swells really are not bad for swimming, given that the water should be semi-glassy/semi-bumpy. But my legs are still weak enough that getting in and out of that surf could be dangerous (I can still be knocked down by a 2-foot wave, if it catches me off guard). So, I imagine we'll drive down and watch the sea, but stay dry (I'll get photos and post them). The temptation is just so...strong. But the surfers are excited. They'll be out in force at Point Judith by tomorrow. Surfers know no fear (which, in this case, may equate to having little in the way of instincts for self-preservation*).

But things get scary on Sunday, when we'll have 10-15 foot waves, with 15-26+ ft. swells. And, of course, the new moon is bringing our highest tides of the month. Here in Providence, the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier will protect downtown (which is only 8-12 feet above mean sea level). I doubt there will even be an evacuation order for Conanicut, Aquidneck, and Block islands. But we shall see.

---

Yesterday, I wrote 1,125 words on Chapter Eight of Blood Oranges. I am so, so near the ending. But today, I need to go down to Exeter, about 15 miles from here, to do some last minute research for the final scene. We'll stop by the Chestnut Hill Cemetery and see the grave of Mercy Brown, which I've never done. Oddly.

They can no longer move.
I can no longer be still. -- Throwing Muses

kylecassidy has begun a new LJ, evacanning, for the outtakes and progress with The Drowning Girl: Stills From a Movie That Never Existed and the book trailer (not sure why this isn't being done via Kickstarter, but there you go). Kyle and I will both be making upates. There are already some great stills (Sarah [Eva] and Kyle, and one of the plague doctors) up on the blog.

Oh, the deadlines I am facing in the next three weeks. Fuck me twice on Sunday. Wish me luck. If I survive them, well...maybe then I'll be able to survive the two months that follow those three weeks. The matter was discussed yesterday with my editor at Penguin.

Well, enough for now. If you're in Irene's path, do the smart thing. Be safe. But I cannot help but marvel (and herein lies conflict) at the beautiful ferocity of this beast, Panthalassa's rough, watery beast slouching towards Nova Scotia.

Awed,
Aunt Beast

* This isn't meant to be value-laden, loaded language. Frankly, I admire anyone who takes on that wild water. If I were younger and/or stronger, I would be out there.

Comments

[robyn-ma.livejournal.com]

Forgive me if this has been asked and answered elsewhere, but was the title The Drowning Girl inspired at all by Bowie's cover of 'The Drowned Girl'?

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

but was the title The Drowning Girl inspired at all by Bowie's cover of 'The Drowned Girl'?

It was asked, at some point, long ago. Anyway, nope. It wasn't.

[sovay]

But things get scary on Sunday, when we'll have 10-15 foot waves, with 15-26+ ft. swells. And, of course, the new moon is bringing our highest tides of the month.

I still envy you. I will not be able to see the sea from here.

But I cannot help but marvel (and herein lies conflict) at the beautiful ferocity of this beast, Panthalassa's rough, watery beast slouching towards Nova Scotia.

Yes.

Stay safe.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I will not be able to see the sea from here.

terrifying as it is, part of me wishes *I* could see it. From where we live, it's not like you can actually see the sea. Maybe on Monday.

[humglum.livejournal.com]

it's not like you can actually see the sea.

But we'll be able to smell it, for sure. If we want to dare to venture a nose near a doorway, that is...

[alumiere.livejournal.com]

Stay safe yourself; I have vivid memories of Gloria and it was scary and amazingly beautiful. We were at the beach, and watched from the seawall and then the top floor windows as it rolled in. And the next day there was so much stuff watched up I think we spent hours picking up things.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

We were at the beach, and watched from the seawall and then the top floor windows as it rolled in.

Yeah, we're talking about going down once it's passed, to watch the surf at Narragansett, from behind the seawall.

[humglum.livejournal.com]

We were without power for... a long time when Gloria hit. I think it was at least a week. I remember going across the street to get water from the stream behind a neighbor's house, and lugging it back in buckets in a wagon. I also remember lots of kids showing up to school a little less that clean, due to so many people having power out.

[alumiere.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I seem to remember schools being closed for a week or more because the power was out in a lot of places, although the trip to the beach was a visit, and I went back to college after a few days when transportation resumed.

[spank-an-elf.livejournal.com]

Not liking the path Irene is taking. If you look at a map of NJ, we're right below Trenton, and only a block from the Delaware river. I'm feeling real twitchy. I mean our cellar floods during a hard rain. I do believe we're fucked. Not as fucked as the folks on the coast. That is going to be ugly.

It's time to spread a line of salt at the back door to urge away the angry river. Yeah, I know, but the little voice will feel better.

Hope everyone keeps safe.