Yesterday, the weather report online stated, "The Pacific Northwest will get a pasting tomorrow."  A "pasting"??  My husband didn't understand why I had such a hissy over this description of a really windy, rainy storm.  I just couldn't let it go and considered sending an email and demanding to know how old their copy writer was.  Or where they went to school.  Well, (insert here "sheepish grin") they were exactly right.  We got a "pasting".  In a big way.  We are used to wind and big gusts.  But this was really, really big gusts of wind, the worst we've had in a long time.  It only lasted from morning until 6:00 pm (which is exactly when it was reported to end - nicely done NOAA Weather Radio!)  But it knocked out power in our county to the south of us and to the east.  I was frantically trying to get dishes and laundry done, filling water bottles for the freezer and hoping and praying I could get dinner cooked before our power went out.  God is good.  The power just flickered off and on several times and each time we all held our breath.  During the storm, it was hard to do anything other than stand at the south-facing windows and watch the leaves being ripped off the trees and slammed into our house.  I happened to be watching my neighbor's tree when a huge part of it came crashing down.  Fortunately, it landed between the houses instead of on one of them.  Again fortunately, my son didn't hear what I said when I saw it fall - when the big gust that took it down hit the tree, it looked like it was flying right toward our house.  A freaky moment!  Just yesterday, my husband complained that this particular tree spoiled his view of the bay.  I told him to be careful what he wished for.  Couldn't convince my son to go out and get the mail so I braved the storm, keeping my back to the wind the whole way.  I can just hear the neighbors, "Look at that crazy homeschool mom, walking backward up her driveway.  Don't know what all goes on over there!"  Later, we heard that a gust of wind down in Rockaway Beach (about 35 miles south of us) was recorded at 107 mph!  So that was today. 

Now, let me tell you about my dream day yesterday.  It was a sunny day, a window of glorious rain-free time.  I made my yearly Christmas shopping trip down to Cannon Beach, about 25 miles south of here, to a most wonderful little toy store called Gepetto's.  I make this trip alone!!  The drive down the coast on Hwy 101 was so fun.  I got to listen to "my" music (yes, it was Depeche Mode pre-1995) and I didn't have to break up any fights or answer any questions.  As you near Cannon Beach, the Pacific Ocean pops into view, disappears, and then reappears again.  There are many rock formations, including one called "Haystack Rock", that are fascinating to see.  In fact, I missed my turn off and had to go back, I was so distracted!  Cannon Beach is a lovely, quiet little town, artsy, made for tourists to shop.  I could live there in a heartbeat.  The toy store was wonderful and the owner and I are old friends, so it was fun to see her again.  This store carries what I call real toys.  The good stuff (at least in my opinion.)  After 1-1/2 hours of browsing every nook and cranny, I made my purchases (with 10% off!) and walked back to the car.  And kept walking.  I had parked near the beach and walked closer, just to feel the wind and watch the crashing surf.  And breathe.  Gosh, I love the ocean.  I wanted so badly to make time stand still.  Nothing says "I Am God, I Created This Earth" like the ocean.  I have always tried to live near the beach, not nearly close enough though (never had the $$ to live that close).  After drinking in as much as I could (the view, not the water), I reminded myself I had to get home, things to do, class tonight.  As I drove back down 101, I looked in my rear view mirror just in time to see the glimpse of the ocean disappear.  Sigh.  But it was a wonderful morning.