-
Subscribe
-
25th June 2008
Baby is Beginning to Kick & I Can Feel it
In the last 36 hours, I’ve begun to feel the baby kick - it’s a new feeling - and I thought I had just simply waited too long to eat last night. Nicole, Jax and I were headed to dinner in Nag’s Head from Waves - which is about a 40 minute drive, depending on traffic.
During the drive, I began to feel some distress, initially hunger, then discomfort that grew substantially until some nice waitress at Mulligan’s served me up with some au gratin potatoes. Don’t ask me why she suggested that - but it worked. I just needed a few spoonfuls and I began to feel better. I dismissed it as baby hunger, and mine as well - and went about my evening feeling much better. We went over to Jockey’s Ridge and watched the sunset as many flew their kites along the dune hills.
Today, while driving, I noticed the same kind of discomfort. Nicole, Jax and I headed off to Ocracoke this afternoon. We drove about an hour to the Hatteras car ferry. About 15 minutes into the drive, I began to feel that same exact discomfort I felt last night. The discomfort is surprisingly alleviated by removing a particular article, if you women know what I mean, however, is my growing baby of 5 1/2 inches (she/he will grow to 8-10 inches this month) kicking and can I feel it?
I read my pregnancy journal, which is such a good book that I strongly suggest during your pregnancy, and it says that it’s quite possible that the baby’s kicks are beginning to be felt now, and it’s typically in the form of stomach sounds, hunger pains and possibly discomfort.
Add to that a headache, and a few other non-disclosed aches and I’m in need of a good night’s sleep without a doubt. I had Nicole take a photo of me and my baby bump on the car ferry today - I’ll post when I’m not quite so tired, headachy and whatever else I’m feeling right now.
I have other photos from the week to post as well.
One last thing - I’ve enjoyed having everyone around this week for vacation at the beach. I’ve enjoyed not watching tv as an escape. Because all that exists on TV right now are game shows, reality shows and pretty much yuck stuff all around.
My escape for the past two weeks has included wild ponies, car ferries, water ferries, walks on the beach, watching the sunrise and sunset in the Outer Banks, flying a kite, enjoying fellowship with friends, watching a 3 year and a 5 year old get to know each other and play, and yes, fight with one another, laugh, cry, scream - it’s all good - maybe that’s really why I have a headache, right? The escape has been good but now I’m ready to be home with Misha, Lucky and Monroe. I’ve had my walks on the beach, and now, I’m ready for a reality check.
I hope baby has enjoyed his/her first trip to the beach - it surely will not be their last.
22nd June 2008
Happiness is Priceless on Your 40th Birthday - Surrounded by Friends Makes It Possible
I was surrounded by friends with their children on the night of my 40th birthday. Nicole and Andy came in with their 3-year old Jax to have dinner with us in Nag’s Head. Jax is absolutely adorable. It was the first time Nicole had seen me pregnant - it was so funny she’s talking, we hug, and she totally doesn’t say anything about my pregnant tummy. I pointed at my tummy and said, lookie - look at pregnant mama - she laughed and said that she had totally forgotten I was pregnant. We laughed. I figured that was a good sign. We went inside and had crab legs, despite pregnancy status - you have to have something good like that for your 40th birthday dinner - Alaskan King Crab Legs. We ate at Dirty Dick’s in Kill Devil Hills.
April, Garry and their daughter Sophie, who is absolutely precious, drove all the way from Columbus, Ohio for a long weekend to join the festivities. We talked, shared crab dip, and enjoyed seeing the interaction between Sophie and Jax. We returned to our beach house in Waves, NC, and stayed up late talking. Crazy Garry went for a swim in the pitch black night ocean after we all went to bed. There was no convincing him otherwise.
My friend Alicia and I talked for an hour, while I was on the beach, by phone. We caught up on details of life, family and friends. It was one of those great conversations by phone.
My lead employee sent me an e-card. Another colleague called in to see how I was doing.
