Monday, November 5, 2012

A Long Strange Week

What a long strange week it’s been.

On Monday, Hurricane Sandy combined with a Nor’easter to create the perfect storm, although there is nothing perfect about the death and devastation it left in its wake in New Jersey and New York.   We have a lot of family and friends in the affected areas, and thankfully they all came through okay, although some were left without power for several days and some are without power still.

Back in Pittsburgh we were lucky.  While our neighbors to the East were trying to figure out how to begin to recover from the aftermath of Sandy, and areas all around us were hit with snow, the effects of this historic storm on our area was.... rain, and lots of it.  Oh, and it was windy, and there were some downed trees.  In other words, it was a typical southwestern Pennsylvania rainstorm.

That did not keep us from panicking.  Schools were closed on Tuesday, and I don’t fault the authorities for being preventative in their preparations for the storm that could have been much, much worse. I wonder how sheepish they felt when the kids were all home from school because it was raining outside.  And they definitely jumped the gun when townships throughout the area postponed trick or treat from Halloween night (Wednesday) to the following Saturday. 

Then on Tuesday we found out that America inexplicably voted Sabrina Bryan out far too early on Dancing with the Stars- All Stars - again.  In the sixth week, just like the first time she was on the show.  Sabrina was clearly distraught, and so was everyone else on the show.  She broke down completely during her final dance.  Suddenly, as much as I love the show, I could not get so worked up about this.  I mean, really, it’s just a dance show.  Winning it or losing it is not that big a deal.  I mean, does she have an intact home with working electricity? 

Frankly, I’m more interested in America getting it right when they vote this coming Tuesday.  After all it is the fate of the country that hangs in the balance after that vote, not a mirror ball trophy for a celebrity.  Of course, the impending election is taking its toll just as surely as the aftereffects of the hurricane, as is evidenced by a video that was all the rage this week of the little 4-year-old girl crying inconsolably because she was tired of hearing about the candidates.  I think we can all relate.  “Oh, Honey,” her mother comforted her, “don’t worry, the election will be over soon.”  

And then, just when you thought the week couldn't get any wierder, Heidi Klum took off her makeup to encourage women to do the same for some charity fundraiser in the UK, and… she never looked lovelier.  Heidi Klum is absolutely drop-dead gorgeous without her makeup.  No one looks that good without makeup.  I bet if she went to Giant Eagle like that, no one would ask her if she were very tired or sick or something because of the dark circles under her eyes. I bet she never once had to rely on her personality or her smarts or her good sense of humor to get by.  It just isn't fair, I tell you.

The week finally came to an end, and we actually saw a little sun on Saturday.  Here’s to a better week ahead.  Let’s hope that we have a respite from wicked weather, dancers unfairly eliminated from dance shows, and celebrities flaunting their naturally beautiful faces in front of us.  

Of course, I’m sure there will be a few more tears shed over the election before it’s all over.

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