Post-Hurricane Irene

Here we are the day after Irene and the winds are still whipping around us. At least the rain has stopped which means that those areas that have flooded will have a chance to have the waters recede. So how did the storm affect me.

To be honest, gladly the storm didn't hit as was predicted. Staying up all most of the night watching movies on Netflix (Iron Man 2, Fire and Ice and Operation: Barbarossa) and drinking coffee, I have to admit that the rain and wind were quite soothing. That's easy for me to say since I live on the top floor of a private house and didn't experience any flooding or power outage. The worst thing of the storm was some broken branches, leaves and a lack of cable TV.

All in all, I believe that the administrations of Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Cuomo did the right thing by shutting down the MTA. Even though I still believe that it was a "knee-jerk" reaction (to Mayor Bloomberg's bad handling of the blizzard last winter) to the storm, I would hate to imagine how bad it would be with the tunnels flooded in Lower Manhattan and passengers stuck on trains, as well as, cars being at the mercy of high winds on the bridges. Already there is limited bus service and hopefully full service will be restored by the time I have to go to work tomorrow night. I'm just glad that (as far as I know) everyone that I know came out of this safe. Back to the daily grind tomorrow.

FH

Is It Really Wise to be Drunk During a Hurricane?

I have to say that I am really astonished that so many people that I know through Facebook are actually drinking and getting drunk with the impending arrival of Hurricane Irene. I mean think about it folks, wouldn't you  like to be at your peak mentally and physically when the shit hits the proverbial fan?

Maybe the weather isn't "hurricane-like" but do you really want to be hungover when it does show up? I know how my hangovers can be, and let me tell you, I can barely get up to go to the bathroom when hungover let alone possibly being told to evacuate in a crisis situation.

I know some of you will say: Well, you work in a bar. Yes, I do. I've done so for 15 years or so and I have been serving drinks "professionally" for the last three months. I say "professionally" in a general sense since I am no way near being a professional bartender. Amateurish sure but I'm taking my baby steps to the next level. But I digress. 

Those of you who really know me can attest to the fact that I have always been conflicted with people who drink and those who are drunk. Maybe it has to do with having a father who drank too much and seeing myself walk down that same path. Who knows what really goes on in this big old noggin' of mine. But I do think that getting piss drunk and hanging out on a rooftop or on a beach/shoreline or in an area that is deemed to be hazardous due to potential flooding while "waiting" for the hurricane to show up is a bad idea. Do I think the media is playing things up? Sure do. Why? Who the fuck knows. Ratings? All I can think about is that in optimal survival situations, being impaired by drugs, alcohol or any other type of impairing agent is not a good idea. 

Maybe I am acting older than my 38 years say I am. Maybe I feel that my time here on this little mudball is limited and I want to enjoy it to the fullest. Maybe I want to be here for my family and not be the jackass that gets drunk, crashes his car and runs round drunk in a potential Category 1 or higher Hurricane. In the end, like I told my wife earlier: There's so much that we can control. And I can't control how people are going to act. 

Don't be surprised if the next time you pop into the bar and ask me to do a shot and I politely decline. I think the best way to do something that I can control is by doing it by example instead of sitting here bitching about it while I'm bored at home. LOL. Sisco's off the sauce for an undetermined period of time. I'll get off of my soapbox now. May you all be safe out there during the next few days.

FH

Hey Mother Nature You Trying to Tell Us Something?

Is Mother Nature trying to tell us something? Between last Wednesday's minor earthquake here in NYC and the impending arrival of Hurricane Irene, we have an unprecedented one-two punch of nature's fury. The last time that I remember a hurricane causing this kind of panic in the NYC area was either Hurricane Gloria in 1985 and/or Hurricane Bob in 1991. Luckily for me, I don't read into these natural events as being a sign of something to come. But is it? Could it just be that it's a coincidence that these natural occurrences have happened at the same time? Will it be as bad as the media and politicians are making it seem to be?

I mean the NYC Public Transit system is slated to be shut down at noon on Saturday night. The only time I can remember the entire system being shut down is during the last two transit strikes. Even during the blackouts and on 9/11 there was service (with the buses). Is it a "knee jerk" reaction? I believe it could be especially with the Mayor of NYC Michael Bloomberg. His public approval rating dropped significantly after this past winter's blizzard and lack of a coordinated effort by the City in snow clean-up. Maybe it's better to err on the side of caution.  I guess we'll just wait and see what happens. May everyone be safe during the next few days.

FH