It was a wonderful day. My brothers and/or their wives checked in - I talked to two of my nephews. And I received beautiful lilies and roses from some friends of mine from the search marketing industry who could not join us for the weekend.
Last night was the first time in probably several months that I was able to sleep soundly, with brief awakenings only twice, for the entire night. I felt at peace, and surrounded by close friends and quite content.
As I looked at the interactions of Jax and Sophie, and the parenting skills of both sets of parents, I thought that will be me this time next year - with a little one - to join the “community” of family and parents - it felt good, very good.
To top things off yesterday, there was no smoke - no rain in my area - just grey skies - which were fine with me as it cooled things off. It was all in all a great 40th birthday.
Thanks God.
21st June 2008
Happy 40th Birthday - A Beginning of the 4th Decade
Need I say more? For more photos, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bizresearch/sets/72157605636293429/20th June 2008
Eve of My 40’s? Oh My Gosh! 4 replies
It is the my 40th birthday eve - holy shit!
I’m saying goodbye to my 30’s tonight. I can’t believe I’ve been alive for forty years, am starting the fourth decade, and luckily have survived an amazing journey with mind, soul and body intact.
I celebrate my 40th with a baby inside of me - you know what’s great about being 40 and pregnant - I don’t have to suck in my tummy for anyone - I can look down on my growing belly with pride, excitement and anticipation. I can see my belly moving just the tiniest bit if I settle down for a while and relax. I think my baby likes to rest on the left side of my belly or that is his/her foot or something because there is always movement when I watch on the left side, just to the left of my belly button (TMI - sorry).
I get such a kick out of watching that movement - such love and pride at the same time - such warmth. I seem to have insomnia in the middle of the night - and seem to lie awake for two hours or so. The worst thing about that is if you’re staying in a bed and breakfast and you forgot to bring a snack with you in your room. Fruit and veggies are the craving of this phase.
Friendship, true friendship, health, mental capacity, ownership of one’s ideas and freedom to pursue whatever you want - these are all things that are greatly appreciated and respected. Thank you God for these last 20 years, where I’ve been able to make those decisions on my own, and most of which have been healthy ones. For the first 20 or near that, I appreciate those decisions that my parents made for and on behalf of me, well most of them that is.
In the last 20 years, I’ve seen Russia, Stockholm/Sweden, Britain, travelled twice to Poland from the latter two locations to see family members, Costa Rica for my 35th celebration and last year for work, Argentina, Antarctica to see the penguins and observe environmental changes taking place, and numerous states within the U.S. for work and pleasure.
My least favorite place: Bahamas, and the cruise to get there; perhaps Poland although my exposure was limited in such a short stay
My favorite places: Stockholm, Laguna Beach, Key Biscayne and parts of Miami (Trump Sonesta)
Places I really hope I get to see: Cabos Son Lucas, Mexico; Antarctica again, with my children, Norway, Greek Isles, and wherever really nice hotels overlooking the ocean with great food are - diva yes.
I hope to take my child(ren) to see multiple places around the world, with great, true, intellectual friends who can share some wisdom and culture with my children - and teach them a few things perhaps I cannot. I pray I have health and wisdom to make good decisions on behalf of my child(ren) for the next 40 years of my life. I pray I am involved even when it is not convenient for me, no matter what phase of my life. I pray my children become a central part of what drives me to get up in the morning, and stay awake at night.
I hope they become me - define me - and further develop my wisdom and happiness.
Thank you God that at 40, I am preparing for, and able to prepare, for children, at last.
19th June 2008
Arrival In Outer Banks Again - Smoky Horizons Persist
As I left Ocracoke today around 1 p.m., and headed back to the much dreaded smoky environment in the Outer Banks, I was thankful of my excursion to see the wild ponies. I have seen a good portion of the Core Banks area, and was now going from Ocracoke to Hatteras. I met a nice woman who chatted with me on the car ferry. Always interesting to talk to people about where they’re from, their vacation plans, etc.
