We are in northern, NJ. We were hit pretty hard by Sandy, but from what I can tell, we got off easy compared to lower Manhattan, Queens and the Jersey shore. It is day 4 of powerlessness. Feeling pretty grateful for a lot of things – natural gas service, gas fireplaces, gas hot water heater, city water (gravity fed), good food, awesome family, great friends and a very thoughtful community.

When we moved into this house over the summer, we were crabby that the two huge old fireplaces in the dining room and living room had been converted to gas – we love our wood-burning fun. Prepping wood and fireplace is like a ritual to us. Have to say that this week as the temperatures drop, we are incredibly happy to lean into those big ole fireplaces and turn a nob and have instant warm flames. I’m surprised how much heat is thrown off those gas-fueled flames! Surprised and super grateful. We have set up camp on our couch in front of the living room fireplace and it is pretty darn cozy.

The Green Diva kitchen is remarkably functional and I’m glad I filtered and saved a lot of water, even though we do have water from the tap. We’ve got a lot of yummy food and we’re cookin with gas as they say!

I’m incredibly grateful for all those in our GD and online communities that have reached out and offered encouraging words and actual support. Our Important Media blog community is going to step up and our fearless leader Scott Cooney will be posting here tomorrow. Can’t wait to see that!

This has been my first full internet access and ability to communicate on a full-sized keyboard – woooohoooo! We are feeling like explorers that have discovered shangri-la in a Starbucks with power – not only did we find one, but we got a table and two plugs for charging. Seriously? The floors are littered with people on their laptops gratefully accessing wifi and a plugs when available. Folks are calmly sharing and like strangers stranded on Starbucks island, we are swapping stories and sharing critical information like where you can get gas or when power might be coming on, or where you can get ice for your warming refrigerator.

Our only serious casualties are my and my daughter’s cars that are pinned down under a rather large tree and will remain so for a while I’m afraid. Have a couple of different insurance companies to deal with and the adjusters probably have cars on a low-priority (rightfully so in many cases).

I’m personally enjoying the relative quiet at home and the candlelight dinners and feel very fortunate to be as comfortable as I am. We’ve had friends and family coming over to warm up and share some grub, sip some hot tea and try to see the best in this situation. We all agree that while we are uncomfortable, we all are horrified as news trickles in about those in much more  severe circumstances.

So what are the climate change haters saying these days?

Dunno, but I have more respect for our governor Christie. He could have used the opportunity to politicize things and he has done the opposite. He’s stepped up from what I can tell. I’m personally enjoying the break from the political insanity.

Hope you are faring well wherever you are. Hope to be back on track next week! Meanwhile . . . stay warm, safe & peaced out.