Irene is slated to hit our shores tomorrow night. It's supposed to start churning up heavy rain during the day, and flooding is expected. They also expect power outages. What? No computer? I'll use my sister's Mac.

I so wish it would go out to sea. If I start an incantation now, do you think it'll work?

Spent the afternoon buying water, batteries, candles, food, filling the cars with gas. Someone said you have to keep peanut butter and crackers on hand because they are high energy food. I don't eat peanut butter or crackers, but somehow, that sounds good. So I bought peanut butter and grissini.   Poland Spring is getting a major boost with this storm. Cookie counters have been blighted. Entenmann's cakes and doughnuts... all gone.  Lines at the gas pumps. Someone also said to fill your bathtub with water. Is that to bathe and wash the dishes? What to do with all the potted plants around the porches? Petunias, mint, basil, tomatoes? What about the cats that roam the neighborhood?

When I was very young, we had hurricanes. There were rows of fragile looking houses at the beach that were built on pilings. They just blew out to sea, along with little row boats. Actually, Connecticut was used to hurricanes, but none in recent years. We're being told that this one is as fierce as Katrina. Sure hope not.

I'm going to make a few calls and rescue my friends who live right on the water. Maybe they're up for a party. Safer here than where they live.

Say a little prayer it's not as bad as they're saying.