I could see the smoke haze over Hatteras, compared to the blue skies in Ocracoke. I drove towards Waves, which is about an hour or so drive from Hatteras Landing where the ferries arrive and depart.
If you are wondering where to get good information on the status of the Pocosin Wildlife Refuge wildfires, which is less than 50 miles from the Outer Banks depending on which section you’re staying in, it’s not easy but there are a few good sources available.
I’ve compiled some links that helped me find out daily updates, which are otherwise hard to find anywhere, offline or online.
The wildfire started from a lightning strike on June 1st in the Pocosin Wildlife Refuge. There have been numerous dense smoke advisories since then, as well as Code Orange and Code Purple air quality alerts.
The first site is really good it gets updated daily and throughout the day:
http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=MHX&wwa=all
Second link is a PDF article - sorry - but good.
http://www.fws.gov/alligatorriver/images/ERF%20Fact%20Sheet%20AM%2006_17_2008.pdf
North Carolina Refuge Wildfire News Links:
http://www.fireengineering.com/news/newsArticleDisplay.html?id=163113
http://www.charlotte.com/breaking_news/story/673270.html
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/state&id=6210576
Here’s a quick summary of the North Carolina wildfire news as of June 19, 2008:
There is a dense smoke advisory in several surrounding counties of the Pocosin Wildlife Refuge today.
The wildfire is 70% contained, however, that means that 28,700 acres are “contained, but 12,300 are not yet contained. They are pulling out firefighters due to the organic peat soil burning or smoldering and creating hotspots that can be life-threatening (imagine the animals situation).
If the wildlife refuge is 110,000 acres - this means that nearly half of the wildlife refuge has burned - or over 10% continues to burn and is not yet under control. A new wildfire started a couple of days ago and is already over 2,500 acres burning.
I’d hate to see the animal situation in this refuge - what type of rescue efforts are there for wild animals, black bears, birds, etc.?
I’ll have to research that one and get back to you on that. If you want to comment on this blog post, click on the blog title link - you can see the blog comment field there.
18th June 2008
Wild Ponies in Shackleford Banks, NC Near Beaufort
by Laura Thieme
It was an arduous trip, as I expected, to see the wild ponies. But it was well worth it. The journey began by taking a short water ferry over early in the morning to Shackleford Banks. We unloaded our gear and trekked into the island’s grasses, bushes and sand. The first wild pony was here by herself, a horse that has been shunned by the rest of the 117 wild ponies because she can no longer have babies - she’s too old. So the herds of horses did away with the infertile poor soul. She’ll spend the rest of her days on her own.
I took two Canon cameras, and my digital camcorder. The little digital Powershot I never used, nor the camcorder, but the larger zoom digital that I used for Antarctica was perfect. I love that camera! I took the tripod but didn’t need it - nor the weight that was no fun to carry. I had a cooler on the beach filled with ice and drinks for when I returned. I also took some apple juice with me for my hike. The hike is supposed to be about 1.5 miles, but mine ended up being much longer.
Our second view of wild ponies, a set of four horses, were here:
The darker horse on the right was standing guard, according to the guide, who had worked there for 15 plus years. But a closer look at the dark stallion, and he looked like he was trying to take a snooze or he didn’t feel good. He looked unwell to me.
After seeing these four horses, we progressed to the Atlantic beach side. The guide hoped to see the foal, or a palomino - we saw neither down at the beach so people began to hunt for shells. Then they headed out and I followed slowly behind. I was beginning to tire due to my back pain, and being four months pregnant, carrying photo gear, etc. All of a sudden I caught a glimpse of four more horses, and the group was too far ahead to notice them. I noticed one laying down on the ground (lighter horse), and the oher sitting nearby. Two additional horses were grazing nearby.
I think these horses look pretty carefree - they don’t seem as wild in the sense that we would come nearby and they would startle, or run away - they would just stare at you and then continue grazing in the grass.
