Stormy weather

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Storms came through around 8:30 yesterday morning with straight-line winds said to be in the 80mph range (129km/hr). Some homes were completely destroyed, mostly due to falling trees, many businesses were damaged, and electrical power was out over the region; ours was off for 11 hours. Our house is somewhat protected by a small forest of big trees on the western, prevailing wind side, plus the house is partially below the street grade. Even at that, the noise was enough to cause my sphincter muscles to tighten so much that a hat pin could not have been driven between them with a sledge hammer. More huge storms are projected for today.
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Keegan is safely in Japan.
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I will take a Social Security cut again next year; my Bush/Cheney generated drug insurance premiums are again rising and so is the amount of my co-pay. Where the hell is Obama's health care reform? Gasoline prices are rising, all our required business insurance and auto insurance rates are increasing as are local taxes. Grocery prices are more than they were this time last year and utility costs have gone up. Medical prices have increased more than anything else, it seems, yet with all this, retirees do not get a cost of living increase, we did not get one this year, and only one percent is projected for 2012. Congress votes itself a fat raise every year.
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Have a Tom-Terrific Tuesday, my friends.
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