Deja Vu All Over Again?

Let me begin with a rewind to life before the blog. We were about 3 months into living in Virginia the first time when we began to hear rumblings about a little storm named Isabel. D thought nothing of it and headed out to NY on business. While he was gone the rumblings grew until we had watches for a hurricane. By the time he came home it was a day away and I had already made all the preparations: outside things that could blow or break put away or flipped over so as not to blow, freezers on low with gallon jugs frozen as ice blocks, extra water/candles/flashlights located and stored in an easy to reach place, bathtub filled with water. D thought I had lost my mind. Then he got a day off work as the storm came in and the rain started and the wind and we tucked in to ride it out. Little Isabel came through Richmond as a weakening tropical depression. We lost a tree in the yard that we were about to have cut down anyway and the living room ceiling from a leak in the roof-- we could have really done without the living room ceiling thing. We stopped feeling sorry for our situation when my parents were on weeks one, then two, then three without power. After the storm and clean up D said that my prep had helped and next time he would pay more attention.
Fast forward to 2011 and it seems that the next time may be headed our way. This time her name is Irene (notice the I girl name---coincidence?). For now predictions bring her in nearly the same place as Isabel in 2003. Last night who was the one who turned off the TV for a few minutes to discuss what we would do to prep once things seemed more certain? Yes D, he has come a long way. He even emailed someone at work to make sure the disaster recovery plan was reviewed. I went this morning and picked up a few things that will get us ready. E says I am "spazzing out" but they are all things I had to empty from the emergency kit when we moved and needed to replenish. If we don't need some of the supplies then we are ready to donate them to whoever does need them on the east coast.
So weather reports are now at the top of the list of things to keep an eye on. We could use the rain, but I am not sure anyone can use a hurricane amount of rain (except the Dismal Swamp fire southeast of us--- they could use a nice soaking 12 inches to get that thing put out).
love and hugs and preparations never seem over the top when all the ice blocks, candles, and flashlight batteries are used by someone, B