As I got closer to these horses, I lost the crowd and their direction. I got further lost as I tried to figure out where the path was back to the other side of the beach - memories returned of getting lost as a child in a movie theater - I don’t like the feeling of will I be able to find my way back? I thought one way didn’t look good - and then I’d try another way - and then I’d see nothing good ahead there either. I hoped I could find the crowd, but I couldn’t even see them, or the direction of their voices. I’d see another few behind me, on top of some dune, trying to find their way as well. I saw no paths. I saw only bushes and piles of horse poop. I could only remember what the guide said - watch out for ticks in the bushes, and red fire ant piles on the ground, which were everywhere. I knew they had to send out the Coast Guard search party if anyone got lost.
But in the end it was worth it. I finally had to hop through some high grasses, very, very scary - yikesy, yikesy - but did it, climbed a rather high dune to assess my position, and came out to see something beautiful.
As I came over the hill, I could see this below:
What a glorious sweet way to close my journey - it’s quite interesting - the journey began with an infertile horse that was old, and no longer able to reproduce. The entire 117 herd of horses had shunned this horse - she was no longer welcome. I felt major empathy for this poor soul. The journey ended with a family of horses, protecting a young foal - or young male colt. All the horses we saw, seemed to travel in packs of four, with the exception of this one - as a foal made five horses.
It’s interesting how packs of animals shun an infertile horse - no longer able to contribute something to the lineage of Spanish & Portuguese blood line. It seems much like human behavior - note how people who have children tend to stick together, whereas people who do not have children often do not share some of the same friendships or obvious interests. Same with singles, versus couples - I hate to use the old birds of a common feather flock together cliche, but it’s true. Sad to see it the old horse get rejected - I wondered if she had problems getting to the watering hole (shown above, which is rain water that settles on the grassy area), or other areas in times of storms.
Sometimes I feel like that horse, though - shunned due to my singleton or once-infertile status. I do not, however, feel shunned due to my singleton pregnant status - if anything, a whole new world of endearment amongst women, married and divorced, seems to have opened up - a sisterhood that is very strong. Unlike, when I was single and “barren”. While my family hardly understands my desire to have children, as a single mother by choice, many salute me from all ages with this envious look of wisdom that says so much yet nothing at all.
This journey today with the wild ponies oddly and unexpectedly mirrored my own fertility journey in part. As a singleton who travels the world and observes so much in foreign places - I respect the wild ponies’ desire to run free, yet their struggles to survive in a world where few will take time to notice their beauty of their freedom or struggle.
In closing, the wild ponies made their way from the local watering area across the Sound beach’s entrance - and off to a simple way of life, relatively, if you forget local hurricanes and having to drink salt water, and getting gout as a result. I marveled at the young foal’s protection, and surrounded by his family - he’s included and he’s looked after, something we all need and want.
Tonight, as I blog, my back is so sore I can hardly walk. I plan to go straight to bed, after taking a hot bubble bath. I’ve called in for a massage as the B&B has a spa on-site. Then back to smoky beaches in Waves, NC and less customer service from Outer Beaches Realty than you could possibly want.
17th June 2008
Journey to See the Wild Ponies in Beaufort & Shackleford Banks, NC 1 reply
My day started well - at the Castle Bed & Breakfast with breakfast at 8:30 a.m. I had a nice conversation at the breakfast table with a couple who had just gotten married. She was nearly seven months pregnant with twins and uncomfortable at times but happy. Another family had just come by Purdue to get their daughter registered for college. The son, who was likely 13, was that typical age where they’re not necessarily happy to be along for the ride. I sat through the entire breakfast not knowing I had a vertical size sticker on the front of my t-shirt I had purchased the night before. Thanks to the ferry guy for telling me that! ;-) Pregnancy brain!
