Hurricane Irene: Batten Down the Hatches

With in a week of the Virginia earthquake felt here in NYC, Mother Nature is coming at us with a one-two:earthquake-hurricane punch! Category One hurricane Irene is making her way up the East coast and we eagerly await her arrival.

In an unprecedented event, NYC evacuated approximately 370,000 people from lower Manhattan this morning and has completely shut down all mass transit since noon today (read more about it here).

I have to say that I am very impressed with the organization and communication of the city with it's population. There seems to be a sense of preparedness innate in the New Yorker, for obvious reason. It creates a sense of security so necessary to take care of its almost 8 million people.

Growing up on the Gulf Coast, this is not my first hurricane. I've been paying attention to the news and the weather, planning accordingly. As of right now it looks like our biggest concerns in the city are flooding, power outages, and getting the mass transit back in order after the whole shebang is over, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Luckily, we are not in a flood plane. In fact, the hurricane would need to be a cat four or higher to cause our zone to be evacuated. We happen to be in one of the safest areas. For this reason we are choosing to batten down the hatches and ride out the storm. Check out this link for more information on NYC hurricane evacuation zones. If for some unforeseen reason we are forced to leave our apartment we are planning to reporting to Hunter College evacuation center on 68th & Lexington.

Our hurricane Irene preparedness picture montage plan is as follows:

Water...errr...

water!

Rations

Supplies

First Aid Kit and life saving dog

I also filled up the tub with water in case we need water for bathing or flushing the toilet. And I froze some zip-lock bags full of water so I can store food for a little longer in case the power goes out.

Right now we sit and wait. The rain is barely coming down and the trees are still. We'll report back manana.

Wesley and Jackie Get Hitched!

February 20, 2011, Jackie and Wes tied the knot at Mercury Hall in Austin, TX!

You know those couples that just fit together? That is Jackie & Wes. Both are quick witted with an excellent sense of humor and a lot of heart. I am so happy for them, and quite selfishly, happy for our family. I just adore the both of them as individuals and as a couple. I love that my brother has found the right girl. He is such an awesome guy and it is about time he met his match.

The wedding was creative and cute. I adored the decorations, especially the little handmade cake toppers created by the couple out of thread spools and champagne corks.

And the candy table was a smashing hit!

The venue was vintage cool, with white washed walls, dark wood floors and stain glass lined cathedral shaped windows.

Jackie's dress was gorgeous and she looked stunning.

Wesley was dapper in his black suit with white patent leather shoes.


















They were wed outside beneath a big oak tree to the music of a harp and violin.

The receptioned followed in the Hall, where a live band played while the guests indulged in spirits and had a Thanksgiving style feast of turkey and dressing.

Their first dance was a tango! I love this! I've watched it a buhzillion times and it makes me smile more every time I see it.



The night went on with more merriment and celebration, complete with a photo room full of fun accessories (I'll share those if I can get my hands on them). There were beautiful toasts and lots of dancing to a live band, The Recliners, who played modern tunes set to jazz style, with a few oldies thrown in. I would include pictures but my camera battery died after the tango :( Here's one of my favorite in-laws enjoying the party!

This little gem of a picture was taken by my brother, Michael, who was paying homage to my photo taking skills with an artful angle of his own creation.

It all just made me want to get married again! (to Jeremy, of course) Our wedding was wonderful, but if I could do it again, it would be just like this! I loved the handmade detail, the whimsy and the fun about the entire theme!

The night before my parents hosted a rehearsal dinner at Carmello's in Austin. Sorry the picture is fuzzy; it's the only one I had of all of us!

The lovely couple:

Mother of the Groom:

Father of the Groom:

Who showed up but Carmello himself!

The entire weekend was a smashing good time. I hope they both know how much I adore them and that I wish the happiest of happily ever afters!

xoxo

Attention: New Yorkers

Dear Fellow New Yorkers,

The weather outside has been, shall we say, sloshy lately. Being a very pedestrian city it is necessary we get ourselves around by foot despite the weather.

