Isaactacular!

We had prepared, expecting not only THISMUCH rain, but also 100 mph gusts of wind and no electricity, so we were fine.

Here are some of the things that happened during Isaac:

Aeli wrote to his estranged loves.

Aeli got on Josh's shoulders.

Josh got on Stefin's shoulders.

We hung out before the real winds started blowing in ponchos and short-shorts. (We performed a Really Good Dance on the sidewalk, street, and intersection in front of a local bar.)

Josh and Joel wrestled.

Played all sorts of instruments.

Improvised candle-holders.

Generally, just jammed.

The next day:
Without power, the sidewalk was the coolest place to be. Aeli, having been cooped up with kin for 24 hours, found refuge with Mayor Matt nextdoor.

  We were on our stoop reading, eating muscadine grapes; Josh was on his stoop, faking like he was studying for the GRE, and words were exchanged. One of the words was "margaritas," which caused the boys to pull out the generator, and us to fill our block with a roar not unlike what I imagine a Nascar car sounds like up close. Also, everything smelled a little gasoliney. But it was cool. We plugged in the fridge, charged our electronics, and blended some delicious drinks with our melting berries.

Aeli lusted for electronics, as usual.

Sans electricity, we gathered. Aeli kicked me out of the living room, so he could do a solo dance for Joel; everyone else kicked it on the sidewalk, in various modules.

Also, there were sparklers. Aeli's first.

The power went out, it certainly was loud, there were definitely a handful of substantial leaks from our ceiling... our towels all had to be used to sop up water from above... showers were cold, but it was hot anyway... our phones didn't work, and we had no internet (GASP!), but through such trying times, we were stuck with a big group of some of our best friends.

 All in all, pretty magical.