Off to see the wild ponies in Beaufort, NC and Shackleford Banks. In case you’d like to do this one day yourself - so the kids can see the wild ponies on the beach - here’s how:
First you have to go to Cape Hatteras Landing if you’re in OBX, Outer Banks. You take the free 45 minute ride (by the time you board and depart) to Ocracoke. You might as well go very early, or spend the night in Ocracoke, because your next ferry is the Cedar Island Ferry, which is a three hour journey (by the time you board and depart). I took the 10:30 ferry, but you need to be there by 10:00 a.m. It’s $15 unless you have a super long car or SUV or boat, etc. You’re out in the open ocean, so of course weather could factor into your departure or arrival schedule. Then you drive an hour from Cedar Island to Beaufort, NC. Then you take the Shackleford Wild Horse Safari, which leaves once per day at 8:45 a.m. in hopes that the horses are out and about at their most active time in the morning. There were three foals born in the past six weeks, according to the Island Ferry Adventures tour group from Beaufort’s waterfront. All in all - it takes a leisurely three days to take this journey unless you’re prepared to stress just to see the wild ponies who hardly look stressed at all (see pic below). Personally, I’d prefer to do it in two days, but with the smoke in Outer Banks, what’s the purpose of returning so quickly?
I took the 2 1/2 hour car ferry ride mid-morning from Ocracoke, NC to Cedar Island. The Ocracoke Lighthouse is not as spectacular as the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, however, any lighthouse is always cool to see.
Ocracoke Lighthouse, NC - Departing Ocracoke on the Cedar Island FerryCompare this to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
Cape Hatteras LighthouseThere is nothing to see in Cedar Island except marshes and one cool lookin’ white crane on the side of the road. Well, I take that back - you can see some funky things in Cedar Island on your 45 minute drive to Beaufort, NC. There is a really remote section of North Carolina. Be sure to gas up before you head to the island, because while there is a gas station within a few miles outside of town, it doesn’t look good - looks like a serious hurricane ripped it to shreds and the owners didn’t bother to remove the road signs. They did have time, however, to scratch out the name of the gas station in what appears to be black magic marker. ;-)
I really feel like I’m on vacation right now, because I’m blogging from the hotel room, after having dinner at the marina, and taking an evening stroll watching the sunset. Not the typical thing you do from Columbus, Ohio. I’m watching Chevy Chase make an ass out of himself in Vacation, with Christie Brinkley. How does this married man get himself into such trouble in less than an hour after a disagreement with his wife? Hilarious! Such an old movie that has the ability to crack me up every time I watch it. Naked in the pool with another woman and caught! One of those movies I never seem to watch the whole thing - but always seem to catch the end of it.
Other interesting things along the road to Beaufort, NC - one guy appearing to be catching his lunch with a spear in the water and a pail - forget the fishing lines, right? Two guys on separate occasions, rather overweight, no seriously obese actually, in a scooter on the side of the road, just looking out at nothing in particular. A very rusted out North Carolina Public Schools bus in someone’s yard. Such old houses, hit by storms over the years, that you wondered what their stories were as you passed by. New builds on stilts or concrete blocks that looked out of place compared to the delapidated houses passed earlier. A peaceful drive, but one that you would not want to get a flat tire on - that is for sure.
I arrived in Beaufort, NC and grabbed a crabcake sandwich, and caught a glimpse of my first wild ponies on the beach across the Sound.
Wild Ponies Grazing Near Water’s Edge in Beaufort, NC
The boat appears to have been here as long as the ponies haveThis is not the same area I will see in the morning. The ferry takes you to Shackleford Banks, where one side has the Sound, and the other the Atlantic Ocean. You spend about three hours minimum at the beach on Shackleford Banks. To see the ponies, if you’re lucky, it’s about an hour and a half guided-tour on foot, and then the rest of the time you can spend on the beach where there is an apparent abundance of conch shells.
Perhaps the funniest moment today - I returned to the waterfront for dinner and ate at the Dockhouse where live entertainment attracted the evening strollers, summertime local drinkers, and young couples with their babies in strollers. I thought I saw the horses out again - I could see one of them taking a swim - of course, they are far off in the distance, but I whipped out my super zoom lens camera and began to take lots of photos. I have that cool action setting, so it takes three or so shots in a second or two. I thought as I looked through the lens that the golden horse looked like it was “wagging its tail”. Almost like a dog! Wow, those wild ponies sure have interesting traits - yep - then 20 photos later - sure enough - it was a dog. A golden retriever that had been fishing. Pretty funny. I felt very silly about that time.
