Give this house an A

After a morning of preparation filling up as many containers that would hold water (including bathtubs) and moving pretty much everything outside into the garage, it was actually rewarding to have Hurricane Paloma strengthen to a Category 3 as it passed by us. In a strange way, it made all the preparation and heightened emotions worthwhile.


We had three friends stay with us as their places were in vulnerable spots on the beach. We started out with a great lunch of Mexican food, accompanied by flickering lights, a power cut, and the inevitable cessation of water. Bundled up in comfort clothes (although it was still 80 degrees outside), we enjoyed cappuccinos, lots of great conversation, and healthy discussions about whether Jordan would be safe in the garage. The wind and rain were howling outside, but the house felt like a thick blanket keeping us snug. Eventually the power came back on (and would stay with us throughout the duration of the storm). Through all of this, little Jordan kept sneaking out of the garage to watch us inside.

What a silly dog? Please get out of the hurricane and back into the garage...

Ultimately, we decided to bring him in, more to ease our minds than anything. His very first trip into the house...

Okay, you win...

For dinner, we enjoyed a feast accompanied by great wine and desert wine. Note to those in hurricane belts: consider inviting a chef to your house during a hurricane. The evening finished with a marathon session of 24, although most of us were snoozing (some snoring) by the fifth episode.

When daylight broke on Saturday morning, everything was in order. We have a few crooked trees, but nothing to worry about. The windows and doors held everything perfectly. During the peak of the storm, we observed them flexing (as is expected), but we had no water or leakage anywhere.

So overall, the house did remarkably well in a sizeable storm. So well, that we enjoyed an impromptu sleepover bash, often forgetting that there was even an event taking place outside. A heartfelt thanks will be sent to our builders this week...