Once you've lived in the Caribbean for a long time, you'd be surprised how resistant you are to heat and humidity (although I will never get used to the constant swarms of biting bugs) and how cold you get when it's what is considered a normal, or even pleasant, temperature in the real world.
This morning I was sitting down, thinking about what I need to do today, when *BOOM* went an earthquake. We get them periodically and they are not anything like people on the west coast of the US experience, but it's still startling. Here has always been a second (or a few seconds) of a loud concussion, where the earth seems to explode. It's more of an acoustic wave than anything else, no rollers or shakers, at least so far. Since living in WA, my mind goes into earthquake mode. Get the kids, get under a table or a door jamb, etc. But I have never had to do those things because by the time my mind realizes what's happening, it's over.
Here's what different than most places---living on base, we have unexploded ordinances that are set off, guns with loud booms, and other military goings-on that most people don't experience, so it's sort of normal to hear something so loud, it makes your windows shake. That's just the new normal.
In other news, Rodney is sporting a new bowler hat for the New Year, thanks to a souvenir from a bottle of gin. Anyone know where I can get more miniature hats for him? Unfortunately, I tried to Google information, and there are currently no stores selling hats for taxidermied squirrels. Go figure.