It’s a Wild Pony Swimming - How Cool! Uh, No - It’s a Dog Silly!The evening ended well - that’s me in the middle with my two new friends! J/K
Beaufort, NC Waterfront Marina in the Evening at SunsetI returned to work online, check emails, and to catch up on my daily blog entries, load my photos to Flickr (see Outer Banks vacation pictures). I’m trying to figure out how to upload automatically photos from mobile phone to Flickr. Videos on YouTube from mobile phone and soon, the regular camcorder are posted as time allows.
The fun of being a business owner - you’re never truly on vacation - there is never a day that you can avoid in most cases checking in with the office, a client or two, or an employee or two. Tonight, I have KPIs to report on, a paid search audit, and an email task list for a new client. It’s 10 to 11 p.m. and I have an hour or so of work to do before I sleep. But without work, I’d not have this excursion to afford, nor would baby and I have our first journey together.
16th June 2008
Lemonade Out of Lemons - Leave the Area & Go to Ocracoke
Since OBR has done nothing for me, including not even an email response, or a phone call initiated on their behalf, I have chosen to report it to select national and local news agencies, and take a day (or two) trip. I’ve gone to see Ocracoke via the Hatteras Landing Ferry, which is free. I’m staying at the kind of place that gives you sincere customer service - the Castle B&B.
I’m off to take a walk along the marina waterfront and catch some dinner - well, it’s already caught but I plan to sit and eat some fine catch. I hear crabcakes are the special at SmacNally’s!
The ferry ride over was beautiful. Click to see subpar mobile phone video on YouTube- ;-) The skies and air were quite clear - no smoke whatsoever. People were friendly - there was no wait, luckily, and on I went to take my first car-ferry ride ever. How cool.
Outer Beaches Realty should get me a place in Hatteras Village - as you are further south of the wildfires in the Refuge area near Manteo.
Beware Coming to Outer Banks and Staying at Outer Beaches Realty Beach Houses 2 replies
I was looking for the perfect destination for a two-week vacation, to celebrate turning 40 and my baby (15 weeks pregnant).
A friend suggested Outer Beaches Realty (www.outerbeaches.com) - and I booked a two-week stay because you can only check in on a Saturday late afternoon - and that didn’t help me with weekend stays or visitors. So I had to choose two weeks. I could not get a discount at all, even though I was booking for two weeks. $6400 and some change.
The wildfire began on June 1st, 2008 - I booked that same weekend. I did not pay for a few more days because we played phone tag. I then e-signed my lease Thursday, the day before I left. At no time, did any of the realtors or representatives at Outer Beaches Realty warn me about the wildfires or smoke advisories or air alerts in the area.
Heaven forbid they would want to warn you - that would be a great risk to thousands of dollars for them and the owner.
I’m asking for a refund for each night I have to stay elsewhere to avoid the smoke. My eyes burn, my throat is dry and I feel nauseous. I’m stressed - all not good for baby and me.
If you’re planning to come to the Outer Banks right now - don’t - depending on which way the wind blows, you may be surrounded by smoke. It’s no day at the beach for you - if you’ve paid more to sit on your deck and look at the beach - forget that too - it’s too smoky - dense smoke advisory yesterday suggested no more than 30 minutes outside if you had to mow the lawn, or exert activity in any way.
I’ve talked to the office manager at the Waves, NC location - they can’t do anything for me - they can’t move me - to a location that does not offer smoke -they can’t refund me anything. Basically, I should have known about the wildfires coming in -
There is little info on the wildfires in the area - it’s hard to get information on this - even if you’re here. Why? Tourist concerns - money concerns - if they shut down I-64 it’s a loss of $2M or more per day in tourist revenue. There is nothing in the papers about it on the front page, perhaps hidden somewhere. The realty company offers no solutions, or where the smoke isn’t bad - nothing.
