Not My Most Productive Day

I really like the new university where I'm teaching. My students are great; the classes are similar to courses I've taught at least hundreds of times. But I didn't want to go to work today. There's nothing like an impending tropical storm to make you wish you were home, and I had a hard time keeping my focus. My students seem to fall into two categories: those who have always lived in Florida and those who have not lived in Florida until last week. Both groups, I think, are underestimating the damage potential that is coming with this storm. From what I've seen, it is supposed to be the biggest one in ten years. Jacksonville is usually lucky with hurricanes (Hermine was just upgraded to a hurricane), but that is less true when they come across the state as opposed to up the coast. I don't claim to be a meterologist, but as I understand it, when a hurricane comes across from the Gulf, it draws up water from the ocean too. Usually, when a hurricane makes landfall, it weakens. When it gets closer to the ocean, it gains strength. So this could be bad.

On the other hand, I feel like the mere fact that I have prepared well may stave off the worst effects of the storm -- in the same way I believe the rain held off until after my classes because I was carrying my umbrella around with me all day. Other than a bit of sprinking on the way home, nothing is happening yet. In fact, all day there has been the eeriest silence and stillness -- no wind, no rain, nothing. It's truly creepy, the proverbial calm before the storm. I, however, am neither silent nor still. I'm a ball of energy with no outlet. I am a chatterbox with no one to talk to. I'm glad the dogs are here or I would lose my mind, even though I've been home less than a half hour.

As a practical measure and to release some of my pent-up peppiness, if that's the right word, I'm going to cook something. There's a chance we may be without power tomorrow; I have a twenty-pound bag of ice ready to put in my cooler if that turns out to be the case, and I can grill food as needed. Oh, good lord! Another news alert is blowing up my phone! Okay, enough. Time to get moving.