Umbrellas play a very important roll in keeping us from looking like we jumped in the Hudson with our clothes on while on the way to work. However, my dear neighbors, I am begging you to reconsider, nay, consider your fellow New Yorker on our mutual plight to work.

What I'm trying to say is what the &$%^ is with the giant golf umbrellas New York?!

Seriously, are you waiting for the cabana boy to bring you drinks under that thing? I think the entire Dugger family could sip Shirley Temples beneath the giant canopy you try to pass off as an umbrella.

I can only speak for myself, but I would like to say that my eyes are quite valuable to me. Clearly you do not see as much value in my eyes as I do. Otherwise you might make an attempt to not gouge them out with your massive tent on a stick.

I'm not asking you to get soaked on the way to work merely to salvage my sight. I am simply requesting you consider some other options for staying dry while you trek around the city.

There are some really great choices out there. Take these hand less options, for instance:



Or how about a rain slicker and some wellies? I hear yellow is "all the rage" this season!!


Whatever you choose to do, please save your golf umbrellas for the golf course and get a friendlier, less eye mutilating, personal space respecting umbrella. My eyes and my patience will thank you.

Sincerely,
Your Considerate Transplant Tamara

My dog is the worst cat ever.

There's plenty to enjoy about New York living. Mice are not one of them. These surreptitious little creatures have taken a liking to our apartment that has not been met with welcome, but rather glue traps.

Listen here (hear?) mice: you may be cute, but you are also dirty and gross. (I know, so is Patton but he gets a pass on this because we have a mutually rewarding relationship, I can bathe him, and he has been vaccinated.)

You are lucky my dog is a very bad cat. He might tolerate you stealing his food, but do not mistake his complacency for mine. I mean business.

I know it's cold out on the streets, little mice. We're paying $, and working professional jobs for this shelter, how about you? Oh wait, that's right, you are little food thieving pests, who poop your tiny little mouse turds where ever you happen to be standing. Let's be clear, my house is not your toilet nor your home.

You terrorize me with your incessant little scratches and scurries that quit as soon as I move in your general direction. I've caught you in the dog food, predictable choice I must say. And your attempts to get in the lidded garbage can have been humorous at times. Today I found you in the toaster and I have to admit, I threw up in my mouth a little; well played.

Don't press your luck, little gypsy pirate mice, or we will switch from glue traps to spring loaded crushers faster than you can say "An American Tail".

Peer Pressure

Thanks for the peer pressure, Jenna! Here's a post!

So I have all these great pictures on my camera since we moved to New York. They really tell a better story than I can. Unfortunately I have misplaced the cord to download them to the computer. **side note: I'm a little too lazy to look really hard at the moment.

Lot's has been happening! Jeremy is enjoying his promotion to manager. Being the main catalyst behind this move, and really wanting our marriage to make it, this comes as such a relief to me. He seems pretty stoked as well. Alas we will make it to year 4 in May! ;)

My job at the dermatology clinic is going swimmingly. I'm learning new conditions, treatments, skills, and medications. The girls I work with are a blast. We spend most days laughing and playing practical jokes. It keeps my mind off the fact that I'm underpaid, but not Jeremy's.

We've made some friends and are enjoying city. Patton has taken to it quite well. His affinity for taking dumps in the middle of the street has shifted to taking dumps atop mounds of snow, of which he often falls through during the act. I'm surprised at how much he enjoys the snow. Jeremy assures me that this is because he is from Boston, being a Boston Terrier and all. His bread might have originated there, but this dog in from Conroe, TX. Then again, I like the snow and I'm from Harlingen, TX. Maybe we were both Canadians in a past life, eh?

the Come Back

Wow! It's been a year since my last witty and clever post. My only excuse is that, in my old age, I have run out of wit and cleverness, leaving you, my dear reader (aka our parents), with a big empty McDannel blog void.

Well, thanks to some friendly nagging, a recent move far away, and a working internet connection, I am feeling a little inspired to jot down (or type, as it were) a few words for your reading pleasure.

With old age comes wisdom. So get ready to be schooled with more McDannel life lessons. Or just have something to read when your really, really bored.