So, when beach houses cost what they do these days - in the thousands per week - I suggest you consider not coming here at all right now - go further south, like South Carolina or Myrtle Beach or further south than that. Norfolk and Virginia Beach has also been affected, and places as far north as New York.
I’m going to tell the news services back in Ohio and NPR about the situation - perhaps then others will be properly advised of their risks - and then they can decide if it’s worth risking their health, their children’s health, or baby’s health - or dogs’ health - if they come.
I do see some people running today, or bicycling despite the smoky conditions. The smoke is lifting this afternoon - but if the wind blows back this way tonight - it’s back again.
As a business owner, you should offer refunds, advisories and/or discounts to disgruntled customers who were unaware of the wildfires, smoky conditions, and health advisories, or air alerts. You should offer daily news on the topic and how to avoid or take care of the situation best.
Don’t say you can’t do anything - and yes, you can change my air filters, but you can offer refunds for the nights I have to relocate, you can offer plenty of bottled fresh water, and you can offer daily news advisories and alerts.
And then, perhaps, we can all pray for some significant rain.
My House Smells Like Charcoal - The Benefits of Living Inside a Smoky Environment in Outer Banks, NC
It’s Monday morning - my eyes sting, my bathroom smells like charcoal, my clothes smell like I spent the night at the bars (I remember those days), and my throat is dry. I could not sleep last night. I’m disconcerted. Friends and colleagues who were to arrive today - I’ve told them not to come - how could they bring children into this environment?
I need to escape the house, as it’s obviously not healthy to be inside either, but where to go? There are no local channels on my TV station - I’m having a hard time figuring out what to do locally. I can watch the Weather Channel but today, all they say is thunderstorms are expected. They said the same thing yesterday, but there were no thunderstorms - just a quick summer-like warm, humid shower that passes through as fast as it arrived.
You can’t even see the coast line from my oceanfront home today. The sun is bright, that’s a bonus, right? Not when you can’t see past the dune line which is 50 yards behind your house.
I might as well go see the horses in Shackleford, which is in Southern Outer Banks area, near Cape Lookout. That trip will take some advance planning, but I could possibly begin the five hour journey later today, that will likely take two days, due to ferry schedules and the fact that I have to take three ferries, one of which is 2 1/2 hours.
I had planned to work today on two client projects, but perhaps that is not possible. I can’t stay here - not like there is a Starbucks nearby with WIFI.
I’m very connected in the house through Verizon, but why bother, when your health and baby’s health is at stake. Not worth it.
Hey, it now says on the Weather Channel that it’s mostly sunny. If only there was blue sky behind the sun! I talked to someone who lives in Norfolk, VA - they said it was like this two days ago - the smoke was in their house too. Another person who lives in the Raleigh area - also very bad there a couple of days ago.
It’s more disconcerting to see how the realty company who sold me the property for two weeks, who knew the situation and its worsening conditions, felt at ease to sell me this, regardless of being pregnant. However, knowing that I was coming in pregnant - even worse. All for the sale, of how much?
If you are planning a vacation to Outer Banks, anywhere, do not come!!!!! It’s not expected to get better for months, they say, although information is somewhat spartan online and in the news locally. Get your money back from Outer Beaches Realty if you can - put that vacation money to go somewhere more south than North Carolina. All of NC is affected by this, as properties north of here as well. Go south, my friend.
Pray for rain, and lots of it. One article reported that a tropical storm, scarily enough, would be the only type of rainfall that would be sufficient to help the situation. I’d rather have rain, quite frankly, even though NC has been in a drought for three years. And look at Iowa, floods in Cedar Rapids that remind me of New Orleans a few years ago. Weather is not good in many areas.
Seriously - pray for rain, the locals, and the wildlife. St. Francis could help, right? I prayed to him to help the animals, who must be scared - where to run in a wildlife refuge, when 41,000 acres and 60 square miles are burning out of control in a very flammable environment.
