The entire east coast is bracing for the effects of hurricane Irene. Everywhere I go I see stores boarded up with plywood and the hatches are all battened down. Many stores in our area are closing early, but it is just as well as the shelves are empty anyway.

We have been lucky so far as the power is still on and I am able to write. We have stocked up on candles and water and so I believe we can make it though the effects of the storm. It is a little scary but I think we have been through the worst of it.