15th June 2008
Making the Best of a Dense Smoke Advisory at the Beach in the Outer Banks, NC
Today was all about making the best of “no day at the beach” in a dense smoke advisory (see blog posts and videos below). The smoke was worse north of here, according to the news and Weather Channel, so I headed south mid-day. Read article from National Geographic on the wildfires in North Carolina’s Pocosin Wildlife Refuge.
I had planned to journey north to investigate wild ponies in Corolla (pronounced locally as “corawla”) - but instead headed to Cape Hatteras and surrounding areas to avoid the smoke. My first stop was Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, which was moved in 1999 from the beach. I had seen the lighthouse in 1990 and thought something was different about that location - good to know I am not losing my memory
-
I paid the $7.00 admission fee, so I could climb the lighthouse. There are approximately 240 stairs in the lighthouse to climb, which I successfully climbed, slowly but surely with herbal tea and camera in hand. I was quite proud to exit, nearly 4 months pregnant, from the lighthouse as it can be a strenuous event. The pictures from the lighthouse are not superb by any means as it was quite smoky from the wildfires 50 miles away, and also overcast. But it is likely quite a view on a clear day.
After this, I journeyed onto Frisco and the Hatteras Ferry area for lunch at Dirty Dick’s crabhouse. I truly enjoyed every bite possible in my snow crab feast. I really wanted king crabs, but I settled for snow crab. After that, I learned about the ferry schedule for my hopeful adventure to get to see the Shackleford wild ponies in the next couple of days (takes five hours and three ferries).
Windsurfers take in a light wind on their surfboards near Avon, Outer Banks, NC where the smoke wasn’t as bad. If you travelled far enough south today, you could get away from the dense smoke.
If you plan to venture to the Outer Banks area this week, or anytime between now and late July, you should really investigate whether your area is effected, or likely effected by wildfire smoke.
For those friends who are planning to visit this week, weekend, or next week - please contact me so we can talk about your stay here this week.
Things to Do - more info
National Parks Traveler - Top Ten Beaches List - Cape Hatteras
Pocosin Wildlife Refuge Updates
More on the Pocosin National Wildlife Refuge
It’s No Day at the Beach in Outer Banks, NC - Dense Smoke Advisory
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmOZJArgS1I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkEgvMQjxJQ (taken with mobile phone - outside my house on deck today, Sunday)
Video still picture has not yet loaded on YouTube - should work later today. Click on video image, or link.
As I wrote yesterday about arriving in the Outer Banks area, there are wildfires in the Refuge and the smoke is quite dense as you cross the Albemarle Sound bridge on I-64.
YouTube video from yesterday, June 14th, Saturday, 2008:
Here are sources you can turn to when you’re trying to find out more on where the wildfires are so you can still enjoy your vacation:
NBC’s WITN Coverage on the fire in Eastern Carolina - excerpt from article:
A Code Purple air quality alert remains in effect for parts of northeastern North Carolina today as winds from the wildfire push north. Those living east of I-95 and north of U.S. Highway 64, are under a Code Purple Alert Saturday. That includes Edenton, Elizabeth City, Kill Devil Hills, Manteo, Plymouth, Rocky Mount and Tarboro. People in that area should avoid strenuous or prolonged outdoor activity. The state says those with breathing problems should stay inside. Code Purple is the highest air pollution alert North Carolina has ever enacted. Code Purple conditions are likely Sunday in the areas north of the Pamlico River and east of the Chowan River, including Edenton, Elizabeth City, Kill Devil Hills, Manteo, Nags Head, Plymouth and Washington.
I think I’ll be doing my site-seeing in the southern section of Outer Banks? At $4.25 a gallon on the island, you might want to make sure you fill up right before you enter the area, although the smoke is quite dense as you approach Outer Banks on I-64. As long as the gas station is open, and it’s safe to pump, I’d go ahead and fill up.
